50 Best Streaming Services on Roku

cord-cutting › best streaming service on roku • April 16, 2024 • The Staff

The first step to cutting the cord is getting a good streaming device, and you've done just that.

Getting a Roku device is only the beginning, there are so many great streaming services that you can subscribe to that will unlock the full potential of your device.

Some Roku streaming services give you a free trial, but many don't. In this list, we have ranked every streaming service on the stick. We have also specified which services offer a free trial, how much each costs and for the cord-cutting services what kind of channel line-up they offer.

Netgem TV

Netgem TV is a UK-based all-in-one subscription service that provides hours' worth of live and on-demand content and hundreds of channels, including BBC, ITV, Sky, and more. Depending on the package you pick, a subscription may also entitle you to their 4K TV box and other similar devices, since much like Roku or Vizio in the US, Netgem is powered by its own hardware platforms. Purchasing one of them can also give you access to a couple of free titles and channels, though most are still available as premium add-ons.

Go to Netgem TV

Price: $18/month

Channel lineup:

Features: 4k-compatible, ad-supported option, annual subscription, free, on-demand content

Netflix + Max $10 Verizon Bundle

Good news for Verizon mobile customers: you're eligible to bundle two of streaming's powerhouse players, Netflix and Max, for just $10/month. Verizon's Netflix + Max bundle includes both of the streamers' ad-supported plans, which go for $7 and $10 respectively, and shaves more than 40% off their usual price. Not only is this package a steal, it's also a rare move on Netflix's part, which isn't usually too keen on bundles. The Netflix + Max is also stackable, meaning you can pair it with another $10-bundle from Verizon (we suggest the Disney-Hulu-ESPN bundle to get the most out of the discounts).

This bundle is available to Verizon customers on the Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plans, just don't forget to enroll in the provider's myPlan subscription first.

Go to Netflix + Max $10 Verizon Bundle

Price: $10/month

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Changhong, Chromecast, Haier, Hisense, iOS, LG TV, Nvidia SHIELD, Panasonic, Philips, PlayStation, Roku, Roku TV, Samsung, Samsung TV, Sharp, Skyworth, Sony, TiVo, Vestel, Vizio, Wii, Xbox

Features: 2 device log-ins, 4k-compatible, 6 device log-ins, ad-supported option, annual subscription, Dolby Atmos, kid profiles, likely to work with a VPN, multiple profiles, offline downloads, on-demand content, picture in picture, spatial audio, up to four concurrent streams, up to two concurrent streams

Netflix + DirecTV Stream Bundle

The Netflix + DirecTV Stream Bundle lets you link your Netflix account to your DirecTV Stream account so you can receive a single bill (from DirecTV) for both subscriptions. For now, the bundle doesn't offer discounts, nor does it integrate Netflix on the DirecTV Stream app. It's also only available to those subscribed to Netflix's premium account. Still, the bundle is handy for those who already have too many bills to worry about, so if you've been wanting to streamline your entertainment apps, then this offer is worth checking out.

Go to Netflix + DirecTV Stream Bundle

Price: $102.98/month

Features: 2 device log-ins, 4k-compatible, 6 device log-ins, ad-supported option, annual subscription, Dolby Atmos, extra member slots, kid profiles, likely to work with a VPN, multiple profiles, offline downloads, on-demand content, picture in picture, spatial audio, up to four concurrent streams, up to two concurrent streams

Netflix & Verizon & Masterclass Bundle

For Verizon postpaid wireless subscribers, Verizon is offering a unique bundle that allows you to get Netflix Premium free for a year if you subscribe to Masterclass via Verizon's +play platform. An annual Masterclass subscription costs $120/year, but if you use +play, you only need to pay $90/year or $7.5/month for the service. In other words, it's a Buy 1 Get 1 Free deal that can save you more than $200 in annual costs.

The bundle is part of Verizon's attempt to draw in users to their +play platform, which is an online service that helps you manage multiple subscriptions in one neat place. Notably, you can't directly watch or pay for streaming services on +play, but it regularly offers discounts, so it's worth checking out. Before making big purchases, however, make sure you read through Verizon's FAQs and terms and conditions here.

Go to Netflix & Verizon & Masterclass Bundle

Price: $7.5/month

Netflix & T-Mobile

If you're a T-Mobile customer, you've likely already heard of the phone service's "Netflix on Us" bundle. Depending on your T-mobile plan, you're eligible for a Netflix subscription at no additional cost, regardless of the streamer's price hikes. The most common Netflix plans it provides customers with are the Netflix Basic subscription (valued at $10/month), which is ad-free and available to watch on a single device, and the Netflix Standard subscription (valued at $16/month), also ad-free and available to watch on two devices. T-Mobile says you can also upgrade your phone plan if you want to get the Netflix Premium subscription for free.

Eligible T-Mobile plans start with a single line of the Go5G Next, Go5G Plus, and Magenta MAX plans, all of which get the Netflix Basic subscription for free.

