- Updated: March 31, 2026
- 4 min read
Roku Launches Standalone Howdy App for $2.99 Ad‑Free Streaming
Image Credits:Roku Apps Roku launches a standalone app for Howdy, its $2.99 streaming service Aisha Malik 7:23 AM PDT · March 31, 2026 Roku announced on Tuesday that it’s launching a standalone mobile app for Howdy, its recently launched ad-free streaming service that costs $2.99 per month. The app is available on both iOS and Android in the U.S.Launched in August 2025, Howdy features a library of nearly 10,000 hours of content from Roku’s partners, including Lionsgate, Sony Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Warner Bros. Discovery, and FilmRise, alongside select Roku Original titles. The library features titles like “A Haunting in Venice,” “Ice Age,” “Weeds,” and “Kids in the Hall,” as well as rom-coms, medical dramas, ’90s comedies, classics, and more.With this new app, Roku says subscribers can access Howdy’s library of content on the go. Priced at $2.99 per month, Howdy is currently the cheapest ad-free streaming service on the market. At launch, Roku said Howdy was designed to complement, not compete with, premium services.“At a time when most things are getting more expensive, Howdy is designed to make premium, ad-free streaming more affordable and accessible for all viewers,” said Gil Fuchsberg, president of Subscriptions, Partnerships and Corporate Development at Roku, in a press release. “Launching the Howdy mobile app on iOS and Android enables us to continue growing the service beyond the Roku platform, bringing Howdy’s unique value and quality entertainment to even more viewers.” The launch of the app comes a week after Roku announced that Howdy was launching on Amazon’s Prime Video. The announcement marked the new streaming service’s first expansion outside the Roku ecosystem. Last year, Roku and Amazon also signed a major deal to share advertising data for its connected TVs. Techcrunch event Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity.Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400. Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit 1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry.Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediatelyOffer ends March 13. San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026 REGISTER NOW Roku’s launch of Howdy came two months after the company paid $185 million to acquire Frndly TV, a streaming service that offers live TV, on-demand video, and cloud-based DVR. Howdy also joins The Roku Channel, the company’s free, ad-supported (FAST) streaming service.The Roku Channel is the most popular FAST service, ahead of competitors Tubi and Pluto TV. More than 125 million people use the platform every day, Roku says. Roku released its 2025 fourth-quarter earnings last month, posting a net income of $80.5 million. The company also announced that it’s going to launch new streaming bundles. Topics Apps, Howdy, Media & Entertainment, roku, streaming services Aisha Malik Consumer News Reporter Aisha is a consumer news reporter at TechCrunch.Prior to joining the publication in 2021, she was a telecom reporter at MobileSyrup. Aisha holds an honours bachelor’s degree from University of Toronto and a master’s degree in journalism from Western University. You can contact or verify outreach from Aisha by emailing aisha@techcrunch.com or via encrypted message at aisha_malik.01 on Signal. View Bio April 30 San Francisco, CA StrictlyVC kicks off the year in SF.Get in the room for unfiltered fireside chats with industry leaders, insider VC insights, and high-value connections that actually move the needle. Tickets are limited.REGISTER NOW Most Popular Why OpenAI really shut down Sora Connie Loizos The Pixel 10a doesn’t have a camera bump, and it’s great Ivan Mehta Anthropic’s Claude popularity with paying consumers is skyrocketing Julie Bort Waymo’s skyrocketing ridership in one chart Kirsten Korosec A major hacking tool has leaked online, putting millions of iPhones at risk. Here’s what you need to know.Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai The AI skills gap is here, says AI company, and power users are pulling ahead Rebecca Bellan Google unveils TurboQuant, a new AI memory compression algorithm — and yes, the internet is calling it ‘Pied Piper’ Sarah Perez Loading the next article Error loading the next article
Andrii Bidochko
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Andrii Bidochko is an AI entrepreneur and researcher focused on AI agents, reinforcement learning, and autonomous systems. He writes about the technologies shaping the future of machine intelligence, from frontier models and agent architectures to real-world AI applications.