Roku Monthly Cost: Is Roku Free? UK/US Streaming Prices Explained (2025)

You typed “How much is Roku a month?” because you want a straight answer before you commit. Here it is: Roku itself doesn’t have a monthly fee. You pay for the streaming apps you choose-some are free with ads, others are paid. That’s the whole game. I’ll show you the typical prices (UK and US), how to estimate your monthly spend, and the common traps to avoid so your bill doesn’t creep up.

TL;DR: How much is Roku a month?

- Roku device and account: £0/$0 per month (one-off hardware purchase only).

- Free apps: BBC iPlayer (requires UK TV Licence if you watch live or iPlayer), ITVX (ad-supported), Channel 4 (ad-supported), YouTube, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, and more.

- Paid apps: Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, NOW, Paramount+, Apple TV+, sports services, etc. Typical ranges: UK from about £4.99-£19.99 per service; US from about $5.99-$22.99 per service.

- The Roku Channel: free with ads; optional Premium subscriptions cost extra (priced by provider).

- Realistic spend: many households land between £9.99-£34.99 ($9.99-$39.99) a month, depending on how many services they stack.

Jobs you probably want to get done right now:

• Confirm whether Roku itself charges monthly (it doesn’t).
• See what streaming apps actually cost in the UK and US.
• Build a quick monthly budget that fits your watch list.
• Find free options to lower the bill.
• Learn how to avoid surprise charges and how to cancel.

What you actually pay on Roku

Roku is the platform. Think of it like a plug-and-play menu board for apps. The device is a one-time purchase. There’s no platform subscription, no rental fee, and no hidden “Roku tax.” You only pay the streamers you subscribe to-and many are free.

Roku’s own wording is very clear on this point:

“There are no monthly fees for owning a Roku streaming device or using the Roku platform. You only pay for subscription channels or content that requires payment.” - Roku Support (Help Center), 2025

So where does the monthly spend come from? Two places:

• Paid streaming subscriptions (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, NOW, Paramount+, Apple TV+, sports apps, etc.).
• Optional add-ons inside The Roku Channel (Premium Subscriptions like STARZ in the US, Paramount+, AMC+, and others, where offered).

There are also lots of free apps. In the UK, that includes BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, My5, and The Roku Channel. In the US, you’ll find The Roku Channel, Tubi, Pluto TV, Freevee, and more-no monthly fee, but you’ll watch ads. Note for the UK: watching live TV on any channel or using iPlayer requires a TV Licence. If you never watch live TV and never use iPlayer, you may not need one, but check the official guidance.

Here are the ballpark prices people actually pay for the big names, as of September 2025. Prices vary by region, plan, ads/no-ads, and promos. Always check the provider page before you buy.

A quick word on Roku Smart Home (cameras, video doorbells, etc.): the cameras work without a monthly fee, but cloud recording plans can cost extra per device or per household. Pricing and availability vary by country. Check the Roku Smart Home app for local rates if you’re adding cameras to your setup.

Bottom line: the Roku monthly cost is whatever combo of subscriptions you choose. It can be £0 if you only use free apps. It can be £10-£20 for a lean paid setup. Or more if you stack premium and sports.

Build your Roku budget: steps, examples, and rules of thumb

If you’re switching from cable or just tidying your digital life, use this short process to get a clean monthly number you can live with.

1. List what you actually watch. Be honest. Three must-haves. Two nice-to-haves. Everything else can rotate. Write titles and live sports you care about.
2. Map titles to services. Use the Roku search to see which apps carry your shows, films, and leagues. Note if they’re free with ads.
3. Pick the cheapest route. If a show is on two apps, pick the one you already pay for or the one with a cheaper ad tier.
4. Decide on ads vs ad-free. Ads cut costs a lot. If one person in the house hates ads, consider paying ad-free only for that service.
5. Rotate monthly. Watch a show, finish the season, cancel, swap to the next. Rinse and repeat. No contracts on Roku means you control the month.
6. Skip duplicate billing. Subscribe either inside The Roku Channel or direct with the app-don’t do both. Consolidate where it’s easier to cancel.

