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The Roku Channel vs Spotify

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
Spotify logo

Spotify

Entertainment

Music for everyone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; Spotify ad-free listening, offline downloads, lossless audio and unlimited skipping all require Premium at $12.99 a month
  • They diverge on capability: The Roku Channel covers Free ad-supported live channels, Spotify covers Music streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which The Roku Channel and Spotify actually diverge.

Attributes where The Roku Channel and Spotify differ
AttributeThe Roku ChannelSpotify
Pricing modelFree, ad-supported; individual paid channel add-onsfreemium
PlatformsRoku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TVWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers
FoundedUnknown2006

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 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 Spotify

  • Music streaming
  • Podcast streaming
  • Playlist creation
  • Music discovery
  • Social sharing
  • Offline downloads
  • Cross-device sync
  • Audio quality options

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 Spotify
  • Someone who wants one or two specific premium channels like Starz without a full live TV bundlenot Spotify
  • A household that already has Netflix and Hulu and wants free supplementary live channels at no extra costnot Spotify
  • Someone testing whether they need a full live TV bundle before committing to fuboTV or DirecTV Streamnot Spotify

Spotify

  • Music listeningnot The Roku Channel
  • Podcast consumptionnot The Roku Channel
  • Playlist sharingnot The Roku Channel
  • Music discoverynot The Roku Channel
  • Background musicnot 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.

Spotify

  • Ad-free listening, offline downloads, lossless audio and unlimited skipping all require Premium at $12.99 a month
  • Lossless streaming tops out at 24-bit/44.1 kHz
  • The Duo plan at $18.99 a month covers two people and the Family plan at $21.99 covers a household, with no per-seat option between them

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

Spotify

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Ad-supported listening
    • Standard audio quality
  • Premium Individual$12.99/month
    • 1 account
    • Ad-free listening
    • Offline downloads
  • Premium Student$6.99/month
    • 1 verified account for eligible students
    • Hulu access included
    • Ad-free listening
  • Premium Duo$18.99/month
    • 2 accounts for couples at same address
    • Ad-free listening
    • Offline downloads

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.
The Roku Channel review

Choose Spotify if

  • You need music streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want podcast streaming.
Spotify review

Questions people ask

Is The Roku Channel or Spotify better?
Neither clearly leads. The Roku Channel starts at Free and Spotify at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, The Roku Channel or Spotify?
The Roku Channel starts at Free and Spotify at Free.
Does The Roku Channel or Spotify run on more platforms?
The Roku Channel runs on Roku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TV. Spotify runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
Can I use The Roku Channel for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Spotify is typically brought in for.
What can The Roku Channel do that Spotify cannot?
The Roku Channel covers Free ad-supported live channels, On-demand library, Premium channel add-ons, Cross-platform app. Spotify covers Music streaming, Podcast streaming, Playlist creation, Music discovery.

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.

Spotify: Does Spotify offer a free plan?

Yes, Spotify offers a free ad-supported tier with standard audio quality. Users can listen to any song but do not get offline downloads, full playback control, or ad-free listening.

Source
The Roku Channel: Does it include sports?

Not in the free tier; sports are available only through separately priced add-on subscriptions.

Spotify: What is the difference between Spotify Premium Student and Premium Individual?

Premium Student costs $6.99/month (half the price of Premium Individual at $12.99/month) and includes Hulu access. Premium Student is available only to verified higher education students with an introductory offer of $0 for 1 month, whereas Premium Individual has a $0 for 3 months introductory offer.

Source
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.

Spotify: How many people can share a Spotify Premium Family plan?

Spotify Premium Family plan allows up to 6 accounts for family members living at the same address, includes parental controls, and provides Premium access (including ad-free listening and offline downloads) for members under 13. The plan costs $21.99/month.

Source
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