What is Roku? The streaming platform fully explained

Streaming has been around for a long time, but one of the earliest companies to adopt web-based streaming into a self-contained, app-driven device was Roku. Today, watching something “on your Roku” is standard parlance. Even so, that doesn’t mean you totally get what a Roku actually is. What is Roku? How does Roku work? Do you need a subscription to use it? Is it just a device you buy, or is it software?

In this piece, we’ll answer all of your questions about Roku. By the end, you’ll know if the popular media streaming platform is right for you.

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What is Roku?

Roku is a company that makes a family of media-streaming devices that all run the Roku software. The name means “six” in Japanese because Roku is the sixth company launched by its founder, Anthony Wood. The company launched its first product — the Roku DVP — in 2008 and has been releasing new versions of its hardware and software on a regular basis ever since.

Unlike home theater PCs, game consoles, or other internet-connected devices, Roku streaming media players have always focused on providing a dead-simple way to access streaming video and audio content on a TV. Whether it’s Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, or hundreds of other services, a Roku device lets you watch them all — plus a huge variety of specialized “channels” that stream everything else from the spiritual to the strange.

Today, Roku offers an array of products, including multiple versions of the classic streaming platform, smart TVs with Roku streaming software built-in, soundbars, speakers, the Roku Channel for live TV viewing, and more. Recently, Roku announced the release of its latest version of its operating system, Roku OS 11, with some fun new features that we’ll get into below.

Is it a device or is it software?

It’s both! Roku sells its own hardware — the Roku players — that runs from $25 on the low-end (Roku Express) to $180 on the high-end (Roku Streambar Pro) with several models in between, including stick-style players that plug directly into your TV. These players can be used on any TV with an HDMI connection, but they’re especially handy for folks who don’t own a smart TV with its own internet connection. Each player comes with a Roku remote, a simple, easy-to-use device that lets you navigate the Roku on-screen menus and control the playback of streaming media. The Roku app for your smartphone can also be used to control the system with some added features and easier search with the on-screen keyboard (more on the remote later).

Roku has also built the Roku OS into budget-friendly soundbars as well as the company’s premium streaming device and soundbar combo, the Streambar Pro. These soundbars can be expanded into full wireless surround systems thanks to Roku’s wireless speakers and subwoofers.

Roku also licenses its Roku OS (which it uses on its players) to third parties including TV manufacturers like TCL, Hisense, RCA, and Toshiba. These Roku-powered TVs are known as Roku TVs, and depending on the model, they pack the entire Roku experience, plus control over the TV’s dedicated functions like volume, channels, and inputs, into Roku’s simple interface. For a lot of folks, that’s a big reason to buy a Roku TV.

Another reason to buy a dedicated Roku TV? Many of these models support Dolby Vision, a format of high dynamic range (HDR) video that looks better than standard HDR10. That’s important because so far, Roku only has a few standalone devices that offer Dolby Vision: Roku Streaming Stick 4K, Roku Streaming Stick 4K+, and Roku Ultra.

Do I have to pay a subscription?

No. There is no subscription fee required to use any of Roku’s features, whether you buy a Roku player, Roku TV, or Roku Soundbar. However, Roku lets you access plenty of streaming services that do require a subscription. Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ HBO Max, and Hulu are all popular examples of subscription-based content. You’ll also find it’s possible to access movie rental or purchase services, and these too require some form of payment.

Alongside the paid-content options are tons of completely free sources of content. Plus, most Roku devices let you access your personal collection of movies, TV shows, photos, and music. Some Roku players, like the Ultra, provide a dedicated USB port so you can plug in an external hard drive and play files directly.

How does it work?

Whether you buy a Roku player, Roku TV, or a Roku-enabled soundbar, the experience will be very similar. All Roku devices need an internet connection. Some devices give you the option of using an Ethernet cable for a hard-wired connection to your modem/router, but all of them will work with Wi-Fi too. Once you get your device set up, including the creation of a free Roku account, you can start using it right away.

Home screen menu

The first thing you’ll see after your initial setup is the Roku home screen. This includes a main menu on the left and a series of large graphic logos on the right laid out in an easy-to-read grid pattern. These rectangles, which will include items like Netflix, YouTube, The Roku Channel, and others, are known as “channels.” Channels behave just like apps on your smartphone — in fact, they are apps, but because Roku is so TV-centric, it calls them channels because you watch them.

To watch a channel, simply use the included remote,  navigate to the one you want, and press OK. The channel will launch, and if it’s a channel that requires a subscription (like Netflix), you’ll be asked to sign in or create a new account. This process usually requires a second device like a smartphone, tablet, or PC with a browser, but you only need to do it once.

