The best free Roku channels in 2026 are The Roku Channel, Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, Crackle, Xumo Play, and Sling Freestream, all of which stream movies, shows, or live TV at no cost with no subscription.
Add Local Now and Haystack News for free local and national news. Every one of these is free to install from the Roku channel store and free to watch, supported by ads rather than a monthly fee.
Roku is built around free, ad-supported streaming, so you can fill your home screen with thousands of free titles and live channels without paying anything. Here are the ones worth adding first.
The Best Free Roku Channels
These cover the main categories: on-demand movies and shows, free live TV, and news. Most overlap a little, so a couple of them together replace a surprising amount of paid streaming.
| Channel / App | What it offers | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| The Roku Channel | Free movies, shows, and hundreds of live channels | Free |
| Tubi | One of the largest free movie and TV libraries | Free |
| Pluto TV | Live TV channels plus on-demand | Free |
| Plex | Free movies and TV plus live channels | Free |
| Crackle | Free movies and original series | Free |
| Xumo Play | Free live channels and on-demand | Free |
| Sling Freestream | Free live channels with no sign-up | Free |
| Local Now, Haystack News | Free local and national news | Free |
On-Demand Movies and Shows
For free movies and series, Tubi has the deepest library, with a huge catalogue of films and full TV series that rivals some paid services in volume. The Roku Channel is the built-in option, combining free on-demand titles with its own originals and live channels. Crackle and Plex round out the on-demand picks, with Crackle leaning on movies and originals and Plex adding a media-server feature on top of its free streaming. Stacking two or three of these means you rarely run out of something to watch without paying.
Free Live TV
If you want the channel-surfing feel of cable for free, Pluto TV, Xumo Play, Sling Freestream, and the live section of The Roku Channel all offer hundreds of free live channels organized into a guide. They carry news, sports highlights, movies, classic TV, and themed channels, all ad-supported. Sling Freestream is notable for requiring no sign-up at all. For a fuller cord-cutting setup beyond free channels, our guide to watching live TV without cable covers the paid live-TV services too.
How to Add Free Channels on Roku
Adding them is simple. From your Roku home screen, open the channel store, search for the app by name, and select Add Channel, and it installs free in seconds. You can also browse the store’s free and featured categories to discover more. The official Roku site lists which apps are available, and most of the channels above are pre-loaded or one search away on any current Roku device.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best free channels on Roku?
The best free Roku channels are The Roku Channel, Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, Crackle, Xumo Play, and Sling Freestream, plus Local Now and Haystack News for news. They cover free movies, shows, and live TV at no cost, supported by ads.
Are Roku channels free?
Many are. Roku is built around free, ad-supported streaming, and apps like The Roku Channel, Tubi, and Pluto TV are completely free to install and watch. Roku also offers paid subscription apps, but a large share of its content costs nothing.
How do I add free channels to my Roku?
Open the channel store from your Roku home screen, search for the app by name, and select Add Channel to install it free. You can also browse the free and featured categories in the store to discover more no-cost channels.
Is The Roku Channel free?
Yes. The Roku Channel is free and built into Roku devices, offering free on-demand movies and shows, its own originals, and hundreds of free live channels. It is ad-supported, with no subscription required to watch.
What is the best free app for movies on Roku?
Tubi has the largest free movie library on Roku, with a deep catalogue of films and full TV series. The Roku Channel and Crackle are strong free alternatives, and stacking a couple of them gives you a vast selection at no cost.
Can I watch live TV free on Roku?
Yes. Pluto TV, Xumo Play, Sling Freestream, and the live section of The Roku Channel offer hundreds of free live channels in a guide, covering news, movies, and themed programming. Sling Freestream does not even require a sign-up.
Do free Roku channels have ads?
Yes. Free Roku channels are supported by advertising, which is how they stay free. The ad load varies by app, but it is the trade-off for no subscription. There is no ad-free tier on most of these free services.
Last updated: May 2026. We update this list as free Roku channels are added or change.