Last Updated on September 22, 2026 by Ethan Parker
Roku owners have more free streaming than any other platform, and most of it costs nothing to watch. The catch is that the best free Roku apps lock part of their catalogue to a country, so a US-only channel or an American movie library simply refuses to load once you cross a border. A VPN puts you back on a US IP address, which is the one thing these apps check before they show you everything.
Table of Contents
Quick Steps: Install and Watch Free Roku Apps from Anywhere
Follow these four steps and the free Roku apps that are locked to another country will open as normal:
- Get Surfshark VPN and install it on your phone, laptop or router.
- Connect to a server in the country whose apps you want to watch, usually the United States.
- Add the free app from the Roku Channel Store and sign in with a free account.
- If the app still blocks you, switch to a different server in the same country and reload.
Best Free Roku Apps at a Glance
| App | Best for | Account needed | Region-locked |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Roku Channel | All-round free movies and live TV | Optional | Live news US and Canada |
| Tubi | The biggest free movie library | Library varies by country | |
| Pluto TV | Cable-style live channels | No | Library varies by country |
| Plex | The most free live channels | No | Some channels US only |
| Sling Freestream | Free live TV with a free DVR | No | Mostly US |
| Xumo Play | News and quick channel surfing | No | US-focused |
| The CW | Next-day network shows and live sport | No | US only |
| PBS and PBS Kids | Documentaries, news and kids shows | Free account | US only |
| Kanopy | Ad-free indie and classic films | Library card | US and Canada libraries |
| Hoopla | Ad-free movies, TV and comics | Library card | US and Canada libraries |
| FilmRise | True crime and classic TV | No | Some titles locked |
Every app in this list is a licensed, ad-supported service. None of them host pirated streams.
Why a VPN Helps You Get More Free Roku Apps
Free Roku apps do two things that a VPN fixes. First, a few of them are only licensed for one country, so PBS Kids and The CW check your IP address and refuse to play outside the United States. Second, apps like Tubi and Pluto TV show a different library in every country, which means the movie you searched for may be missing from the version your Roku sees. Surfshark VPN gives you an IP address in the country you pick, so the app treats your connection as local and the full catalogue appears. It also encrypts your traffic on hotel, airport and cafe Wi-Fi, and one subscription covers your phone, laptop and router at the same time. Switching to a nearby server usually clears any playback error within seconds.
The Best Free Roku Apps
1. The Roku Channel
The Roku Channel is already waiting on your device, which makes it the easiest place to start. It carries more than 500 live channels and over 80,000 movies and shows, all free and ad-supported, and most titles play without an account. The live news and live TV feeds are licensed for the US and Canada, so a US server is what unlocks them abroad. Roku also runs a dedicated Spanish-language section called Espacio Latino with more than 65 channels.
Pros
- ✓ No install and no account
- ✓ 500+ live channels
- ✓ Big on-demand library
Cons
- ✕ Paid add-ons sit next to the free rows
- ✕ Live TV is US and Canada only
2. Tubi
Tubi is owned by Fox and pulls in about 100 million viewers a month. Its on-demand library is deeper than most paid services because it licenses older films instead of chasing new releases, and you only need an email address to start. Titles rotate off when their licences end, so watch a film within a few weeks of adding it. The kind of titles you see changes a lot between the US, UK and Canadian versions of the app.
Pros
- ✓ Huge free movie library
- ✓ No subscription
- ✓ Strong live sports events
Cons
- ✕ Ads throughout
- ✕ Titles leave without warning
3. Pluto TV
Pluto TV is the closest thing to old-style channel surfing, with more than 250 live channels laid out like a cable guide. Paramount owns the service, so it runs 24/7 channels built around single shows such as Star Trek, Survivor and CSI. You never have to sign up, and the on-demand tab gives you playback controls that a live feed does not.
Pros
- ✓ No account needed
- ✓ 250+ themed channels
- ✓ Free on every major device
Cons
- ✕ No pause or rewind on live channels
- ✕ Country decides the lineup
4. Plex
Most people know Plex as the app for their own movie files, which is why it rarely makes a free Roku list. That is a mistake, because Plex quietly built one of the largest free lineups anywhere with more than 600 live channels. You can watch every free channel without an account, and if you keep your own videos on a hard drive, Plex is the only app here that puts your library and free TV in one place.
Pros
- ✓ 600+ free live channels
- ✓ Plays your own files too
- ✓ No account for free TV
Cons
- ✕ Some channels are US only
- ✕ Plex Pass upsells appear often
5. Sling Freestream
Sling is a paid live TV service, so most people assume the app costs money. It does not. Inside the same app there is a free tier called Freestream with around 600 live channels, and it is the only app on this list that hands you a free DVR. Open the app, choose Stream for Free on the launch screen and you can browse and watch without signing in. The paid plan banners are frequent, but you never have to touch them.
Pros
- ✓ Around 600 free channels
- ✓ Free cloud DVR
- ✓ No account required
Cons
- ✕ Constant paid-plan prompts
- ✕ Live channels lean US
6. Xumo Play
Xumo Play is run by Comcast and Charter, and it carries more than 300 free channels with a strong news section. Nothing needs an account, so it is a good second stop when Pluto TV lacks a channel you want. The one honest catch is that Xumo swaps channels in and out more than the others, because its lineup depends on deals that expire. If a favourite vanishes, the same feed usually still lives on Pluto TV or Plex.