Now let’s put real numbers on it. These are typical patterns I see people use in the UK and US. Your totals will depend on the current offer and whether you choose ads or ad-free.

Example 1: The “Free-first” setup (UK or US)

• Free apps only: The Roku Channel, YouTube, Pluto TV, Channel 4/ITVX/My5 (UK), Tubi/Freevee (US).
• Monthly total: £0/$0 (UK: remember TV Licence rules if using iPlayer or live channels).
• Best for: Background telly, classic films, news clips, kids’ shows, reality re-runs.

Example 2: Lean paid + free (UK)

• Disney+ (with ads) ~£4.99
• Netflix (with ads) ~£4.99
• Free apps: iPlayer/ITVX/Channel 4/My5/The Roku Channel
• Monthly total: ~£9.98 (plus UK TV Licence if applicable)
• Swap in/out: Paramount+ for a month when a new season drops; cancel Disney+ that month.

Example 3: Family all-rounder (UK)

• Netflix Standard (no ads) ~£10.99
• Disney+ Standard (no ads) ~£7.99
• Prime with ad-free add-on (~£8.99 + £2.99 = ~£11.98) if you want the shipping benefits too
• Monthly total: ~£30-£33 (plus UK TV Licence if you watch live/ iPlayer)
• Trim tip: Keep one ad-supported to shave ~£3-£7.

Example 4: US sports season swap (US)

• Paramount+ (with ads) ~$5.99 during UEFA Champions League months
• Disney Bundle (with ads) ~$14.99 during NFL/college sports if you want ESPN+ content
• Cancel both off-season; rotate to Max or Netflix for blockbuster months
• Monthly total: ~$6-$25 depending on the month

Example 5: Movie night + live channels without cable (UK)

• NOW Cinema ~£9.99
• NOW Entertainment ~£9.99
• Boost add-on ~£6 if you want Full HD and fewer ads
• Free: iPlayer/ITVX/Channel 4/My5/The Roku Channel
• Monthly total: ~£19.98-£25.98 (plus licence if live/ iPlayer)

Rules of thumb that save money without killing the fun:

• One paid service per person, max. Rotate the rest. It keeps the bill in check and the watch list fresh.
• Ads are fine for back-catalogue shows. Pay ad-free only where you binge new releases.
• Don’t stack sports and premium cinema in the same month unless there’s a reason-sports months get pricey fast.
• Audit every 90 days. If you didn’t open an app in a month, cancel it for the next one.
• Family profiles help. One app with solid profiles beats two with weak ones.

Quick decision helper (read top to bottom):

• Need free? → Use The Roku Channel + local free apps (UK: iPlayer/ITVX/Channel 4/My5, US: Tubi/Pluto/Freevee) → £0/$0 monthly.
• Need one premium? → Pick the app with most of your current shows → take ad tier → £4.99-£10.99 or $5.99-$15.49 monthly.
• Need two or more? → Make one ad-free (your fave), keep the rest with ads → ~£15-£25 or $15-$30 monthly.
• Need sports? → Subscribe only in-season → cancel off-season → keeps peaks short.

FAQ, gotchas, and quick fixes

Is Roku itself free each month?
Yes. There’s no monthly fee to use a Roku player or Roku TV. You only pay for channels that charge-if you choose them.

What about The Roku Channel-do I pay for that?
The Roku Channel is free with ads. If you add “Premium Subscriptions” inside it (like Paramount+ or STARZ where offered), those cost extra. You can cancel them any time.

Do I need a UK TV Licence on Roku?
In the UK, you need a TV Licence to watch or record live TV on any channel and to use BBC iPlayer. You don’t need one to watch on-demand content on other platforms that isn’t live. If you’re unsure, check the official TV Licensing guidance.

