On this page
- What's free, and what isn't
- The live guide
- Sport
- Where it works
- Tips
- Premium add-ons: what they are
- Roku Originals
- Kids and parental controls
- Is The Roku Channel legal?
- How The Roku Channel compares with Pluto and Tubi
- Getting started in two minutes
- Common mistakes to avoid
- How it compares
- Frequently asked questions
Yes, The Roku Channel is free, and you don't need a Roku to watch it. It has hundreds of free live channels with a proper guide, a solid library of free films and series, Roku Originals, and in recent seasons free MLB Sunday Leadoff baseball games. It's on Fire TV, Google TV, Samsung TVs, phones and the web, as well as Roku devices.
What's free, and what isn't
- Free: live channels, the film and series library, Roku Originals and free sports events. All ad-supported.
- Optional paid: premium add-on subscriptions sold through Roku. You don't need them for anything in the free section.
The live guide
The Live TV section shows a grid of channels with programme information for the coming days, much like a cable box. Roku's support pages explain how to use it and note the Live TV Channel Guide is supported in the United States (Roku support). On Roku devices, it's part of the home screen's Live TV option.
Sport
Roku signed a multiyear deal with MLB to stream Sunday Leadoff games free, viewable in The Roku Channel app on other devices and on its website without logging in (The Desk). It also runs a Roku Sports Channel and carries sports FAST channels. More in free live sports streaming.
Where it works
- Roku devices and Roku TVs (built in).
- Fire TV (from the Amazon Appstore).
- Google TV and Android devices (from Google Play).
- Samsung TVs.
- Phones and the web at therokuchannel.roku.com.
Outside the US, The Roku Channel is available in some countries with a smaller, different line-up.
Tips
- Favourite channels in the live guide.
- On a Roku, use the mobile app's keyboard for search and its Private Listening for headphones.
- Check the sports section on Sundays during baseball season.
Premium add-ons: what they are
Inside The Roku Channel you'll also see paid add-on subscriptions from other networks, which Roku sells and bills for. They're optional. The free channels and free films don't need them, and ignoring the paid rows loses you nothing. If you do subscribe to one, you can manage or cancel it through your Roku account.
Roku Originals
The Roku Channel carries Roku's own shows and films, free with adverts. They're easy to find in the on-demand section and are a reason to browse beyond the live guide.
Kids and parental controls
The Roku Channel has a kids and family section. On Roku devices, parental controls in your Roku account can restrict content ratings in The Roku Channel. On other devices, use the device's own controls; our guide to parental controls for streaming covers each platform.
Is The Roku Channel legal?
Yes. It's Roku's own licensed service. On other devices, install it from the official store only. You'll never need a code, a download link or a sideloaded app to watch it.
How The Roku Channel compares with Pluto and Tubi
| The Roku Channel | Pluto TV | Tubi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best at | Mix of live, on demand and some sport | Live guide | On-demand library |
| Free live sport | MLB Sunday games in recent seasons | Rare | Occasional big events |
| Paid extras | Optional add-ons | None | None |
Getting started in two minutes
- On a Roku, open The Roku Channel from the home screen; elsewhere, install it from your device's store or open therokuchannel.roku.com.
- Open the Live TV section and browse the guide by category.
- Favourite a handful of channels.
- Check the sports and on-demand sections for free events and films.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying for add-ons when you only wanted free channels.
- Assuming it's Roku-only.
- Missing free Sunday baseball in season.
How it compares
The Roku Channel sits between Pluto TV (the best live guide) and Tubi (the biggest on-demand library). Installing all three covers a lot of TV for free. See Pluto TV vs The Roku Channel and free live TV on Roku.
Frequently asked questions
- Is The Roku Channel free?
- Yes. Its live channels, films and series are free and ad-supported. Roku also sells optional premium add-on subscriptions, but you don't need them for the free content.
- Can I watch The Roku Channel without a Roku?
- Yes. It's available on Fire TV, Google TV, Samsung TVs, phones and the web at therokuchannel.roku.com.
- Does The Roku Channel have sports?
- Yes. It has streamed free MLB Sunday Leadoff games in recent seasons, runs a Roku Sports Channel and carries sports FAST channels.
- Where is The Roku Channel's live guide?
- In the Live TV section of the app, or the Live TV option on Roku devices. Roku's Live TV Channel Guide is supported in the United States.
- Do I need a Roku account to watch The Roku Channel?
- Not on most devices for the free content. On Roku devices you already have a Roku account from setup.
- Is The Roku Channel available outside the US?
- Yes, in some countries, with a smaller and different line-up than in the US.
- Does The Roku Channel have ads?
- Yes. Its free content is ad-supported.
- Can I watch The Roku Channel on a computer?
- Yes, in a web browser at therokuchannel.roku.com.
- Is The Roku Channel the same as Roku's Live TV?
- On Roku devices, the Live TV option brings together The Roku Channel's live channels and other free channels in one guide.
- Does The Roku Channel have 4K?
- Some content may be available in higher quality depending on device; most live channels are HD.
- Can I use The Roku Channel on Apple TV?
- Check the Apple TV App Store in your country; it's widely available on other platforms and the web.
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