Roku makes some of the cheapest ways to get streaming on your TV: the sticks, the boxes, and the built in Roku OS on budget TVs. The Roku Channel Store carries thousands of apps, and a surprising chunk of them are completely free. Free here means ad-supported: you watch commercials and the channel pays the bills, so you never need a cable login or a card for most of them. This guide collects the free Roku channels worth installing, organized by category, for viewers in the US and Canada.
The free catalog of streaming channels just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Roku keeps putting out more FAST channels that are free and supported by ads. On top of the major players like Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi and Freevee, there are also news channels, extra sports channels, classic TV shows, cartoons for kids and channels that show cooking. Also, apps like Kanopy and Hoopla work with your library card from your local library. Some channels are only for the US, others appear in Canada too; some even swap catalogues between countries and we note where they are available.
Free Roku Channels List (US and Canada)
All channels are free to add from Roku Channel Store. Each table row shows the name of the channel along with what it has to offer. That way you can skip channels you dislike. Also, the content of some channels varies depending on whether your Roku is set to the US or Canada.
Big Free Streaming Apps
| Free Roku Channel | What You Get |
|---|---|
| The Roku Channel | Movies, TV, live news, and its own Live TV grid with numbered channels |
| Pluto TV | Hundreds of linear live channels plus on-demand movies |
| Tubi | Big on-demand movie and TV library with light ads |
| Amazon Freevee | Free movies and original series, no Prime needed |
| Xumo Play | Live channel lineup with news, sports, and movies |
| Crackle | Free movies, originals, and classic shows |
| Plex | Free FAST channels plus your own media server |
| Kanopy | Movies and docs free with a library card |
| Hoopla | Movies, music, and audiobooks free with a library card |
| DistroTV | Free live TV and movies across many genres |
| Stirr | News, sports, and entertainment FAST channels |
| Fawesome | Curated free movies and TV from brands like REELZ and Game Show Network |
| FilmRise Free Movies | Free film library that also spins off genre channels |
| TCL Channel | Live TV and movies in an app-style grid |
| Local Now | Local news, weather, and national headlines combined |
Live News and Weather
| Free Roku Channel | What You Get |
|---|---|
| ABC News Live | 24/7 live national news and breaking coverage |
| CBS News | 24/7 streaming plus local CBS News stations by city |
| NBC News Now | Round the clock live news, no login |
| Fox Weather | Free live weather network and storm coverage |
| BBC News | International news live in North America |
| CNN Express | Live CNN news streaming in bite size |
| Cheddar | Business and tech news live |
| Bloomberg Quicktake | Fast business and market coverage |
| Newsmax TV | Live news channel plus Newsmax 2 with paid streams inside |
| NewsON | Local news from hundreds of US stations in one app |
| Haystack News | Local and world news briefs by city |
| Euronews English | European and world news in English |
| Democracy Now! | Independent daily news hour |
| America’s Voice | Political talk and live programming |
| AccuWeather Now | Live weather channel with forecasts |
| CBC News | Canadian national news, live and on demand |
Sports
| Free Roku Channel | What You Get |
|---|---|
| CBS Sports HQ | Live sports news, highlights, and analysis all day |
| CBS Sports Golazo Network | Soccer coverage, matches, and analysis |
| NBC Sports | Live clips, news, and original sports coverage |
| FOX Sports | Highlights, news, and studio shows |
| FanDuel TV Extra | Live streaming of FanDuel TV programs |
| Stadium | Live sports network with college and pro action |
| FIFA+ | Live soccer and classic matches around the world |
| beIN SPORTS Xtra | Soccer and combat sports highlights plus live events |
| Red Bull TV | Extreme sports, motorsport, and adventure docs |
| MAVTV Select | Motorsport content, free tier |
| MotoGP Channel | Motorcycle racing highlights and classic races |
| DP World Tour | Golf coverage and highlights |
| GolfPass | Golf instruction and shows, free tier |
| Billiard TV | Pool and billiards tournaments |
| EDGEsport | Skateboarding and action sports |
| Flo Racing 24/7 | Racing highlights and archive content |
Entertainment and Movies
| Free Roku Channel | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Freevee | Free movies and Amazon originals with ads |
