Introduce
Before you buy a Roku device, you want to know many details about it such as?
How much is Roku?
Are channels free?
Do I have to sign up for a subscription?
Can I rent a movie on Roku?
This article will answer all of your questions.
How Much Does Roku Device Cost?
The cost of a Roku device will vary from model to model.
That’s because you first need to decide on a device, and they’re all very different in both price and features.
A Roku device can cost as little as $29.
Here is a list of different model prices of Roku devices.
In this section, we’ll list all of the current Roku devices, along with their prices and features. From there, you can pick a device that suits your needs (our Roku buyer’s guide goes into more detail for each device).
Roku Express — This is the cheapest option, but it can only stream up to HD 1080p, not 4K. It includes a Simple remote. It’s great for first-time streamers, second TVs, or if you’re on a budget.
Price: $24.48.
Roku Premiere — The Premiere may look a little different, but it’s basically the same as the Express except for one detail — it can stream in 4K.
Price: $29.00.
Roku Streaming Stick+ — This is Roku’s most portable device. It’s about the size of a flash drive and plugs directly into your TV’s HDMI port. It also has a long-range wireless receiver and includes the Enhanced Voice remote.
Price: $44.98.
Roku Ultra LT — The Ultra LT is intended to be a permanent entertainment system. It includes extended wireless and it’s the cheapest Roku with an Ethernet port. You can insert a micro SD for expanded channel storage, and it comes with the Enhanced Voice remote. However, it doesn’t include an HDMI cable.
Price: $54.99.
Roku Ultra — This is the 2020 model, the Ultra 4800R. It is the fastest and most powerful option you can get. It includes the best wireless receiver and an Ethernet port. It also supports Bluetooth connectivity and can stream in Dolby Vision, on top of its 4K capability.
Price: $89.99.
Roku Streambar Pro — The Streambar Pro is a great option if you’re looking to improve your TV’s sound, as this is basically a powerful speaker that has a Roku player built in. It supports Dolby Audio and has different sound modes and speech clarity options. It also supports Bluetooth and has a USB port for local playback. It comes with a Voice remote.
Price: $179.99.
Roku Streambar — This is another 2020 model. It’s basically the same as the Smart Soundbar but cheaper and more compact. One main difference, though, is that it doesn’t have a dedicated Ethernet port, but you can use the USB port to connect an Ethernet adapter. Like the Smart Soundbar, you get the Voice remote.
Price: $126.08
Roku TV — This is the most expensive way to bag yourself a Roku player, but it could prove worth if you’re already looking to upgrade your TV. Having a TV with a Roku player built in gives you a unique smart TV experience. It comes with a Simple remote.
Price: We can’t give you an exact price due to the different brands and sizes available, but they start around $195.00 and can go into the thousands.
All Possible Charges Associated with Roku
Except for the cost of a device, the cost of using a Roku device varies from user to user.
Roku will never charge you a fee for creating an account or activating it.
But, aside from the actual device, though, there are costs involved with certain channels and streaming services. Some channels and services are free, but others require you to set up a subscription or pay a one-off fee. However, even those that cost money aren’t at a set price. Again, it depends on what you want.
Here is a list of services or channels you could experience on Roku.
- The Roku Channel
- Netflix
- Hulu
- Amazon Prime Video
- Sling TV
- Peacock TV
…
Roku also offers a ton of free channels, such as FOX News and ABC
Roku also can install third-party apps, for example, Pluto TV comes with a variety of sports, news, and live channels, as well as plenty of movies and TV shows.
What Can you watch on Roku for Free?
There are over thousands of free channels available on Roku.
Here is a list
- The Roku Channel
- Comet – Comet is a science fiction channel that is free to watch
- Newson – Newson broadcast newsletters from over 160 local news agencies in over 100 American markets are available for free in the United States
- Pluto TV
- Tubi – Tubi provides free TV and movies
- PBS Kids – PBS Kids is great free children’s programs
- The CW App
- Crackle – The service offers films, television, and original programming
Roku Channel Pricing
The pricing of Roku channels varies.
