50 Best Streaming Services on Roku

TCL is one of the leading TV brands out there, so it makes sense the company would come up with a flagship streaming service. TCLtv+ is a streaming app that features more than 300 FAST channels and a couple of on-demand movies and TV shows, all for free. It's easy to get overwhelmed when a service has that many to offer, but there are some notable channels on TCLtv+, including ION (which has NCIS, FBI, Chicago Fire, and countless other procedurals), Dateline 24/7, Cinevault Westerns, Waypoint TV, Estrella TV, Canela.TV, NBC Sports, and Fox Sports. TCLtv+ is, of course, available on most TCL TVs, but you can also download it on iOS and Android-powered streaming devices. Thanks to an agreement with Roku, it can also be found on the homepage of newer Roku devices.

Tablo TV is a free live TV streaming service that lets you watch local channels like ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS, as well as 70 fast channels, including HSN, ION, Grit, MeTV, and CourtTV. It's exclusively available to those with a Tablo device—the latest already comes with a built-in indoor antenna—which itself requires a one-time payment of about $70 to $130, depending on what version you get. It's free in the sense that you don't have to pay a monthly subscription fee, as you would on usual live TV streaming services since it streams channels that are already airing for free via broadcast towers near you. A Tablo device lets you watch Tablo TV on up to 4 devices connected to your home Wi-fi and record shows while watching a different channel. If you're on the go, you can also control the DVR via the Tablo TV app. You can download the app on all major smart TVs and mobile devices.

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 upgrade your phone plan to get a free Netflix Premium subscription. Eligible T-Mobile plans start at $100/month with a single line of the Go5G Next, Go5G Plus, or Magenta MAX plan.

If your T-Mobile's Go5G Next plan is starting to weigh your wallet down, you might be happy to know that at least now the $100/month phone plan offers Hulu with ads (normally $9.99/month) at no additional cost. This is on top of the free Netflix and Apple TV+ Go5G Next users already get to enjoy. If you have an existing Hulu subscription, you'll have to cancel it and redeem your free subscription via T-Mobile's promotions portal. Note that T-Mobile only provides Hulu's standard with ads plan for free, so you'll have to shell out if you want to upgrade your Hulu plan.

Much like its longstanding "Netflix On Us" bundle, T-Mobile's "Apple TV+ On Us" bundle gives select customers a free subscription to Apple TV+. Specifically, those with Go5G Next or Go5G Plus lines (which start at $100/month) can access all of Apple TV+'s original films and TV shows at no additional cost. They can also share their subscriptions with up to five other people. Meanwhile, customers of T-Mobile's Go5G plan, while not eligible for a free Apple TV+ subscription, are qualified for a six-month free trial. After that, the plan automatically renews at Apple TV's regular $9.99/month price, unless canceled.

Subscribers of T-mobile's Metro Flex Plus plan, which is currently priced at $70/month, are entitled to many benefits: unlimited texts and calls, hotspot access, a Google One account, and of course, an Amazon Prime subscription, which currently goes for $14.99/month. With the latter, you get access to Amazon Prime's original and on-demand films and TV shows, along with shopping discounts and free delivery where available. If you have an existing Amazon Prime subscription, you only have to go to the ‘Manage Your Prime Membership’ page and connect your Metro Flex Plus credentials to enjoy the free subscription.

Strong Voices TV (SVTV) Network is a subscription-based internet streamer specifically catered to and created by members and allies of the LGBTQI+ community. Not only does it offer inclusive films and TV shows, but it also provides exclusive access to podcasts, music, sporting events, and video games. If you're looking for a queer community-based streamer and would love to expand your entertainment horizons by adding unique elements into the mix, then you may want to consider subscribing. The website invites you to “join the movement” for just $5.99/month. SVTV was founded in 2016.

Stirr is an American ad-supported streaming service owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group. It was launched in 2019. Not only is it free, but it provides access to live local news, 120+ TV shows, and 8,000+ hours of on-demand movies. This service is for viewers who don’t want to commit to a cable fee and don’t mind intermittent ads when watching their favorite movies and shows.

StackTV is a streaming channel available to either Amazon Prime subscribers or Rogers customers.  It's one of the rare Canadian services that hosts premium broadcast networks, including Global, Food Network Canada, HGTV Canada, History, Adult Swim, National Geographic, and Lifetime, among others. It's a bit steep at $12.99 a month, but its wide availability via Amazon and its exclusive access to notable American networks is worth considering.

If you're a college student looking to save up on some funds, you're in luck: you can slash up to $16 in entertainment costs when you get the Spotify Premium + Hulu bundle. Students 18 years old and above enrolled at any US Title IV accredited college or university can access both Spotify (normally $11.99/month) and Hulu (normally $9.99/month) for just $5.99/month. That's some of the best of music and streaming rolled into one convenient and affordable bill. 

