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MUBI vs The Roku Channel

MUBI logo

MUBI

Entertainment

Discover extraordinary cinema

From
$7.99/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: MUBI curated, rotating catalogue - films leave the service on a schedule rather than staying permanently available; 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: MUBI covers Curated films, 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 MUBI and The Roku Channel actually diverge.

Attributes where MUBI and The Roku Channel differ
AttributeMUBIThe Roku Channel
Starting price$7.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionFree, ad-supported; individual paid channel add-ons
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidRoku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TV
Founded2007Unknown

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 MUBI

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

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.

MUBI

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

The Roku Channel

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

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

MUBI

$7.99/month
  • Monthly$7.99/month
    • Unlimited streaming access to curated films
    • Download capability via iOS and Android apps
    • Ad-free viewing

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 MUBI if

  • You need curated films.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want world cinema.
MUBI 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 MUBI or The Roku Channel better?
Neither clearly leads. MUBI starts at $7.99/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, MUBI or The Roku Channel?
The Roku Channel has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $7.99/month for MUBI and Free for The Roku Channel.
Does MUBI or The Roku Channel run on more platforms?
MUBI runs on Web, iOS, Android. 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. 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 The Roku Channel is typically brought in for.
What can MUBI do that The Roku Channel cannot?
MUBI covers Curated films, World cinema, Documentaries, Classics. 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

MUBI: How much does MUBI cost?

MUBI costs $7.99 per month USD on a monthly plan. An annual plan is available that saves 38% compared to monthly billing, though the exact annual price is not shown on the pricing page.

Source
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.

MUBI: Is there a free trial for MUBI?

Yes, MUBI offers a 7-day free trial with no credit card required. After the trial ends, the membership converts to paid status.

Source
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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