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Entertainment · head to head

Roku vs Stitcher

Roku logo

Roku

Entertainment

Streaming made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

Stitcher

Entertainment

Premium podcast subscription service

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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); Stitcher service discontinued August 29, 2023
  • They diverge on capability: Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Stitcher covers Podcast streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Roku and Stitcher actually diverge.

Attributes where Roku and Stitcher differ
AttributeRokuStitcher
PlatformsRoku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers
Founded20022007

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 Roku

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

Only in Stitcher

  • Podcast streaming
  • Original content
  • Ad-free
  • Offline listening
  • Recommendations
  • Smart speakers
  • Car systems
  • Account security

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 Stitcher
  • Content discoverynot Stitcher
  • Free entertainmentnot Stitcher

Stitcher

  • Podcast listeningnot Roku
  • Audio entertainmentnot 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)

Stitcher

  • Service discontinued August 29, 2023
  • No longer available for download or use

Pricing, plan by plan

Roku

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

Stitcher

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Free podcasts
    • Ad-supported
  • Stitcher Premium$4.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Exclusives

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 Stitcher if

  • You need podcast streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want original content.
Stitcher review

Questions people ask

Is Roku or Stitcher better?
Neither clearly leads. Roku starts at Free and Stitcher at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Roku or Stitcher?
Roku starts at Free and Stitcher at Free.
Does Roku or Stitcher run on more platforms?
Roku runs on Roku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android. Stitcher runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
Can I use Roku for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Stitcher is typically brought in for.
What can Roku do that Stitcher cannot?
Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Free content, Voice search, Private listening. Stitcher covers Podcast streaming, Original content, Ad-free, Offline listening. Both handle Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Stitcher: Is Stitcher still available?

No. Stitcher shut down on August 29, 2023. SiriusXM, which acquired Stitcher in 2020, discontinued the app to consolidate podcasts into its flagship SiriusXM subscription. Users can listen to podcasts via the SiriusXM app instead.

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