Modernmedia streamingcan be a subscription hellscape. Prices are consistently rising, and there’s no streaming equivalent of Blockbuster – often your favorite movies and shows are split across multiple providers, regardless of how old they are. When a service isfree, it may be so saturated with ads that you’d rather switch to a paid one anyway.
If you’re new to this media arena, or you’ve been using another platform until now, you may be wondering ifRokuis about to be another worthy bill on your credit card. We’ve got good news and bad news on that front, although the latter isn’t necessarily Roku’s fault.
How to use Roku’s Save List feature to build your ultimate watchlist
Roku’s collection feature is helpful for content consumers, but does it do enough?
Does Roku cost a monthly fee?
It’s what you make of it
The platform itself is free. You do need a Roku TV, or a compatibleadd-on streamersuch as a Roku Ultra, but that’s a one-time hardware cost that anyone would expect. The same situation applies to platforms likeGoogle TV, and Apple’stvOS, which requires an Apple TV 4K (not to be confused withApple TV+, which does cost a monthly fee).
Also free isThe Roku Channel, which offers different selections of movies and TV shows depending on the country you’re in. It’s the only place to go if you want to check out Roku Originals such as Reno 911 Defunded.
My top 5 Roku OS features to get the most out of my TV
Aside from streaming, Roku OS has a lot to offer – including these five features I use all the time to enhance my watch experience.
Some third-party apps are free to use as well, like YouTube, Tubi, andPluto TV. Many of these are subsidized by ads, as mentioned in the intro, but you’re able to occasionally pay to go ad-free –YouTube Premiumbeing a prime example.
How to get rid of annoying Roku TV ads
Here’s a quick breakdown on how to get rid of the worst ads on the Roku Smart TV platform.
Does Roku show ads?
A worthy sacrifice
Yes it does, and that’s part of how the platform remains free. Thankfully, they’re unobtrusive at the moment, consisting mostly of static banners in Roku OS. Any ads you see during a movie or show won’t be coming from Roku unless you’re on the Roku Channel.
Apps like Netflix often show loud video previews.
Unfortunately, Roku is planning to convert some of those static banners into video ads. I’m hoping they’ll be silent by default, since apps like Netflix often show loud video previews when people are just trying to browse through their options.
I found a Roku feature that’s saving my sanity, one ad at a time
You can save your audio (and ears) much easier than you can think on a Roku device.
Q: What’s the best free app on Roku?
That’s subjective, but for most people, the answer is probably YouTube. There’s legitimately excellent news, comedy, and music, not to mention help on everything from home improvement and fitness to electric unicycles.
Here are some channels I like that might help you get started:
Q: What’s the best paid app on Roku?
Netflix is the safest bet for the sheer amount of content it offers, but it won’t be right for everyone. Cinephiles may prefer specialty services like the Criterion Channel, and if you want live TV, you’re better off with options like Sling or YouTube TV. The availability of apps is going to depend on your country.