Can I watch for free on Roku?
Yes. Loads of free, ad-supported apps exist. UK: iPlayer (with licence), ITVX, Channel 4, My5, The Roku Channel, YouTube. US: The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi, Freevee, YouTube, local news apps.

Does Roku charge through my bank card?
Only if you set up billing in your Roku account and subscribe to a paid channel through Roku Pay. If you subscribed directly inside a third-party app (like Netflix), they bill you themselves. You can do it either way-just don’t do both.

How do I see and cancel subscriptions on Roku?
On your Roku: press Home → highlight the channel → press “*” (Options) → Manage subscription → Cancel subscription. Or go to your account on a browser and open Subscriptions to see anything billed through Roku. If you subscribed outside Roku, cancel with that provider.

Can I change plans (ads vs ad-free) easily?
Usually, yes. Inside each app, look for plan management. If you’re billed through Roku, you’ll often see plan options in Manage subscription.

What about kids’ controls?
Roku lets you add a PIN so no one buys channels or subscriptions by mistake. Go to Settings → Parental controls / PIN. Inside many apps you can also set age ratings and profiles.

Is there a catch with free trials?
Free trials flip to paid if you don’t cancel in time. Add a calendar reminder for two days before the trial ends. Use a different email if you truly want to test again later and the provider allows it.

Are there student or bundle discounts?
Sometimes. Apple TV+ and Paramount+ run student offers in select regions. Disney+ and Hulu/ESPN+ bundle in the US; UK bundles change often. Check the provider’s latest deal page before you buy.

Does 4K/HDR cost more?
Often, yes. Netflix, for example, puts 4K in a higher tier. If your TV is 1080p, don’t pay for 4K you can’t see.

Will Roku Smart Home (cameras) add to my monthly bill?
Only if you add cloud recording plans. The cameras can work without a subscription, but cloud history, smart alerts, and package detection may sit behind a plan. Pricing depends on your country-check in the Roku Smart Home app.

Common pitfalls to avoid:

• Subscribing to the same service twice (once in-app, once via The Roku Channel).
• Letting trials roll into months you don’t need.
• Paying for 4K on a non-4K TV.
• Keeping a sports sub in the off-season.
• Forgetting the UK TV Licence rules when using iPlayer or live TV.

Quick checklist before you hit “Subscribe”:

• Do I already get this content on a service I pay for?
• Ad tier okay for this one? If yes, save the money.
• What’s my cancel date? Set a reminder now.
• Am I subscribing via Roku or direct? Pick one place to avoid duplicates.
• Who in the house is actually watching this app?

Reliable sources to verify any detail before you buy:

• Roku Support (Help Center) for platform fees and subscription management steps.
• Official pricing pages for Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, NOW, Paramount+, Apple TV+, and sports apps in your region.
• TV Licensing (UK) for the latest rules and yearly fee.

Next steps if you’re deciding today:

• Pick 1-2 paid apps to start; keep everything else free. Aim under £20/$20 this month.
• Set a 60-day calendar review to prune or swap.
• Add a Roku PIN to block accidental purchases: Settings → Parental controls / PIN.
• Use Roku Search to find the cheapest app that carries your show before you subscribe.

Troubleshooting quick fixes:

• Charged unexpectedly? Check Roku account Subscriptions first. If it’s not there, the charge is likely direct with the app-cancel in the app’s website.
• App says I’m not subscribed? If you switched billing method (Roku → direct), sign out/in or restore purchases in the app.
• 4K looks bad? Make sure your Roku and HDMI port support 4K HDR, set Display type to Auto detect, and confirm your plan includes 4K.
• Spending too much? Move one service to ad tier and pause one you barely use. Rotate monthly.

The short honest answer you came for holds: Roku itself costs £0/$0 per month. Your bill is the set of apps you choose-nothing more. Keep it lean, rotate smart, and you’ll watch what you want without paying for what you don’t.