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DirecTV Stream vs The Roku Channel

DirecTV Stream logo

DirecTV Stream

Entertainment

Cable-replacement live TV streaming with local channels, RSNs and the widest premium channel tiers

From
$89.99/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: DirecTV Stream it is priced at or above fuboTV across comparable tiers, and its entry tier alone costs close to three times what Philo charges for households that do not need sports.; 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: DirecTV Stream covers Tiered channel plans, 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 DirecTV Stream and The Roku Channel actually diverge.

Attributes where DirecTV Stream and The Roku Channel differ
AttributeDirecTV StreamThe Roku Channel
Starting price$89.99/monthFree
Pricing modelPer household per month, tiered plansFree, ad-supported; individual paid channel add-ons
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVsRoku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TV

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 DirecTV Stream

  • Tiered channel plans
  • Local broadcast affiliates
  • ESPN Unlimited
  • Regional sports networks
  • Cloud DVR
  • Multiple simultaneous streams

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.

DirecTV Stream

  • A former DirecTV satellite customer moving to streaming without wanting to change channel habitsnot The Roku Channel
  • A household wanting the widest premium and sports channel selection among mainstream streaming bundlesnot The Roku Channel
  • A sports fan who wants regional sports networks priced into the plan rather than as a separate add-onnot The Roku Channel
  • A family replacing full cable service that specifically does not want to trim down to a smaller entertainment-only bundlenot The Roku Channel

The Roku Channel

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

Where each one falls short

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

DirecTV Stream

  • It is priced at or above fuboTV across comparable tiers, and its entry tier alone costs close to three times what Philo charges for households that do not need sports.
  • Regional sports network and local channel availability still vary by zip code, so the exact channels and price a household gets cannot be confirmed until they enter their address.
  • Reaching the widest channel and premium movie selection requires the Ultimate tier, which pushes the monthly cost well past $120.
  • Historically frequent price increases across DirecTV streaming and satellite products mean the signup price is not a reliable guide to cost a year later.
  • The interface and channel guide have drawn more mixed reviews than some competitors, with slower app updates on certain streaming device platforms.

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

DirecTV Stream

$89.99/month
  • Entertainment$89.99/month
    • 90+ channels
    • Local affiliates in most markets
    • ESPN Unlimited included
  • Choice$94.99/month
    • 125+ channels
    • Adds regional sports networks and specialty sports channels
  • Ultimate$124.99/month
    • 160+ channels
    • Additional sports and movie channels

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 DirecTV Stream if

  • You need tiered channel plans.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVs.
  • You also want local broadcast affiliates.
DirecTV Stream 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 DirecTV Stream or The Roku Channel better?
Neither clearly leads. DirecTV Stream starts at $89.99/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, DirecTV Stream or The Roku Channel?
The Roku Channel has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $89.99/month for DirecTV Stream and Free for The Roku Channel.
Does DirecTV Stream or The Roku Channel run on more platforms?
DirecTV Stream runs on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVs. 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. DirecTV Stream starts at $89.99/month.
What is DirecTV Stream best used for?
DirecTV Stream is most often used for a former directv satellite customer moving to streaming without wanting to change channel habits, a household wanting the widest premium and sports channel selection among mainstream streaming bundles, a sports fan who wants regional sports networks priced into the plan rather than as a separate add-on, a family replacing full cable service that specifically does not want to trim down to a smaller entertainment-only bundle. Of those, a former directv satellite customer moving to streaming without wanting to change channel habits and a household wanting the widest premium and sports channel selection among mainstream streaming bundles are not what The Roku Channel is typically brought in for.
What can DirecTV Stream do that The Roku Channel cannot?
DirecTV Stream covers Tiered channel plans, Local broadcast affiliates, ESPN Unlimited, Regional sports networks. 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

DirecTV Stream: Is DirecTV Stream the same as satellite DirecTV?

No, it delivers the same brand and much of the same channel lineup over the internet instead of a satellite dish.

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.

DirecTV Stream: Does the entry tier include local channels and sports?

Yes, the Entertainment tier includes local affiliates in most markets and ESPN Unlimited, unlike Philo which excludes both entirely.

The Roku Channel: Does it include sports?

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

DirecTV Stream: Are regional sports networks included or an add-on?

They are included starting at the Choice tier and priced into that plan, rather than sold separately the way fuboTV prices its RSNs.

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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