XDA’s roundup this week called out something Android TV owners already know: the featured shelf pushes the same twenty streaming apps forever, and the best apps on Android TV never make it. If you own a Google TV Streamer, a Chromecast, a Shield TV, or any TV box running Android, the best hidden Android TV apps below fix real problems the built-in apps ignore: cross-service search, ad-free YouTube, casting from a phone, and better remote control than the one that came in the box.
What to look for in an underrated Android TV app
Not every phone app is worth installing on a TV. The picks that actually earn a shelf slot check most of these boxes:
- Works with a D-pad remote, not just a touchscreen
- Doesn’t require sideloading a browser or fighting the Play Store
- Handles 10-foot UI text sizes without pinch-zoom
- Runs on 2GB RAM boxes without hitching
- Doesn’t nag for a login on first open
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JustWatch | Cross-service search | Yes (ads) | Free | Where to watch, across every service |
| SmartTube | Ad-free YouTube | Yes | Free | SponsorBlock, 4K/60fps HDR |
| Kore | Kodi remote | Yes | Free | Full library browsing from phone |
| Send files to TV | Phone-to-TV transfers | Yes (ads) | Free | Local network, no cloud |
| Aves Libre | Local photo/video viewer | Yes | Free | Handles TIFF, SVG, AVI, MP4 |
| Aptoide TV | Sideload without ADB | Yes | Free | TV-friendly store UI |
| TVQuickActions | Missing remote controls | Yes | $3.49 lifetime | Screen off, volume, gestures |
The 7 best hidden Android TV apps
1. JustWatch, best for cross-service search
JustWatch answers the question “what streaming service is this movie on right now” without opening five different apps to check. Pick your subscriptions, and it shows you what’s available on each, including price for rent/buy. The Android TV build is D-pad native and ships a proper 10-foot layout.
Where it falls short: The mobile version still has ads on the free tier. Some regional catalogues (particularly in smaller Southeast Asian markets) are less complete than the US and EU catalogues.
Pricing:
- Free with ads.
- No paid tier for regular users. Business Pro tier available but not needed.
Platforms: Android, Android TV, iOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Samsung, LG, Web.
Bottom line: The first app every Android TV owner should install. Costs nothing, saves an hour a month of “wait, is this on Netflix or Prime?”
2. SmartTube, best for ad-free YouTube on TV
SmartTube is the open-source YouTube client that replaces the official YouTube app on Android TV. Sponsor segments are auto-skipped through SponsorBlock, 4K 60fps HDR playback works on boxes where the official app throttles it, and there’s a proper D-pad-native player interface. The developer ships regular updates.
Where it falls short: Not on Google Play (developers actively working around YouTube’s ToS won’t survive there). Requires sideloading via Aptoide TV, F-Droid, or a direct APK.
Pricing:
- Free. Open source.
- Optional donation supported.
Platforms: Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV.
Bottom line: The single upgrade that makes an Android TV box feel three times faster for YouTube. Install it, then forget the official app exists.
3. Kore, best for a Kodi remote
Kore is the Kodi Foundation’s official Android remote. If Kodi is running on your Android TV box, Kore turns your phone into a full library browser, queue manager, and playback controller. Search by title on your phone with a real keyboard, then send the video to the TV. Works over local Wi-Fi with zero cloud dependency.
Where it falls short: Only works with Kodi. If your library is on Plex, Jellyfin, or Emby, use their respective apps.
Pricing:
- Free. Open source.
- Available on Google Play and F-Droid.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Bottom line: If you run Kodi, you should be running Kore too. It costs nothing and turns typing on your TV from misery to a solved problem.
4. Send files to TV, best for phone-to-TV transfers
Send files to TV does one thing and does it right. Push files from an Android phone to an Android TV over local Wi-Fi, no cloud, no account, no ads on the TV side. Works with photos, videos, PDFs, APKs. If you sideload apps to your TV, this is how you get them there.