| MGM Presents | Movies and series from the MGM library |
| Miramax Movies | Free films from the Miramax catalog |
| Midnight Pulp | Cult, horror, and grindhouse movies |
| DUST | Sci-fi short films and series |
| Gravitas Movies | Documentaries and indie films |
| Comedy Dynamics | Stand up comedy sets and specials |
| GetTV | Classic movies and shows from Sony’s library |
| Cinevault Classics | Classic films, westerns, and horror spins |
| MovieSphere | Fan favorites and newer releases |
| Baywatch | Every episode of the classic series |
| Doctor Who | Classic Doctor Who episodes on demand |
| MST3K | Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes |
| Hallmark Movies & More | Romance and feel good films |
| Bones | Forensic drama series on demand |
| Crime Thriller | Thriller movies around the clock |
Kids and Family
| Free Roku Channel | What You Get |
|---|---|
| HappyKids | Safe cartoons and shows for kids |
| Kidoodle.TV | Family friendly streaming, kid profiles |
| Moonbug | CoComelon and other preschool hits |
| BatteryPOP | The whole BatteryPOP family of kids channels |
| Free Kids Cartoons | Cartoons from the batteryPOP library |
| Free Kids Shows | Original kids series episodes |
| Barney & Friends | Classic Barney episodes and stories |
| Caillou | Caillou and friends episodes |
| Bob the Builder | Construction adventures for young kids |
| LEGO | LEGO shows and specials |
| Kid Gamer TV | Gaming videos aimed at kids |
| Anime X HiDive | Anime series with a free ad-supported tier |
| Crunchyroll | Anime with a free ad-supported catalog |
| KIDZ BOP TV | Music videos with the KIDZ BOP kids |
| Little House on the Prairie | Family classic full episodes |
Music and Radio
| Free Roku Channel | What You Get |
|---|---|
| iHeart Radio | The iHeart family of music radio channels |
| iHeart Christmas | Holiday music non-stop with seasonal spins |
| iHeart 90s | 90s hits radio channel |
| iHeart Country Radio | Country hits and new releases |
| iHeart Yacht Rock | Smooth yacht rock classics |
| TuneIn Radio | Radio stations and podcasts for free |
| Pandora | Free ad-supported music radio |
| Latido Music | Latin music videos and performances |
| Ameba | Curated music videos and indie acts |
| MTV Pluto TV | Music videos, reality, and MTV vault content |
| MTV Block Party | Hip-hop and party music video blocks |
| New KPop | K-pop music videos and charts |
| CMT Pluto TV | Country music videos and CMT shows |
| Free Music | Popup music videos around the clock |
Food, DIY, and Lifestyle
| Free Roku Channel | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Best of Bobby Flay by Food Network | Top Bobby Flay cooking episodes |
| Chef vs Chef by Food Network | Cooking competition matchup for the Food Network library |
| Delicious Eats by Food Network | Food shows and recipe series |
| Home Cooking by Food Network | Everyday cooking shows from the network |
| Martha Stewart Channel | Recipes, home, and lifestyle with Martha |
| Bon Appetit | Food videos and shows from Bon Appetit |
| Emeril Lagasse Channel | Emeril’s cooking shows and recipes |
| Great British Baking Show | The British baking classic on demand |
| DIY Daily | DIY and renovation instruction shows |
| At Home with Family Handyman | Home improvement how tos |
| Architectural Digest | Home tours and design videos |
| Gardening with Monty Don | Garden shows with Monty Don |
| This Old House | Classic home renovation episodes |
True Crime and Reality
| Free Roku Channel | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Court TV | Live courtroom coverage and legal analysis |
| Crime 360 | True crime cases and investigations |
| Forensic Files | Forensic science episodes on demand |
| Dateline 24/7 | Dateline NBC episodes around the clock |
| Cops | The classic ride along series |
| Jail | Arrest and booking footage episodes |
| Love After Lockup | Reality series about life after prison |
| Dog the Bounty Hunter | Bounty hunter reality episodes |
| American Pickers by History | Picking and antique hunting episodes |
| Best of Pawn Stars by History | Top Pawn Stars episodes |
| Cheaters | Suspicion and confrontation episodes |
| Nosey | Court shows and reality programming |
| True Crime Now | Current true crime cases and docs |
Free Roku Channels in Canada
Canadian Roku users have fewer channels compared to those in the US but there are still lots of channels to watch. Below is a list of free channels currently available in Canada. You will find national broadcasters along with favorites like Corner Gas and Degrassi. Some US channels do show up too though their movie and show collections may be smaller because of streaming rights.
