How to Build a Smart TV App – The 7 Best Solutions for 2025

In the world of entertainment, smart TVs have become a pivotal part of how we consume content. From streaming platforms to interactive media, the opportunities to innovate through smart TV app development are growing each year. As we move toward 2025, the demand for powerful, user-friendly apps is stronger than ever.

If you’re looking to build an app for smart TVs, this blog will guide you through the process, highlighting the seven best solutions to consider.

1. Know Your Target Platform

Smart TVs come in a variety of platforms, each with its unique development environment. The first step in building a smart TV app is to decide on the platform you’ll target. The top platforms for smart TVs include:

• Android TV: Powered by Google, Android TV is one of the most popular smart TV operating systems. It offers a large user base and supports a wide range of devices.
• Apple TV: Known for its sleek design and integration with the Apple ecosystem, Apple TV apps can offer a seamless experience for users within this environment.
• Roku: Roku has become one of the most user-friendly platforms. It offers an easy-to-navigate development framework and a vast audience.
• Amazon Fire TV: Another major player, Amazon Fire TV apps provide strong integration with Amazon’s voice assistant and a wide range of devices.
• Samsung Tizen & LG webOS: Both are proprietary operating systems with a strong focus on multimedia. They require specific development tools but offer excellent opportunities for unique experiences.

Selecting the right platform influences how you build your app, the features it supports, and the audience you’ll reach.

2. Choose the Right Development Tools

Once you’ve chosen your target platform, the next step is selecting the tools to create your smart TV app. Here are some of the top solutions you can use in 2025:

2.1 Android TV Development

• Android Studio: This is the official integrated development environment (IDE) for Android apps. It offers robust tools, including an emulator for testing, debugging features, and strong support for Android TV-specific components.
• Kotlin or Java: Android TV apps can be built with Java, but Kotlin is increasingly the preferred language due to its concise syntax and advanced features, making development faster and less error-prone.
• Google Cast SDK: If you want to enable casting features within your app, this SDK helps integrate casting to other devices like Chromecast.

2.2 Apple TV Development

• Xcode: Apple’s official IDE for all its platforms, including Apple TV. Xcode provides a suite of tools, including simulators and testing options.
• Swift: Swift is the primary programming language for Apple TV development, offering a modern and efficient way to write code. SwiftUI can be used to build user interfaces for a smooth and interactive experience.
• tvOS SDK: With tvOS SDK, you get all the necessary components and libraries to make your app integrate smoothly with Apple TV’s ecosystem.

2.3 Roku Development

• Roku SDK: Roku provides its own development tools through the Roku SDK. Mobile app developers create apps using BrightScript, a scripting language designed specifically for Roku.
• SceneGraph: SceneGraph is the main framework for building user interfaces on Roku, allowing developers to create dynamic, visually appealing screens that adapt well to TV sizes.

2.4 Amazon Fire TV Development

• Amazon Fire TV SDK: Similar to Android TV, Fire TV is based on Android, so it shares many development tools. Developers can use Android Studio with the Fire TV SDK to create compatible apps.
• Fire TV Design Guidelines: Amazon provides design guidelines specifically for Fire TV apps. These focus on creating apps that work well with the Fire TV remote, voice controls, and the Fire TV interface.

2.5 Samsung Tizen & LG webOS Development

• Tizen Studio: For Samsung Smart TVs, Tizen Studio is the official IDE, which includes a set of tools for building, testing, and deploying apps.
• webOS TV SDK: LG’s webOS SDK provides libraries, emulators, and APIs to help build apps for LG Smart TVs. Both Tizen and webOS require specific considerations, like optimizing your app for the TV screen and remote control navigation.

3. Design for the Big Screen

TV screens are much larger than mobile devices, so the design and user interface of your app must be adjusted accordingly. When building an app for smart TVs, focus on:

• Navigation: Ensure easy-to-use navigation using remote controls. Avoid intricate menus that require excessive button presses. Implement large buttons and simplified menus for quick access to key features.
• Content Layout: Use a layout that allows for easy browsing from a distance. Ensure text and images are large enough to be seen comfortably across the room.
• Minimalism: TV apps should have clean, uncluttered designs to ensure users stay focused on content. Prioritize the most important actions to keep the user interface intuitive.

4. Test on Real Devices

Simulators and emulators are helpful, but testing on actual smart TVs is essential to ensure your app works smoothly in a real-world setting. Each smart TV has its quirks and peculiarities, and you’ll want to catch any potential issues before launching.

• User Experience Testing: Ensure the app feels responsive on a large screen. Test it with various remote controls to ensure compatibility and ease of use.
• Performance Testing: Smart TVs have different processing power, so your app needs to run efficiently across different models. Test loading times, video streaming performance, and the overall stability of the app.
• Compatibility Testing: Make sure your app works across a range of TV models, from high-end to more budget-friendly options. This ensures maximum reach for your app.

5. Optimize for Performance

Smart TV apps must run efficiently, without lag or crashes. Optimizing performance should be a key focus throughout development.

• Video Streaming: Ensure video streams are adaptive and can handle different internet speeds. Implement buffering strategies to minimize interruptions during playback.
• Memory Usage: TV apps typically run on devices with lower memory and processing power than smartphones. Monitor memory usage to prevent slowdowns or crashes.
• Remote Control Optimization: Optimize how your app reacts to remote control commands. Avoid unnecessary animations and transitions that may create lag or slow navigation.

6. Implement Rich Features for Engagement

As competition grows in the smart TV app market, users expect rich, engaging features that enhance their viewing experience. Here are some ideas:

• Voice Control: Many smart TVs integrate with voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Siri. Allow users to navigate your app and control playback with voice commands.
• Casting and Multi-Screen Support: Enable casting content to other devices, such as smartphones or tablets, or allow multiple screens for shared viewing experiences.
• Interactive Content: Depending on your app’s purpose, adding interactive elements such as live polling, gaming, or quizzes can greatly enhance user engagement.
• Offline Mode: Allow users to download content and access it when they are not connected to the internet. This is especially useful for streaming apps that cater to users with inconsistent internet access.

7. Monetize Your Smart TV App

Once your app is developed and ready to be launched, it’s time to consider how you’ll monetize it. There are various options, depending on the type of app you’ve built:

• Subscription Model: For streaming apps or services, the subscription model is a common approach. Offer tiered pricing plans, with some content available for free and premium content behind a paywall.
• Ad Revenue: Ads can be integrated into your app to generate income. Choose between display ads, video ads, or banner ads, keeping in mind that smart TV users may prefer fewer interruptions.
• In-App Purchases: If you’re building an app that offers additional features or digital content (such as games or media), in-app purchases can help boost your earnings.
• Freemium Model: Offer a free version of your app with limited features, and give users the option to unlock more content or advanced features with a one-time purchase or subscription.

Conclusion

Building a smart TV app in 2025 requires a deep understanding of the platform, a commitment to performance, and a focus on user experience. By selecting the right development tools, designing for the big screen, and optimizing your app’s performance, you can create an engaging and functional app that stands out in the competitive smart TV market. The right features and monetization strategies will help you maximize the potential of your app, offering both value to your users and long-term success in the evolving landscape of TV-based technology.