Roku has over 500 free live TV channels available right now through The Roku Channel alone — and that’s before you count the thousands of additional free apps in the Roku Channel Store. No cable bill. No subscription. Just a Roku device (or even just the free Roku app) and a working internet connection.
This list covers every major free category — movies, news, sports, kids, music, lifestyle, and Spanish-language channels — plus every new channel added in January and February 2026. If you’re also comparing free streaming options across platforms, check out the Amazon Fire Stick free channels list and the Samsung TV Plus channels list — both strong alternatives worth knowing about.
How Many Free Channels Does Roku Have in 2026?
The Roku Channel now offers more than 500 free live TV channels — often called FAST channels (Free Ad-Supported TV) — spanning news, sports, comedy, drama, game shows, anime, and more.
That’s just one app. The broader Roku Channel Store has tens of thousands of apps total, hundreds of which are free or include a free content tier.
For a full look at all Roku’s available apps including paid ones, the complete Roku channels list breaks down everything in the Channel Store by category.
What Are FAST Channels?
FAST stands for Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television. These are live, linear channels — they run 24/7 like traditional cable, showing whatever is scheduled at that moment. You can’t rewind or skip ahead. The trade-off: everything is completely free, funded by ads.
Think of FAST as cable TV — except you’re not paying $80/month for it.
By late 2025, approximately 69% of households were using at least one FAST service, according to Circana data — meaning nearly 7 out of 10 streaming homes already have a free app running.
Top 5 Free Roku Channels to Add First
If you’re starting from zero, add these five first. They cover the most ground for free content.
1. The Roku Channel Built into every Roku device. This is your FAST hub — 500+ live channels plus a library of free on-demand movies and TV shows, all ad-supported. No account required to browse, though a free Roku account lets you save favorites across devices.
2. Pluto TV One of the largest FAST platforms in the US. Pluto runs 250+ live channels organized like a cable guide, plus on-demand content. Heavy on movies, reality TV, news, and pop culture. See the full Pluto TV channel list for a complete breakdown by genre.
3. Tubi The biggest free on-demand library available on Roku. Tubi carries 40,000+ titles including movies and full TV series. For a genre-level look at what’s inside, the Tubi TV channels guide covers it in detail.
4. Plex Works as both a media server and a FAST platform. The free streaming side has 300+ live channels and 50,000+ on-demand titles. No subscription needed for the free content.
5. Xumo Play Xumo runs 300+ live channels across news, entertainment, and sports. Owned by Comcast. Simple interface and strong news coverage make it useful alongside Pluto or Plex.
If you want the best of free TV without a Roku device, the Sling Freestream channels list and Amazon Freevee channels list are worth checking too — both are fully free and device-agnostic.
Complete Free Roku Channels List by Category (2026)
Free Movies & TV Shows
These channels are fully free, ad-supported, and available on Roku right now.
| Channel | What It Offers |
|---|---|
| The Roku Channel | 500+ live channels + on-demand library |
| Tubi | 40,000+ free on-demand movies and TV shows |
| Pluto TV | 250+ live channels, heavy on movies and reality |
| Plex | 300+ live channels + 50,000 on-demand titles |
| Xumo Play | 300+ live channels including entertainment and news |
| Crackle | Sony-backed, free movies and originals |
| FilmRise | Classic TV and films, multiple genre sub-channels |
| Peacock (free tier) | NBC shows, news clips, some live sports |
| Shout! TV | Horror, cult classics, and sci-fi |
| Cinevault | Classic films, Westerns, and vintage TV |
| GetTV | Classic movies and TV series |
| Amazon Freevee | Movies and TV with ad support |
| Popcornflix | Free movies, mostly indie and genre films |
| Fawesome | Family and action movies, ad-supported |
| DistroTV | 150+ channels including entertainment and news |
For comparison, the LG TV channels guide and Vizio TV channels list show how other smart TV platforms stack up on free content.
Free News Channels
Roku’s news lineup is one of the strongest in free streaming.
| Channel | Coverage |
|---|---|
| ABC News Live | 24/7 breaking news and live events |
| CBS News | Live 24/7 news stream plus on-demand clips |
| NBC News Now | Live news and MSNBC highlights |
| Scripps News (formerly Newsy) | National and international news, no-bias format |
| Fox News (free clips) | News clips and some live programming |
| Fox Weather | 24/7 weather forecast channel |
| CNN Express | Condensed news updates, added February 2026 |
| Bloomberg TV | Business and financial news |
| Al Jazeera English | International news coverage |
| WION | Global news from India |
| Cheddar News | Tech and business-focused news |
| NewsNation | Fact-based national news |
| NTD (New Tang Dynasty) | International and US news |
| Canada TV | Canadian news and entertainment, added February 2026 |
Free Sports Channels
Sports is where free Roku channels are expanding fastest in 2026.
