There’s nothing like a marketplace full of apps just waiting to be installed. Fire TV and Fire Stick devices have access to a wealth of content thanks to Amazon’s dedicated appstore. You can install hundreds of free and low-cost tools, games, streaming utilities, and more, all from the comfort of your big fluffy couch. Below are some of the best apps for Fire Stick and Fire TV that will keep you glued to the TV for hours on end.
Best VPN Apps for Fire TV
VPNs are incredibly useful tools, especially if you value your online privacy. While many VPN companies support a wide variety of devices, not all have apps available directly from the Fire TV appstore. You’ll also find several sketchy and downright dangerous free VPNs on the marketplace, services that are more likely to harm your device or sell your information than keep you safe.
All of the VPNs below are 100% compatible with Fire Sticks and Fire TV. They’re fast, easy to use, incredibly effective, and can be downloaded and installed directly from your Amazon device, no sideloading necessary! Visit the links below to sign up, then search for your new VPN on the appstore to install.
Best VPN for Fire TV — IPVanish
IPVanish combines speed and security into an amazing VPN experience for Fire TV. The service delivers full access to over 950 servers in 60 different countries, each one lightning fast and easy to connect to. Your data stays safe with features like DNS leak protection, an automatic kill switch, and 256-bit AES encryption. All you have to do is sign up and install the app, then you’re ready for a safe and private stream!
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Best Streaming Apps for Fire TV
Fire TV was made to stream. The device comes with several useful apps already pre-loaded, but you can extend its functionality by leaps and bounds by installing the right third party apps as soon as possible. Below are some of the best streaming apps for both Fire TV and Fire Stick.
Netflix
It’s tough to argue with Netflix’s domination in the video streaming market. The service is available worldwide and offers thousands of movies, TV shows, and original programs available for unlimited streaming. All you have to do is install the app and create an account, then Netflix is yours to enjoy. Even with competitors rising in the same marketplace, Netflix remains the best source for movies and TV shows around.
- Download Netflix for Fire TV
Hulu
A close second in the paid streaming services race is Hulu, a TV-oriented subscription app available in the U.S. and Japan. Hulu offers a bigger variety of TV series than its competitors, and you can even find new episodes available to watch the day after they air. It’s the best way to keep up with all your favorite shows, and the app runs like a dream on Fire TV. You can even upgrade your account to get rid of annoying ads and unlock live TV channels.
- Download Hulu for Fire TV
PlayStation Vue
The Sony-owned streaming service provides a wealth of cable and satellite TV channels you can subscribe to right from your Fire device. Offerings are paired up in themed groups, allowing you to focus on things like sports or news channels without having to buy excess content you’re not interested in. It’s perfect for cordcutters fed up with the high price of cable TV, and with hundreds of on-demand channels to choose from, you’re not likely to run out of entertainment options anytime soon. From classic TV series to new movies, Vue has it all!
- Download PlayStation Vue for Fire TV
Sling TV
The “a la carte” TV streaming service has made waves with its “buy what you want” approach to live TV. With Sling you sign up for an account, pick a basic level of channels, then browse the company’s vast offerings. Pick and choose which streams you’re interested in, then add them to your account for a small fee. That’s all there is to it! Sling TV works great on Fire devices and is an excellent cost-effective way to get access to live TV.
- Download Sling TV for Fire TV
Plex
Plex is a free media streaming service a lot of people compare to Kodi. Plex doesn’t focus on add-ons or video sources, however. It’s entirely dedicated to getting your content from one device to another, such as streaming movies from your PC to Fire TV. Setting up Plex is a simple affair, but once it’s running you can instantly watch downloaded movies on your TV wirelessly.
- Download Plex for Fire TV
Kodi
No discussion about streaming apps is complete without talking about Kodi. The free and open-source media center software is available on a wide variety of devices and allows you to manage and stream movies and TV shows from a huge number of sources. Want new movie releases? Live sports? TV series from overseas? Kodi can hook you up, and all for free, as well!
Since Kodi isn’t available from Amazon’s appstore, you’ll need to sideload it on your Fire TV. Don’t worry, the process is surprisingly simple and only takes a few minutes of your time. For full instructions, check out our guide on the easy way to install Kodi on Fire TV and Fire Stick.
Best Fire TV Tools and Utilities
Even though the Fire devices are made for streaming, they’re capable of doing a lot more. Some of the most useful apps are tools and utilities designed to add functionality to your Fire Stick and Fire TV. Check out our favorites below!
Downloader
Ask any Fire TV user what the best app for sideloading is and they’ll say “Downloader”. The straightforward piece of software lets you enter the URL for an Android app, download it directly to your Fire device, and install it moments later. You can use it to install Kodi, gain access to YouTube, or find any number of unique streaming services and get them on your Fire device without any fuss. Downloader is by far the best utility you can install on your Fire Stick or Fire TV.