It's a steal of a deal, but there are some caveats. For one, you can't have any network add-ons on your Hulu account, and you have to be okay with everything being billed to Spotify. Spotify also uses a third-party service called SheerID to vet applications. If all of that sounds okay to you, however, then you should have no trouble accessing this premium bundle.

SportsLive is a streaming platform that covers both pro and amateur sporting events. This means you're able to stay updated on your favorite teams whether they're from the big leagues or high school. And aside from featuring nearly 20,000 live events, it also boasts a catalog of exclusive programming, interviews, and press conferences. This platform, powered by CBS Sports Digital, comes at a reasonable price and will surely satisfy even the most niche sports fan.

This newcomer to cord-cutting quietly launched in April 2024. It's about 90 channels for $39.99, without any additional fees like a local channels surcharge, because there are simply no local channels. What you won't find either are sports channels. And some of the channels are Spectrum channels like Spectrum Originals and Spectrum News.

With Philo having a similar channel lineup but costing $15 less, you probably need a very good reason to go for Spectrum TV Stream. But, it's always nice to have another option.

Spectrum TV Latino is a live TV streaming plan that Spanish-speaking customers of Spectrum Internet can either purchase as a standalone or add to an existing Spectrum Stream TV plan. Unlike the latter, however, Spectrum TV Latino has sports channels, including beIN Sports en Español and TUDN. Other notable channels include Univision, Bandamax, UniMás, Discovery en Español, and in select markets, Telemundo. The package is $25/month (excluding tax) and is compatible with major streaming devices, though it might not work as well on Sony and Amazon Fire TVs.  

Spectrum SportsNet+ is a subscription plan available exclusively on the NBA app or website. It's a 24/7 digital stream that lets you watch all the Lakers content you get on the Spectrum SportsNet channel, which means access to live games of the current season, pre-game and post-game shows, replays, and even Lakers documentaries and programs. If you have access to the channel via cable or a live TV streaming service, or if you have a Spectrum mobile or internet plan, then you can use your credentials to log into Spectrum SportsNet+. If you don't, then you'll have to purchase it on the NBA app. A subscription to Spectrum SportsNet+ costs $20 monthly, which you can cancel anytime, or $195 annually, which renews every September. Though Spectrum SportsNet+ is only offered to those living in Southern California, Hawaii, and parts of Southern Nevada, subscribers can watch the app live and on-demand when they travel outside of the territory (at least for 30 days). Sadly, Spectrum SportsNet+content cannot be DVR'd at the moment.

Spectrum TV or internet subscribers can sign up for Spectrum on Demand at no additional cost. The service allows you to access your TV plan on the go, whether that's local networks, cable channels, or even live events. You can also buy or rent new releases; prices vary from $5 to $20 (the newer, the more expensive).

Spamflix is a video rental service dedicated to showcasing the most offbeat and avant-garde films. The service prides itself on its absurd line-up of titles, which it claims will "surprise, shock, entertain and amaze" users. These genre films span borders and come from all parts of the world; upon purchase, which usually starts at $5, they will be available to watch for 72 hours or 3 whole days. Spamflix also offers themed film packs, online games, and for true-blue fanatics, an updated movie newsletter.

In response to the growing popularity of free streaming services like Tubi, Xumo, and Pluto, Sling TV has come up with Sling TV Freestream, an ad-supported version of its live TV and on-demand streaming service. Compared to its paid tier, Freestream has fewer channels and premium titles, but with more than 200 live channels and on-demand content to boot, it's certainly worth giving a try—you don't even need to sign up for an account to start watching.

Sling TV has been at the forefront of live TV for years, but it breaks new ground with Freestream, a platform designed to both entertain and entice users to upgrade to their meatier packages. Recently, Freestream also added free DVR.

With Sling TV's Total TV Deal, you get all seven of the service's add-on packages, namely all the channels in its Comedy, Hollywood, Heartland, Kids, Lifestyle, News, and Sports extras. You'll also be getting the DVR plus, which gives you access to 200 more hours of storage. Getting all extras plus DVR storage normally cost about $45, so this bundle from Sling is actually quite the steal.

Sling TV's 4 Extras bundle deal gives you access to the service's Kids, News, Lifestyle, and Comedy channels on top of your base Sling subscription. These four extras are among the service's most popular, and while each normally costs about $5 as an add-on, you'll only be paying $13 for all additional 35 channels through this deal. The new channels include the likes of NickToons, BBC World News, MTV, and TV Land.

