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Entertainment · head to head

Pluto TV vs Roku

Pluto TV logo

Pluto TV

Entertainment

Stream movies, TV shows and clips for free

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Roku logo

Roku

Entertainment

Streaming made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Pluto TV pluto TV is entirely ad-supported free streaming with no paid tier, available in a stated list of regions including the US, Canada, Latin America, Brazil, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, UK, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, Italy and Denmark (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024); 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: Pluto TV covers Streaming, Roku covers Streaming aggregation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Pluto TV and Roku actually diverge.

Attributes where Pluto TV and Roku differ
AttributePluto TVRoku
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvRoku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android
Founded20132002

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 Pluto TV

  • Streaming
  • Live TV channels
  • Movies
  • TV shows
  • Recommendations
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Account management

Only in Roku

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

Both cover

  • Parental controls
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Smart-tv support

What people use each for

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

Pluto TV

  • Free streamingnot Roku
  • Live TVnot Roku
  • On-demand contentnot Roku

Roku

  • TV streamingnot Pluto TV
  • Content discoverynot Pluto TV
  • Free entertainmentnot Pluto TV

Where each one falls short

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

Pluto TV

  • Pluto TV is entirely ad-supported free streaming with no paid tier, available in a stated list of regions including the US, Canada, Latin America, Brazil, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, UK, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, Italy and Denmark (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024)

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

Pluto TV

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full content
    • Live channels
    • Ad-supported

Roku

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Pluto TV if

  • You need streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want live tv channels.
Pluto TV 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 Pluto TV or Roku better?
Neither clearly leads. Pluto TV 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, Pluto TV or Roku?
Pluto TV starts at Free and Roku at Free.
Does Pluto TV or Roku run on more platforms?
Pluto TV runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. Roku runs on Roku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android.
Can I use Pluto TV for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Pluto TV best used for?
Pluto TV is most often used for free streaming, live tv, on-demand content. Of those, free streaming and live tv are not what Roku is typically brought in for.
What can Pluto TV do that Roku cannot?
Pluto TV covers Streaming, Live TV channels, Movies, TV shows. Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Free content, Voice search, Private listening. Both handle Parental controls, Ios support, Android support, Smart-tv support.
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