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Media & Entertainment · head to head

Roku vs Audible

Roku logo

Roku

Media & Entertainment

Streaming made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Audible logo

Audible

Media & Entertainment

Audiobooks as you've never experienced them

From
$7.95/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Roku has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Roku roku takes a 20 percent cut of all revenue channel publishers receive through Roku Pay (purchases, subscriptions, ads), paying out the remaining 80 percent no later than 60 days after the end of the month the payment was received, with non-US partners restricted to PayPal or wire transfer (ACH/direct deposit is US-only) and bank fees applying to wire and ACH payouts (archived developer documentation, 2 May 2021); Audible auto renews monthly and must be cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current membership period, per the App Store listing
  • They diverge on capability: Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Audible covers Audiobooks.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Roku and Audible actually diverge.

Attributes where Roku and Audible differ
AttributeRokuAudible
Starting priceFree$7.95/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsRoku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, AndroidIos, Android, Desktop, Kindle
Founded20021995

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Media & 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 Roku

  • Streaming aggregation
  • Free content
  • Voice search
  • Private listening
  • All major streaming apps
  • Smart home
  • PIN protection
  • Parental controls

Only in Audible

  • Audiobooks
  • Podcasts
  • Originals
  • Offline listening
  • Amazon Echo
  • Kindle
  • Apple Watch
  • Family library

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Roku

  • TV streamingnot Audible
  • Content discoverynot Audible
  • Free entertainmentnot Audible

Audible

  • Audiobook listeningnot Roku
  • Podcast consumptionnot Roku

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Roku

  • Roku takes a 20 percent cut of all revenue channel publishers receive through Roku Pay (purchases, subscriptions, ads), paying out the remaining 80 percent no later than 60 days after the end of the month the payment was received, with non-US partners restricted to PayPal or wire transfer (ACH/direct deposit is US-only) and bank fees applying to wire and ACH payouts (archived developer documentation, 2 May 2021)

Audible

  • Auto renews monthly and must be cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current membership period, per the App Store listing
  • Renewal is charged at the rate of the selected plan within 24 hours before the end of each membership period, per the App Store listing

Pricing, plan by plan

Roku

Free
  • FreeFree
    • The Roku Channel
    • Free content
    • Ad-supported

Audible

$7.95/month
  • Plus$7.95/month
    • Plus catalog
    • Podcasts
  • Premium Plus$14.95/month
    • 1 credit/month
    • Plus catalog

Which should you pick?

Choose Roku if

  • You need streaming aggregation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Roku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android.
  • You also want free content.
Roku review

Choose Audible if

  • You need audiobooks.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Desktop, Kindle.
  • You also want podcasts.
Audible review

Questions people ask

Is Roku or Audible better?
Neither clearly leads. Roku starts at Free and Audible at $7.95/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Roku or Audible?
Roku has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Roku and $7.95/month for Audible.
Does Roku or Audible run on more platforms?
Roku runs on Roku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android. Audible runs on Ios, Android, Desktop, Kindle.
Can I use Roku for free?
Yes. Roku has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Audible starts at $7.95/month.
What is Roku best used for?
Roku is most often used for tv streaming, content discovery, free entertainment. Of those, tv streaming and content discovery are not what Audible is typically brought in for.
What can Roku do that Audible cannot?
Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Free content, Voice search, Private listening. Audible covers Audiobooks, Podcasts, Originals, Offline listening. Both handle Ios support, Android support.
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