Frequently Asked Questions

General

What is PlayOn Home?

PlayOn Home is a Windows PC app that lets you record, download and cast favorite online shows and movies to watch any time, on any device, even offline. PlayOn replaces the need to purchase and download movies you already have access to through your online subscriptions. PlayOn Home also lets you stream your personal videos from your PC to your TV, simply download PlayOn Home and install on your PC to get started. PlayOn Home lets you watch Netflix offline, skip the ads when you watch Hulu shows and movies for no additional fee.

What do I need to get started?

Just a Windows PC which meets the minimum requirements. PlayOn Home is installed on and runs on a PC and provides a ton of value without the use of any other equipment. Of course, PlayOn also allows you to stream to most any network connected device, so if you’d like to watch at your TV or on a phone or tablet on the go then you would need such a device.

Do I need a Netflix account to download Netflix? What about Hulu or Amazon?

Yes, you need to have a subscription with Netflix or Hulu or Amazon to record and download from those services. PlayOn simply enables you to record and download the content you already have access to watch. PlayOn is a time- and place-shifting app.

If I already have Netflix and I pay for Hulu (or Amazon, or HBO Max, or…), what would PlayOn add?

PlayOn makes streaming services even better. For example, if you have the limited ads plan with Hulu, you’ll still be able to experience all your shows ad-free when you record ad-supported shows with PlayOn’s built-in AdSkip technology. That means you can watch more episodes in less time!

And, you’ll be able to download ANY Netflix title to watch anywhere, anytime, completely offline. That goes for any channel available in PlayOn — if you can already access it, we can record and download it. Here at PlayOn, we love loading up our tablets with pre-recorded movies to watch on a plane, train, automobile, and anywhere we go where the internet might not be reliable or requires extra fees.

Downloaded files from the PlayOn Home app are .mp4 files that you can move to any device to watch any time you want.

I have cable and don’t plan on cancelling. What can PlayOn do for me?

Whether you are a cord-cutter or a cable subscriber our goal is to always make it better. We offer a variety of channels which offer support for cable provider authentication. What does this mean to you? It means you can use PlayOn to stream your favorite shows to any device…replace additional cable boxes with Roku players or cancel your DVR service (often $10 or more a month) and use PlayOn to automatically record your favorite shows. The best part, you can watch recordings offline, on any device and ad-free!

What Can PlayOn Home Record?

What can I record with PlayOn Home?

You can record any video from top streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, HBO and more to watch offline. See the full list of PlayOn channels.

How many recordings can I make? Do recordings expire?

Unlike a traditional DVR, recording capacity isn’t capped. Since recordings are made to your PC’s hard drive (internal, external or network) the amount of recordings you can make is only limited by the amount of storage space you have available. Recordings are only removed if you make the decision to delete.

Can I set up PlayOn to automatically record my favorite shows?

Yes! – PlayOn offers a cool subscription feature. Just find a show in PlayOn you’d like to automatically record new episodes of and click on the subscribe button. PlayOn will then automatically record new episodes as they come online.

I see some of the channels require a cable provider. I cut cable and don’t have cable provider credentials – what can PlayOn do for me?

While some of the channels included with PlayOn do require a cable provider to get access to the most recent full episodes, most do not require any kind of subscription at all.

If there are specific shows that are not available free online (or that you don’t want to wait for), consider purchasing individual TV passes from services like Amazon Video. You can purchase full seasons of 3-4 shows for about the same as just one month of cable…and use PlayOn to stream to any device or record and watch offline.

And, speaking of recording, PlayOn brings some of the conveniences of cable to cord-cutters & streamers. Miss your DVR? PlayOn’s got you covered. Use PlayOn to record your favorites shows automatically as they become available online…to watch anywhere, anytime. And, with our AdSkip feature, you can watch your recordings completely ad-free!

Does PlayOn work with Netflix accounts from other regions?

Yes, we currently support Netflix accounts in 18 regions and will add support for others as Netflix continues to broaden their reach.

What about live sports?

Live sports are still a challenge in the online streaming world. There are several channels that do offer live sports. These include MLB, NBA, NHL, Fox Soccer, ESPN and ESPN3.

ESPN requires cable provider authentication and ESPN 3 requires either a cable provider or supported ISP (Internet Service Provider).

