35 Best Free Streaming Services on Roku

cord-cutting › best free streaming services on roku • May 1, 2024 • The Staff

Roku devices are some of the most in-demand players in the market—given their affordable price and accessible controls, they're pretty hard to beat. What makes Roku even better is its ability to support most available streaming services, whether they're big and well-known or small and niche.

Included in the growing list of platforms it supports are free streamers, that is, streaming services that offer content for free. These services either run on ads or offer a premium tier that gives you access to even more titles. Below, we list the very best of the free streaming services available on Roku.

CW Seed

The CW is known for its iconic and even award-winning dramas, comedies, and reality shows. It has an enviable library to be sure, but it splits these among two streaming services: the self-titled The CW and the more modest CW Seed, which serves as a repository for the network's past and non-airing shows. That means you're free to watch classics like The OC, Pushing Daisies, Schitt's Creek, and America's Next Top Model for free on CW Seed. Its entertaining, zero-cost catalog is a sure major attraction (you don't even have to make an account to stream) but a potential downside is its limited title count.

Go to CW Seed

Price: free for channels available

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Roku, Website, Xbox One

Cineverse

Cineverse is a free streaming service that has both on-demand content and live channels, all of which feature a broad range of content. The new streaming service's mission is to offer as many titles as it can, so you won't find a lot of blockbusters or big studio productions here (unless they're available for rent on ROW8), but you will have access to a ton of vintage, international, and niche films and TV shows. Our personal favorites include Howard's End, Mustang, and The Little Shop of Horrors.

Since the streaming service is free, you'll encounter a lot of ads, but you can always subscribe to Cineverse's premium version, which costs $2.99/month, to get rid of the commercials and get access to even more content.

Go to Cineverse

Price: free for 24 channels available

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Comecast Xfinity, Google TV, iOS, LG, Roku, Roku TV, Tizen Samsung, Vizio, Website

Channel lineup: Asian Crush, AsianCrush, Bloody Disgusting, CONtv, CONtv Anime, Crime Hunters, Docurama, El Ray Network, Fandor, GustoTV, Lodestar, Maverick Black Cinema, Midnight Pulp, Retro Crush, RetroCrush, Row8, Screambox, So…Dramatic, So…Real, The Bob Ross Channel, The Country Channel, The Dove Channel, The Elvis Presley Channel, The Film Detective

AsianCrush

Asiancrush is a streaming service that brings plenty of Asian content, especially Korean, Japanese, and Thai content, to Western audiences. The lineup is pretty extensive, ranging from popular movies and beloved dramas to classics and indies (our favorites include Burning, House of Hummingbird, and All About Lily Chou-chou). They also have exclusive collections composed of shows, shorts, and K-pop showcases you won't find anywhere else on this side of the Globe. Asiancrush is mostly free, and therefore ad-supported, but users can opt for a paid monthly plan that costs $4.99 for no ads and more content. Notably, the service also has a live TV section, but as of this writing, it only hosts two channels: an Asiancrush live feed and Retrocrush.

Go to AsianCrush

Price: free for channels available

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Chromecast, iOS, LG, Roku, Roku TV, Samsung Smart TV, Vizio, Website

Air TV

If you have an Air TV streaming device, you'll automatically have free access to 1oo local channels from affiliates like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and PBS all in HD. To be clear, the local channels are free in the sense that you don't have to pay a monthly bill to watch them, as you would on a cable or live TV subscription, but you do have to pay a one-time fee that sets you up with an Air TV device and an HD antenna. Depending on the bundle you pick, that can cost you anywhere from $150 to $250. It seems like a lot, but it makes sense when you consider that it comes with DVR, the ability to watch local channels anywhere, and for Sling TV subscribers, seamless integration in all your devices.

Although you don't need to be a Sling TV subscriber to start using Air TV, the two are perfect complements that save you a lot of money, in the long run. Sling TV has live TV channels equipped for sports, entertainment, and nationwide news, while the one-time-payment Air TV gives you constant and uninterrupted access to your local channels. If you do combine them, Sling takes care of any overlaps to ensure you're getting the best of both streaming worlds in all compatible devices.

Go to Air TV

Price: free for 3 channels available

Device availability: AirTV Mini, AirTV Player, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku

Channel lineup: CBS local channels, NBC local channels, PBS local channels

AHC TV

Formerly known as the Military Channel, AHC or the American Heroes Channel specializes in programs related to history, military, warfare, and science. Some of its most beloved shows include Blood and Fury: America's Civil War and Gunslingers. All these and more are made available in AHC TV, an on-demand service that comes free with most pay TV subscriptions. You just need to sign in to your TV provider and you're good to go.

Go to AHC TV

Price: free for channels available

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Sling TV, Xbox

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CW Seed

Cineverse

AsianCrush

Air TV

AHC TV

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