Top 15 Best Free Channels on Roku to Download for Watching

Best Free Roku Channes

How Many Free Channels Are There on Roku?

Since their introduction in 2008, Roku streaming boxes and dongles have remained one of the most straightforward, useful, and user-friendly ways to show a variety of smart streaming apps on your big screen TV.

With more than 5,000 "channels" and apps, Roku media streamers provide access to the broadest selection of online content to watch. However, there are so many channels to choose from that it can be challenging to find the ones you might really enjoy.

The majority of users only use the most popular and well-known pre-loaded or add-on channels, such as Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, Amazon, and delayed playback from TV networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox or Cable channels like HBO and Showtime.

However, if you only choose the obvious choices, you might miss out on some fantastic content from lesser-known providers.

The company even manufactures a line of Roku televisions with built-in access to thousands of hours of ad-supported programming and hundreds of free channels. Some of them are among the best TVs on the market. These are the best free Roku channels, with content ranging from news to music to classic films to kid's shows.

There are numerous Roku channels that you can watch for free. The majority of registrations only require an email address. There is something in the selection for everyone. The Roku Channel is the first step, where you can watch free online streaming of both recent and classic TV shows and films. Even better, cord cutters have yet another reason to stop paying for cable thanks to the Roku Channel's live news coverage from local and national networks.

Free movies and TV shows are also available on Freevee, Pluto TV, and Tubi, along with Crackle's intriguing original programming, Newsy's most recent news, and even Bob Ross's painting highlights.

Top Best Free Roku Channels (Updated in 2023/2024)

The following is a list of our recommendations for the best free channels available on Roku.

1. The Roku Channel

You only need to click the remote to watch free movies and TV shows if you have a Roku player or Roku TV. However, anyone can create a free account even without a Roku. You must watch commercials because the Roku Channel streams free and live entertainment that is funded by advertisements. It features a revolving lineup of old movies, TV shows, sports, and kid-friendly programming. Additionally, the Roku Channel has original programming, including many films bought with the Quibi library.

Arguably the best part of The Roku Channel is its news options. It offers national news from ABC (Ch. 115), FOX (Ch. 120) and NBC (Ch. 116), as well as local news from NBC for major cities such as Dallas Fort Worth (Ch. 135), Los Angeles (Ch. 126), South Florida (Ch. 147) and Connecticut (Ch. 142).

2. Peacock

The Office, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Battlestar Galactica, Friday Night Lights, and many other popular past series are available on Peacock, one of the more recent players in the streaming market. Peacock Free offers almost everything, with the exception of the platform's originals (such as the Saved By the Bell reboot), though access is occasionally restricted to a small number of episodes or a few seasons. Those books that demand a Peacock Premium membership are identified by a purple feather. The free movie and television show selection is still substantial. Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Apollo 13, Notting Hill, and the Harry Potter films are recent examples.

3. Pluto TV

Pluto TV is frequently included in lists of the best free Roku channels, and for good reason—it offers hundreds or even thousands of different news, sports, music, show, and movie sources, all with an easy-to-use interface that makes it simple to find the content you want as quickly as possible. It's safe to say there will always be something to watch, and Pluto TV deserves credit for the variety it offers. The movie selection, for instance, ranges from the uplifting Short Term 12 to the somewhat bizarre Dogtooth.

4. NewsON

NewsON is definitely worth checking out if local news and current affairs are what you're most interested in. It brings together nearly 200 newscasts from across the country, all available in a matter of seconds, and in addition to watching them in real time, you can go back up to 48 hours to catch up on what's been going on. Naturally, this means that you can stay current on local events wherever you are. It also means that you can get a local perspective on any national or international news that may be breaking.

5. Popcornflix

Popcornflix has a pile of free movies and television shows for you to dive into, offering one of the best selections in terms of both breadth and quality when it comes to free content. From award-winning classics to modern popular hits to little-known titles that deserve a wider audience, there’s no shortage of options: At the time of writing, the channel is carrying movies such as We Need To Talk About Kevin, Troll Hunter, and The Exorcist, as well as TV shows including Merlin and Kitchen Nightmares.