Where it falls short: Ad-supported on the free tier of the phone app. The developer ships a paid ad-free upgrade for a couple of dollars.
Pricing:
- Free with ads on phone side.
- Ad removal in-app purchase, around $2-3 depending on region.
Platforms: Android, Android TV, iOS (companion).
Bottom line: Zero-config file transfers. Every Android TV owner should install both sides.
5. Aves Libre, best local photo and video viewer
Aves Libre is the open-source local photo viewer that handles formats Google Photos won’t touch: multi-page TIFF, SVG, old AVIs, animated PNG, HEIC, RAW. On Android TV it becomes a proper 10-foot gallery for photos on a USB drive or on the internal storage of the box. Screen saver support, folder-based browsing, and a keyboard-shortcut layer for the TV remote.
Where it falls short: Not a cloud photo app. If your photos live in iCloud or Google Photos, this won’t help.
Pricing:
- Free. Open source.
Platforms: Android, Android TV.
Bottom line: The invisible utility. You install it once, use it whenever family photos come out of a phone, and never think about it again.
6. Aptoide TV, best for sideloading without ADB
Aptoide TV is a TV-native app store that carries the sideloadable apps the official Play Store won’t feature: SmartTube, alternative launchers, retro emulators, region-locked apps. Remote-friendly UI, big cards, D-pad navigation. The catalog is curated for TV.
Where it falls short: Only carries what its user base uploads. Some apps take longer to update than the mainline Play Store.
Pricing:
- Free. Ad-supported.
Platforms: Android TV.
Bottom line: The store that lets you install everything the Play Store hides. If you plan to run SmartTube, Kore, or any custom launcher, install this first.
7. TVQuickActions, best for the remote controls your remote forgot
TVQuickActions adds the buttons the box’s factory remote left out. Screen off without turning the TV off, volume control on boxes whose remote doesn’t have it, launcher shortcuts, gesture overlays, and the ability to quit apps that fight the back button. Runs as a service, minimal battery hit.
Where it falls short: The setup wants Android accessibility permissions. Read what it asks for before granting.
Pricing:
- Free tier with core functions.
- Pro upgrade around $3.49 lifetime for advanced features.
Platforms: Android TV.
Bottom line: If your Android TV box came with a bad remote, this app rescues it. If your remote is fine, skip.
How to pick the right one
- If you subscribe to more than two streaming services: install JustWatch first. It pays for itself in five minutes.
- If you watch YouTube on your TV: install SmartTube. Skip the ad experience.
- If you run a Kodi library: install Kore on your phone. Typing on a TV remote is over.
- If you sideload apps or share photos from your phone: install Send files to TV. Simple.
- If you have local photos or a home movie archive on a drive: install Aves Libre.
- If your box lets you install a third-party store: install Aptoide TV. It unlocks the whole sideload ecosystem.
- If your box’s remote is missing buttons: install TVQuickActions.
FAQ
What Android TV apps are actually worth installing in 2026?
JustWatch for cross-service search, SmartTube for ad-free YouTube, and Kore if you run a Kodi library. Those three cover the vast majority of what a factory TV shelf misses.
Is SmartTube legal to use?
SmartTube is open-source software that runs on your device. It streams video through YouTube in ways YouTube doesn’t officially endorse and is not on the Play Store. Users install it at their own discretion. YouTube Premium is the sanctioned way to get an ad-free YouTube experience.
How do I sideload apps on Android TV?
The easiest path is to install Aptoide TV first, which has a TV-native store UI. From there, install SmartTube, Kore, and any other sideloadable apps. Alternatively, use Send files to TV to push an APK from your phone.
Do these apps work on Google TV boxes and the Google TV Streamer?
Yes. Google TV is Android TV with a different launcher on top. All seven apps on this list run on Google TV Streamer, Chromecast with Google TV, and any Android TV box.
Which of these are open source?
SmartTube, Kore, and Aves Libre are all open source and available on F-Droid. The rest are proprietary but free.
