Insights At a Glance:

Free alternatives are thriving – From SmartTube to OnStream, Kenyan tech-savvy users are sideloading powerful apps on Android/Google TV devices to bypass ads and expensive subscriptions.
The experience isn’t perfect – While apps like SmartTube skip ads and OnStream streams movies in HD, users still face occasional bugs, buffering, or compatibility issues—especially with newer Android updates.
It’s about survival, not piracy – In a tough economy, saving KES 2,000+ monthly by ditching multiple subscriptions is a big win for many, even if it means dancing on the edge of the grey zone.

Let’s face it—subscription fatigue is real. YouTube Premium, Netflix, Showmax, DSTV, Spotify… it’s like every corner of our screen is a toll booth these days. And if you’re a young Kenyan juggling rent, data bundles, and daily hustles, the last thing you want is yet another monthly bill just to enjoy content you grew up getting for free on TV.

So, like any true tech hustler, I decided to fight back. Not with pitchforks, but with apps. Lots of them. Armed with a Chromecast running Android 14 and the good ol’ Google Play Store (plus a little sideloading magic), I dove headfirst into the wild world of Android TV apps people are buzzing about online—but not too loudly, lest they disappear.

And here’s everything I found.

1. SmartTube: YouTube Premium? Never Heard of Her.

SmartTube has been the underground king for years. Before YouTube Premium officially landed in Kenya, this was our unofficial savior—and for many, it still is.

It blocks ads like a ninja and throws in bonus features that the regular YouTube app dreams of. My favorite? The blessed ability to hide YouTube Shorts from the homepage. Because if I wanted TikTok, I’d open TikTok, not get ambushed mid-scroll.

But SmartTube isn’t perfect. It comes with error codes so cryptic you’d think you triggered a nuclear launch. And the aggressive ad blocker sometimes goes full FBI, skipping actual video sections it thinks are “suspiciously promotional.” You’re left rewinding like, “Wait, what just happened?”

Still, for KES 0/month, I’m not complaining.

2. Free Movies? Enter Flix Vision, OnStream & Friends

Netflix is cool. But is it KES 1,100/month cool? What of Amazon Prime Video and Showmax?

Nope. That’s why I explored the free cinema underworld, starting with Stremio. Looked promising. Multiple video sources, selectable file sizes, language options… and then? Nothing played. Like ordering from a menu and getting air.

So I turned to Flix Vision, which instantly became my UI crush. This app is slick. Think Netflix meets Plex but with more vibes. You can filter movies by the streaming service they originally came from—Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, even Apple TV+ (yes, for real). But again, some movies just flat-out refuse to play. There’s also HDO Box, which isn’t my cup of tea since it requires another external player installed. The good thing is you can use VLC media player alongside HDO Box for better playback.

Then came OnStream, my current MVP. It’s smooth, tells you upfront if a movie is in HD or a grainy cam rip, and shows the movie’s genre, release year, and a brief description on the preview screen—you name it. It’s like a friendly illegal Netflix clone that actually works.

Oh, and it plays everything without the Flix Vision issues. Everything.

3. Live Football Without DSTV? Yes, Please.

Here’s where it gets spicy. I used to pay KES 1,500/month for Waka TV, which bundled Supersport, Sky Sports, Azam, TNT—you name it. Total plug for a football fanatic like me. But the Android 14 update on Chromecast with Google TV broke half the experience. Suddenly, new movies played audio only, no visuals. Just vibes.

Support? Useless. So I dumped Waka TV and got introduced to Watchlist Pro for movies (no live football)—same problems. That’s when I hit up Kenyan social media, specifically X (formerly Twitter) for the real plug.

Enter CRICFy TV and Sportzfy—the people’s choice for free live sports. I prefer CRICFy for its consistent English commentary, but both get the job done. Sure, there’s a 1-2 minute delay (you’ll hear your neighbors scream before your screen does), but that’s the price of free football.

So, What’s the Real Cost (or Savings)?

Let’s break it down:

YouTube Premium: Saved KES 500/month
Waka TV: Saved KES 1,500/month
Spotify Premium: (still working on ditching it) KES 400/month

That’s KES 2,000/month, which adds up to KES 24,000/year—enough for a solo December trip to Rusinga Island, a new phone, or a serious boost to your savings goal.

Tech Hustling in Kenya

Look, I’m not here to glorify piracy. But these aren’t apps people are hunting for anymore—they’re being shared, circulated, and reviewed publicly. The reality? Some people are tired of being nickel-and-dimed by global platforms charging Western prices in a struggling economy.

This is survival tech. And for many, it’s the only way to stay entertained without breaking the bank. The tech-savvy youth have learned to cut corners creatively, ethically blurry as it may be. We’re sideloading, repackaging, bypassing restrictions, and dodging ads like John Wick.

You can call it piracy, you can call it resourcefulness. But what it really is, is a reflection of the times. Subscription fatigue has created a new generation of tech hustlers—ones who know how to stretch their shillings, unlock their gadgets’ full potential, and share what they learn with the rest of us.

So whether you’re rocking a Chromecast, Android Box, or smart TV with Google TV, just know there’s a whole underground entertainment revolution happening in Kenya. And it’s being led by curious minds, tight wallets, and a whole lot of sideloading.