600+ Free Live Channels and 50,000+ On-Demand Titles
100,000+ ratings on Roku Channel Store
Plex is one of the most versatile free streaming apps available on Roku. While it's best known as a media server for personal movie collections, Plex also offers a completely free streaming service with 600+ live TV channels and 50,000+ on-demand titles. It's an excellent complement to Tubi and Pluto TV, with unique content you won't find elsewhere.
Best For
Users who want the widest variety of live channels (especially international), documentary lovers, and anyone who wants to complement Tubi with a different content library.
Many people know Plex as a media server — software that lets you organize and stream your personal movie collection. But Plex also has a completely free streaming service that's separate from the media server functionality.
You don't need to set up a media server to use Plex's free streaming. Just download the app, create a free account, and you have immediate access to 600+ live channels and 50,000+ on-demand titles. The media server is an optional extra.
The free streaming service is funded by advertising, just like Tubi and Pluto TV. You'll see ads while watching, but the content is completely free.
Plex's content library is different from Tubi and Pluto TV in important ways:
International news: Plex has an excellent selection of international news channels including BBC News, DW (Deutsche Welle), France 24, Al Jazeera English, and NHK World. If you want international perspectives on the news, Plex is the best free option.
Indie and art house films: Plex's movie library skews toward independent films, international cinema, and cult classics. If you've exhausted Tubi's mainstream catalog, Plex has a completely different selection.
Documentaries: Plex has an excellent documentary library with content you won't find on other free services.
Music channels: Plex has free music channels covering various genres — a feature that Tubi and Pluto TV don't offer.
Podcasts: Plex integrates podcast listening, making it a one-stop entertainment app.
Create a free account: Go to plex.tv and create a free account. This takes about 2 minutes and requires only an email address.
Sign in on your Roku: Open the Plex app on your Roku and sign in with your account.
Navigate to Free: In the Plex interface, look for the 'Free' section or 'Live TV' to access the free streaming content. The interface can be a bit confusing at first because Plex also shows options for media server setup.
Explore the channel guide: Plex has a channel guide similar to Pluto TV. Use it to browse what's currently playing across all 600+ channels.
Skip the media server setup: If you just want free streaming, you can skip the media server setup entirely. Just go directly to the Live TV and On Demand sections.
No. Plex's free streaming service is completely free. There is a paid 'Plex Pass' subscription that adds extra features, but it's not required for free streaming.
No. You can use Plex's free streaming service without setting up a media server. Just create a free account and start watching.
Plex requires a free account to use its streaming features. This is different from Tubi and Pluto TV, which don't require accounts.
Tubi has more mainstream content and a larger overall library. Plex has more live channels (600+ vs Tubi's none) and better international and indie content. They complement each other well.
Yes, Plex is a legitimate, well-established company. The free streaming service is legal and licensed.
It's completely free. No credit card, no commitment.
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