The 8 best Roku channels for streaming shows and movies (2024)

Did you buy a new snazzy smart Roku TV or add a premium Roku device to your collection? Knowing which channels to install on your new streaming product can be daunting. Searching for channels often brings questions. Do these channels offer the highest entertainment value for the right price, and how well do they integrate with a Roku streaming stick or Roku TV? To help you gain some insight, we rounded up the best, most popular Roku channels on the platform.

1 The Roku Channel

The best budget option

It might not warrant enough content to replace any premium streaming services, but it does the job of finding free shows at no extra cost. The only downside is that the channel has ads, so you will have interruptions. Like Amazon Prime Video, you can add premium channels to build your catalog further. So, if you want a place to add all your channels, the Roku Channel is your go-to app for future channel surfing.

The Roku Channel on Roku

2 Max

Premium streaming for mature audiences

Formerly HBO Max, after Warner Bros. Discovery went with the rebrand. Max is slightly pricey at $10 monthly at its most basic tier ($16 monthly for the ad-free tier and $20 for the ultimate ad-free experience). However, the service provides many premium original shows. You can watch real-binge-worthy shows like The Sopranos and Tokyo Vice. It’s a great place to search for a more mature selection than other services. It requires Roku OS 11 and higher to download the app.

Max on Roku

3 YouTube

A rabbit hole of content

YouTube is a giant behemoth for streamable content. You can find an assortment of categories on YouTube. Tune into content creators, watch recorded videos, and access free movies. The content options on YouTube seem endless. YouTube channels cover diverse topics, from tech-savvy channels to ones focused on home-brewed entertainment. You can also enjoy the majority of YouTube completely free (with ads) without upgrading to YouTube Premium. Whether it’s worth purchasing the ad-free tier depends on what you hope to gain from the app.

If you only want to access YouTube TV, Roku has a separate app for YouTube TV.

YouTube on Roku

4 Hulu

An impressive variety of movies and TV shows

Hulu has an impressive library of on-demand content. Tuning into Hulu gives you access to full seasons of TV shows, Hulu Originals (like hit acclaimed comedy Only Murders in the Building), movies, and Live TV. The app has seamless integration with Roku and is available on many platforms (web browsers, smart TVs, mobile devices, to name a few). You can also pay $2 to upgrade your Hulu package to add Disney+ (another well-regarded streaming service for Marvel and Disney content).

Hulu on Roku

5 Plex

Best media management software

Plex is an excellent app for hosting digitally owned content. You can set up media servers to stream all types of content, including movies, TV shows, music, and any digitally owned content stored on your server. You can use Plex to stream your personal media onto Roku. The dedicated Roku app for Plex means integration is seamless. However, to take advantage of the features, you must archive your content and set up a Plex server. When you’ve done it, it’s worth the effort.

You can also (optionally) tune into Plex’s free movie and TV catalog via add-ons. The primary focus of using this app is for the media management software.

Plex on Roku

6 Tubi TV

A great free substitute for Netflix

With Netflix becoming increasingly expensive, viewers may need to compromise on their choice of streaming services. Tubi TV becomes an attractive option after you cancel your Netflix subscription. It’s also regarded as one of the most popular free streaming services, thanks to its decently sized library (from comedies to documentaries) and because it’s free. The only downside of Tubi TV is the quality seems slightly inconsistent compared to other paid options.

Tubi TV on Roku

7 BritBox

A healthy supply of British drama

BritBox is a fantastic channel for accessing quality British TV in the US. Its app version offers 4K if you stream on a TV that supports those capabilities. BritBox provides content from other popular British channels, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5, to compose its library. The app lets you tune into great detective shows like Vera and fun sci-fi classics like Doctor Who. Another perk is the BritBox UI. The UI isn’t overly crowded and includes a separate tab to view trailers.

You can subscribe to BritBox through Roku or from the app.

BritBox on Roku

8 Crunchyroll

Biggest library for watching anime

Crunchyroll has an enormous selection of anime with English dubs and subtitles. You can watch an assortment of genres, like action and fantasy (including isekai). In addition to its library, Crunchyroll has high-profile originals like God of High School and Tower of God that you won’t find on any other service. You must purchase the Fan tier (at minimum) to play most of Crunchyroll’s library.

Your experience with the Crunchyroll app may vary. Some have reported buffering issues and crashes while using the app over Roku. Also, the UI is a mixed bag with its cramped grid listings. Still, the app has pros thanks to its extensive library of anime (especially since the merge with Funimation Now) it acquired over the years. Anime enthusiasts will want to consider adding this app to their Roku catalog and see how the experience shakes out with the 14-day trial.

Crunchyroll on Roku

Watch entertainment apps on the go

Many of the apps on this list aren’t tied to the Roku device you stream on. No matter where you are, you can enjoy high-quality entertainment at your fingertips. There’s nothing like picking back up your favorite TV series while in the car or bus and continuing back on your couch, especially if you’re about to hit a nail-biting climax.