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Entertainment · head to head

Roku vs Tubi

Roku logo

Roku

Entertainment

Streaming made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tubi logo

Tubi

Entertainment

Watch movies and TV shows for free

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); Tubi website redirect issues prevent full pricing page access
  • They diverge on capability: Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Tubi covers Streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Roku and Tubi actually diverge.

Attributes where Roku and Tubi differ
AttributeRokuTubi
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsRoku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv
Founded20022014

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 Roku

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

Only in Tubi

  • Streaming
  • Full catalog
  • Search
  • Recommendations
  • Watchlist
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Content filtering

Both cover

  • Smart-tv support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Roku

  • TV streamingnot Tubi
  • Content discoverynot Tubi
  • Free entertainmentnot Tubi

Tubi

  • Free ad-supported streaming video on demandnot Roku
  • Movie and TV content 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)

Tubi

  • Website redirect issues prevent full pricing page access
  • Ad-supported model details not fully available

Pricing, plan by plan

Roku

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

Tubi

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full catalog
    • Ad-supported

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 Tubi if

  • You need streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want full catalog.
Tubi review

Questions people ask

Is Roku or Tubi better?
Neither clearly leads. Roku starts at Free and Tubi at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Roku or Tubi?
Roku starts at Free and Tubi at Free.
Does Roku or Tubi run on more platforms?
Roku runs on Roku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android. Tubi runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
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 Tubi is typically brought in for.
What can Roku do that Tubi cannot?
Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Free content, Voice search, Private listening. Tubi covers Streaming, Full catalog, Search, Recommendations. Both handle Smart-tv support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Tubi: Is Tubi free to use?

Tubi appears to be a free, ad-supported streaming service. The pricing page redirects to a GDPR compliance page, but Tubi is known as a free SVOD platform.

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