Vizio’s free Tubi alternative just got a lot bigger

Streaming platforms make it possible for most households to enjoy movies and TV shows. However, many of these services require a subscription, and titans like Netflix and Disney aren’t exactly kind when it comes to membership prices. Fortunately, there are also several great FAST (free, ad-supported TV) streamers, including big hitters like Tubi, Pluto, and The Roku Channel. Walmart-owned Vizio – an AV brand specializing in TVs and soundbars – is the company behind WatchFree+, another FAST platform built into Vizio OS (Vizio’s smart TV software).

According to the manufacturer, WatchFree+ now hosts more than 400 live and local channels, in addition to 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 more than 40 free “content creator” channels, and early entrants include MrBeast, Ryan Trahan and Rebecca Zamolo.

Similar to a few other FAST platforms, WatchFree+ lets users watch on-demand titles and live stations on more than just Vizio TVs. You can view content on a phone or tablet through the Vizio Mobile app, but note that you’ll need to sign in to 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 to your phone or tablet through WatchFree+, even if you don’t have a Vizio TV.

So far, 2026 has apparently been a good year for Vizio. Not only did the company report that its Vizio operating system was the best-selling smart TV operating system in the United States during the first half of 2026, but viewing hours on WatchFree+ also increased by 58% during the same time window. The company also boasts that its user base stands at 32 million active devices per year in the United States, which is a 20% increase over last year’s numbers.

Vizio OS also includes other smart TV must-haves, including Alexa and Google Home compatibility, the Sports Zone dashboard, as well as VIZIOgram, a media hosting interface integrated into the Vizio mobile app. Use it to stream photos and videos to a compatible Vizio Smart TV and wow your friends, family, and maybe even an enemy or two. All of this makes us smile, because we didn’t know how things were going to turn out after Walmart’s acquisition for Vizio.

Apparently we had nothing to worry about, at least when it came to larger brand ecosystems. Now, what might the next steps look like? Perhaps Vizio will be able to install Vizio OS on more than just its own smart TVs, or maybe the company will be able to host WatchFree+ on other smart TV platforms. The QUICK method is a great method, so let’s keep the free movie bonfire burning.