| Channel | Sports Coverage |
|---|---|
| Pluto TV Sports | 24/7 sports talk and highlight channels |
| Overtime | Basketball, football, soccer highlights and analysis |
| Willow Sports | Live cricket coverage |
| Stadium | College sports, indoor football, and highlights |
| ESPN (free content) | Clips and select live events via ESPN app |
| Red Bull TV | Extreme sports, motor racing, and esports |
| Motorsport.tv | Racing content across multiple series |
| Outside TV | Outdoor adventure and extreme sports |
| FloSports (free tier) | Combat sports, track and field, college sports |
| beIN Sports Connect (free content) | Soccer and international sports clips |
Note on sports: Most major live sports — NFL, NBA, MLB regular season — require paid subscriptions or broadcast channels via a live TV service. Free sports channels on Roku specialize in highlights, analysis, niche sports, and replays. If you want live NFL or NBA, services like YouTube TV, FuboTV, or Sling TV are the paid routes that carry them.
Free Kids & Family Channels
| Channel | What Kids Get |
|---|---|
| PBS Kids | Full episodes of Daniel Tiger, Curious George, Arthur, and more |
| Pluto TV Kids | Dedicated kids block within Pluto |
| Tubi Kids | Family and kids on-demand section |
| Kidoodle.TV | Safe, ad-supported kids content |
| Pokémon | 24/7 Pokémon episodes — added February 2026 |
| Lassie | Classic Lassie episodes on-demand |
| Leave it to Beaver | Classic family show, added February 2026 |
| Little House on the Prairie | Full series, added February 2026 |
| BabyFirst TV | Programming for babies and toddlers |
| Cartoon Hangover | Animation for kids and adults |
Free Music Channels
| Channel | Content |
|---|---|
| Vevo | Music videos 24/7, genre-specific sub-channels |
| iHeartRadio | Live radio stations plus on-demand podcasts |
| Stingray Music | Genre-based music streams |
| MTV Pluto | Classic MTV content via Pluto TV |
| Concert Vault | Live concert recordings, classic rock focus |
If music radio is your main use case, the SiriusXM channel list is worth comparing — it has 400+ channels but requires a subscription.
Free Lifestyle, Food & Home Channels
| Channel | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Food Network Kitchen (free content) | Cooking clips and some full episodes |
| Tastemade | Food, travel, and home content |
| America’s Funniest Videos | 24/7 AFV clips, added February 2026 |
| Johnny Carson TV | Classic Tonight Show content, added February 2026 |
| Murder She Wrote | Full classic series, added February 2026 |
| Midsomer Murders | British crime drama, added February 2026 |
| Sober IVvi | Recovery and wellness programming |
| TED | TED Talks on-demand, all free |
Free Spanish & International Channels
| Channel | Audience |
|---|---|
| Pluto TV en Español | Spanish-language FAST channels across genres |
| Filmex Comedia | Spanish-language comedy films, added February 2026 |
| Filmex Accion | Spanish-language action films, added February 2026 |
| Raza Canal | Latino culture — music, talk, community content |
| Telemundo Puerto Rico | Puerto Rican news and entertainment |
| WION | South Asian-focused international news |
| Sinovision | Chinese-language programming |
| France 24 (English) | International news from France |
| DW News | German international broadcaster, English channel |
| NHK World | Japanese international broadcaster |
For broader international and Spanish-language streaming, the Vix channels list covers one of the largest free Spanish-language platforms available on Roku.
New Free Channels Added to Roku in 2026
January 2026 — 6 New Channels
Roku rolled out six new free channels in early January 2026, available through The Roku Channel with no subscription required.
| Channel | Category | What It Is |
|---|---|---|
| Who Wants to Be a Millionaire | Game Shows | 24/7 stream of the classic quiz show |
| The Virginian | Westerns | Classic Western series from the American frontier |
| Raza Canal | Spanish/Culture | Latino music, talk, and community programming |
| Overtime | Sports | Basketball, football, soccer highlights and analysis |
| CNN Xpress | News | Condensed CNN news updates |
| Vas No Vas USA | Spanish | Spanish-language variety and entertainment |
February 2026 — 17+ New Channels
Roku significantly expanded its free streaming offerings in February 2026, adding a total of 17+ new ad-supported channels through The Roku Channel across multiple rollout phases.
