In this day and age, there are so many movies and series available. So much so in fact, that people are overwhelmed by the sheer number of them. The number of streaming services available is also just as abundant. And Pluto TV is one such streaming platform out of the many available.
As of February of this year, they have had over 20 million users. This number has continued to grow a great amount, as Pluto TV has skyrocketed in popularity in recent times. Know more about the service and whether it’s worth the try in this guide.
What Is Pluto TV?
Pluto TV is an American streaming service porting TV and movies to the internet. It is currently owned by ViacomCBS. The site runs on advertising and also functions as a video-on-demand service. Unlike streaming TV services, it mainly shows what’s already available online.
After launching in 2014, it garnered a lot of traction and people quickly flocked to it. Even those who already own subscriptions for streaming services use the platform. You can use Pluto TV to find a series or movies that aren’t on your typical streaming service. It offers over 250 channels and a vast amount of free movies you can watch to pass time. While it does have ads, the app is completely free, no subscription needed.
Unlike your typical streaming service, PlutoTV functions on the internet rather than on dedicated lines. It’s unlike Netflix in that regard. And while Netflix does not have ads, PlutoTV exists solely because of ads.
They recently did an interface overhaul so if you’ve visited them before 2020, you’ll be surprised if you visit now. It’s now more user-friendly than ever since you can now go to any categories you want freely. In the past, you had to navigate a bunch of menus and it was pretty irritating.
There’s something for everyone. Whether you’re updated with recent series and videos or not, you can bet you’ll be entertained. You have movies, comedy, sports, and tech. There’s also live TV streaming since you can watch the news while it airs. By using Pluto TV you are quite literally streaming TV. There’s even a kids category filled with channels for your child’s viewing pleasure.
You have traditional TV channels like NASA TV, WeatherNation TV, TV Buzz, and Newsmax. It also has things it likes to call “pop-up channels”. These allow you to keep binge-watching your favorite series or make the app operate open-endedly.
How Does Pluto TV Work?
You’ve come to the right place if you’re confused as to how Pluto TV works. To use Pluto TV, you can stream on their website itself or you can download their app. The app functions on most devices, whether they be Android or iOS. Of course, you’ll need your software to be up-to-date to watch properly.
As we’ve said before, Pluto TV is completely free to use. Sure there are ads, making it the same as Crackle, Tubi, and Sling Free. But the difference is that you don’t even need to make an account to use Pluto TV. If you go to their website, you can literally just watch movies and series from the get-go.
Although if you do opt to register for a Pluto TV account, there are quite a few benefits to reap. For example, you can watch the same series or movies on a different device without having to find them. You can just start watching it again immediately. You can also choose which channels you like the most and mark them as favorites.
Pluto TV works the same way as regular television does. What does this mean? Well, it just means that there are commercials and ads during shows. It’s the same as cable television. It might not make you pay, but it can be occasionally frustrating when you’re enjoying a show and an ad pops up.
You don’t require high internet speed to watch Pluto TV. Your internet connection doesn’t have to be fast in general, it just has to be stable. The company behind Pluto TV states that although having fast internet does help, having a stable connection is better.
Is It Safe?
We know what you’re thinking. An app with hundreds of diverse channels that lets you stream TV for no cost at all? Is that even legal? Naturally, a free TV streaming service with ads might spark one’s concern with regards to legality.
While it may seem sketchy, we assure you that the TV streaming service that is Pluto TV is entirely legal. Despite it seeming like another pirating website filled with parasitic ads, it is completely within the boundaries of the law.
Another issue people have other than the legality of Pluto TV is their personal safety. Many users regard Pluto TV as a website that spreads malicious viruses. But despite this claim, the fact is that neither the app nor the website produces any viruses or malware. The app itself is considered a safe file.
Despite of this, there are some reasons for concern other than the annoying ads. For instance, it has no HTTPS protocol. But the main reason for concern is that your personal information can be given to third parties.
This means that your personal information can be sold to people you don’t know about. This is a privacy risk, bordering on an invasion of privacy. While they claim to give this information to trusted parties only, it is still a big reason for concern. For some, it might be enough to stay away from Pluto TV.
One way to mitigate this is to turn on a VPN whenever you watch on Pluto TV. That way, they can’t get any of your personal information or track you at all. In doing this, you can rest assured that you can watch without having to worry about anything.
What Channels Are on Pluto TV?
As we’ve stated before, there are tons of channels on Pluto TV. The best option is checking their featured page to see all of the hottest channels and shows people are watching. Other than that, you can also check other categories like entertainment, movies, sports, comedy, kids, and tech.
There are top cable networks such as MTV, VH1, and BET available. There are also channels you wouldn’t normally find on regular television. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a gold mine of a channel that has the content you love.
The news and sports channels found on Pluto TV are the average ones you would find. News channels include CNN, NBC, CBS, and others. Though usually, you’ll only be able to watch pre-recorded clips and not live streams of running news. Some sports channels available include NFL, PGA Tour, and Major League Soccer. Like the news channels, you’ll rarely catch a live stream.
