Streaming fanatics are in a constant move to find the best Free and paid channels to watch for different experiences. Every movie lover wants to have a list of the best free and paid channels on Roku where they can stream their favorite TV shows, movies, and documentaries.
Luckily, you don’t have to spend money on monthly subscriptions to enjoy your best video content. Roku has plenty of free channels with popular sports, movies, live TVs, and TV shows.
In this brief, we will talk about the best free and paid channels and services on Roku. But before that, let’s talk about Roku and the features you should familiarize yourself with.
Table of Contents
What is Roku?
Roku is a streaming device that allows you to enjoy your favorite video content on your TV. You can stream movies and TV shows from the best free channels. It is also a great source of news and weather updates. Roku has thousands of free channels with different genres like sports, entertainment, news, documentaries, and many more.
Roku has some amazing features that make it the best streaming device in the market. You can connect Roku to your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection based on your requirement and availability.
It is easy to set up and connect with any TV, monitor, or projector with an HDMI port and power outlet.
The most important feature of Roku is its vast number of channels from which you can watch your favorite content for free as well as paid i.e. Subscription-based services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime Videos, etc.
There are thousands of channels available for sports lovers to watch their favorite sports events.
How much does Roku cost?
Roku Streaming Stick cost starts from $29.99 which is similar to Google Chromecast and Apple TV. This price is for the basic model which is a stick with an HDMI port and power outlet.
There are some models available in the market with various features like 4K support, faster processor, voice remote, etc.
You can go through the comparison table to get a better idea of the different models available in the market. There are also options to buy a Roku TV instead of buying it separately as they come equipped with all the features of Roku TV and you don’t have to pay any extra charges for that.
So, if you are looking for the best streaming device online then Roku should be your first choice for sure.
What can I watch on Roku?
There are thousands of channels available on Roku which is quite a lot compared to other streaming devices. Most of the popular channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime videos, etc.. are available on Roku.
There are also some free channels available for you to watch your favorite content free. You will also get some paid subscription-based services like HBO GO, Showtime, Pandora, etc… At this moment we’re going to discuss some of the best Channels to watch on Roku both premium and free.
20 Best Free Roku Channels to watch right now 2026
To make sure you have something to watch every time of the month, we’re going to go over the best free Roku channels that you can watch right now. These are some of the best Roku channels that you should try out if you’re looking for something to watch.
1. Crackle
Crackle is one of the most popular free streaming services available on the internet. It’s a free service with movies, TV shows, and some original programming as well. It has a good collection of movies and TV shows which is quite impressive for a free service.
You can stream your favorite content on this channel without any subscription fee but some videos are available only in limited regions due to copyright issues overall it’s a good service to start with if you don’t have any other option.
2. Pluto TV
Pluto TV is another great channel to watch live television online for free without any subscription fee or registration process at all. It has tons of movies, music, sports, and other types of live television channels for you to watch without any hassle.
You can watch all the latest popular shows, news, and other live content on this channel. It has a huge library of content for you to explore. The best part about Pluto TV is that it’s completely free and you don’t need any subscription or registration to use it.
3. Twitch
Twitch is one of the most popular streaming services available on the internet right now. It allows you to stream your favorite games for free without any hassle at all. You can watch streamers playing different types of games, playing their favorite video games, and even some exclusive stuff that is only available on Twitch itself.
If you’re looking for some good gaming streams then definitely check out this channel as it has tons of good quality streaming videos that are worth watching.
4. YouTube TV
YouTube TV is one of the most popular channels on Roku right now as it allows you to watch live television online for free without any hassle at all. It offers a wide range of channels for you to choose from and all of them are free to use.
You can watch live football matches, popular shows, news, and other stuff on this channel without paying a single penny. It’s a great alternative to cable TV and offers tons of good quality content that is worth checking out.
5. ABC News
ABC News is a great channel for you if you’re looking for some good quality news content on your Roku device. It’s a highly popular channel with many users around the world and it allows you to watch live news shows, daily briefings, breaking news stories, and much more interesting stuff in HD quality without any trouble at all.
