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Media & Entertainment · head to head

MUBI vs Roku

MUBI logo

MUBI

Media & Entertainment

Discover extraordinary cinema

From
$7.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Roku logo

Roku

Media & 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: MUBI curated, rotating catalogue - films leave the service on a schedule rather than staying permanently available; 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: MUBI covers Curated films, Roku covers Streaming aggregation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MUBI and Roku actually diverge.

Attributes where MUBI and Roku differ
AttributeMUBIRoku
Starting price$7.99/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidRoku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android
Founded20072002

Identical on both: 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 MUBI

  • Curated films
  • World cinema
  • Documentaries
  • Classics
  • New releases
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security

Only in Roku

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

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Smart-tv support

What people use each for

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

MUBI

  • Watching curated arthouse, independent, and classic international cinemanot Roku
  • Discovering festival and awards-circuit films not on mainstream platformsnot Roku
  • Getting a free weekly theatrical ticket via MUBI GO in eligible citiesnot Roku
  • Reading editorial film notes and curation alongside streamingnot Roku

Roku

  • TV streamingnot MUBI
  • Content discoverynot MUBI
  • Free entertainmentnot MUBI

Where each one falls short

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

MUBI

  • Curated, rotating catalogue - films leave the service on a schedule rather than staying permanently available
  • No live TV or broad back-catalogue - deliberately small, curated library rather than a comprehensive on-demand one
  • MUBI GO (free theater ticket plus streaming) is limited to select cities

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

MUBI

$7.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the MUBI review.

Roku

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

Which should you pick?

Choose MUBI if

  • You need curated films.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want world cinema.
MUBI 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 MUBI or Roku better?
Neither clearly leads. MUBI starts at $7.99/month and Roku at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MUBI or Roku?
Roku has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $7.99/month for MUBI and Free for Roku.
Does MUBI or Roku run on more platforms?
MUBI runs on Web, iOS, Android. 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. MUBI starts at $7.99/month.
What is MUBI best used for?
MUBI is most often used for watching curated arthouse, independent, and classic international cinema, discovering festival and awards-circuit films not on mainstream platforms, getting a free weekly theatrical ticket via mubi go in eligible cities, reading editorial film notes and curation alongside streaming. Of those, watching curated arthouse, independent, and classic international cinema and discovering festival and awards-circuit films not on mainstream platforms are not what Roku is typically brought in for.
What can MUBI do that Roku cannot?
MUBI covers Curated films, World cinema, Documentaries, Classics. Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Free content, Voice search, Private listening. Both handle Ios support, Android support, Smart-tv support.
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