Roku Stick: Apps, Hidden Features, and Getting More From Your Device

In a crowded streaming device market, the Roku Stick has carved out a distinct identity by prioritizing simplicity, neutrality, and broad compatibility. Whether you opt for the entry-level Roku Express 4K+ or the premium Roku Streaming Stick 4K, the lineup offers a device for virtually every budget and use case, making it one of the most accessible streaming solutions available today.

TL:DR – Roku's secret weapon? It searches every streaming service at once and never pushes you toward one over another. No bias, no bloat — just your content, found fast.

Roku vs. Amazon Fire Stick: A Side-by-Side Look

When comparing Roku to the Amazon Fire Stick, the differences become clear quickly. Amazon's interface is heavily oriented toward promoting Prime Video content and its own environment, while Roku's home screen treats all streaming services equally — no single platform gets preferential placement. App availability on both platforms is extensive, but Roku's channel store is widely regarded as more straightforward to handle. On price, the two are closely competitive, though Roku frequently offers strong value at the entry level.

• Interface: Roku uses a clean, grid-based layout with no forced promotions
• App Availability: Both platforms support major services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+
• Price: Comparable across tiers, with Roku offering strong entry-level options

The Power of Cross-Platform Search

One of Roku's most compelling features for cord-cutters is its universal search capability, which scans across dozens of streaming services simultaneously to find where a title is available — and at what price. This platform-agnostic approach means users are never funneled toward one service over another, making Roku an especially appealing choice for viewers who subscribe to multiple streaming platforms and want an unbiased guide to their content.

The Best Roku Apps and Free Channels Worth Installing

Roku's channel store is home to thousands of apps, but a handful stand out as essential installs whether you're a new user or a seasoned streamer looking to get more value from your device.

Top Free Channels to Add First

The best starting point for free content is The Roku Channel, Roku's own built-in platform offering movies, live TV, and on-demand shows at no cost. Pluto TV is another standout, delivering over 250 live channels organized by genre — think cable TV without the bill. Tubi rounds out the essential free trio with one of the largest ad-supported libraries available, covering everything from classic films to niche documentaries. All three are ad-supported, meaning you trade a few commercial breaks for completely free access.

In the UK, BBC Iplayer, itvX, Four, Sky News and My Five, are all free to use and sometime add supported.

Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus and Netflix complete the best channels list if you subscribe.

Best Paid and Subscription Apps

For premium content, the most popular subscription apps on Roku include Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and Apple TV+. These integrate seamlessly into Roku's interface and can be managed directly through your Roku account billing for convenience.

Finding Hidden and Lesser-Known Free Channels

Beyond the obvious picks, Roku's channel store contains hundreds of lesser-known gems that never appear on the home screen by default. To find them, handle to Streaming Channels in your Roku menu, then browse by category or use the search function to look for niche interests like classic cinema, international news, or fitness content. Some channels are even accessible only by searching their exact name — they won't surface through casual browsing alone.

• Crackle — free movies and original series
• Kanopy — free with a library card
• Peacock — free tier includes news and select NBC content
• PBS — documentaries and classic programming at no charge

Regularly revisiting the channel store ensures you catch newly added free options before they gain mainstream attention.

Roku Hidden Settings and Secret Features Most Users Miss

Your Roku device contains a surprising number of advanced tools and secret menus that most users never discover. Knowing where to look can dramatically improve your streaming experience, giving you greater control over performance, audio, and display quality.

Accessing the Secret Screen and Advanced Menus

Roku devices include hidden diagnostic screens accessible through specific remote button combinations. The most useful is the secret platform menu, reached by pressing Home five times, Fast Forward, Play, Rewind, Play, Fast Forward in sequence. This reveals advanced system information including network diagnostics, signal strength, and software details. A separate combination — Home five times, Up, Rewind, Fast Forward — opens the developer settings menu used by power users and app testers.

Private Listening, Bandwidth Saver, and Display Calibration

Several underused features hide in plain sight within Roku's standard settings menus. Private Listening routes audio directly to your headphones through the Roku mobile app or a compatible remote, letting you watch without disturbing others. The Bandwidth Saver option, found under Settings, automatically pauses streaming if no activity is detected, reducing unnecessary data consumption. For picture quality, Roku's Display Calibration tool walks you through adjusting brightness, contrast, and sharpness to match your specific television's output.

Using the Roku Mobile App as a Second Remote

The free Roku mobile app functions as a fully capable second remote, but its hidden value lies in shortcut controls most users overlook. The app's keyboard input makes searching dramatically faster, while its remote shortcut buttons allow quick access to specific channels and playback functions not always available on the physical remote.

Tips and Tricks to Get More From Your Roku Streaming Device

Your Roku streaming device is capable of far more than simply playing your favourite shows. By exploring a handful of built-in features and settings, you can transform the way you interact with your content every day.

Personalise Your Home Screen

One of the easiest ways to improve your Roku experience is to reorganise your channel lineup. From the home screen, simply highlight any channel, press the asterisk (*) button on your remote, and select Move channel. Placing your most-used apps at the top of the list means less scrolling and faster access to what you actually watch.

Guest Mode and Screen Mirroring

If visitors want to use their own streaming accounts without disturbing your saved preferences, Guest Mode lets them log in temporarily. Once they leave, their credentials are automatically removed. For sharing content from a phone or laptop, screen mirroring allows compatible Android and Windows devices to cast directly to your Roku display — no additional hardware required.

Voice Search and Smart Home Integration

Roku's built-in voice search lets you find movies, shows, and actors across multiple streaming services simultaneously, saving considerable time. On supported models, Roku also integrates with smart home platforms, allowing you to control compatible devices — such as lights and thermostats — directly through your Roku remote or the Roku mobile app.

• Use voice commands to search across all your subscribed services at once
• Enable screen mirroring via Settings > System > Screen mirroring
• Activate Guest Mode under Settings > System > Guest mode
• Reorganise channels for a faster, more intuitive home screen layout