Tubi vs The Roku Channel: Free Streaming Compared for 2026

Both are free, legal and supported by ads, and neither needs a credit card for free viewing. Tubi is ads-only with no paid tier. The Roku Channel mixes free movies and 500+ US live channels with optional paid Premium Subscriptions you can add.

Last checked: October 26, 2026 against Tubi's and Roku's help centers. Details can change.

At a glance

• Price: Tubi says it is "a 100% free, 100% legal streaming service" with "no way of charging you for anything, ever." Roku says The Roku Channel is "available to stream for free," with optional paid add-ons.
• Ads: Both are ad-supported. Roku calls The Roku Channel "the home of free ad-supported streaming television on Roku." Tubi says it has no ad-free option.
• Library, as stated by each company: Roku lists "more than 80,000 on-demand movies and TV episodes" and "more than 500 live linear channels in the U.S." Tubi describes itself as having "the largest library in the entire streaming universe" but doesn't give a title count in its app listing.
• Paid extras: Tubi has none. The Roku Channel offers Premium Subscriptions you can add.

Tubi: how it works

Tubi's help article "Is Tubi really free and legal?" says the app is free to install and "all of our content is always free to watch. We never ask for any credit card information." It explains that short ad breaks pay for content from partners, naming "studios like MGM, Lionsgate, and Paramount."

On ads, Tubi's help center says: "Right now, we don't have an ad-free option." Tubi also says it has "substantially fewer ad minutes per hour than traditional broadcast or cable." That is Tubi's own claim, and we didn't measure it.

Tubi's App Store listing lists live TV (news, weather, sports), movies, series, Tubi Originals, Spanish-language programming and international titles, including anime and Korean content. It also says Tubi "works on 30+ devices." An account is optional; Tubi says creating one lets you "build your own watchlist, save your watch progress, and get better recommendations."

The Roku Channel: how it works

Roku's September 2026 newsroom boilerplate says The Roku Channel, launched in 2017, features "content from more than 250 partners and a growing collection of Roku Originals." It describes the service as "the No. 2 app on the Roku platform in the U.S. by streaming hours."

The free side includes movies, shows, live news and kids' TV. Roku's Roku Channel page also promotes Premium Subscriptions you can "add" and manage with your Roku account. Its fine print reads: "Cancel before free trial ends to avoid fees." Those subscriptions are optional, and the free content plays without them.

You don't need a Roku device. Roku's support page says you can add The Roku Channel to "any Roku streaming device, compatible Samsung Smart TV, or compatible Amazon Fire TV device or watch on TheRokuChannel.com or on the Roku mobile app." Roku's site also lists Google TV. On Samsung TVs, Roku says you "can begin watching free movies and TV shows immediately," and signing in to a free Roku account lets you resume across devices.

Where each works

Roku says The Roku Channel is available "in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom on Roku streaming devices, web, and mobile, and in Mexico on Roku streaming devices only." Premium Subscriptions are US-only and "not available" on Samsung TVs and Amazon Fire TV devices. Tubi's app listing describes support for 30+ devices; check Tubi's supported-devices page for your TV or player.

Which to pick

• Pick Tubi if you want a service that can never bill you, with a large on-demand catalog and no upsells to sort through.
• Pick The Roku Channel if you want lots of live channels alongside on-demand titles. It also fits if you'd like to keep optional paid add-ons and free content in one app.
• Use both. Neither costs anything for free viewing, and their catalogs differ, so having both apps gives you more to watch. If you try a Premium Subscription trial on The Roku Channel, note the end date.

More free-streaming guides: Is Tubi actually free?, everything free on The Roku Channel and Tubi vs Pluto TV.

Bottom line

Tubi and The Roku Channel are both free and ad-supported. The practical difference is the business model. Tubi has no paid tier and never asks for a card. The Roku Channel adds a large live-channel lineup plus optional paid subscriptions inside the same app. Your choice comes down to what's in each catalog this month and whether you want paid add-ons in the same app.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Roku Channel free without a Roku device?

Yes. Roku says you can watch on compatible Samsung TVs, Amazon Fire TV devices, TheRokuChannel.com and the Roku mobile app, as well as Roku devices.

Does Tubi have an ad-free option?

No. Tubi's help center says it does not currently offer an ad-free option.

Does The Roku Channel cost money?

The free movies, shows and live channels are free and ad-supported. Premium Subscriptions are optional paid add-ons, and Roku notes you must cancel before a free trial ends to avoid fees.

Do I need an account for Tubi or The Roku Channel?

Not for free viewing. Tubi says an account lets you build a watchlist and save progress; Roku says a free account lets you resume programs across devices.