As subscription costs climb for major streaming platforms like Disney+, Hulu, Amazon, and Netflix, Roku users have a silver lining: a wealth of free, ad-supported streaming services right at their fingertips. Roku, beloved for its seamless access to paid giants, also hosts a growing ecosystem of no-cost entertainment, making it an ideal time to explore alternatives. Here is our list of ten standout free streaming services that offer something for every viewer in March 2025—from live news and sports to movies and niche genres—all accessible on your Roku device with a few clicks.
These services, presented in no particular order, showcase the diversity of free content available. Pluto TV, owned by Paramount, offers hundreds channels and 1,000+ movies and episodes, blending Paramount classics with third-party gems. Local Now has evolved from weather updates to include live channels and PBS streams later this year, while Haystack News and NewsON cater to news junkies with local, national, and live broadcasts. Fawesome boasts thousands of weekly-updated titles across all genres, and The Roku Channel flexes its muscle with originals and MLB games. Tubi, now Fox-owned, adds Warner Bros. Discovery hits like old HBO Max shows, while Xumo Play (NBCUniversal) offers hundreds of live channels. FilmRise shines with vast movie and TV libraries, including anime and reality, and Plex surprises with a robust free streaming arm beyond its media management roots.
Top 10 Free Ad-Supported Streaming Services on Roku for March 2025:
- Pluto TV: A Paramount powerhouse with over 100 HD channels and 1,000+ movies and episodes, blending Paramount classics with third-party gems. Add it HERE
- Local Now: Evolved from weather updates to a hub for live channels, movies, and soon, local PBS stations—all free. Add it HERE
- Haystack News: Local, national, and global news plus weather, keeping you informed without an antenna. Add it HERE
- NewsON: Live and on-demand local news from a vast affiliate network, perfect for staying connected. Add it Here
- Fawesome: Thousands of movies and shows across every genre, refreshed weekly for endless variety. Add it Here
- The Roku Channel: Roku’s flagship free service with studio hits, originals, and growing sports like MLB games. Add it HERE
- Tubi: Fox’s gem with Fox programming plus new Warner Bros. Discovery titles, including ex-HBO Max shows. Add it HERE
- Xumo Play: NBCUniversal’s offering with NBC content, 100+ live channels, and on-demand options. Add it HERE
- FilmRise: A massive catalog of movies and shows, from anime to reality, sorted into targeted categories. Add it HERE
- Plex: Beyond media management, Plex offers a hefty free streaming library of films and series. Add it HERE
With Roku’s user base topping 83 million active accounts by late 2024, per company stats, these services tap into a cord-cutting surge—especially as streaming services see their prices slowly grow. To add any of these to your Roku, visit their respective channel pages online. Have a favorite free service missing from the list? Leave us a comment.
Please follow us on Facebook and X for more news, tips, and reviews. Need cord cutting tech support? Join our Cord Cutting Tech Support Facebook Group for help. You can follow Luke on X HERE.