Your Amazon Firestick comes loaded with potential, but most people only scratch the surface of what it can do. Whether you want live sports, free movies, premium shows, or a full cable replacement, the right apps turn your Firestick into one of the best entertainment setups money can buy.
This guide covers the 15 best Firestick apps in 2026, what they cost, what they offer, and which ones are genuinely worth your time. We’ll also show you how to install apps that aren’t in the Amazon Appstore.
How to Install Apps on Firestick
Before we dive in, a quick note on installation. Most apps on this list are available directly from the Amazon Appstore:
- From your Firestick home screen, hover over the search icon (magnifying glass) at the top
- Type the app name
- Select the app from results, then choose Download or Get
- The app installs automatically and appears in your app library
For apps that aren’t in the Amazon Appstore, you can sideload them using the Downloader app (free on the Appstore). Enable “Apps from Unknown Sources” in your Firestick settings under My Fire TV > Developer Options, then use Downloader to install APK files directly by URL. KrushTV, for example, can be sideloaded this way in under two minutes.
The 15 Best Firestick Apps in 2026
1. KrushTV, Best for Live TV and Sports (Our Top Pick)
Cost: $20/month, $50/3 months, $80/6 months, or $120/year. 3-day free trial, no credit card required.
If you’re tired of paying $100+ a month for a cable package you barely use, KrushTV is the answer. It delivers hundreds of live channels, including every major sports league, at a fraction of the cable cost.
Here’s what’s included:
- NFL and NFL RedZone, every game, every Sunday
- NBA, full season and playoffs
- MLB and NHL, complete coverage
- Premier League and Champions League, top-tier soccer
- UFC, fight cards as they air
- NASCAR, race days, qualifying, the whole schedule
- Major news, entertainment, and lifestyle channels
On top of live TV, KrushTV includes 35,000+ movies and series on demand, so there’s always something to watch when live channels are between events.
The $20/month price undercuts every major cable and satellite provider. The annual plan at $120/year works out to $10/month, about what most people spend on a single streaming subscription.
Start with the free 3-day trial at krushtv.com/free-trial. No credit card needed.
2. Netflix
Cost: From $7/month (with ads) to $23/month (4K, ad-free)
Netflix remains one of the most-used apps on any streaming device. The Firestick app is polished, fast, and covers the full Netflix library, originals, licensed films, documentaries, and international content. If you’re already a subscriber, the Firestick app is one of the best ways to watch.
3. YouTube
Cost: Free (ad-supported). YouTube Premium available at $14/month.
YouTube on Firestick is surprisingly useful as a TV app. Beyond regular videos, it carries live news streams, full sporting events (including some NFL games through the NFL’s official channel), concerts, and an enormous library of free content. YouTube TV is a separate paid service inside the same app for those who want a traditional live TV guide.
4. Tubi
Cost: Free, ad-supported
Tubi is one of the best free streaming apps available anywhere. It carries thousands of movies and full TV series, including a solid catalog of classic films, cult favorites, and recent releases, at no cost. Ads run every 15–20 minutes, which is a reasonable trade for a free service. No account required to start watching.
5. Pluto TV
Cost: Free, ad-supported
Pluto TV operates like a traditional TV network but entirely free. It offers 300+ live channels organized by genre, news, sports highlights, true crime, comedy, horror, alongside a large on-demand library. It’s a great option for background TV or casual browsing without spending anything.
6. Peacock
Cost: Free tier available. Premium from $8/month.
Peacock is NBC’s streaming service and it punches above its weight for sports fans. It carries NFL playoff games, Premier League soccer, the Olympics, and a strong library of NBC originals and classic shows (The Office, Parks and Recreation, etc.). The free tier is limited but functional; the premium tier is worth it if you care about the sports coverage.
7. ESPN
Cost: Free app (requires cable login or ESPN+ subscription). ESPN+ from $11/month.
The ESPN app gives you live sports scores, highlights, and some live events. ESPN+ (a separate paid tier) adds UFC Fight Night, college sports, some MLB and NHL games, and exclusive ESPN+ originals. If KrushTV is your main sports source, the ESPN app is still handy for highlights and SportsCenter-style coverage.
