10 Roku Apps For Free Movie Streaming: The Best Channels

As many people use streaming devices like Roku or Fire TV to convert their simple TV into a Smart TV, you can stream your favorite content and live TV channels by installing your favorite apps from their respective stores (Roku users can use the Roku App Store and Firestick users can use the Amazon App Store).

This guide is especially for Roku users, as we cover the 10 best Roku apps that will help you stream your favorite movies, TV shows, and more content for free.

These channels are completely legal to watch movies and TV shows for free and are available on the Roku Channel Store. That’s not to say that these apps won’t be available on the Amazon App Store. Firestick users can also download these apps from their respective app stores to enjoy free streaming.

Before we proceed, let’s know a little about Roku.

Roku Device

Roku is a popular and best-selling streaming media device in the United States that turns your TV home screen into an entertainment hub.

You can stream unlimited free movies and shows to your TV by installing the free Roku apps from the Roku Channel Store.

Apart from this, paid apps are also available in the Roku Channel Store, and you can watch all kinds of content here from categories like Sports, Travel, Web Video, Featured, Free Movies & TV, Movies & TV, Recommended, Games, Music, Comedy, Educational, and more.

Let’s know about 10 Roku apps that you can easily install from the Roku Channel Store and enjoy free movie streaming.

10 Best Roku Apps For Free Movie Streaming

1. The Roku Channel: “The Roku Channel” is a free, ad-supported streaming service (FAST) offered by Roku Inc. It is available in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the UK.

It allows users to watch thousands of free movies, TV shows, and original content. It can be accessed via Roku devices, the Roku mobile app, and a web browser.

Key Features of the Roku Channel:

• Free Content: The biggest feature is that it is completely free and does not require any subscription or credit card.
• Live TV Channels: It includes more than 500 free live TV channels, including news, weather, sports, food, lifestyle, and kids’ entertainment channels.
• Roku Originals: The Roku channel also offers exclusive Roku Originals, which are their original movies and shows.
• On-Demand Library: You can watch thousands of movies and TV shows on demand, which means you can watch anything you like, anytime.
• Premium Subscriptions: Roku customers in the US can also add 50+ premium subscriptions like Paramount+, Discovery+, AMC+, STARZ, and MZM+ through The Roku Channel. This gives you access to both free and paid content in one place.
• User-Friendly Interface: Roku is known for its simple and intuitive interface, making it easy to find and watch content.
• Live TV Channel Guide: It has a convenient channel guide that helps you browse and easily switch between live TV channels. just like a traditional TV guide.
• Spanish Language Content: It also has a section called “Espacio Latino” that entertains in the Spanish language, including live channels and on-demand shows.

In short, The Roku Channel is a great option for those who want to watch a variety of movies, TV shows, and live TV content without any additional cost. To visit the Roku Channel on the Channel Store, click here

2. Plex: Plex also recently launched its own free, ad-supported streaming service, often called “The Plex Channel.” It works just like The Roku Channel.

Key Features:

• Thousands of free movies and TV shows: You can watch a wide variety of movies and TV shows for free without a subscription, but it does include ads.
• Live TV Channels: There are also many free live TV channels, including news, sports, entertainment, and special interest channels.
• Universal Watchlist: Plex also lets you add content from different streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, etc) to your watchlist, allowing you to keep track of all your entertainment in one place. It also tells you which show or movie is available on which services.

In short, Plex is a very versatile platform. It’s great for people who want to organize and stream their personal media collection, and it’s also a good option for people who want to watch movies, TV shows, and live TV for free.

3. Tubi: Tubi is a free ad-supported video streaming service (AVOD/FAST) owned by Fox Corporation. It is very popular for people who want to watch movies and TV shows without any subscription fees.

