Pluto TV has emerged as a popular option for viewers seeking free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST). If you’re looking for ways to cut costs on entertainment and still enjoy a wide variety of content, understanding how to navigate Pluto TV, including accessing the Pluto TV guide, is essential.
With subscription streaming services becoming increasingly expensive, many are exploring free alternatives such as Pluto TV to save money. While these free services might not always offer the latest blockbuster movies or trending shows, they compensate with an extensive library of free entertainment.
Paramount owns Pluto TV, which gives viewers access to beloved classics such as “Cheers”, “Frasier”, and “Star Trek”, as well as a large selection of movies from Paramount Studios. Available in the U.S. and many international regions, including Europe, Latin America, and Brazil, Pluto TV offers a great global selection.
Whether you’re cutting the cord or simply looking to supplement your streaming options, Pluto TV provides a cost-free way to watch hours of television and movies. Here’s what you need to know about accessing the Pluto TV guide and maximizing your experience.
What is Pluto TV?
Pluto TV is an over-the-top (OTT) service, which means it streams content over the internet—similar to Netflix—rather than through traditional cable or satellite. As an advertiser-supported video on demand (AVOD) platform, Pluto TV is similar to other streaming services like Crackle, Sling Free, and Tubi.
Pluto TV offers a wide array of content, including channels covering news, sports, entertainment, movies, and more, with programs tailored to various interests. You can watch it on different devices, including smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, and computers.
To access Pluto TV and its guide, simply stream it via the Pluto website or download the app on one of the many compatible devices.
Understanding the Pluto TV Guide
The Pluto TV guide is your key to navigating the platform’s extensive content library. Here’s how to access and use it effectively:
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Accessing the Guide: The Pluto TV guide is readily available on all compatible devices, including the web browser version and the app. On most devices, the guide is located on the left side of the screen, offering a list of available channels.
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Navigating Channels: The channels are categorized into sections like Featured, Entertainment, Movies, Sports, Comedy, Kids, Latino, and Tech + Geek. Scrolling through these categories allows you to discover different genres and types of content.
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Live and On-Demand Content: The Pluto TV guide shows both live channels, which broadcast content in real-time, and on-demand content, which you can watch anytime. This combination provides a comprehensive viewing experience.
Alt text: Pluto TV on demand interface showing various movie titles and categories available for streaming.
Pluto TV: Free Package with Ads
One of the most appealing features of Pluto TV is that it is completely free. You don’t even need to register with an email address or input any credit card information. Just visit Pluto’s website or open the app, and you can immediately start watching shows and movies. The ad-supported model lets you enjoy the service without a monthly or annual fee.
You can choose to register for a Pluto TV account, which offers special features like the ability to designate favorite channels and resume watching a program on a different device. This is all made possible by Pluto airing commercials during shows.
The service makes money through advertisements, which are shown during programming. The experience is similar to watching cable TV. A half-hour show usually has about four commercial breaks, with each break consisting of several 20-30 second ads.
Pluto TV Channels and Shows
Pluto TV’s channels are divided into sections such as Featured, Entertainment, Movies, Sports, Comedy, Kids, Latino, and Tech + Geek.
While there are versions of top cable networks like MTV, Pluto TV channels aren’t usually the ones you’d find in a standard cable or satellite package.
The News channels include well-known names such as CNN, NBC News, and CBS News. However, they mostly play curated, pre-recorded clips instead of a live stream of the network.
Similarly, the Sports channels are ones you’ve heard of, such as Fox Sports, NFL Channel, PGA Tour, and Major League Soccer. However, you can’t really watch live sports on Pluto; those channels play past games, highlights, or analysis.
Pluto’s TV shows are mostly older sitcoms and reality shows that are also found on other free streaming services, such as Hell’s Kitchen, Roseanne, and The First 48.
Alt text: A promotional image for Pluto TV showcasing various sports channels available for streaming.
Pluto TV App and Supported Devices
The Pluto TV app is available on devices including web browsers as well as many major smart TVs, smartphones, and streaming boxes and sticks:
- Android mobile and tablet
- Apple iPhone and iPad
- Apple TV (4th Generation)
- Amazon Kindle/Fire Tablets
- Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
- Roku devices and Roku TVs
- Google Chromecast
- TiVo Stream 4K
- Android TV (various)
- Web browsers
- PlayStation (PS4 & PS5)
- Xbox (One, Series X, and Series S)
Pluto TV Movies On Demand
Pluto has thousands of movies on-demand and airing live on themed Movies channels, ranging from genres (Drama, Romance, Horror) to ’80s Rewind and Black Cinema. While it might not have the same extensive selection as some subscription-based services, there is still a decent range of movies available to watch whenever you want.
Pluto TV movies often include older titles that were moderate hits back in their day. Recent selections included Shaft, Addams Family Values, The Rainmaker, Airplane, Clue, Road to Perdition, and First Wives Club.
Can Pluto TV Replace Cable?
You may be wondering, “Can I use Pluto TV to replace cable?” The answer is: Sort of. Pluto TV provides some programming you may enjoy if you’re satisfied with older movies and shows. However, it doesn’t completely replace cable. Pluto TV is more suitable as an addition to on-demand streaming services, particularly since it lacks many popular cable channels and local affiliate channels from major broadcast networks.
If you want a true cable TV replacement, you will need to supplement Pluto TV with other streaming services.
Downsides of Pluto TV
Pluto TV has some downsides that may limit its appeal. Its content selection is more limited compared to paid streaming services, lacking exclusive shows or a vast on-demand library. While it offers free, ad-supported programming, the frequent commercials can disrupt the viewing experience, which may be frustrating for some users.
The platform also lacks the depth of live TV programming found on cable, missing local channels and premium networks like HBO or ESPN, and its sports coverage is not as comprehensive. Additionally, Pluto TV does not offer cloud DVR, meaning users cannot record live TV or save content for later, a feature commonly available on cable or other streaming services.
Final Thoughts on Navigating Pluto TV
Pluto TV provides a valuable, cost-free option for streaming television and movies. Knowing how to access and navigate the Pluto TV guide allows you to fully explore the service’s extensive content library. While it may not replace cable entirely, it serves as an excellent supplement to other streaming services, offering hours of entertainment without adding to your monthly bills.