Pros
- ✓ 300+ free channels
- ✓ No sign-up
- ✓ Strong news coverage
Cons
- ✕ Lineup changes often
- ✕ Mostly US content
7. The CW
The CW app gives you full seasons of network shows plus live sport, with no login, no subscription and no cable check. That makes it the only US broadcast network you can watch on Roku for free the day after an episode airs. It also carries live NASCAR, WWE NXT and college football at no cost. Episodes roll off after a short window, so watch a new one within a couple of weeks, and the whole app is licensed for the United States only.
Pros
- ✓ Free with no login
- ✓ Live sport included
- ✓ Next-day network shows
Cons
- ✕ US only
- ✕ Episodes expire fast
8. PBS and PBS Kids
PBS brings you NOVA, Frontline and Antiques Roadshow, plus your local station's livestream, and most new episodes stay free for at least two weeks after they air. You do not have to donate to use it. PBS Kids is a separate app and the better choice for young children, with a 24/7 channel built around Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts and Sesame Street. Both apps check your location, and PBS Kids only plays inside the United States, so a US server is what opens them when you travel.
Pros
- ✓ Free news and documentaries
- ✓ Ad-free kids channel
- ✓ Local station livestream
Cons
- ✕ US only
- ✕ Older seasons sit behind Passport
9. Kanopy
Kanopy is the best free app that almost nobody on Roku uses. Your public library pays for it, so you watch Criterion classics, documentaries and indie films with no adverts at all, which no other app on this list can match. You sign in with a library card, and the number of monthly play credits depends on your library. Once you press play you have three days to finish that film on a single credit, and Kanopy Kids usually does not use credits at all.
Pros
- ✓ No adverts
- ✓ 30,000+ films
- ✓ Free with a library card
Cons
- ✕ Monthly credit limit
- ✕ Needs a participating library
10. Hoopla
Hoopla is the mainstream version of Kanopy, so the titles are more recognisable and there is never a waitlist. You borrow with a library card, and there are no adverts on anything you play. Libraries pay per checkout, which is why limits keep moving, so check your own library's number before you plan a long movie night. Alongside films and television, Hoopla also lends comics, audiobooks and music.
Pros
- ✓ Ad-free playback
- ✓ No waiting lists
- ✓ Films, TV and comics
Cons
- ✕ Borrow limits vary
- ✕ Needs a library card
11. FilmRise
FilmRise is the largest independent supplier of free movies and television, and it asks for no subscription and no login. True crime and classic TV are its strong suits, with shows like Unsolved Mysteries, Midsomer Murders and Hell's Kitchen sitting in one place. You will also spot FilmRise channels inside The Roku Channel and Pluto TV, because the company shares its feeds with other platforms. The standalone app is worth adding if you want the full on-demand catalogue instead of a single live feed.
Pros
- ✓ 10,000+ hours of content
- ✓ No account needed
- ✓ Strong true crime catalogue
Cons
- ✕ Very few new releases
- ✕ Some titles stay region-locked
A Note About Unlicensed Roku Channels
Plenty of sideloaded channels and private Roku codes promise the same films without a licence, and most of them are not legal. They rarely hold the rights to what they stream, they are funded by aggressive pop-ups, and some quietly install malware. We left them out on purpose. Stick to the licensed apps above, and use a VPN for privacy and for reaching the catalogue you already have access to. Rules differ by country, so check your local laws and the terms of service for each app.
FAQ
Are these free Roku apps really free?
Yes. The Roku Channel, Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, Sling Freestream, Xumo Play, The CW, PBS, FilmRise and Kanopy all cost nothing to watch, and ads pay for them. Kanopy and Hoopla need a library card instead of a subscription, and only PBS Passport and paid add-ons inside other apps ask for money.
Can I watch US-only Roku apps from another country?
A VPN with US servers can put you on an American IP address, which is what the app checks before it loads. Connect to a US location, clear your cookies and reopen the app. If it still blocks you, switch to a different US server, because some addresses get flagged while others stay clean.
Do I need a VPN to use Tubi or Pluto TV?
Not at home. You only need one when the catalogue you want lives in another country, or when you are on public Wi-Fi and want your traffic encrypted. Both apps show a different library in each country, so a VPN lets you pick which version you see.
Does a VPN work on the Roku itself?
Roku does not run VPN apps, so the reliable method is to run Surfshark VPN on your router and connect the Roku through that network, or share a VPN connection from a laptop or phone hotspot. Both routes cover the whole device, not just a single app.
Final Thoughts
Roku has the richest free streaming lineup of any platform, and most of it costs nothing but a little patience. Start with The Roku Channel, Tubi, Pluto TV and Plex, add Kanopy or Hoopla if you have a library card, and run everything through Surfshark VPN so region-locked apps and full catalogues open wherever you are. Connect, reload, and the free side of Roku is yours again.
Related posts:
Best Free Live TV Apps in 2026
Best Movie Apps for Firestick in 2026
10 Best Movie Streaming Sites in 2026
Best Classic Movie Streaming Sites in 2026
Best Free Movies on YouTube in 2026: 8 Legal Channels for Full Movies
Best British TV Streaming Sites in 2026
12 Best Soap2Day Alternatives That Still Work in 2026
How to watch DSTV outside South Africa (Top Method in 2026)