VIZIO SMART TVs are very popular in India and people are crazy about the apps so we have listed the 20 Best Apps for VIZIO SMART TV You Should Be Using in your day-to-day life all the apps for Vizio Smart TV are 100% compatible with other Android TVs.
1. Solid Explorer
After the fall of ES File Explorer, Solid Explorer has rightfully earned its position as the best file manager on Android and it’s true for VIZIO SMART TV as well. This file explorer is the perfect replacement for ES File Explorer and you are truly going to love its unique blend of design and function. The app brings a two-pane layout interface which makes it very easy to navigate through folders and interact with files. The best part is that you can manage the internal storage of your VIZIO SMART TV right from Solid Explorer. It allows you to uninstall, delete and also install third-party APKs on VIZIO SMART TV. Not to mention, you can add your FTP server if you want. To sum it up, Solid Explorer is not only the best file manager but among the best apps for VIZIO SMART TV.
ALSO SEE: How to use Dell Mobile Connect app with an iPhone or Android
2. Photo Gallery and Screensaver
VIZIO SMART TV comes with a native screensaver feature, but it’s very limited and you can’t set your own photos. Secondly, the Google Photos integration on VIZIO SMART TV was awesome, but it’s gone now due to a security issue. So basically, you can’t display your personal set of photos either from your Google account or internal storage. In that case, this Photo Gallery and Screensaver app comes to the rescue. The app is specifically designed for VIZIO SMART TV and brings all the screensaver features that you want on a large TV screen.
You can choose your photos, change the aspect ratio, apply a transition effect and do much more. And the best part is that through this app, you can even connect your Google account and it can pull your photos and display them as a screensaver. To bear it all, Photo Gallery and Screensaver is among the best screensaver apps for VIZIO SMART TV, if not the best.
3. VLC
The VLC media player is a very popular video-playing app and with good reason. The app supports almost every file format, and can playback videos encoded in a wide variety of codecs. VLC can even easily decode videos that use the HEVC H.265 codec. Add to that the intuitive interface, and the stability that VLC offers, and you’ll know just why VLC is so widely used. The VLC app automatically categorizes your media into Video, Audio, and others. Plus, with the settings inside the app, you can control things like hardware acceleration and more. VLC may come pre-installed on VIZIO SMART or TV boxes like the Mi Box but can be easily installed as it is available on the VIZIO SMART TV Play Store.
4. Aptoide
Aptoide is simply one of the best apps for VIZIO SMART TV because it lets you access thousands of Android apps without any geo-restriction or VIZIO SMART TV compatibility issue. In case, you are not aware, Aptoide is a third-party app store just like the Google Play Store. You can discover and install apps that are otherwise not available on the Play Store. If you are worried about the app integrity, well Aptoide is directly supported by the developers so there are no middlemen repackaging the apps. Simply put, if you are unable to find your favorite apps on VIZIO SMART TV through the Play Store, the Aptoide app store will take you right home.
Install: (Free)
5. Spotify
When it comes to streaming music, Spotify is undoubtedly the best way to go. With the Spotify app on your VIZIO SMART TV, you can stream music directly through your VIZIO SMART TV, itself. The best part about using Spotify is that it has a free tier service, as well. However, with the paid subscription, you get unlimited track skipping and no ads between songs. On VIZIO SMART TV boxes like the Mi Box, Spotify comes pre-installed, and you just need to sign in with your Spotify account in order to start streaming music.
6. Netflix
Netflix is to video streaming, what Spotify is to music. It is one of the most popular movies and TV show streaming platforms in the world. And now that Netflix is available almost everywhere in the world, chances are, you have a subscription already. Even if you don’t, I highly recommend that you give Netflix a try. It has a wide variety of Netflix originals, TV shows, animated series, and movies to choose from, and you will definitely find something that interests you. The Netflix app comes pre-installed on many VIZIO SMART TVs and you can simply log in with your Netflix account to get started with binge-watching your favorite TV series.
Also Read: How to Add Apps to Vizio Smart TV
7. Haystack
VIZIO SMART TV boxes such as the Mi Box come packed with a plethora of applications, ranging from music and video streaming apps, to news applications. However, if those news apps don’t meet your needs, you should check out Haystack. Haystack is a news app that you can use to stay updated on a variety of topics, from Science and Technology, Politics and Current Events, to Games, and Movie Trailers.
News items are presented in a nice fluid interface, which is perfect for an VIZIO SMART TV set up. Also, the way things are laid out is exceptionally well thought out. Haystack brings news curated from a number of sources, such as AP, BBC News, CBS, and many more. Plus, there is a handy “weather pane” on the bottom of the window to keep you updated with the weather in your location.
