Vizio's Free Tubi Alternative Just Got A Lot Bigger

Streaming platforms are how most households are enjoying movies and TV shows. Many of these services require a subscription, though, and titans like Netflix and Disney aren't exactly benevolent when it comes to membership pricing. Fortunately, there are several great FAST (free, ad-supported TV) streamers to choose from, too, including big hitters like Tubi, Pluto, and The Roku Channel. Walmart-owned Vizio — an AV brand that specializes in TVs and soundbars — is the company behind WatchFree+, another FAST platform that's built into Vizio OS (Vizio's smart TV software).

According to the manufacturer, WatchFree+ is now home to more than 400 live and local channels, on top of 45,000 movies and TV shows. Vizio also recently announced that WatchFree+ will be expanding; users will soon have access to even more content, thanks to Vizio's licensing partnerships with NBCUniversal, Disney, MGM, and other media providers. WatchFree+ is also adding over 40 free "content creator" channels, and some initial participants include MrBeast, Ryan Trahan, and Rebecca Zamolo.

Similar to a few other FAST platforms, WatchFree+ allows users to watch on-demand titles and live stations on more than just Vizio TVs. You can view the content on a phone or tablet via the Vizio Mobile app, but note that you'll need to log into a Walmart or Vizio account to start streaming. That said, anyone can create an account for free — in other words, you can stream live TV on your phone or tablet via WatchFree+ even if you don't own a Vizio TV.

So far, 2026 has apparently been a good year for Vizio. Not only did the company report that its Vizio OS was the top-selling smart TV operating system in the U.S. for the first half of 2026, but viewing hours on WatchFree+ also rose by 58% within the same time window. The company also boasts that its user base is up to 32 million yearly active devices in the U.S., which represents a 20% increase from last year's figures.

Vizio OS includes other smart TV must-haves, too, including Alexa and Google Home compatibility, the Sports Zone dashboard, as well as VIZIOgram, a media-hosting interface that's built into the Vizio Mobile App. Use it to cast photos and videos to a compatible Vizio smart TV, and wow your friends, family, and maybe even an enemy or two. This all puts a smile on our faces, because we weren't sure how things were going to shake out post-Walmart acquisition for Vizio.

Apparently we had nothing to worry about, at least as far as greater brand ecosystems are concerned. Now, what might next steps look like? Perhaps Vizio will be able to get Vizio OS on more than just its own smart TVs, or maybe the company will be able to get WatchFree+ hosted by other smart TV platforms. The FAST way is a great way, so let's keep the free-movie-bonfire burning bright.