MLB, NBA, NHL and Fox Soccer require a subscription to those services. Money saved from cancelling cable can be used to pay for these subscriptions. Local blackouts do apply in most cases, but most folks pair PlayOn with an OTA antenna to pull in live local broadcasts in HD.

NFL Game Rewind provides access to full length NFL games and recaps shortly after they air.

Technical

What devices can I watch recordings on??

PlayOn recordings are made in a universal mp4 video format that will play on most popular devices. We support casting to Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV and Android TV devices along with Xbox game consoles. Casting may also with certain other specific streaming boxes. To see if your specific device is compatible, please send an email to [email protected] to confirm.

Do I need to have a playback device watch videos with PlayOn?

Absolutely not. While you can watch recordings on most any device, you can also watch recordings right on your PC, or download to your mobile phone or tablet.

Do I need to plug my computer in to my TV to use PlayOn?

While you certainly can connect your PC to your TV, using PlayOn means you don’t have to. PlayOn uses your existing home network to send recordings to any network connected device in your home (such as a Roku player, Chromecast, game console or network connected TV or Blu-ray player). A single installation of PlayOn can be used to stream to as many different devices/TVs as you wish.

Where are my recordings stored and what format are they in? Can I only watch recordings on my PC?

PlayOn Home records videos to your PC’s hard drive and the recordings are in mp4 format. That means you can watch those recordings anytime anywhere. Want to transfer a recording to a mobile device to take with you? Check. Want to stream a recording to your TV? No problem! The PlayOn DVR is all about flexibility. Recordings stay on your hard drive until you delete them. You can transfer recordings to a device for offline playback or stream over your home network. It’s DVR untethered.

Can PlayOn recordings support Closed Captioning?

Yes! PlayOn Home supports Closed Captioning and subtitles for shows and movies that have them. You can toggle them on and off when you watch your recordings.

How does AdSkip work? Are the ads stripped away?

Our AdSkip feature allows you to watch your favorite shows ad-free. The AdSkip option will present itself when you stream a recording to an AdSkip-compatible device – currently Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV, iOS, Android, and your PC. The ads are not stripped away. When you enable AdSkip when streaming a recording, PlayOn will automatically skip over all of the ads as the video plays. The ads are not stripped out, just skipped over.

Does PlayOn work outside the U.S.?

Content availability depends on the content provider and your region. If you can play videos by visiting the provider’s website then you should be able to stream or record those videos with PlayOn.

What sort of quality can I expect?

PlayOn Home streams and records in a maximum HD resolution of 720p depending on the quality of the source video and the speed of your CPU. Looking for 1080p recordings? PlayOn Cloud offers recording in 1080p.

What if I have trouble? Do you offer tech support?

Yes, in the unlikely event you have trouble using PlayOn, we have a dedicated team of tech support professionals ready to help. We provide free tech support 7 days a week, including most holidays.

How do I request help?

Submitting a support ticket is super easy. Just click on the in the bottom left of the PlayOn Home dashboard and then click on the Contact Support button. In the form that opens, fill out the required information, provide a brief description and then click on Submit. That’s all there is to it.

Our support team will be in touch quickly to provide assistance.

Our support team isn’t just there to solve problems…they are also happy to answer questions. You can always send an email with questions to [email protected]

Purchasing PlayOn Home

What is the difference between PlayOn Home, PlayOn Cloud and PlayOn Desktop?

PlayOn Home is free to download. As soon as you install it, you’ll be able to see the channels available for recording and explore the app. To record streaming videos, cast recordings or your own personal media to your TV, auto-record new episodes, and AdSkip, you will need a PlayOn Home plan. PlayOn PlayOn Desktop is  the prior-generation PC app which does not support Windows 11, Closed-Captioning, and a number of the content channels that PlayOn Home supports. PlayOn Desktop is no longer being supported. PlayOn Cloud is the cloud-based streaming video recorder iOS and Android app. It does not require a PC. Take a look at our user guide for more information on PlayOn Home.

What if I don’t like PlayOn Home? Is there a money back guarantee?

Yes, we provide an unconditional 30 day money back guarantee with every PlayOn Home purchase. If you find yourself dissatisfied with our software, you can simply email our support team at [email protected] within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.

Can I get PlayOn Home for free?

You can if you take advantage of our Refer-A-Friend program! You’ll receive $5 for everyone you refer who upgrades PlayOn Home.