8. Kodi
Kodi is perhaps one of the most powerful media server applications out there. The app can be used to manage all your media into one central location, which can even be set up to be accessed remotely. Along with that, Kodi’s abilities can be enhanced with a number of Kodi add-ons that add on a lot of power to the application. You can learn how to install Kodi on different operating systems by clicking on the link.
You should definitely use Kodi on your VIZIO SMART TV if you have a lot of offline media, and are looking for a way to quickly organize all of it, with a proper hierarchy. Any extra media that you may add to your device after you’ve set up Kodi, will automatically be sorted into the proper categories, and arranged into the locations you have decided. Kodi’s add-ons also help it support almost any audio, and video format that you may throw at it, making it a very versatile solution for consuming media on your VIZIO SMART TV.
9. SlingTV
If you are looking for the best VIZIO SMART TV app that offers you a great range of live TV channels including sports, lifestyle, news (local and international) then SlingTV is the perfect pick. To name a few, the app has channels such as the ESPN network, NFL, The Food Network, CNBC, BBC, and more. While the app is completely free to install, you will have to pay for the live TV service. Talking about the app, it’s quite slick and well designed. I was able to quickly move between channels just like traditional TVs. All in all, SlingTV seems to be the best app for watching live TV channels on VIZIO SMART TV given that it also comes with a cloud-based DVR (Digital Video Recording) support.
10. Send files to TV (SFTV)
Send Files to TV is one of my favorite apps on VIZIO SMART TV, bar none. There are times when you want to transfer videos, photos or music files to your TV and that’s when you realize that you need a thumb drive to transfer the files. However, Send files to TV app makes everything seamless through wireless transfer. You just have to install the app on both your TV and smartphone and you will be able to send the files as if you are sending a WhatsApp forward.
Keep in mind, you will have to be in the same WiFi network for this to work. Talking about the reliability of the app, the transfer speed is pretty good and I have rarely seen any failed transfers. Simply put, if you are on a lookout for the best app to transfer files on VIZIO SMART TV, SFTV is the one you should pick.
11. Plex
Another really great media center application that you can use, is Plex. The Plex application is not as powerful as Kodi, and doesn’t really have as many plugins either. But where Plex shines, is in the simple way things are laid out in the app. Where Kodi might look (and feel) intimidating, Plex has a user interface that is immediately friendly, and will have you hooked in no time. That is, once you have figured out how things work.
To use Plex on your VIZIO SMART TV, you will need a Plex server on another laptop, or computer, which can be accessed by your VIZIO SMART TV over WiFi. Once that is done, you can playback any media file on your Plex server, directly on your VIZIO SMART TV, without the hassle of any wires, transferring files, etc. If you are not happy with Plex, you can also look at some of the best Plex alternatives to get the same set of features.
12. Tunnelbear
Having a VPN application never hurts. It helps to keep you anonymous while browsing the internet and can be used to circumvent geographical restrictions placed on a lot of online content. Unless you want to pirate stuff, Tunnelbear is one of the best VPN apps you can use on your VIZIO SMART TV. Even though the app is not yet optimized for VIZIO SMART TV, it works perfectly fine, and actually looks rather good.
Tunnelbear gives you 500 MB data free every month, and you can buy one of their paid subscriptions to increase this limit. For basic browsing, though, 500 MB will probably suffice you. Do note that Tunnelbear will not let you download items that use P2P protocols, for security, and legal reasons. There are a lot of other free VPN apps that you can use, as well, should Tunnelbear not meet your expectations.
Install: (Free, with in-app purchases)
13. Google Chrome
VIZIO SMART TVs don’t come with a web browser installed, which is understandable, but still quite disappointing. However, if you want a web browser on your VIZIO SMART TV, you can easily install a browser such as Google Chrome. With Google Chrome installed, you can browse the web, and do a lot more on your VIZIO SMART TV.
Since we are installing a fully-fledged Android app, it will have every feature that the Google Chrome app has on an Android phone. However, Google Chrome is not available in the VIZIO SMART TV Play Store, which means you will have to sideload it. You can read the article on sideloading apps on VIZIO SMART TVs to learn how you can do this.
Install: (Free)
14. Google Drive
If you like the idea of having access to your files on your VIZIO SMART TV, there is no better way than using Google Drive. With Google Drive on your TV, you can easily access all of your cloud data, and view it on your VIZIO SMART TV. While the Google Drive app is not yet available on the VIZIO SMART TV Play Store, you can easily sideload the APK from websites such as APKMirror. If you don’t want to use Google Drive, you can check its alternatives to store your data on the cloud and access it from your VIZIO SMART TV.
