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Entertainment · head to head

The Roku Channel vs Starz

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
Starz logo

Starz

Entertainment

Premium originals and hit series

From
$6.99/month
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: 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.; Starz standard monthly rate after 3-month promotion not disclosed on landing page; requires signup to see renewal pricing
  • They diverge on capability: The Roku Channel covers Free ad-supported live channels, Starz 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 Starz actually diverge.

Attributes where The Roku Channel and Starz differ
AttributeThe Roku ChannelStarz
Starting priceFree$6.99/month
Pricing modelFree, ad-supported; individual paid channel add-onssubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsRoku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TVWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv
FoundedUnknown1994

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 Starz

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

Starz

  • Drama streamingnot The Roku Channel
  • Original series 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.

Starz

  • Standard monthly rate after 3-month promotion not disclosed on landing page; requires signup to see renewal pricing

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

Starz

$6.99/month
  • Standard$6.99/month
    • HD
    • Ad-supported
  • Premium$12.99/month
    • 4K
    • Ad-free
    • 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 Starz if

  • You need streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want original series.
Starz review

Questions people ask

Is The Roku Channel or Starz better?
Neither clearly leads. The Roku Channel starts at Free and Starz at $6.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, The Roku Channel or Starz?
The Roku Channel has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for The Roku Channel and $6.99/month for Starz.
Does The Roku Channel or Starz run on more platforms?
The Roku Channel runs on Roku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TV. Starz runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
Can I use The Roku Channel for free?
Yes. The Roku Channel has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Starz starts at $6.99/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 Starz is typically brought in for.
What can The Roku Channel do that Starz cannot?
The Roku Channel covers Free ad-supported live channels, On-demand library, Premium channel add-ons, Cross-platform app. Starz covers Streaming, Original series, Movies, Exclusive content.

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.

Starz: What is the current STARZ subscription cost?

STARZ offers a limited-time promotional rate of $4 per month for the first three months. The standard monthly rate after this period is not displayed on the website and appears during signup.

Source
The Roku Channel: Does it include sports?

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

Starz: How many devices can stream simultaneously on STARZ?

STARZ subscriptions allow streaming on up to 4 devices at the same time, with unlimited HD streaming and downloads included.

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.

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