Every Major Smart TV OS Ranked Worst To Best (Based On Features)

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If you don't have a smart TV by now, you're either the last holdout amongst your friends or a bona fide television luddite. . 

Smart TVs have revolutionized home entertainment, eliminating the need for external streaming devices and offering a seamless, internet-connected viewing experience. At the heart of every Smart TV lies its operating system (OS): the software that determines what the user interface looks like, not to mention app availability and overall functionality.

With so many options available, choosing the best Smart TV OS can be an overwhelming thing. Some prioritize ease of use, while others boast extensive app libraries or advanced smart home integration. For your sake, we've evaluated the top smart TV operating systems on the market today based on their unique features, app support, and overall user experience. 

Despite ranking the lowest on our list, Vizio SmartCast is still mostly functional, but it has limited app availability and a frustrating interface. . This can be pretty inconvenient for users who want the kind of smart TV experience where they can shop for apps.

Vizio SmartCast also unleashes frequent software updates on your TV. While these are theoretically supposed to help your TV function at its best, these updates often introduce more issues than they resolve. . As a standalone Smart TV OS, it definitely lacks the refinement and versatility of other platforms. You're better off using an external streaming device instead.

Amazon Fire TV is another smart TV OS that falls short of its contemporaries. Its biggest problem — which should come as no surprise to Kindle users — is its aggressive advertising and Amazon-centric approach. . The platform also features a significant amount of sponsored content, which can make the home screen feel cluttered and overwhelming.

This fealty to Amazon isn't all bad, though: . However, Fire TV's overall usability ultimately suffers from its over-reliance on advertisements and Amazon services. For users who prefer a clean, intuitive interface, other smart TV OS options will provide a more balanced experience without the constant push toward Amazon products.

Samsung's Tizen OS isn't bad. Even though it lands in the bottom half of this ranking, it offers a smooth, fast, and polished interface overall. That said, it does have some limitations in customization and app variety. .

. Users who want more extensive app availability or a more open ecosystem should look elsewhere.

With its intuitive interface, vast app selection, and affordable range of devices, Roku TV stands as one of the most user-friendly Smart TV OS platforms around. .

. Roku's interface might lack the visual polish and modern design found in competitors like Google TV or Apple TV, but for those who value a reliable, affordable smart TV, Roku TV remains a very strong contender.

LG's webOS is one of the most polished Smart TV operating systems, giving you an attractive interface, smooth navigation, and generous app support. .

. But, while webOS delivers a fantastic user experience, it's not as open as Google TV — meaning customization options are somewhat limited compared to the competition. Even so, LG's webOS still earns its spot in our top three.

Google TV is one of the newest smart TV operating systems on the list, but its high ranking isn't because of recency bias: It builds upon the foundation of Android TV to offer an enhanced user experience with a modern, content-first approach. .

. While Google TV occasionally suffers from minor bugs or performance hiccups (just like any smart TV OS), its overall functionality, customization, and app availability make it one of the best options on the market today.

This is going to be divisive, but we've given Apple tvOS the top spot for a good reason: From its exceptional performance to its seamless ecosystem integration, tvOS is a premium user experience through and through. +.

Another one of the biggest advantages of tvOS is its deep integration with Apple's ecosystem. . Even though tvOS is only available exclusively through Apple TV devices, its superior features and app ecosystem make it the best smart TV OS available today.