15. Sideload Launcher
You must have noticed that a lot of the Android apps we’re installing on our VIZIO SMART TV have to be sideloaded. This is perfectly fine, but the problem is that sideloaded apps do not show up in the default VIZIO SMART TV launcher. This is exactly where Sideload Launcher comes into play. The app is developed by Chainfire, and displays all of the sideloaded apps on your VIZIO SMART TV.
This is the only way you can launch sideloaded apps on an VIZIO SMART TV; at least as of now. So, if you’re planning on sideloading apps on your VIZIO SMART TV, you should definitely install this launcher. There are some other launchers that perform the same function as Sideload Launcher, but I found this one to be the best.
16. The Weather Network
The Weather Network is a beautiful weather app for your VIZIO SMART TV. The app has been specifically designed to work well with VIZIO SMART TVs, and it really shows. There are a number of sections inside The Weather Network, including “Videos”, “Weather”, “Maps”, and more. You can go to the “Weather” section to view the current weather at your location, as well as a 36-hour, and hourly forecast. The app even gives a 14 day forecast, if you need to check the weather that far off.
There are definitely a lot of potential advantages to using this app, including the fact that you can quickly get a glance at the weather conditions (along with the traffic on your route) every morning before you leave for work.
17. Twitch
If you’re a fan of watching live streams of various players (both professional, and amateurs), showing off their gameplay, Twitch is the place to be. The app is kind of like the place where people post live streams of them playing different games. While this may sound like a silly past-time to a lot of you, for gaming fans, this is a great thing. It’s always a lot of fun to watch others play, both for entertainment, as well as for learning new things about the way they approach the game, and the challenges it offers. You can also check out some Twitch alternatives if you are not happy with the service.
You should definitely check Twitch out, if you’re even a little bit into gaming.
18. AirScreen
VIZIO SMART TVs come with support for Google Cast, so you can easily cast any audio, video, or image from your Android device to your VIZIO SMART TV, and watch it there. However, what if you own an iPhone, and you’d like to stream music, or videos playing on your iPhone to your VIZIO SMART TV? iPhones don’t support Google Cast, but they do come with AirPlay – the feature that allows users to stream content to Apple TVs.
If you want to stream media from your iPhone to your VIZIO SMART TV, you can use an app like AirScreen. This app puts an AirPlay server on your VIZIO SMART TV, and basically makes your iPhone think that your VIZIO SMART TV is in fact an Apple TV, allowing you to cast your iPhone’s screen to your VIZIO SMART TV.
19. iHeartRadio
Do you want to hear your favorite radio stations on your VIZIO SMART TV? Well, there is an app for that and it works quite well. iHeartRadio is particularly designed for those users who love listening to radio stations, music playlists, and podcasts. The best part about this app is that it supports thousands of AM and FM radio stations from both local and global sources. And that is not all, you can listen to sports stations like ESPN Radio, Fox Sports and more. In terms of design, the app is pretty clean and looks very similar to Spotify. However, it has many radio station labels ranging from music, news, sports, talk, and comedy. All in all, iHeartRadio is certainly a great app for VIZIO SMART TV and if you are a radio lover, it’s a cherry on the cake.
20. Steam Link
If you want to play desktop-quality games on your VIZIO SMART TV– irrespective of your TV’s hardware then Steam Link is the best app to try out. However, there are a few caveats: Steam should be installed on your PC and running; your VIZIO SMART TV and PC should be connected to 5GHz WiFi with Ethernet and of course, you need a Steam membership. To simply put, Steam Link works by mirroring the display from your PC to the VIZIO SMART TV so you need faster connectivity and lower latency. This will allow you to play desktop-level games on a much larger screen. And on top of that, you can even connect a Bluetooth controller to the TV and play in real-time in front of your TV. So, if you are looking for a way to play graphics-intensive games on VIZIO SMART TV, this is a great option to consider.
The Best VIZIO SMART TV Apps You Can Use
VIZIO SMART TVs come with a lot of really awesome apps pre-installed, but there are a lot of other apps that you can install on your VIZIO SMART TV to get even more out of it. There are apps to keep you updated with the latest news around the world, tell you about the weather, help you relax with a movie, after a long day at work, and a lot more. These were the 200 best VIZIO SMART TV apps you can use on your smart TV. As always, we would like to know your thoughts so drop them down in the comments section below.