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Entertainment · head to head

Kodi vs The Roku Channel

Kodi logo

Kodi

Entertainment

The ultimate entertainment center

From
Free
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

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

Attributes where Kodi and The Roku Channel differ
AttributeKodiThe Roku Channel
Pricing modelfreeFree, ad-supported; individual paid channel add-ons
PlatformsWindows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tvRoku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TV
Founded2003Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Kodi

  • Media playback
  • Library management
  • Add-ons
  • Customization
  • Remote control
  • Smart home
  • Streaming services
  • Add-ons

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.

Kodi

  • Media centernot The Roku Channel
  • Home entertainmentnot The Roku Channel

The Roku Channel

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

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

Kodi

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

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 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 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 Kodi or The Roku Channel better?
Neither clearly leads. Kodi starts at Free and The Roku Channel at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kodi or The Roku Channel?
Kodi starts at Free and The Roku Channel at Free.
Does Kodi or The Roku Channel run on more platforms?
Kodi runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv. The Roku Channel runs on Roku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TV.
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 The Roku Channel is typically brought in for.
What can Kodi do that The Roku Channel cannot?
Kodi covers Media playback, Library management, Add-ons, Customization. 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

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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