Main Features of Tubi:

• Completely Free: The best part about Tubi is that it’s completely free. You don’t have to pay any subscription fees or provide credit card information. It makes its revenue through ads, so you’ll see short ads during shows and movies.
• Large Content Library: Tubi has a huge collection of movies, TV shows, and original content. This includes content from major Hollywood studios like MGM, Lionsgate, and Paramount Pictures as well as many independent studios.
• Live TV Channels: Tubi not only offers on-demand content, but also over 500 free live TV channels. These include news (like Fox, ABC, News, NBC News Now), sports (NFL, MLB, Fox Sports), entertainment, lifestyle, and kids’ channels.
• Tubi Originals: Tubi also produces its original movies and TV shows, known as “Tubi Originals,” which are only available on Tubi.
• User-Friendly Interface: Tubi has a simple and intuitive interface, making it easy to find and watch the content you want. The content is categorized into genres, collections, and channels.
• Available on a Variety of Devices: Tubi is available on over 30 devices, including smartphones (Android, iOS), tablets, and Smart TVs (Samsung, Sony, Vizio), streaming devices (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast), game consoles (PlayStation, Xbox), and web browsers.
• Watchlists and Parental Controls: You can create your watchlist, save your viewing progress, and create an account to get better recommendations. It also has parental control features.
• Spanish Language Content: Tubi also offers content in the Spanish language, including telenovelas and Spanish-dubbed movies and shows.

In short, Tubi is a great option for those who want to watch a variety of entertainment at no cost. You do have to watch ads, but in return, you get a huge and varied content library for free.

4. Pluto TV: Pluto TV is a free ad-supported streaming television service (FAST) owned by Paramount Global. It works similarly to services like The Roku Channel and Tubi, entertaining viewers without any subscription fees.

Key Features of Pluto TV:

• 100% Free and Legal: The biggest highlight of Pluto TV is that it is completely free. You don’t need any Credit Card or subscription. It earns revenue through ads, so you will get to see short ad breaks during shows and movies.
• Live TV Channels: Pluto TV bills itself as a “Virtual Cable TV,”. It offers hundreds of live, linear TV channels that run 24/7, just like traditional cable TV channels. These channels include news, sports, comedy, drama, crime, reality, anime, kids’ shows, and channels dedicated to specific genres (like 24/7 James Bond movies or “true crime” channels).
• On-Demand Library: Apart from live TV channels, Pluto TV also has a huge library of thousands of on-demand movies and TV shows. You can watch anytime you like, anytime you want.
• Content in a Variety of Genres: Pluto TV offers content in a variety of genres, including:
  • News: CBS News, NBC News Now, Bloomberg Television, etc.
  • Sports: NFL channel, Fox Sports, Major League Soccer, PGA Tour, etc.
  • Movies: Hollywood blockbusters and classic films.
  • TV Shows: Classic sitcoms, dramas, reality shows, and popular series.
  • Kids’ Entertainment: Channels and shows dedicated to kids.
  • Comedy, Crime, Lifestyle, Anime, and more.
• Availability: Pluto TV is available on a wide range of devices, including smartphones (Android, iOS), tablets, smart TVs (Samsung, Vizio), streaming devices (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast), game consoles (PlayStation, Xbox), and web browsers.
• User-Friendly Interface: Its interface resembles a traditional TV guide, making it easy to browse channels and find the content you want.
• Parental Controls: It also has parental control features so parents can control the content kids can watch.
• Languages: It offers content in English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, and more.

In short, Pluto TV is a great option for those who want a cable TV experience without the cost, including hundreds of live channels and a huge on-demand library. It is also good for those who want to try out new shows and movies without any subscription.

5. Xumo: Xumo is a free streaming service that allows you to watch TV shows, movies, and live channels. Comcast and Charter Communications create it.

Here are some key points about Xumo:

1. Completely Free:

• The biggest feature of Xumo Play is that it is 100% free.
• You don’t need any subscription, credit card, or login to watch it.
• It is an ad-supported streaming service, but usually has fewer ads than cable TV.