4. Crackle

Crackle is one of the best Roku channels for watching free big-budget movies, provided you don't mind sitting through a few commercials. If you cut the cord on your cable subscription but still miss zoning out in front of cheesy action comedies, this app is for you. The selection at Crackle rotates frequently, but there are usually some memorable films, like Gattaca.

The quality isn’t always the best—obviously studios want to make money from their best stuff—but you can still find top-tier movies such as Let The Right One In, Tell No One, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Hunt For The Wilderpeople. It’s also a great option for turning up hidden gems in lesser-known content categories, such as foreign cinema or music documentaries.

6. Tubi

Tubi is another free streaming service you can add as a Roku channel for free. Just sign up with your email address and get access to an on-demand library of hundreds of movies and TV series. Generally, you'll find past hits and classics, like The Karate Kid, Underworld and The Grudge. The Tubi Kids section is bountiful, but the best part of Tubi is its easy-to-use navigation. You can browse eclectic collections like "Not on Netflix," "United Against Inequality" and "Highly Rated on Rotten Tomatoes."

7. Freevee

The Amazon-owned FreeVee is exactly what it says on the tin: kind of free Amazon Prime Video. The streaming service offers original content like the new Judy Justice (featuring, appropriately enough, Judge Judy) and is accessible on all popular smart TV platforms. If you don't have a particular movie in mind to watch, the movie selection is also good. There is still a lot to watch here, even though the selection isn't quite as large as Prime Video itself because originals like The Boys are only accessible during designated preview weekends.

8. Twitch

The home of eSports is Twitch. As a spin-off of Justin.tv, the most popular streaming service at the time, this live streaming video platform was introduced in 2011. Twitch, the most popular live streaming video service, declared in 2015 that it had more than 1.5 million broadcasters and 100 million monthly visitors. You can be sure to find many Twitch streamers who share your interests and preferences, regardless of the games you enjoy playing. Twitch is supported by advertisements, but you can also sign up for Twitch Prime to enjoy it without any ads while the broadcast is going on and with a number of additional benefits, such as access to specific games and in-game content, premium emoticons, or chat badges available to members only.

9. Newsy

Stay on top of the latest news in the U.S. and the world with Newsy. The 24/7 news service streams segments on the top stories of the day. You can also dig into categories like U.S., World, Politics, Business, Tech, Entertainment, Science/Health and Sports. Or check out on-demand reports on the coronavirus, sustainability and other important topics.

10. PBS Kids

For a decade, PBS has set the bar for children's programming. Many of its programs are now available via streaming on the PBS Kids app, which you can add as a free Roku channel. Children can watch anything that is on live or on demand, including Sesame Street, Curious George, and Clifford the Big Red Dog.

PBS Kids will offer an endless supply of free kid-friendly media, including both on-demand shows and content that is broadcast on your local PBS station. Sesame Street, Arthur, Curious George, and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood are among the television shows you can access, and the interface was designed with younger viewers in mind. On the Roku platform, there are a number of kid-friendly apps, but it's tough to top this.

11. FilmRise

FilmRise impresses in its simplicity and the way it concentrates on the business of serving up the best content for you to enjoy. It has one of the better TV and movie catalogs on the Roku platform, covering everything from the horror film The Ring to the British comedy classic Father Ted. If you're unsure of what to watch, you can browse through the titles that FilmRise is showcasing or explore the app's built-in genre categories for some ideas. In addition to offering a ton of adult content, FilmRise also has a ton of kid-friendly programming.

12. TED

You can watch hundreds of talks and presentations from knowledgeable speakers on a wide range of topics on the TED channel. Browse by the most recent publications, popular talks, or subcategories like Jaw-Dropping, Funny, and Inspiring. Additionally, themed playlists are available to fit any mood, including "What makes you happy" and "The pursuit of justice." You could also conduct a search for a specific speaker or subject.

13. The Bob Ross Channel

The Bob Ross Channel can help you discover your creative side. You can access 380 of the series' earliest episodes by adding it to your list of free Roku channels. Perhaps admiring Bob Ross' paintings will inspire you to pick up a paintbrush. Alternatively, use the channel as relaxing background music while folding laundry. Bob Ross is excellent for both.

