You do not need to pay anything to watch a large selection of British TV — the main UK broadcasters all have free streaming apps. Here are the best free UK TV apps in 2026, what each one offers, and how to add premium channels at a low cost.
The Best Free UK TV Apps
- BBC iPlayer — all live BBC channels plus a huge on-demand library of BBC programmes, documentaries and films. Requires a valid TV licence.
- ITVX — live ITV channels, catch-up TV, ITV originals and a selection of boxsets. Free with adverts, or ad-free with ITVX Premium.
- Channel 4 — live and on-demand C4, E4, More4 and Film4 content. Free with account registration.
- My5 — live Channel 5 and catch-up. Free with registration.
- STV Player — Scottish viewers get STV content and live STV here.
What Free Apps Cannot Give You
Free UK TV apps cover the main national broadcasters brilliantly, but they do not include Sky Sports, Premier League football, TNT Sports, Sky Cinema or international channels. For that, you need a paid subscription.
💡 The best of both worlds: Use the free apps for catch-up and BBC/ITV content, and add TVfast for live sport, Sky channels and 20,000+ live channels — all for £4.91/month.
Devices These Apps Work On
All the major free UK TV apps work on Smart TVs, Amazon Firestick, iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, and computers. No extra hardware needed.
Want to see the full picture of free UK TV? Read our UK free TV channels guide.
Free UK TV apps at a glance
- BBC iPlayer — all BBC content free
- ITVX — all ITV content free
- Channel 4 app — all C4 content free
- My5 — all Channel 5 content free
- TVfast adds Sky Sports and 20,000+ channels from £4.91/mo
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