Best Free Roku Apps in 2026: 10 Expert Picks Beyond Pluto and Tubi

1. Plex ↓

• Pros: Best-in-class UI; allows you to stream your own personal movie collection.
• Cons: Aggressive Plex Pass upselling and cluttered home screen.

2. Xumo Play ↓

• Pros: Massive variety of genre-specific live channels (over 200).
• Cons: Repetitive ad breaks during popular live streams.

3. Kanopy / Hoopla ↓

• Pros: Access to premium movies (Criterion Collection) and eBooks for free.
• Cons: Monthly borrow limits set by your local library.

4. Haystack News ↓

• Pros: Hyper-local news focus; aggregates stories based on your zip code.
• Cons: Can feel repetitive if you watch for more than 30 minutes.

5. YouTube ↓

• Pros: The largest video library on earth; great for live news and podcasts.
• Cons: Navigation is designed for mobile/web, which can feel clunky on a remote.

Before we dive into my specialty picks, let's acknowledge the gold standard. If you don't have these on your Roku yet, stop what you're doing and download them:

• The Roku Channel: Your default choice. It’s got a massive library and is the exclusive home for "Roku Originals."
• Pluto TV: The king of "linear" surfing. If you miss the feeling of old-school cable, this is the closest you can get for $0.
• Tubi: The world's largest free on-demand library. If a movie is obscure, weird, or a cult classic, it's probably on Tubi.

Plex has been around for a long time, and it originally got famous for its private servers. To me, it’s still the most powerful app on Roku because it allows you to take all the digital content you own — movies, TV shows, photos — and stream it to your TV in a gorgeous, Netflix-style interface.

If you’re like me and have a hard drive full of files, Plex turns that clutter into a professional-grade streaming service. It’s my go-to when I want to watch my own digital movie collection on the big screen without fumbling with USB sticks or HDMI cables. It even pulls in metadata, so your home movies or ripped DVDs look like they’re part of a premium service.

The only real catch here is the setup. You need a server (like a PC or a NAS drive) to be running constantly to access your files. Plus, I’ve noticed the app has become a bit more aggressive lately with nudging users toward the paid Plex Pass. If you can ignore the constant upsells, it’s a masterclass in media organization.

Xumo is the app I go to when I’m bored with Pluto TV’s rotation. Because it’s owned by Comcast and Charter, it has access to a completely different set of more than 200 Free Ad-Supported TV (FAST) channels. I’ve found that Xumo’s layout is one of the snappiest on the Roku platform, which is a major win in my book.

I use this primarily as my background noise app. I love that I can jump in and find a dedicated channel for almost any specific genre — from 24/7 cooking competitions to combat sports. It feels very stable, and I rarely run into the buffering issues that sometimes plague smaller free services.

Just be prepared for the ads. Like most free services, the breaks can be frequent and occasionally repetitive. But if you miss the feeling of old-school cable flipping without the $70 monthly bill, Xumo is a top-tier alternative that requires zero account setup.

FilmRise is a bit of a secret weapon for fans of specific TV shows. They specialize in acquiring full libraries of shows like “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Unsolved Mysteries,” and “Forensic Files.” Instead of hunting through different apps for a few scattered episodes, I usually find the entire series run here.

I really appreciate that FilmRise doesn't try to be a flashy Netflix clone; it’s just a reliable place to find your comfort food shows in high definition. If you’ve decided it’s time to binge every single episode of a classic procedural drama, this is exactly where you do it. The interface is basic, but it gets the job done without distracting bells and whistles.

I’m constantly telling people that their local library card is the best streaming subscription they own. These two apps are the proof. Kanopy, in particular, is where I find the prestige stuff — the Criterion Collection films and indie documentaries that usually cost $5.99 to rent on Amazon.

If you’re tired of the trashy reality TV that fills most free apps, Kanopy is your escape into high-brow cinema. It’s also completely ad-free, which feels like a luxury in the free streaming world. Hoopla offers a similar deal but adds in eBooks and music, making it a great all-around digital library companion.

The catch is that your access depends on your local library's participation. Most libraries limit you to a set number of tickets or borrows per month, so you have to be a bit selective. I usually save my credits for those high-end A24 flicks I missed in theaters.

You might think MLB.TV is only for people who pay for a full-season pass, but there is a great workaround for casual fans. The app offers a "Free Game of the Day" almost every single day of the season. As long as you have a free MLB.com account, you can watch live professional baseball without ever entering a credit card.

It’s the best way to get live professional sports on your Roku for free, provided you aren't trying to watch your hometown team. Because of local blackout rules, you won't be able to see your local home team — but it's perfect for keeping up with the rest of the league or just having some high-quality sports on in the background.

PBS remains the most wholesome corner of the Roku store. Unlike almost every other service, it doesn't feel like it's trying to sell you something. I’ve spent a lot of time in these apps, and I’m always impressed by the quality of “Frontline” documentaries and the safety of the kids' content.

For parents, the PBS Kids app is a sanctuary. There are no ads, no tracking, and it’s purely educational content you can trust. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it app for families. The main PBS app is equally great for adults who want high-quality documentaries and news without the cable provider login hassle.

Keep in mind that while most content is free, the newest episodes of some shows are locked behind a "Passport" membership. It’s usually a small monthly donation to your local station, which is a fair trade for the quality it provides.

Most people say they can't cut the cord because they'll miss local news, but Haystack News effectively kills that argument. It uses your location to stitch together a custom newsfeed of local anchors, weather reports, and national headlines.

I love how it prioritizes the things I actually care about. Instead of watching a 30-minute broadcast just to see 2 minutes of local weather, Haystack gives me exactly what I need immediately. It’s the perfect morning news briefing for cord-cutters.

One thing I’ve noticed is that the transitions between clips can sometimes feel a bit robotic since it’s an AI-curated feed. However, for getting your local weather and city headlines in under 5 minutes, it’s unbeatable.

This is the app I use when I want to show off a new TV. The production value is absolutely insane, featuring world-class documentaries, live music festivals, and adventure films — most of it in stunning 4K.

I especially love that there are zero commercials here. It’s a high-octane experience that feels much more premium than its $0 price tag suggests. Whether you're into mountain biking, surfing, or just high-end cinematography, it's a technical marvel that looks incredible on a high-end Roku Ultra.

Sometimes you just need to chill out. I call this my "digital fireplace" — it’s 24/7 “The Joy of Painting.” No drama, no loud commercials, just happy little trees.

I often have this on in the background while I’m working or cleaning the house. It’s the ultimate stress-reliever in a world of loud, aggressive streaming options. It is literally just Bob Ross on a loop, so don't expect variety, but as far as "vibe" channels go, it’s the gold standard.

I saved my favorite for last. In my opinion, YouTube has evolved into the only streaming service you might actually need. In 2026, it’s not just for cat videos; it hosts live news from ABC, CBS, and NBC, thousands of full-length free movies, and deep-dive podcasts.

I’ve found that I spend more time in the YouTube app than almost any other because it has effectively become my "free cable" replacement. If you know where to look, you can find almost everything you'd get from a paid service here.

The only downside is the interface. It’s still clearly designed for a mouse or a thumb, not a TV remote, which can make searching and navigating a bit clunky compared to a dedicated TV app. But for the sheer volume of content, it’s the undisputed king.

Adding these to your device is simple. Here is exactly how I do it:

1. Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
2. Scroll down to Streaming Channels.
3. Select Search Channels and type in the name (e.g., "Plex").
4. Select Add Channel.
5. Pro Tip: Highlight the app on your home screen, press the Star (*) button, and select Move Channel to put it at the very top of your list so you don't have to hunt for it later.