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Entertainment · head to head

The Roku Channel vs StubHub

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
StubHub logo

StubHub

Entertainment

Ticket resale marketplace charging both buyers and sellers, with combined fees often a large share of face value

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.; StubHub combined buyer and seller fees can amount to a large fraction of a ticket's face value, so the printed listing price understates the real total cost by a wide margin.
  • They diverge on capability: The Roku Channel covers Free ad-supported live channels, StubHub covers Buy and sell marketplace.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where The Roku Channel and StubHub differ
AttributeThe Roku ChannelStubHub
Pricing modelFree, ad-supported; individual paid channel add-onsFree to browse, two sided transaction fees on buyers and sellers
PlatformsRoku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TViOS, Android, Web

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 StubHub

  • Buy and sell marketplace
  • FanProtect guarantee
  • Price alerts
  • Interactive seat maps
  • Mobile and PDF ticket delivery
  • Seller payout tracking

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

StubHub

  • A fan trying to buy a ticket to a sold-out event no longer available at face value from the primary sellernot The Roku Channel
  • Someone who bought tickets they can no longer use and wants to resell themnot The Roku Channel
  • A buyer wanting a guarantee that a resold ticket will be valid and delivered on timenot The Roku Channel
  • Comparing seat locations and prices across multiple listings for the same event before buyingnot 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.

StubHub

  • Combined buyer and seller fees can amount to a large fraction of a ticket's face value, so the printed listing price understates the real total cost by a wide margin.
  • Buyer fees are typically not shown until near checkout, which regulators in the US and UK have specifically targeted as a form of drip pricing in the ticketing industry.
  • Sellers receive less than their listed price after StubHub's seller fee is deducted, which can surprise first-time sellers expecting to net the full listed amount.
  • As a secondary market, prices for popular events can be well above face value, and there is no guarantee of a cheaper option appearing before the event date.
  • Refund and guarantee terms depend on FanProtect policy conditions, and disputes over cancelled or changed events can take time to resolve through customer support.

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

StubHub

Free
  • Buyer fee$undefined/per transaction
    • Service fee added at checkout, commonly around 20 to 30 percent or more of ticket price
    • Fee amount varies by event and is shown before final purchase confirmation
  • Seller fee$undefined/per transaction
    • Service fee deducted from the sale proceeds, historically around 10 to 15 percent
    • Rate can vary by event and seller volume

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 StubHub if

  • You need buy and sell marketplace.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want fanprotect guarantee.
StubHub review

Questions people ask

Is The Roku Channel or StubHub better?
Neither clearly leads. The Roku Channel starts at Free and StubHub at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, The Roku Channel or StubHub?
The Roku Channel starts at Free and StubHub at Free.
Does The Roku Channel or StubHub run on more platforms?
The Roku Channel runs on Roku, iOS, Android, Web, Fire TV, Apple TV. StubHub runs on iOS, Android, Web.
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 StubHub is typically brought in for.
What can The Roku Channel do that StubHub cannot?
The Roku Channel covers Free ad-supported live channels, On-demand library, Premium channel add-ons, Cross-platform app. StubHub covers Buy and sell marketplace, FanProtect guarantee, Price alerts, Interactive seat maps.

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.

StubHub: Does StubHub charge fees to both buyers and sellers?

Yes, it charges a service fee to sellers deducted from their proceeds, and a separate service fee to buyers added at checkout.

The Roku Channel: Does it include sports?

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

StubHub: How much are StubHub fees in total?

They vary by event, but buyer fees are commonly in the range of 20 to 30 percent or more of the ticket price, and seller fees historically around 10 to 15 percent, so combined fees can be a large share of face value.

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.

StubHub: Are resold tickets guaranteed?

StubHub's FanProtect guarantee covers ticket validity, on-time delivery and event cancellation or significant changes, subject to its terms.

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