14. Warner Bros. TV Watchlist

Do you recall hearing that HBO moved some of its programming, including Westworld, to free streaming services? They are, in fact, on the Roku Channel's Warner Bros. TV Watchlist channel. In addition to Third Watch and Raised by Wolves, this linear, ad-supported "network" also features a ton of classic TV.

15. YouTube

Other than YouTube, no other website for sharing videos receives more than 400 hours of content per minute. YouTube has something for everyone, including instructional videos on just about any topic, memes, fail compilations, music videos, and vlogs. While you can access YouTube on almost any device with an Internet connection, watching it on a larger screen can be more enjoyable than doing so on a smartphone.

The Full List of Free Roku Channels (Updated)

• A+E Lively Place
• ABC News Live
• About K-Content by CJ ENM
• ACC Digital Network
• Accuweather Now
• Adult Swim
• Adventure Sports Network
• Afro Kiddos
• AFV Español
• AFV Family
• All BLK Gems
• All Real
• All Reality WEtv
• All Weddings WEtv
• Always Funny Videos
• AMC en Espanol
• AMC Showcase
• AMC Thrillers
• Ameba
• America’s Voice
• América TeVé
• Anger Management
• Architectural Digest
• At Home with Family Handyman
• Axmen
• Battery Pop
• Baywatch
• BBC Kids
• beIN SPORTS Xtra
• BET Pluto TV
• Black News Channel
• BlackPix
• Bloomberg Quicktake
• Bob the Builder
• Bon Appétit
• Bounce XL
• Brat TV
• BUZZR
• Canela.TV
• CBC News
• CBS News
• CBS Sports: Stream and Watch Live
• Cheaters
• Cheddar
• Cinema Epoch Free Movies
• Cine Estrella TV
• Cinevault
• CMT Pluto TV
• College Humor
• Comedy Central Pluto TV
• Come Dine with Me
• Comedy Dynamics
• Complex
• CONtv
• Court TV
• Crackle
• Crime 360
• Crime and Unsolved Mysteries
• Crime Thriller
• Crimetime
• Crunchyroll
• Dataline 24/7
• Deal or No Deal
• Democracy NOW
• DistroTV- Free Live TV and Movies
• DIY Daily
• Doctor Who Classic
• DUST
• Dust Sci-Fi
• EDGEsport
• El Rey
• Emeril Lagasse Channel
• ESTV
• Estrella Games
• Euronews English
• Fail Army
• Family Feud
• Fawesome
• Fear Factor
• Fear Factor
• FeeFlix
• FilmRise
• FilmRise Action
• FilmRise Anime
• FilmRise Classic TV
• FilmRise Family
• FilmRise Free Movies
• FilmRise Horror
• FilmRise Kids
• FilmRise TrueCrime
• FilmRise Sci-Fi
• FitOn- Free Fitness Workouts
• FITE 24/7
• Food52
• Forensic Files
• Fox Live Now
• Fox Weather
• Free Action Classic Movies
• Free Arcade Games by PlayWorks
• Free Cartoons for Kids
• Free Cartoons Zone
• Free Channels
• Free Classic Comedy Shows
• Free Classic Flix and TV Binge
• Free Classic Movies
• Free Comedy Movies
• Free Comedy Movies and Shows
• Free Courses and Tutorials
• Free Documentary
• Free Documentary Nature
• Free Easy Keto
• Free Fitness Friend
• Free Flix on Demand
• Free Found Footage Movies
• Free Games by RI
• Free Gospel Assembly of God
• Free Grindhouse Videos
• Free Horror Binge
• Free Horror Classics
• Free Horror Movies
• FREE Horror Movies!
• Free is Good
• Free keto Tips
• Free Kids Activities
• Free Kids Cartoons by batteryPOP
• Free Kids Educational Shows batteryPOP
• Free Kids Games
• Free Kids gaming batteryPOP
• Free Kids Music Video by batteryPOP
• Free Kids Shows batteryPOP
• Free Kids Slime, Cooking and Craft Shows by batteryPOP
• Free Live TV
• Free Movie Channel
• Free Movie Channel Docs
• Free Movie Channel Family
• Free Movie Channel Horror
• Free Movie Channel Retro
• Free Movies and More
• Free Movies and TV
• Free Movies Now
• Free Movies Plus
• Free Music
• Free Musical Movies
• FREE Piano- Piano & More Piano
• Free Premium Yoga VNYSA
• Free Preschool Shows and Songs by batteryPOP
• Free Puzzle games by PlayWorks
• Free Radio and TV
• Free Sci-Fi and Horror Channel