Go to Netflix & T-Mobile

Price: free for channels available

Features: 2 device log-ins, 4k-compatible, 6 device log-ins, annual subscription, Dolby Atmos, kid profiles, likely to work with a VPN, multiple profiles, offline downloads, on-demand content, picture in picture, spatial audio, up to four concurrent streams, up to two concurrent streams

Netflix & Starz Bundle (Verizon +Play)

If you purchase a one-year subscription of STARZ on Verizon's +play platform, you can get 12 months of Netflix Premium for free via the Netflix & Starz bundle. This saves you up to $240 in annual costs, since you'll only have to pay $75 (or about $6/month) for both Starz and Netflix for an entire year. After the 12 months are up, Verizon automatically charges you the regular monthly price of Netflix Premium, which is now $23/month. If you have an existing Netflix account, you can link it to this offer and transfer your billing to +play.

The +play platform is an online hub that centralizes subscriptions so you can access them all in one neat place. At the moment, it's only available to Verizon wireless, 5G Home, and LTE Home customers.

Go to Netflix & Starz Bundle (Verizon +Play)

Price: $74.99/month

Features: annual subscription, likely to work with a VPN, on-demand content, picture in picture, spatial audio

Netflix & NFL+ Bundle (Verizon +Play)

One of the many deals offered by Verizon's +play platform is the Netflix & NFL+ bundle, which is exclusively available to Verizon wireless, 5G Home, and LTE Home customers. The bundle combines Netflix Premium, which allows you to watch ad-free on up to four devices, with NFL+, which has everything from all-22 coaches films to NFL Redzone. Outside of +play, this would cost you around $30, but Verizon's bundle is available for a discounted rate of just $25/month.

If you already have a Netflix subscription bought outside of the +play platform, Verizon allows you to transfer your billing to avail of this deal. If you did buy a subscription on the +play platform, however, you might have to wait till the end of your billing cycle before you can sign up for this deal. Existing NFL+ subscriptions can't be transferred to +play or linked to this bundle.

Go to Netflix & NFL+ Bundle (Verizon +Play)

Price: $24.99/month

Features: ad-supported option, annual subscription, likely to work with a VPN, on-demand content

NASA+

NASA+ is the space agency's official, ad-free, and on-demand streaming service. It carries original shows and movies that feature NASA's discoveries on the cosmos and beyond and intimate interviews with the astronauts and scientists behind these projects. There are also animated kids' shows and Spanish-language content for younger viewers and families to enjoy, as well as high-definition intergalactic videos set to interesting sounds, in case you're not in the mood to watch anything too heavy. The app, which can be downloaded on iOS, Android, Roku, and Apple TV, is completely free and requires no sign-up to access.

Go to NASA+

Price: free for channels available

Device availability: Android, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Roku TV, Website

Features: free, on-demand content

MLB.TV

If you're a hardcore baseball fan, you'll be delighted to know that you can tune in to your favorite pastime via MLB.TV, the league's official streaming service. A subscription allows you to watch out-of-market games, as well as Minor League matches, local Pregame and Postgame shows, and expert commentary through MLB Big Inning, on all major streaming services live and on-demand. If you want to follow every team, you can pick their All Teams package for $25/month ($70 yearly) but if you're only interested in a single team, you can pick their Single Team package for $20/month ($60 yearly). It's important to note, however, that only out-of-market games can be watched live. Due to blackout restrictions, you'll have to wait 90 minutes after a local or national game has aired before viewing it. Another important reminder: if you're still on the cord and have the MLB Extra Innings cable TV package, you're likely entitled to a free MLB.TV subscription. Contact your provider to check whether you're eligible.

Go to MLB.TV

Price: $19.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, PlayStation, Roku, Roku TV, Samsung, Samsung TV, Website, Xbox, Xfinity Flex

Features: annual subscription, trial

Midnight Pulp

Remember those thrashy (but fascinating!) films that would air on TV late into the night, long after the proper programs had their run? Those titles have found a new home in Midnight Pulp, a free streaming service that lets you watch films and TV shows on-demand and live. It specializes in the weirdest content you can imagine; whether that's a 1960s Star Trek knockoff, a B-movie erotica, or a laughable monster flick, they likely have it here. Midnight Pulp also offers a live TV stream that's active 24/7 with channels that offer much of the same—with the exception, perhaps, of RetroCrush and AsianCrush, which have solid lineups of anime and dramas. Midnight Pulp also offers more titles (many of which are adult-themed) ad-free if you pay for their premium $4.99/month tier.

Go to Midnight Pulp

Price: $4.99/month

Free Trial: 14 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, Hisense, iOS, LG, LG TV, Plex, Roku, Roku TV, Samsung, Vizio, Website

Channel lineup: Asian Crush, AsianCrush, Crime Hunters, Midnight Pulp, Retro Crush, RetroCrush, Screambox TV, Tokushoutsu

Features: ad-supported option, free, on-demand content, unlimited simultaneous streams

< 1 … 5