- Download the Downloader App for Fire TV
ES File Explorer
One of the drawbacks to using a TV box or streaming stick is you don’t have access to the system like you would a desktop PC. What about all those files hiding behind the sleek interface? What about remote installations, FTP access, and other extras? ES File Explorer gives you all of that and much more. This free file explorer app cracks open Fire TV and lets you look at everything like a desktop computer. Use it to install third party apps, delete unwanted materials, or just explore the inner workings of your streaming device.
- Download ES File Explorer for Fire TV
Firefox for Fire TV
Having access to a good web browser can be surprisingly handy on a Fire device. With the mobile version of Firefox, you can surf the internet, look for news and update information, even stream videos through YouTube! Firefox goes to great lengths to make sure you have access to all the right features on Fire TV, even if you don’t have a bluetooth keyboard and mouse handy.
- Download Firefox for Fire TV
VLC for Fire TV
Watch a lot of weird movie formats on your computer? Most streaming devices can’t handle extensions like FLAC or mkv. VLC certainly can, though, making it one of the most powerful video playing apps on any device. The Fire TV version lets you play local or network shared content with just a few clicks. There’s very little to configure beforehand, and you never have to worry about encountering a “format not supported” error again!
- Download VLC for Fire TV
Best Sports Apps for Fire TV
Who doesn’t love some live sports on a sunny weekend morning? Fire TV hosts lots of amazing apps that give you crystal clear access to games from around the world.
NBC Sports
Get live and on-demand coverage from NBC’s dedicated sports services, all streamed directly to your Fire TV. The 2018 Winter Olympics were shown on NBC, as are NFL Sunday Night Football, NHL games, the PGA Tour, Premier League soccer, NASCAR, and even the Kentucky Derby! Sign in with your cable TV provider and you’ll have instant access to everything right from your Fire TV.
- Download NBC Sports for Fire TV
FOX Sports GO
The FOX Sports app for Fire TV delivers the networks full offering of mainstream content directly to your Fire TV. You’ll get live NFL coverage, MLB and NBA games, NHL season content, UFC highlights and bouts, and plenty of college football and basketball. Logging in with your cable TV provider credentials gives you full access to this and a lot more, and you don’t even have to get up off the couch.
- Download FOX Sports GO for Fire TV
NFL for Fire TV
An officially licensed app created by NFL.com that streams a wealth of American football content. Check out NFL Now for live content and highlights from across the league, follow along with in-game highlights, or check out NFL Network and NFL RedZone with a valid cable TV login. You can even subscribe to gain access to NFL Game Pass for full seasons, including replays and coaches film.
- Download NFL for Fire TV
NBA for Fire TV
Not to be outdone by the NFL, North America’s basketball association has a straightforward app that gives you access to a ton of life NBA content, including full games, live stats and replays, League Pass releases, and lots more.
- Download NBA for Fire TV
MLB at Bat
Baseball is America’s pasttime, and it’s alive and well on Fire TV. The official app brings you an impressive helping of premium content in the form of live broadcasts for home and away games, radio replays for hit-by-hit commentary, enhanced videos that show stats and renderings on screen, and plenty more. You can even subscribe to At Bat for opening day and world series content.
- Download MLB at Bat
Best Screen Casting Apps for Fire TV
Got an Android or iOS device you’d like to mirror to your TV? A Fire Stick or Fire TV can do the trick. Use either of the apps below to quickly share content, or check out our complete guide to screen casting apps for Fire TV for more options.
AllConnect for Fire TV
Straightforward and easy to use, AllConnect for Fire TV is the perfect stream caster to use with iPhone and iOS devices. With it you can share movies with your TV, send music files to the big screen, even mirror Plex, Vimeo, YouTube, and Kodi content! To use AllConnect, first need to install the app for iOS, then grab AllConnect app for Fire TV. It’s free to try out but carries a small price tag for the full version.
- Download AllConnect for Fire TV
AirReceiver
A full-featured screen casting app that aims to be a one-stop-shop for all your mirroring needs. With AirReceiver you can stream music and video content from your iOS device directly to your TV, queue up content without interrupting the stream, and check out videos from Kodi to Sling TV to YouTube. Lots of customization features give the software a leg up on the competition, yet you can still launch and cast without spending an hour tweaking the settings.
- Download AirReceiver for Fire TV
Conclusion
Fire TV and Fire Stick devices are incredible little machines. They’re lightweight, inexpensive, and highly configurable, all thanks to the wealth of apps and utilities you can install. Pick out the right software and you can turn your Fire Stick into an all-in-one entertainment resource. Why get up off the couch when everything you need is right there?
Read Best Apps for Firestick and FireTV in 2018 by John Bardinelli on AddictiveTips - Tech tips to make you smarter
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