Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. News

Roku finally gets a YouTube app, operates similar to Chromecast [Update]

Mike Flacy
By
roku will debut the divide season premiere a week in advance 3 youtube application
Image used with permission by copyright holder

[Update] As we previously announced back in December 2013, Roku finally started supporting a YouTube app. However, due to hardware limitations in most of its lineup, the app was only available to owners of the the Roku 3. As of today, all Roku users can rejoice, as the company has finally enabled YouTube app support on all of its “current-gen” models, including Roku LT, Roku 1, Roku 2, Roku 2 HD, Roku 2 XD, Roku 2XS, Roku 3, the Roku Streaming Stick (both HDMI and MHL versions) and the Roku HD model #2500.

rokue-3-youtube-app-content-discovery
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Interestingly, this official YouTube app from Google somewhat undercuts the Google Chromecast hardware, specifically because the Roku functions identically with the YouTube mobile app. Users can browse videos on their smartphones and tablets, queue up the content and use the “Send to TV” feature to watch the videos on the big screen. It is especially pertinent now that Roku has its own HDMI dongle in direct competition with Chromecast.

Recommended Videos

However, there’s also a search tool within the main application as well as a large quantity of popular categories in order to encourage content discovery. The most useful category is easily the Trending section, an ideal area to find that viral video that seems to be today’s topic of conversation among friends and family. 

Related

Performance on the Roku 3 is surprisingly fast, perhaps even more impressive than the Web version of YouTube. Videos pop up in high definition almost immediately, both through the application interface as well as the mobile YouTube app. However, we haven’t had the chance to test the app on previous models as of yet.

roku-3-youtube-device-paringPairing a mobile device is designed to be simple as well, basically just requiring the user to input a nine digit number sequence or scan a QR code displayed on the screen. Users can also log into the YouTube application using their Google account, perfect for automatically adding subscribed channels to the Roku interface.

Prior to this point, applications like Plex were able to send YouTube videos to the older Roku models. However, it’s unlikely that users will continue to utilize those apps due to the feature-heavy, user-friendly design of the new YouTube application.

Be aware that adding the YouTube application to your Roku 3 will first require an update to the device’s latest software version. This update can be accessed within the Settings menu. Besides the channel menu on the Roku 3, you can also find and add the new YouTube channel here.

[This article has been updated throughout to reflect the new information that Roku announced today]

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mike Flacy
Mike Flacy
Contributing Editor
By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…
This long-awaited YouTube TV feature is a channel-flipper’s dream
The previous channel feature on YouTube TV on a TV.

The move from cable to streaming for live TV changed a lot of things. Choice, for one. (We have more.) Price, for another. (You're likely paying less.) But not all changes were great. If you're of the channel-surfing variety — or love to flip back and forth between two channels — you've likely been missing that feature.

YouTube TV — the most popular streaming service in the U.S. with more than 8 million subscribers — has addressed the latter. After having been teased in some A/B testing for a while now (that is, some folks saw it, and most didn't), it looks like the ability to hop back and forth between two channels is now rolling out more broadly.

Read more
If you don’t see CBS in 4K on YouTube TV, try this
Super Bowl in 4K on CBS on YouTube TV.

A quick heads up if you have the 4K add-on for YouTube TV but aren't seeing the option to watch Super Bowl 2024 in 4K on CBS: It's likely because you're using a custom sort on your live channel listings. (Which is something you might have done if you want to hide YouTube TV channels that you never watch.) That'a bad enough for the game itself, and it also means you won't be able to enjoy the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 4K.

This is a known problem — and has been for years — anytime YouTube TV adds a new channel to the listing. If you're not using the default sort on the live channel listings, a new channel will appear at the bottom of the listings, which is bad enough. But worse is that it's hidden by default until you actively go in and unhide it.

Read more
YouTube TV free trial: Stream over 100 channels free for 10 days
A person pointing a remote towards a TV with YouTube running.

Whether you want to watch the big game as it happens or just channel surf until you find something good, live TV is the only answer. Thankfully the best live TV streaming services have stepped in to fulfill your live TV needs while letting you cut the cable cord. One of the best services to go through is YouTube TV. That's right, the free video hosting site that arguably starting the online streaming boom has a cable replacement service with hundreds of channels. Furthermore, it hosts top events. In fact, if you're eligible for a free trial, it could be your ticket to watching the Super Bowl for free. Here's how to test it out.
Is there a YouTube TV free trial?

Yes, there is a YouTube TV free trial. It's actually one of the best free trials out there from any streaming service, let alone a live TV service with over 100 channels. The current deal lets you get ten free days of the service. You'll have access to the 85 channels from the base plan, plus the option to add other free trials through packages they offer, such as YouTube TV Spanish plans and the HBO Max add-on. A plan normally costs $73 per month, so definitely sign up for a free trial before you drop any cash. Once your ten-day trial is over and you're in love with the service, your first three months will be discounted to $65 as a new sign-on bonus.

Read more