Roku offers a surprising amount of free programming to its users. From sports and anime to The Office and live news broadcasts, Roku makes it easy to cut ties with your cable subscription without missing out on your favorite content. It’s full catalog is extensive, but we’ve pulled together some of our favorite free Roku channels to help keep you occupied as we roll into the cold winter months ahead.
Pluto TV
Download Pluto TV to stream 100+ channels of news, sports, and more, completely free on Roku. You’ll also get access to the on demand library of over 1000 movies and TV episodes. Its programming isn’t as robust as paid services like Hulu + Live TV, but as far as free content is concerned, it’s hard to beat Pluto TV.
You can add Pluto TV to your Roku HERE.
Crunchyroll
Look no further than Crunchyroll for your anime fix. The platform offers more than 30,000 episodes across 1,000 different shows – and they’re all available to free users. You’ll have to put up with a few ads during your viewing sessions, although you can upgrade to a premium tier if you find yourself binge-watching One Piece into the early hours of the morning.
You can add Crunchyroll to your Roku HERE.
hoopla
hoopla is a unique platform that’s offered in partnership with many local public libraries. It gives you access to thousands of hours of content at no cost, and its catalog is filled with popular TV shows and movies for all occasions. All you need to enjoy hoopla is a valid library card – so head down to your local library and pick up one as soon as you can.
You can add hoopla to our Roku HERE.
NewsON
NewsON is the perfect source of free news on Roku. Over 275 local news stations are available through the app, and there’s no subscription or hidden fee required to access the content. You can catch breaking news, previous broadcasts, and easily search for your favorite station by entering in your preferred location. It’s not the only free news channel on Roku, but NewsOn is without a doubt one of the best.
You can add NewsON to your Roku HERE.
PBS
Thousands of full-length episodes are available through the PBS channel, including shows such as Nature, PBS NewsHour, Frontline, and – everyone’s favorite – Antiques Roadshow. You can stream shows on demand, watch your local PBS station’s livestream, or create a custom watchlist to tackle after work. PBS creates a surprising amount of premium content, and it’s all available for free through Roku.
You can add PBS to your Roku HERE.
Peacock
Peacock offers a variety of subscription packages, but its free tier includes thousands of hours of content. The main reason you’ll want to add the channel to Roku, however, is to gain free access to the first five seasons of The Office – which are available in an ad-supported format. Beyond The Office, you’ll also find Modern Family, Chicago Med, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and dozens of other popular shows.
You can add Peacock to your Roku HERE.
Adult Swim
With Adult Swim you’ll find a surprising amount of 100% free programming. If you have a TV provider or streaming service with Adult Swim you will find even more, but cord cutters with no TV service can still access a huge collection of shows from Adult Swim available to stream.
You can add Adult Swim to your Roku HERE.
The Roku Channel
The Roku Channel is your home for free, live, and premium TV. It offers an ever-changing selection of movies, TV shows, 24/7 live news, sports and more – all without the need to open your wallet. Start watching on your Roku device at home and pick up where you left off online or with the free Roku mobile app.
You can add The Roku Channel to your Roku HERE.
CBS Sports Stream & Watch Live
Although you’ll need paid access to CBS to gain everything this channel has to offer, free users can still check out plenty of sports-related programming. This includes pregame and postgame coverage of most sporting events, daily shows (including Fantasy Football Today), and on-demand access to the top highlights across various leagues.
You can add CBS Sports Stream & Watch Live to your Roku HERE.
TED
Over 2,000 TED Talks are available for free through this popular Roku channel. Whether you’re looking for a deep dive into the latest computing technologies, a closer look at our education system, or just want to feed your curiosity, there’s no shortage of incredible presentations on the TED channel. Arguably one of the best “edutainment” channels on Roku, TED is the perfect way to break up a day of binge-watching your favorite shows.
You can add TED to your Roku HERE.