Roku itself is free, but the channels you watch on it cost money
Roku is the device or app — the box under your TV or the software on your smart TV. Roku the company does not charge you a monthly fee to own it or use it. What costs money are the streaming channels you watch through Roku, like Netflix, Disney+, or HBO Max. Those subscriptions are the same price whether you watch them on Roku, on your phone, or on any other device.
Roku makes money by showing you ads and by taking a small cut when you buy a channel through the Roku interface. But you will not see a bill from Roku itself each month. If you see a charge from Roku on your credit card, it is almost always because you subscribed to a channel through Roku's store rather than directly from the channel's website.
Key Takeaways
- Roku the device or app costs nothing monthly — you pay once to buy the hardware or it comes built into your TV.
- Streaming channels like Netflix and Hulu cost the same on Roku as they do anywhere else, and you can subscribe directly from their websites to avoid Roku's payment processing.
- Some channels are free with ads (Pluto TV, Tubi, Freevee) and require no subscription at all.
- If you subscribe through Roku's store instead of directly from a channel's website, Roku takes a percentage and you may see the charge labeled as coming from Roku.
Free channels you can watch right now
Roku comes with access to dozens of free, ad-supported channels built in. You do not need to pay anything or create an account to watch them. Popular ones include Pluto TV (live TV and on-demand shows), Tubi (movies and TV), Freevee (Amazon's free tier with ads), and The Roku Channel itself, which offers free movies and shows alongside paid rentals.
These channels work the same way broadcast TV does — you watch ads in exchange for content. The selection changes regularly, and the ads are usually 15 to 30 seconds. If you have never paid for a streaming service, these free channels are a real place to start before you decide whether paid subscriptions are worth it to you.
Paid channels and how much they typically cost
The major streaming services all work on Roku. Netflix ranges from about $7 to $23 per month depending on which plan you choose. Disney+ costs around $8 per month with ads or $14 without. Hulu, HBO Max, Paramount+, and Apple TV+ each run between $6 and $16 per month depending on whether you pick the ad-supported or ad-free version. These prices change periodically and vary by region.
You can subscribe to any of these directly from the channel's website, or you can subscribe through Roku's store. If you subscribe through Roku, the price is the same, but Roku processes the payment and takes a cut. The charge will show up on your credit card statement as coming from Roku rather than from Netflix or Disney directly. This matters mainly if you want to manage your subscriptions in one place — through your Roku account — rather than logging into each service separately.
Why you might see a charge from Roku on your bill
If you subscribed to a channel through the Roku store rather than going directly to that channel's website, the payment goes through Roku first. Roku then sends the money to the channel company, minus their cut. The charge on your statement will say "Roku" or "The Roku Channel" instead of "Netflix" or "Hulu," which confuses many people into thinking Roku itself is charging them a subscription fee.
To avoid this confusion, subscribe directly from each channel's website instead. Log into Netflix.com and sign up there, not through Roku. That way the charge comes from Netflix, and you manage your subscription directly with them. If you have already subscribed through Roku and want to switch, you can cancel through Roku and then subscribe directly on the channel's website.
Roku Premium and The Roku Channel+
Roku Premium is an optional paid tier that removes ads from The Roku Channel's free content and adds some exclusive shows. It costs about $5 per month or $50 per year. This is different from a general Roku subscription — it is just a way to remove ads from one specific channel if you watch it a lot.
The Roku Channel+ is a bundle that includes ad-free access to The Roku Channel plus partnerships with other services. Pricing varies, but it typically costs between $5 and $10 per month depending on what is included in your region. Again, this is not a Roku subscription fee — it is a subscription to The Roku Channel's premium tier, similar to how you might pay for HBO Max premium.
What happens if you do not subscribe to anything
You can own a Roku device or have a Roku TV and never pay Roku or any streaming service a cent. The free channels will always be available. You will see ads, and the selection is smaller than what you get with paid services, but it is genuinely free. Many people use Roku this way as a secondary TV or in a guest room.
The trade-off is that free channels tend to have older movies and less current TV shows. If you want to watch this week's episode of a show or a recent movie, you will almost certainly need a paid subscription. But if you are willing to watch what is available for free, Roku costs you nothing.
How to check what you are paying for
Log into your Roku account on the Roku website or through the Roku app on your phone. Go to "Subscriptions" or "Manage Subscriptions" — the exact wording depends on which Roku device you have. You will see a list of every channel you are paying for, how much each one costs, and when the next charge is due.
From there you can cancel any subscription directly. If you want to move a subscription from Roku's payment system to the channel's own website, cancel it here first, then go to that channel's website and subscribe directly. This takes a few minutes but gives you cleaner billing and makes it easier to manage your account if you ever need to update your payment method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay Roku to use my Roku TV?
No. Roku TVs come with the Roku operating system built in, and you never pay Roku a monthly fee. You only pay for the streaming channels you choose to subscribe to, and those payments go to the channel companies, not to Roku.
Can I watch Netflix on Roku without paying for Roku?
Yes. You pay Netflix directly for Netflix, and you pay nothing to Roku. Roku is just the device or software that lets you watch Netflix on your TV. The Netflix subscription works the same way whether you watch on Roku, on your phone, or on a computer.
What if I want to cancel a subscription I started through Roku?
Go to your Roku account online, find the subscription in your Subscriptions list, and click Cancel. The charge will stop after your current billing period ends. If you want to keep the service but subscribe directly from the channel's website instead, cancel through Roku first, then sign up on the channel's own site.
Are there any hidden fees with Roku?
No. Roku does not charge hidden fees. The only charges are the subscriptions you choose to buy. If you see a charge from Roku on your statement, it is because you subscribed to a channel through Roku's store. You can avoid this by subscribing directly from each channel's website instead.
Does Roku charge more for channels than other devices?
No. Netflix costs the same on Roku as it does on Apple TV, Fire Stick, or your phone. The only difference is who processes the payment — if you subscribe through Roku's store, Roku handles the transaction, but the price to you is identical.