3.8/5
G2 seller rating
86 reviews
Report
Should I Use Roku?
Roku provides the simplest way to stream entertainment to your TV. On your terms. With thousands of available channels to choose from.
Worth it
Worth itBuy it if you want the cheapest, simplest way to stream — reviewers keep ranking Roku gear among the best available.
Cheap, simple streaming with a huge app catalog — just lock down your account and expect ad-heavy menus.
Confidence: Medium
$29.99
Starting price
Roku Express HD player
Yes
Free tier
The Roku Channel is free, ad-supported
100M+
Streaming households
Milestone announced April 2026
Value for money
5
Hardware from $29.99; free channel included.
Ease of use
4
Reviewers and users cite the simple interface.
Feature depth
4
Thousands of channels plus smart-home add-ons.
Support quality
2
Trustpilot reviews cite poor customer service.
Security posture
2
576K-account breach; ongoing device CVEs.
Pros
Cons
Gotchas
- high2024 breach hit ~576,000 accounts via credential stuffing — use a unique password and 2FA.⁷
- highOver 15,000 hacked accounts were resold for 50¢ each — attackers hunt reused logins.⁸
- mediumUnrecognized subscription charges recur; Roku runs a dedicated refund process — audit statements.11
- mediumGuess: interface ads and upsell prompts are baked in, even next to paid subscriptions.
Best for
- Budget cord-cutters
- First-time streamers
- Ad-tolerant free-TV households
- Second-TV upgrades
Not for
- Ad-haters — the whole platform monetizes your eyeballs
- Privacy-wary buyers; Roku's core business is adtech
- Anyone expecting premium, human customer support
- Guess: tinkerers wanting sideloading and custom launchers
Companies that use it
- Blu Dot
Pricing
Roku Express (HD)
$29.99
- Entry-level HD streaming
- Voice remote per retail listings
Streaming Stick Plus
~$40
- 4K/HDR streaming
- Reviewer-favorite mid-tier pick
The Roku Channel
Free
- Ad-supported movies and live TV
- Optional premium subscription add-ons
Security
Checkered: 576K-account breach (2024), resold accounts, device CVEs and DNS-rebinding attacks — but Roku ships regular OS security patches.
- 2024 account breachAbout 576,000 streaming accounts were compromised in a credential-stuffing attack.⁷
- Hacked accounts resoldOver 15,000 hacked Roku accounts were sold for 50 cents each in March 2024.⁸
- DNS rebinding attacksTrend Micro documented DNS rebinding vulnerability attacks against Roku devices.10
- Public CVEsRoku TV vulnerabilities are tracked publicly, including CVE-2022-27152.⁹
What users say
Users love the price and simple interface, but Reddit and Trustpilot surface recurring complaints about ads, billing, and support.
“I love my Roku devices!”
Alternatives
Compare Roku with each alternative.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
PCMag's tested pick; best for Prime households.
Google TV Streamer
Cleaner menus, deeper Google integration.
Roku vs Google TV StreamerApple TV 4K
Pricier, faster, lighter on ads.
Roku TV (built-in)
Prefer the OS built into the TV — fewer boxes.
Full analysis
Based on ~25 public sources: reviews, security disclosures, pricing guides, and news.
Sources
- The 2 Best Roku TVs of 2026 — RTINGSrtings.comreview
- Best Roku to Buy for 2025 — CNETcnet.comreview
- Roku Streaming Stick (2025) review — PCWorldpcworld.comreview
- Customer service reviews of www.roku.com — Trustpilottrustpilot.comreview
review
review
news
- Over 15,000 hacked Roku accounts sold for 50¢ each — BleepingComputerbleepingcomputer.comsecurity
- CVE-2022-27152 — NVDnvd.nist.govsecurity
- DNS Rebinding attacks on Roku devices — Trend Microhelpcenter.trendlife.comsecurity
- Roku refund policy — Roku Supportsupport.roku.comofficial
- Roku pricing guide — CableTV.comcabletv.comreview
- Roku surpasses 100 million streaming households — Roku Newsroomnewsroom.roku.comnews
news
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