Softwr

Entertainment · head to head

fuboTV vs Roku

fuboTV logo

fuboTV

Entertainment

Sports-first live TV streaming bundle with regional sports networks and a cloud DVR

From
$73.99/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: fuboTV regional sports networks are priced as an add-on beyond the base plan, so the real monthly cost for a fan following a local team is meaningfully higher than the advertised entry price.; 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: fuboTV covers Regional sports networks, Roku covers Streaming aggregation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which fuboTV and Roku actually diverge.

Attributes where fuboTV and Roku differ
AttributefuboTVRoku
Starting price$73.99/monthFree
Pricing modelPer household per month, tiered plansfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVsRoku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2002

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 fuboTV

  • Regional sports networks
  • Cloud DVR
  • Local broadcast affiliates
  • Multiple simultaneous streams
  • Sports-only skinny package
  • 4K and multiview

Only in Roku

  • Streaming aggregation
  • Free content
  • Voice search
  • Private listening
  • All major streaming apps
  • Smart home
  • PIN protection
  • Parental controls

What people use each for

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

fuboTV

  • A household that wants cable-equivalent sports coverage, including regional sports networks, without a cable contractnot Roku
  • A soccer fan wanting the broad international match coverage fuboTV built its identity onnot Roku
  • A family replacing cable that specifically needs local ABC, Fox, CBS and NBC affiliates plus general entertainment channelsnot Roku
  • A cord-cutter who wants a sports-only skinny package rather than the full entertainment bundlenot Roku

Roku

  • TV streamingnot fuboTV
  • Content discoverynot fuboTV
  • Free entertainmentnot fuboTV

Where each one falls short

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

fuboTV

  • Regional sports networks are priced as an add-on beyond the base plan, so the real monthly cost for a fan following a local team is meaningfully higher than the advertised entry price.
  • It is the most expensive of the mainstream live TV bundles at the entry tier, and Philo costs a fraction of the price for anyone who does not need sports.
  • Cloud DVR storage has limits on the base plan, and keeping recordings longer or expanding storage costs extra.
  • Channel lineups and RSN availability vary significantly by zip code, so the exact price and channel list a household gets is not fully knowable until they check their specific address.
  • Price increases have been frequent historically, so the entry price at signup is not a reliable guide to what a subscriber pays a year or two later.

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

fuboTV

$73.99/month
  • Pro$73.99/month
    • 150+ channels
    • Local ABC, Fox, CBS, NBC in most markets
    • Cloud DVR included
  • Elite$83.99/month
    • More channels than Pro
    • Additional sports and entertainment networks
  • Deluxe$103.99/month
    • Widest channel count
    • Premium networks included

Roku

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

Which should you pick?

Choose fuboTV if

  • You need regional sports networks.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVs.
  • You also want cloud dvr.
fuboTV 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 fuboTV or Roku better?
Neither clearly leads. fuboTV starts at $73.99/month and Roku at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, fuboTV or Roku?
Roku has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $73.99/month for fuboTV and Free for Roku.
Does fuboTV or Roku run on more platforms?
fuboTV runs on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVs. 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. fuboTV starts at $73.99/month.
What is fuboTV best used for?
fuboTV is most often used for a household that wants cable-equivalent sports coverage, including regional sports networks, without a cable contract, a soccer fan wanting the broad international match coverage fubotv built its identity on, a family replacing cable that specifically needs local abc, fox, cbs and nbc affiliates plus general entertainment channels, a cord-cutter who wants a sports-only skinny package rather than the full entertainment bundle. Of those, a household that wants cable-equivalent sports coverage, including regional sports networks, without a cable contract and a soccer fan wanting the broad international match coverage fubotv built its identity on are not what Roku is typically brought in for.
What can fuboTV do that Roku cannot?
fuboTV covers Regional sports networks, Cloud DVR, Local broadcast affiliates, Multiple simultaneous streams. Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Free content, Voice search, Private listening.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

fuboTV: Does fuboTV include local channels?

Yes, ABC, Fox, CBS and NBC affiliates are included in most supported markets, though coverage varies by zip code.

fuboTV: Are regional sports networks included in the base price?

No, RSNs are a separate add-on priced by market, typically a few dollars to around $17 more per month.

fuboTV: Is there a cheaper sports-only option?

Yes, fuboTV sells a lower-cost sports-focused skinny package alongside its full entertainment bundle.

Share

Related pages

More on fuboTV

More on Roku

Keep looking

Other head to heads