If you get the Sling TV's AMC+ extra, you're signing up for one of the most cost-efficient bundles of the cord-cutting era. For $8.99, you'll get AMC+ (which costs $4.99 as a standalone service), plus Shudder ($6.99 standalone), plus Sundance Now ($6.99 standalone), plus IFC Films Unlimited ($5.99). Name a better bundle deal. We'll wait.

Originally founded in 2002, Shout Factory is a long-standing leader in independent film and television distribution. They have recently started a streaming service called ShoutFactory that streams their content as well as some live channels (for the most part, lineups of their series that play on repeat) but it does have a lot of classics in both the indie and blockbuster department. The streaming service is mostly free, but a paid subscription of $3.99/month unlocks even more content and removes those pesky ads.

Screambox as its name would indicate is a horror-themed streaming service that offers up a selection of chilling titles to keep you entertained through the darkest nights. They try to offer a mix of indie and classic movies and shows.

All Samsung Smart TVs come with a free Samsung TV Plus app, the company's own streaming service that offers more than 200 live TV channels and on-demand content to users around the globe. There's no need to subscribe or even sign up for an account to access the app. 

Aside from its TVs (specifically those released from 2016 onwards), Samsung makes its streaming platform available to all Galaxy Devices, mobile and tablet, as long as their operating systems are updated to Android 8.0 or higher. It's a worthy option for cord-cutters, especially if you want a fuss-free and cost-efficient way to watch your favorite channels.

Like Vudu and Amazon, Row8 is a video rental service that gives users access to films that are currently screening in theaters and have yet to be available online. But perhaps unlike other rental services, Row8 prioritizes quality for quantity; it doesn't have as many titles, but it carefully curates its updated lineup, which is generally compromised of Hollywood blockbusters, indie darlings, and even some foreign films. The most interesting thing about Row8, though, is its "Movie Love Guarantee," which allows you to swap whatever movie you've rented or purchased for a different title within the first 30 minutes of viewing. This is to make sure that whatever you're watching, you're having a good time. Another nifty cost-saving feature? Upon your fourth rental or purchase, you get $1 off on all movies labeled "Home Cinema." It's worth checking out if you like watching the latest releases while saving a pretty penny. 

Revry is a streaming service for LGBTQ+ content. It offers a free selection, consisting especially of four "channels" that play their content back to back: Revry One, Revry Her, Revry News, Revry Latinx, and Revry Brasil. They also have a premium subscription that allows you to access more on-demand movies and shows.

RetroCrush is a free streaming platform fully dedicated to vintage anime. If you're a hardcore fan in desperate search of a discontinued series, a 90s classic, or an obscure show that practically no one has heard of, chances are you'll find all of what you're looking for and more in this treasure trove of a platform. RetroCrush gives you access to a number of shows without charge, but if you want to stream even more titles ad-free, you can opt to sign up for a premium account that costs $4.99 a month, with a free 14-day-trial.

Rakuten TV (previously wuaki) is a Japanese-owned online streaming service that provides access to movies and TV shows—a heady mix of high-profile and independent media—either for a subscription fee or a rental fee.

Currently, it's only available in Japan and select countries in Europe, so if you're in the area and want a streaming service similar to Netflix, then this is for you. Launched in 2009, Rakuten TV offers subscriptions for $4.99/month for ad-supported content and $9.99/month for an ad-free plus pass.

Google Play Movies & TV, or simply Play, is a video-on-demand store that allows you to rent or purchase various films and TV shows online. A rental can cost as low as $1 (these are usually TV movies and old films) while purchases can cost up to $20 (these are often blockbusters that are fresh from theaters). Play lets you watch on most major streaming devices, but you have to remember to log in with the same account you used to purchase the titles. On your smartphone, you can access the titles via the Google TV or YouTube app, while on your smart TV, you can use access them via the Play, YouTube, or Movies Anywhere apps. You can also watch them via the Play website but do take note that Play doesn't offer HD and 4k viewing on PCs.

Philo Free is a completely free live TV streaming platform that carries more than 70 channels, including AMC Thrillers, BBC News, The Walking Dead Universe, and beIN Sports Extra, on top of on-demand films and TV shows. Like Philo's paid plan, Philo Free also offers DVR storage, though here it's limited to 30 days, as opposed to a year, and you can still create up to 10 custom profiles. You'll need an account to start watching Philo for free, as well as a compatible device, but you notably do not need to provide credit card information. In case you want more live channels or DVR storage, you can always upgrade your account to Philo Core, which is $25/month.

Peacock Premium Plus is the highest streaming tier Peacock offers, but it's still one of the cheapest packages you'll find right now. For just $14/month, you get access to a vast selection of TV shows (many from NBC and Bravo), movies, live channels, and of course, sports. Premium Plus subscribers also get offline downloads, ad-free viewing, and access to their local NBC channel.