Although Roku calls them “Roku TV channels,” they’re actually just third apps.
There are thousands of channels available, too, (including local channels) and you can search for them in the Roku Channel Store.
Premium Subscription on the Roku Channel
- Netflix
Basic with ads | $6.99 per month | n/a |
Basic | $9.99 per month | $8.99 per month |
Standard | $15.49 per month | $13.99 per month |
Premium | $19.99 per month | $17.99 per month |
- Hulu
Basic Hulu | Hulu (No Ads) | Hulu (Ads) + Live TV | Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV | |
Monthly price | $7.99 | $14.99 | $69.99 | $75.99 |
Ad-free on-demand streaming | X | ✓ | X | ✓ |
Access to Hulu’s entire streaming catalog | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Access to 75+ channels of Live TV | X | X | ✓ | ✓ |
Disney Plus and ESPN+ included* | X | X | ✓ | ✓ |
Number of simultaneous screens on which you can stream | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Access to premium add-ons | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Download support for offline viewing | X | ✓ | X | ✓ |
- Disney+
Disney+ Monthly 7.9/month
Disney+ Yearly 79.9/year
- Pandora
Pandora – Free
Pandora plus – $4.99/month
Pandora platinum – 9.99/month
Pandora family – 14.99/month
Different Kinds of Channels on your Roku
In the Roku Channel Store you could find free or paid kinds of channels, such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV, Peacock TV, or the Roku Channel.
Payments you can Make on the Roku App Store
Roku Store comes with much-paid content.
You could pay in the form of a one-time payment or monthly subscription.
If you got the same channels on your online streaming platform. In that case, you could cancel your subscription from your local provider. It means you could save man money a month.
Alternate services like Hulu, starting at $5.99 per month, or Sling TV at $30 per month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does Roku cost per year?
Some streaming device of any major brand charges a “use” or “activation” fee.
But Roku is free. You bought it, it will work for you forever, without cost.
Q: Does Roku have any monthly costs at all?
After you purchased the Roku device. There is no fee thereafter, nor are subscriptions required unless you require a third-party app
Q: Why won’t my Roku TV play any apps or movies until I check the connection?
If your Roku TV won’t play any of the apps until you check the connection for the internet.
Please reset the modem for at least 30 seconds,, and if that doesn’t work… reset the TV for 60 seconds.
Q: Additional Costs: Why is Roku charging me every month?
Roku won’t charge you every month except if your Roku does have in-app purchases. So, if you have Netflix, Hulu, Youtube TV, Fubo, Sling TV, or other services being used on Roku, then any monthly or annual recurring costs that are associated would be charged by those services (and not Roku).
Q: What are the costs for channels on Roku?
There are no costs for channels on Roku unless you are subscribing to a premium service.
If you wish to stream like RedBox ling TV, FuboTV, or Netflix channels, there may be a one-time fee or monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual subscription fee. The cost depends on the plan you choose.
Q: How can I talk to a Live person about my Roku Bill?
You’ll need to visit the Roku site and visit their contact page. If you can not find the correct department, simply log into your Roku account first and navigate through the account settings for “Roku support” or “contact info for Roku”
Q: What should I do if I’m getting charged by Roku?
Login to your Roku account and check if there are any pending charges. Or, you can review the invoice of your billing and see if the purchase history shows a more detailed note on what Roku believes you purchased.
Q: How Much Does A Roku Remote Cost?
- Roku Simple Remote – Compatible with most Roku devices and comes at $14.99.
- Roku Voice Remote – Comes with voice control features and costs $19.99.
- Roku Voice Remote Pro – Comes with rechargeable batteries and lost remote finder functionality. It costs $29.99.
Q: Is Roku Device Free?
The answer is no; Roku is not a free device. You will need to purchase a Roku device to use it.
Q: Does Roku Charge a Fee?
Roku does not charge a fee for starting. There are no monthly fees for using a Roku device, and users can add as many channels as they want without having to pay any additional fees.