A bunch of Pluto TV’s available shows is usually older sitcoms and reality shows. These can usually be found on other streaming websites too, but there are some that only Pluto TV has. If you search enough, you’ll probably find some shows or movies that you’ll really like.
What Devices Can I Use to Watch Pluto TV?
The best way to watch Pluto TV is through its site. Using your web browser for Pluto TV is widely regarded as the best way to use it, and most people just watch it on the website. That being said, there are a whole bunch of other ways to watch Pluto TV. There are probably more ways to watch Pluto TV than we can even count.
If you don’t like watching it on your web browser, you can download its app for your PC. And if you don’t want to use your computer to watch it, there’s also an app available on mobile. The app is available for Apple and Android devices.
You can use virtually any iOS and Android-powered devices to watch it. Although, in order for it to run smoothly, you should update your software to the latest version. It’s also available on Android TV and Google Chromecast. Essentially, it’s compatible with most smart TVs on the market.
The app is available on Roku TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and even consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Not only that, but it’s also compatible with Amazon Kindle and Fire Tablets. We weren’t lying when we said there were too many ways to count.
How to Activate Pluto TV
Activating it on your PC is easy. Just fire up the app, and you’re already there. The same goes for iOS and Android devices. But for devices like Roku, Android TV, and consoles, it’s a different story. You can pair Pluto TV with these devices and turn your phone into a remote control.
To do this, you first need to download the MyPluto app on your phone. Then, on your TV, you need to visit channel 2 in the Roku guide. That, or click the Activate button on the left side of your guide. After that, you have to get the six-digit code that is displayed on top of the screen.
On your phone, go to the MyPluto app. Once you’re on the app, there will be an Activate button. It’s pretty big, so it’s hard to miss. Tap on it, and it will bring you to a page that asks for a code. Enter the 6-digit code, and you’ll be paired with your TV.
If you have any problems with pairing up, you can visit My.Pluto.TV/activate. From there, you will be given directions. This should help relieve you of your pairing problem. Just follow the instructions, and you’ll be good to go.
What People Think of Pluto TV
Pluto TV reviews online are scarce in number. Although, that isn’t to say that there aren’t any at all. There are threads on online forums and reviews feedback from consumers. The reviews are positive for the most part.
The popular consensus is that it is an app that solves people’s problems about letting go of cable TV even when streaming is more popular. It’s for people who have decided to stop paying for cable TV but will miss it dearly. It answers this issue by giving people a completely free alternative.
Reviewers regard Pluto TV as an app that should be more popular. They think that people need to notice it more and consider it as an option in their streaming mix. Some even call it as the YouTube of cable.
There’s a ton of content on the website for people to explore when they are bored and out of shows to watch. Once you’re up-to-date with the latest shows, you can browse it for some old shows you can enjoy. That way you can watch shows you missed or go back to old shows out of nostalgia.
Will Pluto TV Replace Cable TV?
It isn’t a complete replacement for cable TV. Although we said you can use it as an alternative after you stop paying for cable, it doesn’t have all the benefits that cable does. It’s more of a TV supplement to on-demand video streaming services.
It offers only a few really popular cable channels, so it can’t be seen as a replacement for cable TV. That being said, they have been increasing their channels in recent times. Additionally, their current channels do a good job of giving you enough content.
If you want to replace cable TV with Pluto TV, then you should be ready for a trade-off. This is especially because cable TV offers a lot more channels than Pluto TV does. In the short-term, it cannot replace cable TV. However, some do say that this TV can be the future of cable TV. Nevertheless, this view is looking at the distant future.
Is It Here to Stay?
Yes, it is here to stay. In fact, it would be weirder if they weren’t here to stay. After all, they’re still upgrading their game in terms of content and they just did an interface overhaul. We’d be hard-pressed to say that it is dying because it’s only becoming more popular.
It sells ads on every channel it has, and advertisers are buying into it. The Viacom acquisition has only served to increase it’s marketing efforts. They expect the platform to grow much more over the coming years. They even reported over 3500 separate brands advertising on Pluto TV last year.
While it may undergo changes due to Viacom’s merger with CBS, nobody sees it going anywhere anytime soon. It’s also most likely to stay free, given that their advertisers and backers have only grown. Viacom also isn’t pulling its punches with Pluto TV. They’ve already poured $30 million dollars in the first quarter of this year alone.
Verdict: Should You Use Pluto TV?
Pluto TV has gained much traction, which is no fluke. Its services have only been improving, and they’ll probably only continue to improve. It might underwhelm you if you’re thinking of replacing cable TV with Pluto TV. Though, you can supplement it with other platforms and streaming services.
In short, the only real way to find out if Pluto TV is to try it out for yourself. After all, it’s completely free to use. Download the app and see for yourself whether it’s the right fit for your situation or not.
