YouTube
Free video app from Google with ads, optional Premium and Teen rating
Movie streaming apps for Android: what separates the good ones
This page covers 21 movie streaming apps for Android, and it lists licensed services only. Apps that carry pirated catalogs are not recommended here. The listed apps make the differences easy to see once you look past catalog size.
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The first split is the business model. Eight of the 21 apps run without ads, among them Netflix and Disney+, while YouTube, HBO Max and Hulu show ads according to their Google Play listings. The second split is content type. Netflix and Disney+ are subscription libraries of films and series. YouTube is open video, and Google TV is a finder that collects titles from services you already use. The third is how current the app is: most of the apps listed were updated in late October or early November 2026.
Ratings differ more than installs. Google Play shows 4.8 for Netflix and 3.8 for YouTube, even though YouTube has over 10 billion installs. Read the numbers as a guide, not a verdict.
Apps in this category
Netflix
Netflix on Android: 4.8 on Google Play, no ads, month-to-month plan
YouTube Kids
Kid-focused video app with four content modes and a screen-time timer
Disney+
Disney+ on Android: 4K titles, Profile PIN and Hulu and ESPN hubs
Google TV
Google TV: 700,000+ titles across streaming apps, ad-free and free to install
ESPN
ESPN for Android: live scores, SC For You and ESPN networks, with ads
HBO Max
HBO Max on Android: HBO originals, DC and A24 titles, with Multiview sports
Crunchyroll
Anime streaming with 2,000+ titles, simulcasts and tiered memberships
Apple TV
Apple's streaming app for Originals, live F1 and MLS, with no ads
Hulu
Disney's Hulu app: 6 profiles, 95+ live channels and ad-free downloads
Amazon Fire TV
Free Android remote with keyboard and voice search for Fire TV devices
Peacock TV
NBCUniversal streaming on Android with live sports, Bravo and NBC shows
Samsung TV Plus
Free live TV on Android with 750+ channels, news and on-demand movies
discovery+
Free Android streaming app for HGTV, TLC and 90 Day Fiancé shows
DIRECTV
Live football, 150+ free channels and Cloud DVR on Android
Sling
Live TV, sports and 50 hours of DVR on Android, plus free Freestream
Fandango
Free ad-supported films plus rentals and a kids mode, no subscription
The NBC App
Free NBC app for live TV, next-day episodes and sports, US only
Paramount+
Paramount+ streams CBS shows, UFC and movies with 6 profiles on Android 7.0+
Philo
Philo: 70+ live channels from $25 a month with unlimited DVR on Android
YouTube TV
Cable-free live TV from 100+ channels with a 9-month cloud DVR, US only
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Top 5 picks
Netflix
Netflix holds a 4.8 rating on Google Play, the highest among the apps on this page, with over 1 billion installs. It covers series, movies, live events, games and podcasts, and a My Netflix tab keeps your list and saved moments in one spot. It is the clearest example here of a library built around a single subscription.
Disney+
Disney+ has a Google Play rating of 4.3 and over 500 million installs, and it shows no ads. Its catalog is built around Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic. It offers over 100 titles in 4K UHD and HDR, downloads, and viewing on multiple screens at once. The current version is 26.19.0+rc3-2026.10.20.
HBO Max
HBO Max is rated 4.8 on Google Play and has over 100 million installs. It shows ads and has in-app purchases. The catalog draws on HBO Originals such as The Last of Us and House of the Dragon, plus DC, Warner Bros. and A24 titles. Live sports access depends on your plan and provider.
Apple TV
Apple TV has a 4.1 rating on Google Play and over 100 million installs. The listing stresses Apple Originals without ads, such as Ted Lasso and Severance, plus live Formula 1 coverage. It also carries Friday Night Baseball and Major League Soccer matches. The app is free to install, with in-app purchases.
Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll focuses on one genre. The developer claims the largest anime library, with One Piece, Solo Leveling and Frieren among the titles, and new episodes shortly after they air in Japan. Google Play rates it 4.6, with over 100 million installs. It carries ads and in-app purchases.
Questions and answers
Which movie streaming apps on this list show no ads?
Eight of the 21 apps are listed without ads. Among the top apps, Netflix, Disney+, Google TV and Apple TV have no ads according to their Google Play data. YouTube, HBO Max, Hulu, ESPN, Crunchyroll and YouTube Kids do show ads.
Does this page include free or unlicensed streaming apps?
No. It covers licensed services only. The top apps shown are free to install, but subscription prices vary, so check those in each app.
Which app has the most installs and the best rating?
YouTube and Google TV each show over 10 billion installs on Google Play, with ratings of 3.8 and 3.9. Netflix and HBO Max share the highest rating among the top apps at 4.8, with over 1 billion and over 100 million installs.
Related categories
Best-of lists
Before installing, check three things on the page: whether the app shows ads, whether it has in-app purchases, and when it was last updated. Netflix was updated on November 4, 2026, while Hulu was last updated on October 1, 2026.
If sports matter, read the details. HBO Max says live sports depend on plan and provider, while ESPN offers NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL content. For children, YouTube Kids has Preschool, Younger, Older and Approved Content Only modes. Confirm subscription prices in the app before you commit.