11 Best Samsung Smart Hub Apps for Your Smart TV

More people are looking to improve their homes with smart technologies, whether it’s smart appliances or digital voice assistants. Undoubtedly, smart tech can make our lives easier, from ordering groceries to setting important reminders. 

One piece of smart technology becoming more widely used is the smart TV. According to a report from Strategy Analytics, over 1.1 billion households will have a smart TV by 2026. In 2020, it was reported that Samsung was the most popular smart TV brand, owning a market share of 32%. 

To get the most out of a Samsung smart TV, it’s best to do research into what apps you can download that will suit your streaming preferences. Below, we’ll discuss Samsung’s Smart Hub technology and some of the best Samsung smart TV apps to download — provided you bought a compatible model. 

What is Samsung Smart Hub?

According to Samsung’s website, Smart Hub is the intelligent menu system that powers Samsung smart TVs. 

It allows you to access all the functions of the TV, download apps or games and browse the internet. Samsung’s Smart Hub feature was added onto its TVs in 2011 — any TVs produced before then do not have the feature. 

Overall, Samsung’s Smart Hub broadens the smart TV’s capabilities and allows for a simple user experience. Over the past few years, Samsung has improved its Smart Hub technology to deliver on customer expectations. 

11 Best Smart Hub Apps on Samsung Smart TVs

It’s worth noting that you’ll need to create a Samsung account to get the most out of your Samsung smart TV. After logging in, you’ll have access to all of the Smart Hub features for the ultimate viewing experience.

Below, we’ll discuss which Smart Hub apps are worth downloading to keep you and anyone in your household entertained, whether it’s to watch the latest blockbuster or hit TV series.

1. Samsung TV Plus

One of the best apps to stream free, live TV is the Samsung TV Plus app. The app has over 190 channels, and Samsung will continue to add more. It’s common for people to spend monthly fees on streaming services, but Samsung’s TV Plus app is entirely free. No credit card information or subscription fees are necessary.

Samsung TV Plus offers a wide variety of content. It comes preinstalled, so you won’t even need to spend any time downloading the app. 

2. Plex

One of the main benefits of using Plex is curating your own media collection based on your streaming preferences. However, you can also stream from over 100 channels using Plex.

Plex is free, but there’s also a “Plex Pass” you can buy for $4.99 per month for more features. With the Plex Pass, you can download all types of media and take it with you anywhere with your smartphone or tablet, for example. 

3. Spotify

Spotify is a widely used music streaming service, and you can install it onto a Samsung smart TV. Whether you play music while cleaning the house or want to jam with some friends or family, it’s always useful to have a reliable music app on your TV.

You can control the application with a TV remote or a linked device, such as a smartphone or tablet. It’s also possible to view the cover art on your television, leading to a more pleasant experience due to the larger screen size. Visit Spotify’s television apps page for compatibility.

Spotify has a free version with ads, or you can pay for a Spotify Premium subscription that removes ads and allows you to listen to music, audiobooks or podcasts offline.

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4. Gallery

Some Samsung smart TV apps help you relieve cherished moments in your life. The Gallery app does that by showing your picture and video collection. Take yourself back to when your family embarked on a springtime vacation to Ireland, or your nephew took his first tentative steps. 

Gallery comes installed on smart TVs from this brand made in 2019 or newer, and you can use it to see any pictures or video clips associated with your Samsung account. 

5. HBO Max

HBO Max is becoming a more popular streaming platform, mainly because of its HBO Original series, such as Euphoria, Succession or Game of Thrones. There’s plenty of content on HBO Max to fit your taste. 

Keep in mind that an HBO Max subscription is $14.99 per month for ad-free streaming, which is on the expensive side. However, other streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Disney+ are viable options.

6. Samsung SmartThings

One must-have app to download for any Samsung smart TV is the Samsung SmartThings app. The app is essentially the key to your smart home, where you can control other Samsung smart devices with ease. 

The SmartThings app can also connect to other gadgets in your home, such as products from Ring and Arlo. The app is free, so be sure to use it to get the most out of your smart home technology.

7. TED 

If you love watching eye-opening, inspiring and thought-provoking TED Talks, there are several ways to get your fill. One of the options available to you is to stream them on your Samsung TV. 

Doing that gives you the chance to watch thousands of titles. You can also see them in multiple languages and use subtitles. 

8. PBS Kids

PBS has two Samsung smart TV apps launched in 2019. One is children-centric, while the other offers content more appropriate for adults. 

The version for kids supports watching live TV, so that could help parents who want to expose their youngsters to educational content. The standard application organizes shows by season and episode, too. 

9. Calm

Do you want some Samsung smart TV apps that can help you unwind after your most stressful days? You’re in luck because Samsung recently introduced the Calm meditation app by making  it available for people who have TVs from the brand made in 2019. 

You can get all of the Calm modules for free. This content is part of a wider assortment of apps geared towards helping people stay fit while at home. If you have a smart TV app manufactured in 2020, Samsung will offer Calm for those models soon — if you haven’t noticed it showing up among the collection already. 

10. Samsung Smart TV Web Browser

Compatible Samsung smart TVs let you access an internet browser through an app so that there’s no need to get up and grab your computer. People can set either Google or Bing as their default search engine. There’s also the option to type a web address directly into the bar at the top of the screen.

The app has several features that make it even more user-friendly. For example, you can select to go directly to a site from a list of options you visit most often. Check out the Featured list, too. It’s a pre-loaded collection of websites that’s popular around the world.

11. NatGeo Images 

Many Samsung smart TV apps aim to spark curiosity in the people that access them. NatGeo Images is an excellent example.

You can browse through high-quality images of places around the globe without leaving your couch. Marvel at the perspectives captured by the National Geographic photographers and let your imagination run wild while getting reminders of the fantastically varied nature of the Earth and its inhabitants.

Samsung smart TVs are definitely worth looking into, and there are plenty more apps out there for you to download. 

Download Apps to Get the Most Out of Your Samsung Smart TV

You may find it challenging to get to know your smart TV, but they’re designed to be user-friendly. It’s always worth looking through the Smart Hub on your Samsung TV to see what other types of apps can improve your streaming experience. Consider downloading some of the useful Samsung Smart Hub apps listed above to get the most out of your smart TV.