| Free Roku Channel | What You Get |
|---|---|
| CBC News | Canadian national news live and on demand |
| CBC News Explore | Documentaries and explainers from CBC |
| CTV Laughs and Noovo Cinema | Comedy series from CTV and cinema from Noovo |
| Corner Gas Channel | The classic Canadian sitcom |
| Degrassi | Toronto-set teen drama seasons |
| The Red Green Show | Canadian comedy classic |
| TSN The Ocho | Quirky and niche sports coverage |
| FilmRise Canadian | Free movies curated for Canadian viewers |
| Qwest TV Jazz & Beyond | Jazz concerts and music films |
| Qwest TV Classical | Classical performances on demand |
| The Weather Network | Canadian weather coverage live |
| WeatherNation | US and cross-border weather coverage |
| Real Madrid TV | Soccer club channel, available in Canada |
| TNA Wrestling | Wrestling archive and shows |
| IMPACT! Wrestling | IMPACT episodes and events |
| Samuel Goldwyn Classics | Classic films in the Canadian catalog |
| Wicked Tuna | Fishing series episodes |
| GoPro Channel | Action and adventure films |
| NHRA | Drag racing coverage |
| The Red Green Show | Canadian comedy favorite reruns |
How to Add Free Channels on Roku
Adding a free channel takes about twenty seconds from the remote and there is no payment step:
- Press Home on the Roku remote.
- Scroll to Streaming Channels and press OK.
- Select Search and type the channel name.
- Pick the channel from the results and press Add Channel.
- Open it from your home screen and start watching. No login or card required for the free tier.
The same works from a computer: log in at my.roku.com, open Manage Account, pick Add Channels, and the channel appears on your Roku the next time it checks in. Channel pages on the Roku website also show an Add Channel button you can press straight from the browser.
Channel Numbers on Roku
New Roku users often look for channel numbers like on cable but Roku does not work like that. You add channels by name and they show up as tiles on home screen. There is no main numbering system at all. The closest thing to TV guide is within The Roku Channel and Live TV page. They number their lineup linearly but numbers can change as channels show up and disappear. If you browse channels like on cable you use the grid of Live TV but there are no fixed numbers.
Free vs Paid on Roku
Most channels here are free forever but watch out for some traps. Take Newsmax 2 as an example. It looks like free in app store but then asks for a subscription for some streams. Always check the label of plan inside the app before you commit. Free live sports networks like Bally Sports, Bravo and regional channels also require login through cable or TV provider even if the app itself is free. Roku Channel mixes free ads with different studio subscriptions. To see just free content tap the price tag icon.
Troubleshooting
- Channel opens with audio only or says power is low. Some channels like OAN report a signal or power issue inside the app; back out, force close the channel, and reopen it. If it persists, restart the Roku from Settings.
- Free channel asks for a subscription. Check the plan label inside the app. Channels like Newsmax 2 mix free streams with paid tiers, and live sports apps still need a cable login.
- Channel missing from search. It may be removed from the store or not available in your country region. Switch the Roku region only through account settings, and note that some channels are US or Canada exclusive.
- Library looks smaller than expected. Streaming rights differ per country. Canadian users often see shorter movie catalogs on US channels, and Canadian docs drop from some services.
- Remove a channel. Highlight the tile on the home screen, press the star or Options button on the remote, and choose Remove Channel.
Here’s the complete list of free Roku channels for US and Canada with every genre. Start with big ones like The Roku Channel, Pluto TV and Tubi first and then add specialized channels that are actually relevant to what you like to watch. This list frequently changes so bookmark it and check back regularly for updates.
