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Entertainment · head to head

Amazon Prime Video vs Roku

Amazon Prime Video logo

Amazon Prime Video

Entertainment

Watch anywhere. Cancel anytime.

From
$8.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Roku logo

Roku

Entertainment

Streaming made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Roku has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Amazon Prime Video pricing varies by region; USD pricing not directly published on main site; Roku roku takes a 20 percent cut of all revenue channel publishers receive through Roku Pay (purchases, subscriptions, ads), paying out the remaining 80 percent no later than 60 days after the end of the month the payment was received, with non-US partners restricted to PayPal or wire transfer (ACH/direct deposit is US-only) and bank fees applying to wire and ACH payouts (archived developer documentation, 2 May 2021)
  • They diverge on capability: Amazon Prime Video covers Video streaming, Roku covers Streaming aggregation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Amazon Prime Video and Roku actually diverge.

Attributes where Amazon Prime Video and Roku differ
AttributeAmazon Prime VideoRoku
Starting price$8.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Fire-tvRoku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android
Founded20062002

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Amazon Prime Video

  • Video streaming
  • Original content
  • Offline downloads
  • Multiple profiles
  • X-Ray features
  • 4K Ultra HD
  • HDR content
  • Dolby Atmos

Only in Roku

  • Streaming aggregation
  • Free content
  • Voice search
  • Private listening
  • All major streaming apps
  • Smart home
  • PIN protection
  • Roku-devices support

Both cover

  • Parental controls
  • Ios support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Amazon Prime Video

  • Entertainment streamingnot Roku
  • Original series viewingnot Roku
  • Movie streamingnot Roku
  • Family entertainmentnot Roku
  • Offline viewingnot Roku

Roku

  • TV streamingnot Amazon Prime Video
  • Content discoverynot Amazon Prime Video
  • Free entertainmentnot Amazon Prime Video

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Amazon Prime Video

  • Pricing varies by region; USD pricing not directly published on main site

Roku

  • Roku takes a 20 percent cut of all revenue channel publishers receive through Roku Pay (purchases, subscriptions, ads), paying out the remaining 80 percent no later than 60 days after the end of the month the payment was received, with non-US partners restricted to PayPal or wire transfer (ACH/direct deposit is US-only) and bank fees applying to wire and ACH payouts (archived developer documentation, 2 May 2021)

Pricing, plan by plan

Amazon Prime Video

$8.99/month
  • Prime Video$8.99/month
    • Thousands of movies and TV shows
    • Amazon Original series
    • Ad-free viewing
  • Amazon Prime$14.98/month
    • All Prime Video content
    • Free shipping on Amazon
    • Amazon Music Prime

Roku

Free
  • FreeFree
    • The Roku Channel
    • Free content
    • Ad-supported

Which should you pick?

Choose Amazon Prime Video if

  • You need video streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Fire-tv.
  • You also want original content.
Amazon Prime Video review

Choose Roku if

  • You need streaming aggregation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Roku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android.
  • You also want free content.
Roku review

Questions people ask

Is Amazon Prime Video or Roku better?
Neither clearly leads. Amazon Prime Video starts at $8.99/month and Roku at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Prime Video or Roku?
Roku has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $8.99/month for Amazon Prime Video and Free for Roku.
Does Amazon Prime Video or Roku run on more platforms?
Amazon Prime Video runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Fire-tv. Roku runs on Roku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android.
Can I use Roku for free?
Yes. Roku has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Amazon Prime Video starts at $8.99/month.
What is Amazon Prime Video best used for?
Amazon Prime Video is most often used for entertainment streaming, original series viewing, movie streaming, family entertainment. Of those, entertainment streaming and original series viewing are not what Roku is typically brought in for.
What can Amazon Prime Video do that Roku cannot?
Amazon Prime Video covers Video streaming, Original content, Offline downloads, Multiple profiles. Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Free content, Voice search, Private listening. Both handle Parental controls, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Amazon Prime Video: How much does Amazon Prime Video cost?

Amazon Prime Video subscription pricing varies by region. In the UAE, Prime Video is AED 16/month ($4.36 USD). Standalone Prime Video subscriptions in the US typically start at $14.99/month, though regional pricing should be verified on Amazon's site.

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