The Roku free channels list offers something for everyone, too. It starts with the Roku Channel itself, where you can watch free movies online as well as TV shows from the past. Even better, though, the Roku Channel is also offering live news from local and national networks, giving cord-cutters another reason to ditch cable. The Roku Channel is constantly adding new free content, like The Walking Dead on AMC Showcase, PBS Antiques Roadshow and The Great British Baking Show. You can also, catch classic sitcoms on Pluto TV or Tubi, interesting originals on Crackle, the latest headlines on Newsy and even painting highlights from artist Bob Ross. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. The best free Roku channels also include inspiring presentations from Ted Talks, family-friendly programming on PBS Kids and so much more. Here are our picks for the top Roku channels that are free.
1. The Roku Channel
If you have a Roku device or a Roku TV, then watching free movies and TV shows is just a click of the remote away. But even without a Roku, anyone can sign up for a free account. The Roku Channel streams free and live entertainment, all supported by ads (so yes, you do have to sit through commercials). It offers a rotating selection of classic films and shows, sports and kids fare. And the Roku Channel also offers originals, including the dozens of titles purchased with the Quibi library. Arguably the best part of The Roku Channel is its news options. It offers national news from ABC (Ch. 115), FOX (Ch. 120) and NBC (Ch. 116), as well as local news from NBC for major cities such as Dallas Fort Worth (Ch. 135), Los Angeles (Ch. 126), South Florida (Ch. 147) and Connecticut (Ch. 142).
2. Peacock
Peacock is one of the newer players in the streaming landscape, but its library boasts popular past series including The Office, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Battlestar Galactica, Friday Night Lights and more. Peacock Free gets you almost everything but platform’s originals (like the Saved By the Bell reboot), but sometimes access is limited to a handful of episodes or a few seasons. Titles that require a Peacock Premium subscription are marked with a purple feather. Still, the free selection of movies and TV shows is strong. Recent options include Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Apollo 13, Notting Hill and Harry Potter movies.
3. Pluto TV
Think of Pluto TV as a free version of cable television. Add this free Roku channel and then browse Pluto TV’s live channels on a guide-like grid, which shows you what’s streaming right now and coming up. The movie-themed channels are split by genre (Action, Comedy, Romance, Horror, etc.). You can also find TV offerings from MTV, TV Land, Showtime as well as more specific themes like Star Trek, The Price Is Right and Baywatch.
4. Crackle
Crackle is one of the best Roku channels for watching free big-budget movies, provided you don’t mind sitting through a few commercials. If you cut the cord on your cable subscription but still miss zoning out in front of cheesy action comedies, this app is for you. The selection at Crackle rotates frequently, but there are usually some memorable films, like Gattaca.
6. Tubi
Tubi is another free streaming service you can add as a Roku channel for free. Just sign up with your email address and get access to an on-demand library of hundreds of movies and TV series. Generally, you’ll find past hits and classics, like The Karate Kid, Underworld and The Grudge. The Tubi Kids section is bountiful, but the best part of Tubi is its easy-to-use navigation. You can browse eclectic collections like “Not on Netflix,” “United Against Inequality” and “Highly Rated on Rotten Tomatoes.”
7. Newsy
Stay on top of the latest news in the U.S. and the world with Newsy. The 24/7 news service streams segments on the top stories of the day. You can also dig into categories like U.S., World, Politics, Business, Tech, Entertainment, Science/Health and Sports. Or check out on-demand reports on the coronavirus, sustainability and other important topics.
8. PBS Kids
PBS has been the gold standard for kids programming for decade. In the streaming age, it’s put many of its shows on the PBS Kids app, which you can add as a free Roku channel. Little ones can watch whatever is playing live, or enjoy Sesame Street, Curious George and Clifford the Big Red Dog on demand.
9. TED
With the TED channel, you can watch hundreds of talks and presentations from expert speakers on a huge range of topics. Browse by newest releases, trending talks or by categories like Courageous, Jaw-Dropping, Funny and Inspiring. There are also themed playlists to meet your every mood, from “What makes you happy” to “The pursuit of justice.” Or search for a specific speaker or topic that you have in mind.
10. The Bob Ross Channel
Tap into your inner artist with The Bob Ross Channel. Add it to your list of Roku free channels and you can dive into 380 classic episodes of the Joy of Painting series. Maybe watching Bob Ross paint will make you want to pick up a paintbrush. Or just use the channel as soothing streaming background noise while folding laundry. Bob Ross is great for either.
More Roku channels to get for free
As we said at the top of the page, there are so many free Roku channels. Here are some honorable mentions: America’s Test Kitchen: Episodes and helper clips from the popular series Crunchyroll: Anime fans can access hundreds of titles The CW: Recent episodes of the network’s hit series Fawesome: Deep-cut free indie movies Hoopla: Free movies from your local library Locast: Access to local broadcast channels if certain cities NewsOn: Live local news broadcasts from around the country Vevo: Music videos from top music stars Vudu: Selection of free movies and shows alongside titles for rent YouTube: Browse millions of videos on your Roku device
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