5 essential apps for your new TCL TV

TCL has made a name for itself as a budget TV brand, and over the past few years it has started to rise as a burgeoning mid-tier and even premium option. It has a wide range of TV sizes available on its models, as well as different picture technologies to choose from depending on what you hope to get out of your viewing experience. Because it’s one of the most popular budget TV brands on the market, those shopping for a new TV regularly run into TCL.

If you’ve decided to put a TCL smart TV at the center of your viewing setup, now is the time to start loading it with apps. Both Google TV and Roku platforms are available with TCL TVs, and while not all the essentials are available on both platforms, there are still plenty of smart TV apps that can improve the stock experience. Apps to find new movies and shows are among them, as are apps to remove pesky ads on smart platforms, use a fitness companion, and stream your own media.

We’re no strangers to TCL TVs, or smart TVs in general. We’ve come across a number of apps that integrate well with the Google TV and Roku platforms. In addition to our own favorites, we’ve scoured the Google Play Store and the Roku Channel Store for additional apps that we think are essential for your new TV.

One thing many people look forward to when purchasing a TCL TV is access to free streaming services. Platforms like Tubi and Pluto TV are there for these viewers, as are many other free streaming options. Access to paid streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video is also available with a TCL Smart TV, all of which can be installed through the Google Play Store or Roku Channel Store.

But even with all this access, some viewers may find the programming lacking. Whether you’ve purchased one of the best TCL TVs or a model with more modest features, the viewing experience can be enhanced by ensuring you have access to all the content that’s right for you. A service like YouTube TV not only provides access to on-demand movies and TV shows, but also live TV, including local channels like Fox, CBS, and NBC.

YouTube TV requires a monthly subscription, and it is regularly priced at $83 per month. It’s certainly not cheap, especially compared to services like Netflix. But YouTube TV is a lot like cable or satellite in terms of programming and interface, and provides access to hundreds of TV channels, including TBS, TNT, USA and the ESPN networks. YouTube TV is also the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket. For those looking for an alternative, Hulu with Live TV and Sling TV are similar options.

For those who want to avoid expensive streaming services altogether, there are still plenty of ways to watch content on your new TV. The aforementioned free streaming services are still available on your TCL TV, as are subscription platforms like Netflix, Peacock, and Disney+. That’s a lot to sort through, and it can be difficult to track down specific movies and TV shows you might want to watch.

This is where JustWatch comes in. The app can function as both a content search engine and a hub for whatever you want to watch. If you’re looking for a specific movie or TV show, you can search for it in the JustWatch app and you’ll instantly receive all the streaming services currently hosting it. This way you can decide which streaming services you want to pay for. Alternatively, you can tell the app which services you already have and filter content native to those specific platforms.

One downside for TCL TV users when it comes to JustWatch is that it is not available on the Roku platform. If your TV has Google TV as its smart platform, you can find JustWatch on the Google Play Store. Those who own TCL TVs with Roku can still use JustWatch by installing it on a phone or tablet. You won’t have the benefits of having it directly on your TV, but the mobile app can still give you all the information you need to find the movies and TV shows you want to watch.

If your TCL smart TV comes with Google TV, you may quickly tire of its ad-heavy interface. A TV launcher is a smart way to bypass ads, and Projectivy Launcher is one of the best options.

It has racked up over a million downloads on the Google Play Store and is highly rated, with an overall rating of 4.4 stars out of 5. Much of the app’s popularity is because it is able to completely replace the Google TV interface, eliminating banners and other ads that you would otherwise see. But there are plenty of other reasons why it’s essential for TCL TV users, including features like plenty of app layouts and input shortcuts for accessing peripheral TV equipment.

This is another app that is not available to TCL TV owners that leverage the Roku smart platform. Roku is a proprietary operating system and does not support custom launchers like Projectivy Launcher. But if you own a TCL TV with Google TV at its heart and want to create an interface more tailored to your tastes, the basic functionality of Projectivy Launcher is completely free. The launcher also offers an optional one-time fee that unlocks additional features like custom wallpapers, advanced font options, and parental controls.

For TCL TV owners who want to opt out of streaming services or want to supplement them with their own media library, Jellyfin is one of the best personal media server platforms you can try. It allows you to use a central storage device within your home as a server. This could be a computer or an external hard drive where you house all your independent movies, TV shows, music and photos.

Jellyfin is available on the Google Play Store and the Roku Channel Store. Installing the app essentially turns your TV into a potential home theater hub, even without peripheral equipment or a streaming subscription. One downside is setup, as it may require a bit of work to turn your physical media into your own personal streaming service. Another downside is that you will of course need to have your own library of media files.

If you’ve spent years collecting DRM-free media, whether by ripping DVDs and CDs or via licensed digital media, you’ll likely have plenty of good reasons to add Jellyfin to your TCL TV setup. It also works with your own personal media files, so you can watch home videos and view photos on your TV.

Although displaying content is the primary task of a TV, that shouldn’t be the only reason you use it. With the right apps, a TCL TV can also become much more interactive than movies and TV shows allow. One such app is FitOn, available on both the Google Play Store and the Roku Channel Store.

The fitness app market is incredibly crowded, but what sets FitOn apart is the generosity of its free tier. Access to unlimited workouts is available for free, including workouts led by well-known trainers and celebrities. Nutrition, motivational exercises and guided classes are also available without having to spend a dime. And FitOn isn’t just for fitness enthusiasts, as it includes meditation and mindfulness practices among its video content.

The only real downside to the free version of FitOn is that it comes with ads and upgrade prompts, but the sheer number of accesses available for free may make this more tolerable. For those who want to eliminate ads completely, a FitOn Pro subscription is available for $30 per year, and this includes access to fitness features like meal plans and convenient features like offline downloads. Installing FitOn on your TCL TV immediately transforms your living room into a gym or yoga studio.

There is a lot of crossover between TCL TVs and other smart TVs because much of the viewing experience revolves around the smart TV platform used. Since TCL TVs use the Google TV and Roku TV platforms, some of our selections here were based on hands-on experience. Others were made through our knowledge of TCL TVs in general, as well as through searches on the Google Play Store and Roku Channel Store. We know that few people will want to invest heavily in apps after buying a new TV. With the exception of YouTube TV – or any other live TV service of your choice – we’ve stuck to app options that offer a generous free tier.