When you want to watch another channel or get back to the home screen at any time, press the Home button on the remote. Selecting and launching channels is the essence of Roku, but there’s way more you can do on a Roku device.

New to the home screen menu

As part of the Roku OS 11 update in March, users now see a new What to Watch menu that will give you easy access to a variety of personalized movies and TV shows from across the streaming channels (subscribed or otherwise) that you use the most, as well as suggestions based on what’s popular. Additionally, the OS 11 update also brings your recently watched Live TV Zone content to the home screen.

Adding channels

The ability to add new channels to your Roku home screen is one of the biggest reasons for the platform’s popularity. Roku’s channel store has thousands of them, ranging from daily essentials like CBS News and Spotify to TV shows from across the pond (Acorn TV) to the deeply obscure Light Saber Network. You’ll also find handy utilities like Plex, which lets you stream from your personal media library; games; and channels that let you keep an eye on your security cameras.

Adding channels can be done using your Roku remote by surfing through the Streaming Channels menu item, or you can do it on the web using a browser. Roku’s mobile app (more on this below) is another way to find and add channels. You can search for channels by name or description, or use the many helpful categories like Games, Movies & TV, Comedy, etc.

Searching for something to watch

Having access to thousands of channels is a huge benefit to using Roku, but the sheer amount of content can become overwhelming. Thankfully, Roku has a very effective universal search feature that lets you look for content based on the title, actor, or director. You can even search by famous lines of dialog like, “You played it for her, you can play it for me.”

It pulls results from over 500 of the top streaming channels — while some of the more esoteric content may not show up, you’ll still get the most popular content. If you own a Roku TV connected to an over-the-air antenna, you’ll see content matches from available TV stations, too.

Matches are sorted by price, and icons beside the titles indicate whether it’s a channel, movie, or TV show. Clicking on these search results gives you more information about the item, like a synopsis, cast and crew details, and which channels let you watch it. The best part is being able to see when a given movie or show is included within one of your subscriptions.

Recently, Roku introduced a new feature called Search Zones. These zones, which include categories like Kids & Family, Award Winners, and Comedy, let you further refine your searches using pre-populated themes.

Use your voice

Some Roku devices and Roku TVs come with a microphone built into the remote. You can use it to do searches with your voice or issue commands like “play,” “pause,” or “fast forward three minutes.” Roku TVs have their own voice commands that let you control channels, inputs, and volume. With the latest Roku OS 11 update, an added feature the company is calling Roku Voice allows you to now also use your voice to enter passwords (yes!), email addresses, PINs, and login information.

If your Roku device didn’t come with a voice-capable remote or it isn’t compatible with Roku’s voice remotes, you can still use your voice via the free Roku app for iOS and Android. We’ve got more on the Roku app and its capabilities below.

Finding free content

If you don’t have a streaming media subscription with one of the big services, or perhaps you want to see what else is available to you outside of your subscriptions, the Featured Free section is a great place to start. It offers a hand-curated selection of shows and movies pulled from sources like The Roku Channel, ABC, NBC, The CW, Pluto TV, Crackle, and more. They’re all free to watch, though most contain advertising.

If you select a show or movie from a channel that isn’t currently installed on your Roku device, you’ll be prompted to add it. Once added, your content should start streaming right away.

The Roku Channel

Speaking of free content, one of the best places to find it on Roku is The Roku Channel. Almost an entire streaming experience unto itself, The Roku Channel is a collection of free-to-watch, ad-supported shows and movies, which you can enhance by adding optional paid subscription services. Starz, Epix, and Showtime are among the biggest of these premium subscription options, but many more, like the Smithsonian Channel and Stingray Music, are available too.

But wait, there’s more: The Roku Channel is also home to more than 100 free live TV streaming channels, which include providers such as ABC News Live, NowThis, Reuters, and USA Today. You’ll find sports networks too, including Fubo Sports Network, Outside TV, and Adventure Sports Network.

To help you navigate the live TV portion of the Roku Channel, there’s a guide screen that looks just like the kind you’d find on cable or satellite boxes.

All of these choices can be a bit confusing. After all, you can already add the Epix channel to Roku if you’re an Epix subscriber via cable, or the Epix Now channel if you want to sign up directly, so why would you want one of these subscriptions inside The Roku Channel?

The answer is portability. While dedicated channels added from the Channel Store only work on Roku devices, The Roku Channel is available to watch within the Roku app for iOS and Android and on the web. It’s a clever way to extend a portion of the Roku experience onto other devices, letting you watch anywhere you go.