It’s one of the most popular channels on Roku right now and it’s worth checking out if you’re looking for some good quality news content on your device.
6. Pluto TV Music
Pluto TV Music is one of the best music channels available on Roku right now as it allows you to stream music videos in HD quality. It includes a wide range of music genres and allows you to watch music videos from all the popular artists around the world.
The best part about this channel is that it is free and doesn’t require any subscription fee at all. You can check out your favorite music videos on this channel without paying a single penny and it’s a great alternative to cable TV.
7. Pluto TV Movies
Pluto TV Movies is another great channel for you if you’re looking for some good-quality movies on your Roku device. It offers tons of good quality movies with no ads or commercials in HD quality at all and it’s free to use as well.
You can check out your favorite movies including action, comedy, horror, and many more on this channel without paying anything at all which makes it one of the best channels available on Roku right now.
8. The Roku Channel
The Roku channel has one of the best free combinations for Live TV, entertainment, documentaries, music, and movies in one single platform.
It allows you to watch thousands of popular movies and TV shows without any ads or commercials in HD quality. It’s a great alternative to your cable TV service and it offers tons of channels, videos, and other content that you can explore and enjoy.
9. PBS Kids
PBS Kids is one of the most popular channels available on Roku right now which allows you to watch your favorite children’s programs for free.
It offers tons of good quality kids’ shows including Sesame Street, Curious George, Dinosaur Train, Super Why, and many more at absolutely no cost at all which makes it a perfect choice for parents who want to keep their children entertained with good quality shows on their Roku device.
You can also try out PBS Kids Go! if you want your child to learn while they’re having fun watching their favorite TV shows.
10. BBC News
BBC News is another great channel available on Roku right now which allows you to stay up-to-date with the latest news from around the globe. It offers live streaming of BBC World News and also provides on-demand video content of recent news shows and documentaries. You can watch it on your TV or even listen to it through your Roku device, which makes it a great choice for everyone who wants to stay informed about current affairs.
11. Daily Motion
Daily Motion is another popular video-sharing website that allows you to watch thousands of hours of free online videos right on your TV.
It has a huge collection of amateur videos, short films, movie trailers, and even live music performances from some of the biggest artists in the world today including Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, and many more. There are thousands of videos available in HD format that you can watch without any ads or commercials at all.
12. Tubi
Tubi is a multi-content channel that is available on Roku for free and allows you to watch over 1,000 movies and TV shows. It is considered to be the largest free movie service in the world, with a collection of content that is constantly updated. From action to drama, comedy, and horror, there is something for everyone on this channel.
13. Smithsonian Channel
The Smithsonian Channel is available through Roku for free and it is another great channel for those who love history, science, and nature documentaries.
You can watch exclusive videos about various historical events including the Apollo 11 moon landing as well as some fascinating documentaries about space exploration, ancient civilizations, and the history of science.
14. TED Talks
TED Talks are available on Roku through the TED channel which can be accessed for free and it allows you to stream videos from some of the most popular TED events in recent years. The talks include topics ranging from health, business, technology, and even music, so there is something for everyone here. You can also choose to download some of the videos if you want to watch them offline later on.
15. Blaze TV
The Blaze is a great news channel that is available through Roku and it features a large collection of videos from various news sources. You can choose to view live news feeds from Fox News, CNN and MSNBC or you can watch videos about current events. The channel also features original content that is produced by Blaze itself.
16. Bloomberg TV
Bloomberg TV is one of the most popular business news channels in the world and it is available on Roku for free. You can access live financial news coverage or you can watch some of the great documentaries that are featured on this channel.
You can also choose to download some of the documentary videos if you want to watch them later on your Roku device even when you are not connected to the internet.
17. Xumo
This channel offers free live TV and on-demand streaming for free. You can watch live content from a variety of sources including sports, news, movies, and more. You can watch your favorite local news, comedy, sports, horror movies, and much more.
