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Entertainment · head to head

fuboTV vs The Roku Channel

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
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: 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.; 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: fuboTV covers Regional sports networks, 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 fuboTV and The Roku Channel actually diverge.

Attributes where fuboTV and The Roku Channel differ
AttributefuboTVThe Roku Channel
Starting price$73.99/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 fuboTV

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

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.

fuboTV

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

The Roku Channel

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

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

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

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 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 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 fuboTV or The Roku Channel better?
Neither clearly leads. fuboTV starts at $73.99/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, fuboTV or The Roku Channel?
The Roku Channel has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $73.99/month for fuboTV and Free for The Roku Channel.
Does fuboTV or The Roku Channel run on more platforms?
fuboTV 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. 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 The Roku Channel is typically brought in for.
What can fuboTV do that The Roku Channel cannot?
fuboTV covers Regional sports networks, Cloud DVR, Local broadcast affiliates, Multiple simultaneous streams. 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

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.

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.

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.

The Roku Channel: Does it include sports?

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

fuboTV: Is there a cheaper sports-only option?

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

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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