• Free Silent Action Movies
• Free Silent Movies
• Free Spiritual Community
• Free Sports
• Free Sports insights
• Free trivia games by PlatyWorks
• Free TV
• Free TV Plius
• Free Vintage Cartoons
• Free Western Channel
• Free Western Classics
• Free Western Movies
• Free Workout Channel
• Free World Network
• Freebies- Just pay for Shipping and Handling
• FreeFamilyFlix
• FreeFlix Tonight
• Freeform- Movies and TV Shows (TV Provider login needed for Live TV)
• FreeRadioTv
• Freevee
• FreeWorldNews.tv
• fubo Sports Network
• Funny or Die
• Game Show Central
• Games for Free by PlayWorks
• Gameshow Central
• Gardening with Monty Don
• Glamour
• Great American Adventures
• Great British Baking Show
• Grit Xtra
• GOT Talent Global
• GQ
• Gravitas Movies
• Hallmark Movies and More
• HappyKids
• Haystack- Local and World News
• HBCU-Go Sports
• HSN
• Hell’s Kitchen
• Hoopla
• Ice Roads Truckers
• IFC Films Picks
• IGN
• iHeart 2010s
• iHeart 2k
• iHeart 80s
• iHeart 90s
• iHeart All My Jams
• iHeart Christmas Classics
• iHeart Christmas Jazz
• iHeart Country Radio
• iHeart Country Workout
• iHeart Funkytown
• iHeart Hit Nation Jr
• iHeart North Pole Radio
• iHeart Real Oldies
• iHeart Rock Nation
• iHeart Sunny Radio
• iHeart Yacht Rock
• Ion
• Ion Mystery
• Ion Plus
• Jamie Oliver
• Just for Laughs Gags
• Kanopy
• Kartoon
• Kevin Hart’s LOL Network
• Kid Gamer TV
• Kidoodle.TV- Safe Streaming
• Kids and Family on The Roku Channel
• KIDZ BOP TV
• Kitchen Nightmares/Hell’s Kitchen
• Kriminal Presented by A&E
• Latido Music
• Latino Vibes
• LEGO
• Life with Derek
• Like Nastya
• Live TV on The Roku Channel
• Live Sports Coverage Stadium
• Local Now
• Love Nature
• Love Nature Spanish
• LX News
• Martha Stewart Channel
• MAVTV Select
• Mega Noticias
• MGM’s Free Sci-Fi Movies & Series
• Midnight Pulp
• Midsomer Murders
• Modern Marvels
• Moonbug
• MooviMex
• MOOVIMEX by Pongalo
• Movies For Free
• Movie Favorites by LifeTime
• MovieSphere
• MTV Biggest Pop
• MTV Block Party
• MTV Pluto TV
• Nashville
• NBC News Now
• NBC Boston news
• NBC San Diego News
• NBC San Francisco Bay Area News
• New KPop
• NewsmaxTV Live
• NewsON
• Newsy
• NHL
• Nosey
• Now This
• OAN Encore
• Outside TV
• PBS
• PBS Kids
• PBS Antiques Roadshow
• PGA TOUR
• People Are Awesome
• PeopleTV
• Pet Collective
• Perfect Game TV
• Places & Spaces
• Plex: Free Movies and TV
• Pluto TV- It’s Free Movies
• Pocket.watch
• Pongalo Novela Club
• Popcornflix- Free Movies and TV
• Powernation
• QVC
• QVC+ and HSN+
• Rainbow Ruby
• RCN Mas
• Real Madrid TV
• Roku Channel Westerns
• Real Nosey
• Redbox
• Reel Truth
• Reelz
• Retro Crush
• RetroCrush- Watch Free Anime
• Reuters
• Rev and Rol
• Revry
• Ryan and Friends
• SinoVision
• Sky News
• Slightly Off by IFC
• So…real
• Sony KAL Hindi
• SportsGrid
• Stadium
• STIRR- The new free TV
• Stories by AMC
• Supermarket Sweep
• Swerve Sports
• Tastemade
• Tastemade en Espanol
• Teletubbies
• Telemundo California (West)
• Telemundo Florida
• Telemundo Noreste
• Telemundo Texas
• TG Junior
• The Asylum
• The Bob Ross Channel
• The Biggest Loser
• The Block
• TheGRIO
• The CW
• The Design Network
• The Roku Channel
• The Only Way is Essex
• The Wiggles powered by Loop Media Inc
• The Walking Dead Universe
• Tribeca Channel
• This Old House
• TMZ
• Toon Goggles
• Tubi- Free Movies and TV
• TYT-Go
• USA Today
• Vanity Fair
• Very Local: Free 24/7 Local News, Weather and More
• Vevo
• Vevo Holiday
• ViX: Movies and TV Free in Spanish
• Vogue
• Voyager Documentaries
• WeatherNation
• Western’s Classics for Free
• Westerns Plus- Free Movies
• WildEarth
• Wipeout
• WIRED
• Women’s Sports Network
• XUMO- Free Movies and TV
• Yahoo Finance
• Yo! MTV
• Zoomoo