You have a chance to laugh your tongue out with the FailArmy channel. For family people, watch Family Feud or catch up with your favorite sports with Fox sports, PGA Tour, and more.
18. Fawesome TV
Fawesome TV is a combination of free and awesome experiences for you to watch your favorite movies, TV shows, and more. The library contains hundreds of contents from family to action, horror, and rom-com’s. The main selling point is the fact that they are constantly updating their content.
Besides these normal genres, you can watch some of the best niched and free streaming channels such as Fawesome Bollymix, Fawesome Black Cinema, and Fawesome LGBTQ among many others.
19. NewsON
Watch In-depth news coverage from across the country and around the world on NewsON. This channel has a wide range of news channels to choose from and it is available for free on Roku. You can easily watch every news content from politics, sports news to entertainment. NewsON has a free version that you can use to watch the content at no cost.
20. Stirr
Lastly, Stirr has more than 120 channels from Live local news to sports, entertainment news, TV shows, news, etc. The channels are available in more than 30 states. To watch a channel, you need to select your location and click on the channel. You can also create your custom channel by selecting the channels you want.
The best Roku channels to add right now (Paid)
Now that you have a list of all the best free channels to add on Roku, it is time you should know that you can use your Roku device to stream content from paid channels. The best thing about the paid channels is that they can stream live content which the free ones don’t and they can play content in 4K.
The thing with paid channels is that you need to pay a monthly subscription fee ranging from $4.99 to $19.99 per month for each channel.
There are some of the best-paid channels that you can add to your Roku device and watch live streaming content whenever you want. These are;
1. HBO Now
HBO Now channel offers you a premium entertainment experience with a lot of exclusive content. The channel enables you to watch your favorite HBO shows anytime, anywhere. The channel also provides you with access to the HBO library which has more than 1,700 hours of on-demand content including series, specials, and movies.
You can watch it on your TV via Roku or on the go via HBO NOW app. The best thing about this channel is that it offers you a 7-day free trial for new users and a 14-day free trial for existing users which means that you can try it out before paying any money.
2. Showtime
Showtime is another paid channel that offers premium entertainment content through live streaming and on-demand services. The channel has more than 2,500 titles in its catalog including blockbuster movies and hit series such as Homeland, Billions, and Ray Donovan among others.
It also has some of the most popular documentaries from award-winning filmmakers such as Morgan Spurlock’s Super-Size Me and Alex Gibney’s Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief. You can watch it on your TV using Roku or watch it on the go using the Showtime Anytime app.
3. Starz
Starz is another premium channel that provides you with access to a variety of movies, series, and other content. The channel allows you to watch some of the most popular shows such as Power, Outlander, Black Sails, Survivor’s Remorse, and many more.
You can stream it on your TV via Roku or watch it on the go via the Starz app. The best thing about this channel is that it offers you a 7-day free trial for new users and a 14-day free trial for existing users which means that you can try it out before paying any money.
4. Comedy Central
Comedy Central is a paid channel that offers you access to some of the best comedy shows from around the world such as Tosh .0, South Park, Workaholics, and many others. The channel also offers you a plethora of stand-up comedy shows and specials that you can watch on-demand. You can watch it on your TV using Roku or you can watch it on the go via Comedy Central app.
5. Epix
Epix is another premium channel that offers you access to some of the best movies, series, and documentaries from around the world. You can stream it on your TV using Roku or watch it on the go via the Epix app.
You can also get a 7-day free trial for new users which makes this channel one of the best options for cord-cutters who are looking to save some money by trying out their paid channels before actually paying for them.
6. Vevo
Vevo is a premium music channel that offers you access to some of the best music videos from around the world. You can watch it on your TV using Roku or you can watch it on the go via the Vevo app. The app also allows you to listen to over 50 million songs and stream them right on your mobile device.