2. Live TV Channels:

• It offers over 350 live TV channels, covering a wide variety of shows.
• You can watch news, sports, comedy, action, drama, lifestyle, kids ‘ shows, horror, sci-fi, game shows, and more.

3. Thousands of On-Demand Movies and TV Shows:

• Apart from live channels, Xumo Play has over 15000 movies and TV shows available on-demand.
• You can pick and watch anytime you like, anytime, anywhere.
• New and exclusive movies are also added every month.

4. Genres:

• The app has premium content across over 26 genres.
• You can find content across specific categories like Bollywood and Indian Cinema, Action, Comedy, Crime, Western, Horror, Thriller, Drama, Kids Shows, and more.

5. User-Friendly Interface:

• Xumo Play’s navigation is simple and intuitive.
• It also offers personalized recommendations based on your viewing habits, making it easier to find the content you like.
• It also has an interactive guide that helps you browse channels and what to watch next.

6. Multi-Device Compatibility:

• You can watch Xumo Play on any device, including:
  • Smartphone (Android and iOS)
  • Tablet
  • Web Browsers (On Computers)
  • Streaming Devices (like Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV)
  • Some Smart TVs (like Element, Hisense, and Pioneer) have it built in directly.

7. Effortless Viewing Experience:

• All you have to do is download the app and start watching. There is no complicated setup or account creation required.

In short, Xumo Play is a great option for those who want to enjoy tons of live and on-demand entertainment at no cost.

6. IMDb TV: IMDb TV, now known as Amazon Freevee, is a free streaming service from Amazon that offers TV shows and movies with ads. It is a “FAST” (Free ad-supported streaming TV) service, just like Xumo.

Here are some key points of IMDb TV (Amazon FreeVee):

1. Premium Content: FreeVee doesn’t only offer old movies or TV shows. It often has a good collection of new and popular movies and TV shows. Amazon also produces some original shows and movies that are only available on FreeVee.
2. Library: It contains thousands of hours of movies and TV shows. It offers content across various genres.
3. IMDb Integration: Since it is connected to IMDb (Internet Movie Database), it has detailed information (such as rating, cast, crew, and trivia) about movies and shows directly available.
4. Availability: The FreeVee app is available on multiple platforms, including:

• Amazon Fire TV devices
• Roku devices
• Android TV/Google TV devices
• Apple TV
• Samsung Smart TVs (some models)
• LG Smart TVs (some models)
• Comcast Xfinity X1 and Flash
• Microsoft Xbox 1 and Series X/S
• Sony PlayStation 4 and 5
• Mobile devices (Android, iPhone, iPad)
• Web Browser (on computer)

5. Amazon Prime Video Integration: If you have an Amazon Prime subscription, you can watch Freevee content with the Prime Video app with an “Ads” tag. This ad-free option to the Prime Video library.
6. Live Channels: Like Xumo, Freevee has also started adding some live channels to its platform, which provide 24/7 streaming.

In short, IMDb TV is now Amazon Freevee, and it is a free ad-supported streaming service offered by Amazon that has a decent collection of movies and TV shows, including some original content.

7. FilmRise: FilmRise is also a free, ad-supported streaming service (FAST) just like Xumo and Freevee. It mainly focuses on independent films and classic TV shows.

Key Features of FilmRise App:

1. Completely Free:

• The biggest feature of FilmRise is its free model. You don’t have to pay any subscription fees or provide any credit card information.
• It is supported by ads, which means ads are shown while watching the content. However, many users say that it has fewer ads than cable TV.

2. Huge Content Library:

• FilmRise offers over 10000+ hours of premium content. This includes thousands of movies and TV shows.
• It focuses specifically on independent films, classic TV shows, and specific genres. You won’t find some of the big blockbusters here that are on Netflix or Prime Video, but you can find hidden gems and cult classics.

