Every iteration of Roku has come with more perks than the last, from the addition of streaming services to all kinds of Roku TV apps. Even if you started with a Roku stick pre-Disney+ — those were wild days — there are plenty of reasons to stick with the new and full-featured Roku TVs available these days.
Roku isn’t just for TVs either — you can find Roku smart home devices that make life easier, in addition to more entertaining. And when it comes to customizing your Roku device, the best place to start is with a selection of on-screen apps.
When I bought my most recent Roku TV, the first thing I did was download all my family’s favorite streaming apps, from DirecTV to Disney+ to Paramount and more. Little did we know, there was so much more available on the Roku TV than just those platforms. Plus, most of them don’t cost anything. These are five must-have Roku TV apps you should download and check out.
YouTube
YouTube is basically a no-brainer in terms of additional entertainment. Like anything else, it’s probably the most rewarding if you have YouTube Premium, since you’ll experience ads otherwise. But either way, watching free programming on YouTube is one of the ways to get the most out of your Roku without spending on more subscriptions.
While you can access Apple TV and other streaming services on your Roku TV, YouTube has some content you can’t really find anywhere else. For example, I recently discovered ambient videos like crackling fireplaces and snowflakes falling outside windows. Whatever kind of white noise you…