7. CNN
CNN is a paid news channel that offers you access to some of the latest news and live shows from around the world. You can stream it on your TV using Roku or watch it on the go via the CNN Go app.
8. EPIX Drive-In
EPIX Drive-In is another premium movie channel that offers you access to some of the best movies, series, and documentaries from around the world such as The Hunger Games, Star Trek Beyond, The Big Lebowski, and many others. You can stream it on your TV using Roku or watch it on the go via the EPIX app.
9. Plex
If you are looking to stream your media content on Roku, then Plex is a must-have channel for you. Plex allows you to access all your digital content such as movies, music, and photos, and stream them right on your TV via Roku.
10. Pluto TV
Pluto TV is a free media channel that offers you access to Live Channels, where you can watch live news, sports, and other shows from around the world. You can also watch movies from your favorite channels such as The Verge and Cheddar.
11. RedBox Instant
RedBox Instant is a premium movie channel that allows you to rent movies and watch them on your TV via Roku. You can stream it on your TV using Roku or watch it on the go via the Redbox Instant app.
12. Twit
Twit is a free news and entertainment channel that offers you access to live shows, podcasts, and live news from around the world. You can also stream it on your TV using Roku or watch it on the go via the Twitter app.
13. USA Now
The USA Now is yet another premium movie channel that offers you access to some of the best movies, series, and documentaries from around the world such as The Hunger Games, Star Trek Beyond, The Big Lebowski, and many others. You can stream it on your TV using Roku or watch it on the go via the USA Now app.
14. Vudu
Vudu is a premium movie channel that allows you to rent movies and watch them on your TV via Roku. You can stream it on your TV using Roku or watch it on the go via the Vudu app.
15. WWE Network
WWE Network is a premium channel that offers you access to live shows, PPVs, original shows, and much more from the world of wrestling. You can stream it on your TV using Roku or watch it on the go via the WWE app.
16. Xumo
Xumo is another free and subscription entertainment channel that offers you access to Live Channels, where you can watch live news, sports, and other shows from around the world as well as movies from your favorite channels such as The Verge and Cheddar. You can also stream it on your TV using Roku or watch it on the go via the Xumo app.
17. FilmRise
FilmRise is a premium channel that offers you access to hundreds of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and much more. You can stream it on your TV using Roku or watch it on the go via the FilmRise app.
18. Popcornflix
Popcornflix is a free movie channel that offers you access to a large library of top-quality movies. You can stream it on your TV using Roku or watch it on the go via the Popcornflix app.
19. The CW
The CW is a premium channel that offers you access to live shows, original shows, and much more from the world of TV. You can stream it on your TV using Roku or watch it on the go via The CW app.
20. OWN
Own is a premium channel that offers you access to live shows, original shows, and much more from the world of TV. You can stream it on your TV using Roku or watch it on the go via the OWN app.
21. Spike
Spike is a premium channel that offers you access to live shows, original shows, and much more from the world of TV. You can stream it on your TV using Roku or watch it on the go via the Spike app.
FAQs
What is the best free channel on Roku?
There are several free channels that you can add to Roku. Some of the best free channels include Pluto TV, Crackle, Tubi TV, Snag Films, etc.
Can I watch free movies on Roku?
Yes! There are several free movie channels that you can add to your Roku. Some of the best free movie channels include Popcornflix, Crackle, and Tubi TV.
How do I watch sports on my Roku?
You can watch sports on your Roku by adding the following channels;
- ESPN
- Fox Sports Go
- NBC Sports
- NFL
- NBA
- MLB and many others.
Does Roku have Live TV?
Yes! Roku has two live TV channels i.e. Sling TV and PlayStation Vue.
What TV stations are free on Roku?
There are several TV stations that you can watch on your Roku. Some of the best free TV channels include Pluto TV, Crackle, Tubi TV, and so on.
Final Thoughts
Roku is a one-stop solution for all your entertainment needs. It has a large number of channels and you can stream them on your TV using Roku. You can also stream them on the go using the Roku app.