Best Free Roku Channels in the Live TV Channel Guide

• ABC News Live,
• ACC Digital Network
• Adventure Sports Network
• Afro Kiddos
• Always Funny Videos
• América Tevé
• Architectural Digest
• Axmen
• Bein Sports Xtra
• BlackPix
• Bloomberg Quickttake
• Bob the Builder
• Bon Appétit
• Cheddar News
• Cine Romántico
• Cinevault
• Comedy Central Pluto TV
• CONtv
• Crime Thriller
• Deal or No Deal
• Doctor Who Classic
• Dust Sci-Fi
• Edge Sport
• Euronews English
• Family Feud
• FilmRise Anime
• FilmRise Free Movies
• FilmRise Kids
• FilmRise Sci-Fi
• Food52
• Forensic Files
• Fox Live Now
• Fox Weather
• Funny or Die
• Game Show Central
• Global Got Talent
• Hallmark Movies & More
• Happy Kids
• Hell’s Kitchen
• Ice Road Truckers
• iHeart 80s
• iHeart Country Radio
• iHeart the 90s
• Just for Laughs Gags
• Kevin Hart’s LOL Network
• Kriminal Presented by A&E
• Lego
• Live Sports Coverage Stadium
• Love Nature
• Midnight Pulp
• Midsomer Murders
• Modern Marvels
• MooviMex
• Movie Favorites by Lifetime
• MoviesSphere
• MTV Biggest Pop
• MTV Block Party
• NBC News Now
• New KPop
• Newsy Live
• Outside TV,
• Retro Crush
• Reuters
• Rev & Roll
• Revry
• Supermarket Sweep
• Swerve Sports
• Tastemade
• Tastemade en Español
• Teletubbies
• The Asylum
• The Barker Era
• The Comedy Shop
• The Comedy Store
• The Design Network
• The Jack Hanna Channel
• The Price Is Right
• The Red Green Channel
• The Wiggles Channel
• This Old House
• Top Cine
• Total Crime
• Tribeca Channel
• True History
• Unexplained Zone
• Unsolved Mysteries
• Vevo Latino
• Vevo Reggaeton & Trap
• Vivaldi
• Vix Cine Club
• Vix Novelas De Oro
• Vix Novelas en Familia
• WeatherNation
• Weatherspy
• Wired
• Xplore
• Yo! MTV

Conclusion

The complete list of channels that you can download and stream on your Roku device is provided here. It continues to demonstrate that you can stream an infinite amount of content on a Roku device. There is always a channel available in every genre for whatever you want to watch.

Additionally, KnowInsiders.com has chosen and introduced to you the best totally free Roku channels so that you can watch enticing television shows.

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