What Roku subscriptions are and how they fit into your streaming

Roku is a device that streams video to your TV — it's a box, stick, or built into the TV itself. Roku itself doesn't make shows; it's a platform that lets you watch apps like Netflix, Disney+, and hundreds of others. Some of those apps are free, some cost money, and some let you watch free content with ads. Roku also runs its own free streaming service called The Roku Channel, which shows movies and TV shows at no cost, supported by ads.

When people talk about "Roku subscriptions," they usually mean two things: subscriptions to services you watch through Roku (like Netflix or Hulu), or a subscription to The Roku Channel itself if you want to remove ads or unlock extra content. This guide covers both, so you understand what you're paying for and where your money goes.

Key Takeaways

  • The Roku Channel is free with ads, and you can watch thousands of movies and shows without paying anything.
  • The Roku Channel offers a paid tier called The Roku Channel+ that removes ads and adds more content, billed monthly or annually.
  • Subscriptions to Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and other services are separate from Roku itself — you pay those services directly, not Roku.
  • You can manage all your subscriptions from your Roku home screen, and Roku will show you which apps charge money before you open them.
  • Roku also sells premium channels (like Showtime or Starz) through its platform, which you can subscribe to and watch inside The Roku Channel app.

The Roku Channel: free with ads, or paid without them

The Roku Channel is Roku's own streaming service, included free with every Roku device. It has thousands of movies and TV shows you can watch at no cost. The trade-off is that you see ads — usually a few minutes per hour, similar to cable TV. If you want to remove ads and unlock additional movies and shows, you can pay for The Roku Channel+.

The Roku Channel+ costs a set monthly price (the exact amount varies by region and changes over time, so check your Roku home screen for the current rate). You can also buy an annual plan, which usually costs less per month than paying month-to-month. Both options renew automatically unless you cancel. You can start a free trial of The Roku Channel+ for a limited time to see if you like it before your first charge.

If you cancel The Roku Channel+, you keep your account and can still watch The Roku Channel free with ads. Your saved shows and watchlist stay in place.

Premium channels: Showtime, Starz, and others through Roku

Roku lets you subscribe to premium channels like Showtime, Starz, MGM+, and others directly through The Roku Channel app. These are separate services — Showtime is owned by Paramount, Starz is its own company — but Roku bundles them so you can manage them all in one place. You don't have to go to each service's website; you subscribe and pay through Roku.

Each premium channel has its own price and billing cycle. Showtime, for example, costs a set amount per month and renews automatically. You can usually start with a free trial before your first charge. When you subscribe to a premium channel through Roku, it appears as a tile in The Roku Channel app, and you watch it there without leaving the app.

If you cancel a premium channel subscription, you lose access when ready, but you can resubscribe at any time. Roku keeps a record of your subscriptions on your account, so you can see what you're paying for and manage them all from one screen.

Subscriptions to other services: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and the rest

Most of the apps on Roku — Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and hundreds of others — are services you subscribe to directly, not through Roku. You can sign up for these services through the Roku app itself, or you can sign up on their websites and then log in on Roku. Either way, you pay the service, not Roku. Roku doesn't take a cut or handle your billing.

When you open one of these apps on Roku, you log in with the account you created with that service. Your subscription status, watchlist, and viewing history are tied to that account, not to Roku. If you cancel Netflix, for example, you lose access to Netflix on Roku, on your phone, and everywhere else — because you canceled Netflix, not Roku.

Roku does show you which apps cost money before you open them. If an app requires a paid subscription, Roku labels it clearly so you don't accidentally click into something and get charged.

How to see what you're paying for and manage your subscriptions

On your Roku home screen, go to Settings (usually in the top right), then select Subscriptions. This screen shows you every subscription tied to your Roku account — The Roku Channel+, any premium channels you've bought, and sometimes subscriptions to other services if you signed up through Roku. You can see the price, billing date, and status of each one.

From this screen, you can cancel subscriptions to The Roku Channel+ or any premium channel. Select the subscription, then choose Cancel Subscription. The cancellation takes effect when ready, and you lose access right away (though some services let you finish watching what you started). You won't be charged again.

For subscriptions to Netflix, Hulu, and other third-party services, Roku's subscription screen may show them, but you usually have to cancel directly with that service. Go to Netflix.com, Hulu.com, or the service's website, log into your account, and cancel from there. This gives you more control and lets you choose whether to cancel when ready or at the end of your billing cycle.

Free apps and ad-supported content on Roku

Hundreds of apps on Roku are completely free and don't require a subscription. These include Pluto TV, Tubi, Freevee (Amazon's free service), and many others. They show ads, but you never pay. Roku also has free live TV channels built into The Roku Channel — news, sports, and entertainment — that you can watch anytime without a subscription.

Some apps offer both free and paid tiers. Peacock (NBC's service) has free content with ads and a paid tier without ads. Paramount+ has a free tier with ads and a paid tier. When you open these apps, you can browse the free content without paying, and you only subscribe if you want the paid version.

What happens when a subscription renews or fails to charge

Subscriptions renew automatically on the date shown in your Roku subscription settings. If you're subscribed to The Roku Channel+ on a monthly plan, it renews every month on the same date. Annual plans renew once a year. Roku sends you a reminder email before the charge, so you have time to cancel if you want to.

If a payment fails — for example, your credit card expires or is declined — Roku usually tries to charge you again a few days later. If it fails a second time, your subscription may be paused or canceled. You'll get an email about the failed payment. To fix it, go to your Roku account settings, update your payment method, and resubscribe if needed.

If you want to pause a subscription instead of canceling it, Roku doesn't offer that option for most subscriptions. You either keep paying or cancel. Some premium channels (like Showtime) may let you pause for a limited time, but you'd need to check with that specific service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay Roku to use my Roku device?

No. The device itself is free to use once you own it. The Roku Channel is free with ads. You only pay if you want to remove ads from The Roku Channel, subscribe to premium channels like Showtime, or subscribe to services like Netflix that you watch through Roku.

Can I share my Roku subscriptions with family members?

Yes, if they use the same Roku device or the same Roku account. If you have multiple Roku devices linked to one account, subscriptions to The Roku Channel+ and premium channels work on all of them. For services like Netflix, check that service's rules — most let you share with household members, but some limit how many people can watch at once.

What's the difference between The Roku Channel and The Roku Channel+?

The Roku Channel is free and shows ads. The Roku Channel+ is a paid subscription that removes ads and adds more movies and shows. Both use the same app; you just pay to unlock the ad-free version and extra content.

If I cancel a subscription, can I get my money back?

Roku doesn't refund partial months. If you cancel mid-month, you lose access when ready and don't get a refund for the rest of that month. Some services offer a grace period or let you cancel at the end of your billing cycle instead, so check your subscription details before you cancel.

Can I use a gift card to pay for Roku subscriptions?

Yes. Roku sells gift cards that you can add to your Roku account, and you can use that balance to pay for The Roku Channel+, premium channels, and other purchases through Roku. You can't use Roku gift cards to pay for Netflix or other third-party services — those require their own payment method.