8. Disney+
Cost: From $8/month (with ads) to $14/month (ad-free)
Disney+ covers Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, Disney classics, and National Geographic. For families or anyone following the MCU or Star Wars franchise, it’s a must-have. The Firestick app is well-optimized with 4K HDR support on compatible TVs.
9. Max (formerly HBO Max)
Cost: From $10/month (with ads) to $20/month (Ultimate, 4K)
Max carries HBO’s full prestige catalog, The Sopranos, The Wire, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, plus Warner Bros. theatrical releases and Max originals. If you watch serious drama or want access to day-one theatrical releases at home, Max belongs in your rotation.
10. Hulu
Cost: From $8/month (with ads). Hulu + Live TV from $83/month.
Hulu’s base plan is a solid on-demand service with a current-season catalog that no other service matches, new episodes often appear the day after they air. Hulu + Live TV is a full cable replacement option, though at $83/month it costs significantly more than KrushTV for live channel access.
11. Amazon Prime Video
Cost: Included with Amazon Prime ($15/month or $140/year)
If you already have Amazon Prime for shipping, Prime Video is already paid for. The library includes Amazon Originals (The Boys, Reacher, Fallout), licensed films, and a large selection of add-on channels. The Firestick naturally integrates Prime Video more deeply than any other device.
12. Kodi
Cost: Free, open-source
Kodi is a powerful media center app that you sideload onto your Firestick using the Downloader method described above. It organizes your personal media library (movies and TV shows stored on a NAS or external drive) and supports add-ons for additional content. It requires more setup than the other apps on this list, but for users with large personal libraries, it’s invaluable.
13. Plex
Cost: Free basic tier. Plex Pass from $5/month or $120 lifetime.
Plex serves a similar purpose to Kodi but with a more polished, consumer-friendly interface. You run Plex Media Server on a home computer or NAS, and the Firestick app streams your personal library to any TV. Plex also offers free, ad-supported movies and TV through Plex’s own content catalog, no server required for that part.
14. VLC
Cost: Free
VLC on Firestick plays nearly any video file format from network shares, USB drives, or direct stream URLs. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the most reliable playback utility you can install. Useful as a backup player for files that other apps refuse to open.
15. Downloader
Cost: Free
Downloader isn’t a streaming app, it’s a utility that makes everything else possible. It lets you install APK files from the web onto your Firestick, which is how you get apps that aren’t listed in the Amazon Appstore (including KrushTV). Every serious Firestick user should have this installed. It’s available directly in the Amazon Appstore, no sideloading required to get it.
Which Apps Are Worth Paying For?
Here’s a quick breakdown by budget:
If you want to replace cable entirely:
KrushTV at $20/month is the move. You get live sports, news, entertainment, and 35,000+ on-demand titles in one app. Pair it with Tubi and Pluto TV for additional free content and you’ve covered nearly every scenario at a fraction of cable cost.
If you want the best on-demand library:
Netflix, Max, and Disney+ cover the most-watched premium content. If you’re choosing one, Max has the highest concentration of critically acclaimed programming.
If you want completely free:
Tubi, Pluto TV, and YouTube together give you a surprisingly complete entertainment setup at zero cost. You’ll watch ads, but you won’t pay a subscription fee.
A Note on Sideloading
Amazon’s Appstore doesn’t carry every app. Some of the best Firestick apps, including KrushTV, are distributed outside the Appstore and require sideloading via Downloader.
The process is straightforward:
1. Install Downloader from the Amazon Appstore (it’s free and listed there)
2. Go to Settings > My Fire TV > Developer Options and enable “Apps from Unknown Sources”
3. Open Downloader, enter the URL for the APK you want to install
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete installation
Sideloaded apps work exactly like Appstore apps once installed. You can find KrushTV’s installation instructions at krushtv.com/free-trial.
Final Thoughts
The Firestick is a genuinely capable streaming device when you load it with the right apps. Most people leave it running a single Netflix account and miss everything else it can do.
The combination that makes the most sense for the majority of users:
- KrushTV for live TV and sports
- Tubi or Pluto TV for free on-demand viewing
- One premium service (Netflix, Max, or Disney+ depending on what you watch)
- Downloader for installing apps outside the Appstore
That setup costs $20–34/month depending on which premium service you choose, and it beats a $120/month cable bill without giving up anything you actually watch.
Ready to cut the cable bill? Start your free 3-day trial of KrushTV, no credit card required.