First wave (early February):
| Channel | Category |
|---|---|
| Pokémon | Kids / Anime |
| America’s Funniest Videos | Comedy / Family |
| Willow Sports | Sports (Cricket) |
| Johnny Carson TV | Classic TV / Talk |
| Nash Bridges | Drama |
| Grit Xtra | Action / Western |
| Leave it to Beaver | Classic TV / Family |
| Little House on the Prairie | Classic TV / Family |
| Midsomer Murders | Crime / Drama |
Second wave (mid-February): Canada TV, CNN Express, Sober IVvi, Filmex Comedia, and Filmex Accion.
Late February (February 25): Cinevault, Cinevault Classics, Cinevault Westerns, FilmRise Classic TV, FilmRise The Dick Van Dyke Show, FilmRise Western, GetComedy, GetTV, Johnny Carson TV, Lassie, Murder She Wrote, Stargate by MGM, Pluto Classic Movie Western, Pluto Gunsmoke, and more.
Channels That Look Free but Aren’t
This catches a lot of people off guard. These channels are installed on Roku for free, but the content itself requires a paid plan:
- Netflix — Requires a paid subscription ($7.99–$22.99/month)
- Disney+ — Paid subscription required ($7.99+/month)
- Max (HBO Max) — Paid only, no free tier
- Hulu — Requires at least the $7.99/month ad-supported plan
- Paramount+ — Paid subscription; see the Paramount+ channels list to evaluate if it’s worth it for you
- Peacock — Has a free tier, but most premium content is behind the $7.99/month paywall. The Peacock TV channel list shows exactly what’s free vs. paid
- Apple TV+ — Paid only
- Discovery+ — Subscription required; the Discovery+ channel list has the full breakdown
Installing the app is free. Watching content inside most of these apps is not.
Which Free Channels Require a Login?
Some channels are free but ask you to create an account before watching.
| Channel | Login Required? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The Roku Channel | No (optional) | Works without an account; login syncs favorites |
| Tubi | No | Browse and watch without any account |
| Pluto TV | No | Fully anonymous viewing |
| Plex | Yes | Account needed to access the free streaming library |
| Peacock (free) | Yes | NBC account required |
| Crackle | Yes | Sony account to watch |
| PBS | Yes | Optional for most content; required for Passport titles |
| Xumo Play | No | No account needed |
Channels that require a login do not charge you anything — a free account is all they ask for.
How to Add Free Channels on Roku
Method 1: From Your Roku Device
- Press the Home button on your remote
- Scroll left to open the sidebar and select Streaming Channels
- Browse or search for any channel, select it, and press Add Channel
Method 2: From the Roku Website
- Go to my.roku.com and log in
- Search for the channel
- Click Add Channel — it pushes directly to your device
Method 3: From the Roku Mobile App
- Open the Roku app on iOS or Android
- Tap Channels, then search
- Add any channel — it installs on your linked Roku device automatically
All three methods work the same way. The channel will appear on your Roku home screen within a few seconds.
FAQs About Free Roku Channels
Is Roku free to use? The Roku device has a one-time hardware cost ($29–$129 depending on the model). After that, using Roku costs nothing. Hundreds of channels are free. You only pay if you subscribe to a paid service like Netflix or Disney+. If you’re deciding between Roku and another streaming stick, check out whether a Fire TV Stick is worth it with a smart TV for a useful comparison.
Does Roku have free live TV? Yes. The Roku Channel offers more than 500 free live TV channels with no subscription or credit card required. Pluto TV, Xumo Play, Plex, and several others also run free live TV.
Can I watch Roku for free without any subscriptions? Completely. Thousands of hours of movies, TV shows, news, sports, and kids content are available at no cost. You will see ads, just like traditional broadcast TV.
What’s the single best free Roku channel? The Roku Channel is the starting point — 500+ live channels and a large on-demand library in one place. Tubi is the best for on-demand depth. Pluto TV is the best for a cable-style channel guide experience.
Do I need a Roku device to access free Roku channels? The Roku Channel is available on Roku streaming players and Roku TVs, but also on Samsung smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV devices, iOS and Android mobile apps, and via web browser — so you can access much of the free content without Roku hardware.
How often does Roku add new free channels? Roku adds new channels in phases throughout each month, typically in batches. In 2026 alone, Roku added 6 channels in January, 17 in the first three weeks of February, and another 27 on February 25.
If you haven’t already set up The Roku Channel as your free content hub, that’s the first move. Everything else — Tubi, Pluto, Plex, Xumo — layers on top of it. Between all of them, you’re looking at more content than most people watch in months, all without spending a dollar. For the most complete picture of what’s free across every platform, the best streaming services for local channels guide is a useful next read.
