Premium streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus continue to attract subscribers. However, over the past year, free, ad-supported streaming video services have also gained in popularity. One of the oldest of this type of service is Xumo, and it has grown in popularity and viewers during the recent coronavirus pandemic. What is Xumo? Here is everything you need to know!
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If you just want to get on the service and check it out (remember, it’s free), you can check out Xumo now on its website at the link below.
What is Xumo?
Founded in 2011, Xumo is a streaming service with thousands of movies and TV shows available for free on a variety of devices and platforms. It’s completely free and makes money by putting video ads in the same ad spaces as on television.
It is currently available in the US, Canada, France, Germany, UK, Italy, Spain, Brazil, and Mexico.
In early 2020, Xumo was acquired by Comcast. In January 2021, Comcast announced that Xumo has 24 million monthly active users.
How does it work?
As with most streaming services, all you need to do is access the service from a computer, phone, or other supported device, select the movie or TV show you want to watch, and start streaming.
In the case of Xumo, you can search over 190 channels of streaming content to find what you want to watch. You can filter the channel lineup to view content in different categories. You can also customize the lineup to show the channels in alphabetical order or based on popularity. You can also tap or click the on-demand area and browse different categories of content.
Is the advertising service running?
Yes. To support yourself, Xumo will post TV shows and movies before and during their content. However, on average, the number of commercials is fewer than that of radio and cable TV shows.
Is Xumo Worth It?
Since the service is free to access, it can’t hurt to try Xumo to see if it’s worth checking out. While you have to deal with commercials while watching movies and TV shows, you don’t have to pay a penny.
However, you should keep in mind that most of Xumo’s content is made up of older shows and movies. If you want the latest streaming content, you still have to check out paid services like Netflix, Disney Plus, and others.
Which platforms does Xumo support?
You can stream Xumo shows and movies from different platforms. You can download the Xumo apps for iOS and Android to view the content on mobile devices. It’s also available on Roku streaming sticks, set-top boxes, and televisions that have the Roku operating system installed. The same goes for Amazon Fire TV-based sticks, set-top boxes, and televisions. The service is also available on Android TV-based devices such as the Nvidia Shield set-top box.
Xumo supports casting on TVs via Google Chromecast and devices with a built-in Chromecast. It is available for the Apple TV set-top boxes. You can stream the service on Samsung, Sony, and Vizio smart TVs. LG Smart TV users can download either the Channel Plus or LG Channels apps (depending on your location), which are supported by Xumo.
PC owners can use their web browser to surf the Xumo.tv website to log in and view content. Finally, Xumo is pre-installed on the Comcast Xfinity and Flex cable TV boxes.
Xumo film lineup
The selection of films on Xumo changes significantly. As a result, the range of films on both the streaming channels and the on-demand library will be different every month. You can watch everything from dramas to comedies to science fiction films and independent films on the service. While most of Xumo’s films are older films, the service has started offering exclusive original films, starting with the indie film White Elephant.
The 24/7 streaming channels also have dedicated channels for different film genres. Most recently, Linemark’s program included Movies and More, with a selection of films from the family-friendly Hallmark Channel.
Xumo TV Show Lineup
The selection of TV shows on Xumo is a little more stable. You can find many older TV dramas and series on the service, as well as some newer shows. It includes classic 1980s shows like 21 Jump Street and Hunter, as well as British shows like Secret Diary of a Call Girl and more.
Xumo’s channel section offers dedicated channels for Shout Factory TV, ConTV and more. There are also live sports and news channels for browsing, including ABC, CBS, and other news channels.
Best alternatives
Xumo certainly isn’t alone when it comes to free streaming services. Here are just a few of his rivals.
Crackle
One of the oldest free streaming services, Crackle not only has a solid number of movies and TV shows to watch for free, but also a number of exclusive original films and series for you to stream. It also has some extra features when you sign up for a free account, including parental controls.
Pluto TV
Like Xumo, Pluto TV offers on-demand access to thousands of TV shows and movies, as well as hundreds of “channels” that stream content 24/7. You can watch live news, movies in different categories, TV shows like Star Trek, Three’s Company and more including kids and Spanish language channels.
Tubi TV
Fox’s own Tubi TV has many new and classic shows and films that can be streamed if necessary. The service is also slowly increasing its original content. Tubi TV also offers live local news from over 200 Fox TV partners in the US.
IMDb TV
Amazon’s free content streaming service has grown in importance over the past year. You can watch great recent movies as well as great TV shows like Lost or Mad Men for free. More original content is also added, starting with the UK spy drama Alex Rider. We expect more original shows to be available next year. There is definitely one to be seen.
peacock
Peacock streaming service recently launched by NBCUniversal lets you watch thousands of movies and TV shows for free. There are also channels like Pluto TV that stream content like live news and more. Access even more movies and shows for $ 4.99 per month. You can also pay $ 9.99 per month to use the service ad-free.
Other FAQs
Q: Does Xumo offer streams in 4K?
A: The service does not currently offer 4K streaming shows or movies.
Q: Can you share a Xumo account with friends and family?
A: Yes, you can share your Xumo account with others.
Q: Does Xumo have parental controls?
A: No, the service does not currently offer parental controls. Since movies and TV series are shown with mature content, parents should be more vigilant when giving their children access to Xumo.
Q: Does the service contain advertising?
A: Yes, ads will be served while shows and movies are streamed on the service. They usually last about as long, if not shorter, than a normal TV commercial break.
Q: Does Xumo work offline?
A: Unfortunately, the service’s mobile apps do not currently support downloads of its shows. However, this feature could be added at a later date.
Q: What internet speeds are required to access Xumo?
A: The service recommends download speeds of at least 10 Mbps for the best experience.