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Pluto TV vs The Roku Channel

Pluto TV logo

Pluto TV

Entertainment

Stream movies, TV shows and clips for free

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: 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); 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: Pluto TV covers Streaming, 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 Pluto TV and The Roku Channel actually diverge.

Attributes where Pluto TV and The Roku Channel differ
AttributePluto TVThe Roku Channel
Pricing modelfreeFree, ad-supported; individual paid channel add-ons
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvRoku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TV
Founded2013Unknown

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 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.

Pluto TV

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

The Roku Channel

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

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

Pluto TV

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

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 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 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 Pluto TV or The Roku Channel better?
Neither clearly leads. Pluto TV 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, Pluto TV or The Roku Channel?
Pluto TV starts at Free and The Roku Channel at Free.
Does Pluto TV or The Roku Channel run on more platforms?
Pluto TV runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. The Roku Channel runs on Roku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TV.
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 The Roku Channel is typically brought in for.
What can Pluto TV do that The Roku Channel cannot?
Pluto TV covers Streaming, Live TV channels, Movies, TV shows. 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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