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Media & Entertainment · head to head

Kodi vs Roku

Kodi logo

Kodi

Media & Entertainment

The ultimate entertainment center

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Roku logo

Roku

Media & Entertainment

Streaming made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Kodi licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition; 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: Kodi covers Media playback, Roku covers Streaming aggregation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kodi and Roku actually diverge.

Attributes where Kodi and Roku differ
AttributeKodiRoku
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsWindows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tvRoku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android
Founded20032002

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Media & 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 Kodi

  • Media playback
  • Library management
  • Add-ons
  • Customization
  • Remote control
  • Streaming services
  • Add-ons
  • Open source

Only in Roku

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

Both cover

  • Smart home
  • Android support
  • Ios support
  • Smart-tv support

What people use each for

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

Kodi

  • Media centernot Roku
  • Home entertainmentnot Roku

Roku

  • TV streamingnot Kodi
  • Content discoverynot Kodi
  • Free entertainmentnot Kodi

Where each one falls short

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

Kodi

  • Licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition

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

Kodi

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Open source
    • All features
    • Add-ons

Roku

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Kodi if

  • You need media playback.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv.
  • You also want library management.
Kodi 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 Kodi or Roku better?
Neither clearly leads. Kodi starts at Free and Roku at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kodi or Roku?
Kodi starts at Free and Roku at Free.
Does Kodi or Roku run on more platforms?
Kodi runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv. Roku runs on Roku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android.
Can I use Kodi for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Kodi best used for?
Kodi is most often used for media center, home entertainment. Of those, media center and home entertainment are not what Roku is typically brought in for.
What can Kodi do that Roku cannot?
Kodi covers Media playback, Library management, Add-ons, Customization. Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Free content, Voice search, Private listening. Both handle Smart home, Android support, Ios support, Smart-tv support.
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