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Entertainment · head to head

Amazon Prime Video vs The Roku Channel

Amazon Prime Video logo

Amazon Prime Video

Entertainment

Watch anywhere. Cancel anytime.

From
$8.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
The Roku Channel logo

The Roku Channel

Entertainment

Free ad-supported streaming from Roku, with an optional paid live TV add-on layer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only The Roku Channel 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; The Roku Channel the free tier does not include major broadcast network live feeds or sports in most markets, so it does not replace a bundle like fuboTV or DirecTV Stream for live sports or local news.
  • They diverge on capability: Amazon Prime Video covers Video streaming, The Roku Channel covers Free ad-supported live channels.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Amazon Prime Video and The Roku Channel differ
AttributeAmazon Prime VideoThe Roku Channel
Starting price$8.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionFree, ad-supported; individual paid channel add-ons
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Fire-tvRoku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TV
Founded2006Unknown

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 The Roku Channel

  • Free ad-supported live channels
  • On-demand library
  • Premium channel add-ons
  • Cross-platform app
  • No Roku hardware required
  • Unified billing

What people use each for

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

Amazon Prime Video

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

The Roku Channel

  • A cord-cutter who wants free ad-supported background TV without any subscription commitmentnot Amazon Prime Video
  • Someone who wants one or two specific premium channels like Starz without a full live TV bundlenot Amazon Prime Video
  • A household that already has Netflix and Hulu and wants free supplementary live channels at no extra costnot Amazon Prime Video
  • Someone testing whether they need a full live TV bundle before committing to fuboTV or DirecTV Streamnot 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

The Roku Channel

  • The free tier does not include major broadcast network live feeds or sports in most markets, so it does not replace a bundle like fuboTV or DirecTV Stream for live sports or local news.
  • Assembling several premium add-ons individually can add up to a similar or higher monthly cost than a bundled live TV service, without the same single unified guide.
  • It depends on advertising to stay free, so the on-demand and live library carries ad breaks that paid competitors without ads do not have on certain content.
  • Channel and content availability shifts fairly often as licensing deals change, so a title or channel available one month may not be the next.
  • It is most tightly integrated with Roku hardware; the experience on other platforms, while functional, is a secondary product to Roku hardware itself.

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

The Roku Channel

Free
  • The Roku ChannelFree
    • Free live linear channels
    • Free ad-supported on-demand library
    • No sports or major broadcast network feeds included
  • Premium add-ons$undefined/month
    • Individually priced channels such as Starz or Showtime
    • Sports and news bundles priced separately
    • Billed per add-on, not as one package

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 The Roku Channel if

  • You need free ad-supported live channels.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Roku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TV.
  • You also want on-demand library.
The Roku Channel review

Questions people ask

Is Amazon Prime Video or The Roku Channel better?
Neither clearly leads. Amazon Prime Video starts at $8.99/month and The Roku Channel at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Prime Video or The Roku Channel?
The Roku Channel has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $8.99/month for Amazon Prime Video and Free for The Roku Channel.
Does Amazon Prime Video or The Roku Channel run on more platforms?
Amazon Prime Video runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Fire-tv. The Roku Channel runs on Roku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TV.
Can I use The Roku Channel for free?
Yes. The Roku Channel 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 The Roku Channel is typically brought in for.
What can Amazon Prime Video do that The Roku Channel cannot?
Amazon Prime Video covers Video streaming, Original content, Offline downloads, Multiple profiles. The Roku Channel covers Free ad-supported live channels, On-demand library, Premium channel add-ons, Cross-platform app.

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.

Source
The Roku Channel: Is The Roku Channel the same as owning a Roku device?

No, Roku the device platform is a separate product; The Roku Channel is the free content service that runs on it and elsewhere.

The Roku Channel: Does it include sports?

Not in the free tier; sports are available only through separately priced add-on subscriptions.

The Roku Channel: Do I need Roku hardware to use it?

No, the app is also available on iOS, Android, Fire TV and other platforms.

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