Entertainment · head to head
The Roku Channel vs Showtime
The Roku Channel
Entertainment
Free ad-supported streaming from Roku, with an optional paid live TV add-on layer
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only The Roku Channel has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 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.; Showtime showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
- They diverge on capability: The Roku Channel covers Free ad-supported live channels, Showtime covers Streaming.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which The Roku Channel and Showtime actually diverge.
| Attribute | The Roku Channel | Showtime |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $10.99/month |
| Pricing model | Free, ad-supported; individual paid channel add-ons | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Roku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TV | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv |
| Founded | Unknown | 1983 |
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 The Roku Channel
- Free ad-supported live channels
- On-demand library
- Premium channel add-ons
- Cross-platform app
- No Roku hardware required
- Unified billing
Only in Showtime
- Streaming
- Original series
- Movies
- Sports
- Live events
- Smart TVs
- Streaming devices
- Account security
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
The Roku Channel
- A cord-cutter who wants free ad-supported background TV without any subscription commitmentnot Showtime
- Someone who wants one or two specific premium channels like Starz without a full live TV bundlenot Showtime
- A household that already has Netflix and Hulu and wants free supplementary live channels at no extra costnot Showtime
- Someone testing whether they need a full live TV bundle before committing to fuboTV or DirecTV Streamnot Showtime
Showtime
- Premium streamingnot The Roku Channel
- Sports watchingnot The Roku Channel
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
Showtime
- Showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
- Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current subscription period rather than immediately, with continued access through the paid period, per the App Store listing
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Showtime
$10.99/month- Showtime Standalone$10.99/month
- Original content
- Ad-free
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Showtime if
- You need streaming.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
- You also want original series.
Questions people ask
- Is The Roku Channel or Showtime better?
- Neither clearly leads. The Roku Channel starts at Free and Showtime at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, The Roku Channel or Showtime?
- The Roku Channel has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for The Roku Channel and $10.99/month for Showtime.
- Does The Roku Channel or Showtime run on more platforms?
- The Roku Channel runs on Roku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TV. Showtime runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
- Can I use The Roku Channel for free?
- Yes. The Roku Channel has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Showtime starts at $10.99/month.
- What is The Roku Channel best used for?
- The Roku Channel is most often used for a cord-cutter who wants free ad-supported background tv without any subscription commitment, someone who wants one or two specific premium channels like starz without a full live tv bundle, a household that already has netflix and hulu and wants free supplementary live channels at no extra cost, someone testing whether they need a full live tv bundle before committing to fubotv or directv stream. Of those, a cord-cutter who wants free ad-supported background tv without any subscription commitment and someone who wants one or two specific premium channels like starz without a full live tv bundle are not what Showtime is typically brought in for.
- What can The Roku Channel do that Showtime cannot?
- The Roku Channel covers Free ad-supported live channels, On-demand library, Premium channel add-ons, Cross-platform app. Showtime covers Streaming, Original series, Movies, Sports.
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.
Related pages
More on The Roku Channel
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