The Roku app

The free Roku app for Android and iOS devices significantly enhances what you can do with Roku both at home and when you’re on the road. Here are some of its best features:

• Home of The Roku Channel for mobile viewing.
• Functions as a full replacement for the remote that came with your Roku device.
• Launch channels on your Roku directly from the app.
• Add and remove channels from your Roku account.
• Uses your phone’s mic for voice commands (see above).
• Uses your phone’s keyboard for quick text entry when the traditional remote would be too cumbersome.
• Pair a set of wired or wireless earphones to take advantage of private listening — this works for both Roku content on the phone as well as the content your Roku device is showing on your TV.
• Cast photos and videos that are stored locally on your phone to your Roku device.

Hotel and dorm room Connect

Setting up a streaming device in a hotel or a college dorm isn’t always easy. That’s because the Wi-Fi in these locations often requires a secondary sign-in step known as a “captive portal” that uses a browser screen instead of the usual Wi-Fi password prompt. With Roku’s hotel and dorm room connect feature, you can use your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to sign in to the captive portal page and get your Roku device connected. Here’s our full set of instructions for this procedure.

Guest mode

Along the lines of hotels and dorm rooms, many people are starting to include access to a Roku device when they rent out their homes via services like Airbnb. But you don’t really want these guests using your streaming accounts or adding their favorite streaming channels to your device. There are privacy considerations, plus it could mess up your personalized recommendations.

Originally called Auto Sign Out Mode, Guest Mode lets you provide your guests with a completely fresh Roku experience that they can either use as-is or make their own by signing into their personal Roku accounts. Once your guests leave, you can exit Guest Mode and return to your own Roku experience, though you will have to sign back into your streaming video subscription accounts on that device.

Another clever add-on for Guest Mode is the ability to leave a personalized message for your guests and remotely end guest sessions on all of your Roku devices via the web.

Casting, screen mirroring, and AirPlay 2

As we mentioned above, the Roku app can be used to cast photos and videos from your phone or tablet to a Roku device or TV. But there’s more you can do with a Roku, depending on the kind of device you own and the apps you’re using.

Casting

Casting is the act of telling an app or a web browser that you want to watch the content that’s currently playing on your TV instead. Your ability to do this varies from app to app. The Netflix and YouTube apps, for instance, will both let you tap a casting icon and choose your Roku device or TV as the place you’d like to view content.

Not all apps support this feature. To see if an app has it, check for the casting icon (it looks like a screen with a wireless signal) somewhere on its main screen.

Screen mirroring

If you have an iOS, MacOS, Android, or Windows device, you can mirror your screen to a Roku device or TV. Unlike casting, which just shows a video or photo using the whole TV, screen mirroring shows exactly what you’re seeing on the originating device — including any open programs, taskbars, and notifications. It’s like having an invisible HDMI cable and can be handy for showing a larger group of people how to use new software or for running a PowerPoint slideshow on a big screen. Here’s Roku’s guide to screen mirroring.

AirPlay 2

As touched on above, Roku’s 9.4 version of Roku OS has brought Apple’s AirPlay 2 technology to all 4K-capable Roku players (except the Roku 4).

AirPlay 2 gives Roku devices and TVs the ability to be AirPlay “targets” for MacOS, iPadOS, and iOS devices, opening up an expanded world of casting and screen mirroring. Roku will also be adding Apple’s HomeKit in Roku OS 9.4, which makes select Roku devices compatible with Apple’s home automation platform.

Roku Photo Streams

With the update to Roku OS 11 also came a new option for users to personalize their Roku experience with Roku Photo Streams, a feature that allows you to upload your own photos to Roku devices for a custom screensaver. This can be done through the Roku mobile app on a smartphone or on a desktop computer, effectively turning your TV into a giant photo frame. Users can even share their Streams with other Roku users.

Roku devices

We hope you find this article helpful in learning exactly what is Roku and if it’s right for you. The company has many different devices you can choose from if you think Roku might be the right fit for you. We’ve reviewed a number of Roku devices in the past, including the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, which we consider the top Roku choice. You can also check out what we think are the best Roku TVs on the market.

Additionally, if you want to complete your Roku system and are in the market for an audio upgrade, the aforementioned Roku Streambars, wireless speakers, and wireless subwoofer can be used to create a solid surround sound setup. Roku OS 11 also brought some new features to this audio lineup as well, adding an automatic speech clarity setting that is supposed to give a bump to the dialogue of your movies and shows. Some new sound modes have also been added, allowing you to choose from Standard Dialogue, Movie, Music, and Night modes to optimize the sound for whatever it is you’re watching. Check out all the details announced with Roku OS 11 here.

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