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Entertainment · head to head

Tubi vs VLC

Tubi logo

Tubi

Entertainment

Watch movies and TV shows for free

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
VLC logo

VLC

Entertainment

The free and open source media player

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Tubi website redirect issues prevent full pricing page access; VLC vLC is completely free open source software with no paid tier, ads, or vendor support contract
  • They diverge on capability: Tubi covers Full catalog, VLC covers Media playback.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Tubi and VLC actually diverge.

Attributes where Tubi and VLC differ
AttributeTubiVLC
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvWindows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web
Founded20141998

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Tubi

  • Full catalog
  • Search
  • Recommendations
  • Watchlist
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Content filtering
  • Account management

Only in VLC

  • Media playback
  • Codec support
  • Conversion
  • Plugins
  • Network streaming
  • DVD playback
  • Open source
  • Regular updates

Both cover

  • Streaming
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Tubi

  • Free ad-supported streaming video on demandnot VLC
  • Movie and TV content consumptionnot VLC

VLC

  • Media playbacknot Tubi
  • Video conversionnot Tubi

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Tubi

  • Website redirect issues prevent full pricing page access
  • Ad-supported model details not fully available

VLC

  • VLC is completely free open source software with no paid tier, ads, or vendor support contract

Pricing, plan by plan

Tubi

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full catalog
    • Ad-supported

VLC

Free
  • FreeFree
    • All codecs
    • No ads
    • Open source

Which should you pick?

Choose Tubi if

  • You need full catalog.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want search.
Tubi review

Choose VLC if

  • You need media playback.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want codec support.
VLC review

Questions people ask

Is Tubi or VLC better?
Neither clearly leads. Tubi starts at Free and VLC at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Tubi or VLC?
Tubi starts at Free and VLC at Free.
Does Tubi or VLC run on more platforms?
Tubi runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. VLC runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use Tubi for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Tubi best used for?
Tubi is most often used for free ad-supported streaming video on demand, movie and tv content consumption. Of those, free ad-supported streaming video on demand and movie and tv content consumption are not what VLC is typically brought in for.
What can Tubi do that VLC cannot?
Tubi covers Full catalog, Search, Recommendations, Watchlist. VLC covers Media playback, Codec support, Conversion, Plugins. Both handle Streaming, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Tubi: Is Tubi free to use?

Tubi appears to be a free, ad-supported streaming service. The pricing page redirects to a GDPR compliance page, but Tubi is known as a free SVOD platform.

Source
VLC: Is VLC media player free to use?

Yes. VLC is completely free and open source software with no subscription or licensing fees.

Source
VLC: Can VLC be used commercially?

Yes. VLC explicitly states there is no spyware, no ads, and no user tracking. As open-source software under permissive licenses, commercial use is permitted within each license's specific terms.

Source
VLC: Does VLC include all features across all platforms without additional purchase?

Yes. All playback features, codecs, cross-platform compatibility, and customization options are included with no additional purchases required for full functionality on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Source
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