3. Various Genres:

• The app offers content across various genres, including thriller, horror, drama, romance, documentary, crime, action, comedy, martial arts, western, and kids’ shows.
• It also includes Hollywood movies and some popular foreign language films.
• Some of the popular shows and movies that can often be found on FilmRise are: Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, Forensic Files, Unsolved Mysteries with Robert Stack, Midsomer Murders, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Roseanne, Continuum, Hannibal, etc.

4. High Quality (HD):

• FilmRise claims that all their videos are available in HD quality. They have also started using AI technology to upgrade SD content to HD.

5. User-Friendly Features:

• Watchlist/Queue: You can add your favorite movies and shows to your watchlist to watch later.
• Continue Watching: The app saves your progress, so you can resume watching where you left off.
• IMDb Rating: Many videos include an IMDb rating and popularity score to help you decide what to watch.
• Editor-curated playlists: Their editors create new playlists every week to help you discover new content.

6. Multi-device Compatibility:

• The FilmRise app is available on a variety of platforms, including:
  • Mobile: Android and iOS (iPhone, iPad)
  • Smart TVs and Streaming Devices: Android TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung Smart TV, and other Smart TVs.
  • Computer: Via a web browser

If you want to watch classic TV shows, crime, documentaries, and some hidden movies at no cost, FilmRise could be a good option.

8. Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll is the world’s largest and most popular anime streaming service. It is a one-stop destination for anime and manga (Japanese Comics) fans. If you love watching anime, then Crunchyroll is probably the best place where you can watch the latest and classic anime.

Crunchyroll Key Features:

1. Extensive Anime and Manga Library:

• Crunchyroll has a massive collection of over 1000 anime titles and over 200 East Asian dramas. It is one of the largest anime libraries in the world.
• It includes new shows every season, as well as classic and popular series, such as One Piece, Dragon Ball Super, My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, Solo Leveling, and many more.
• The premium plan also offers access to select manga titles that can be read directly on the app or website.

2. Simulcasts:

• This is the most important feature of Crunchyroll. New anime episodes become available on Crunchyroll in the US just within an hour of their airing in Japan. The allows fans to watch the latest content immediately.

3. Ad-Free Viewing:

• With premium subscription plans (such as Fan, Mega Fan, and Ultimate Fan), users can watch anime without ads, providing an uninterrupted experience. A free, ad-supported tier is also available, but it has a delay in new episodes.

4. Multiple Device Streaming:

• Depending on the premium plan, users can stream on 1 to 6 devices simultaneously. For example, the Mega Fan allows 4 simultaneously.
• The Crunchyroll app is available on almost all major platforms: iOS and Android smartphones/tablets, web browsers, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles.

5. Offline Viewing:

• With premium subscriptions like Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan, users can download anime episodes to their mobile device and watch them offline without an internet connection. This is very useful while travelling or in an area with limited data.

6. Crunchyroll Game Vault:

• Premium (Mega Fans and Ultimate Fan) subscribers get access to a catalog of mobile games that they can download and play for free. These games often include anime-related titles.

7. Expert-Curated Content & Community Features:

• Crunchyroll has collections curated by its team of anime experts to help you discover new anime.
• A user-friendly interface, personalized recommendations, a watchlist, and multiple filtering options are also included to choose what to watch.
• Crunchyroll also has an active News & Features section where you can keep up with the latest news, articles, and quizzes in the anime world.

8. Anime Dubs & Subtitles:

• Most anime are available in English subtitles with the original Japanese audio.
• English dubs are also available for many popular anime titles, making it convenient for viewers who don’t like to read subtitles.
• Subtitles in other languages are often available as well.

9. Crunchyroll Store Discounts:

• High-tier premium plans often offer discounts and free shipping at the Crunchyroll Store, where fans can purchase anime merchandise, figures, and apparel.

10. Exclusive Content & Events:

• Crunchyroll occasionally obtains exclusive streaming rights to certain anime series or movies.
• Premium subscribers can sometimes gain special access to anime events such as the Crunchyroll Expo or the opportunity to participate in ticket lotteries.

Crunchyroll offers a comprehensive service for anime fans, including a huge library, instant new episodes, and many additional features that improve the viewing experience.

9. Fawesome: Fawesome is also a free, ad-supported streaming service (FAST) like Xumo and Amazon Freevee. It lets you watch movies and TV shows without any subscription or sign-up.

Key Features of Fawesome App:

1. Completely Free and No Subscription:

• This is the biggest and most attractive feature of Fawesome. You don’t need to make any kind of payment, create an account, or give credit card details to watch it.
• You can directly download the app or visit their website and start watching.

2. Huge Content Library:

• Fawesome has a massive collection of over 150000 movies and TV shows. This number makes it a large library among other free streaming services.
• New content is constantly added, so you will always have something new to watch.

3. Varied Genres and Curated Playlists:

• It covers all major genres, including action, drama, comedy, horror, sci-fi, romance, thrillers, westerns, documentaries, and family movies.
• It also offers thematic playlists, such as ‘Martial Arts Action Movies,’ ‘Serial Killer Thriller, ‘ and curated collections for special occasions (e.g., Father’s Day, Pride Month).

4. High Quality Streaming (HD Quality):

• Fawesome claims to stream its content in HD quality, making the viewing experience better.

5. User-Friendly Interface:

• Its interface is designed to be simple and easy to use, allowing you to find your favorite movies and shows with ease.
• It also has a search bar so you can find specific titles.

6. Multi-device Compatibility:

• You can watch Fawesome on almost all major streaming devices and platforms:
  • Mobile: Android and iOS smartphones and tablets.
  • Smart TV and Streaming Devices: Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Vizio TV, Comcast Xfinity.
  • Web: Directly on their website (Fawesome.tv) via a web browser on a computer.

7. Original Programming:

• Fawesome has also recently started launching some original shows and movies, including competition series and feature films, which further expand its content library.

Fawesome is a great option for those who want to watch a large number of movies and TV shows at no cost. It competes with those other free streaming services (like Xumo, Pluto TV, Tubi, Amazon Freevee) and offers a good free entertainment option.

10. Crackle: Crackle is a free ad-supported streaming service that offers Hollywood movies, TV shows, and original programming. It is one of the oldest names in the world of free streaming services.

Key Features of Crackle:

1. Completely Free:

• You don’t have to pay any subscription fees to access Crackle.
• You can watch content without creating an account, although creating a free account does offer some additional features, like a watchlist and parental controls.

2. Library of Movies and TV Shows:

• Crackle offers a library of Hollywood movies and TV shows. This often includes classic films, old TV series, and content from different genres such as action, comedy, crime, drama, horror, and Sci-fi.
• New titles are regularly added to the library, and some are removed, so the content is always changing.

3. Crackle Original Programming:

• Crackle also produces and licenses some of its own exclusive movies and TV shows (called “Crackle Originals”).
• For example, it has produced series like ‘The Oath’, ‘Start Up’, and ‘Snatch’ in the past, which feature well-known actors.

4. Device Compatibility:

• The Crackle app is available on various platforms, including:
  • Web Browser: Directly on their website on a computer.
  • Mobile Devices: Android and iOS smartphones and tablets.
  • Streaming Devices: Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast.
  • Smart TVs: Select smart TVs like Samsung, LG, and Vizio.
  • Gaming Consoles: Xbox and PlayStation consoles.

5. User-Friendly Features:

• It lets you create your watchlist so you can save shows and movies to watch later.
• Parental controls are also available, allowing you to limit children’s access to certain content by setting a PIN code.
• There is also an option to turn on subtitles/captions.

6. Video Quality:

• Video streaming on Crackle is usually available in HD (720p or 1080p) quality. However, it usually does not offer 4K content.

In short, Crackle is a good option for those who live in the United States and want to watch classic Hollywood movies, TV shows, and some original content without spending a lot of money.