How to View Roku on iPad

Evan Gower November 12, 2019

Roku, along with Chromecast, is one of the most popular streaming platforms in the world. Thanks to this all-in-one device you can stream your favorite content in the highest possible resolution directly to the TV screen.

However, if someone else has first dibs on the TV, you may need to use Roku with a device such as an iPad. That said, the official Roku app only acts as a control panel for the device, and not as a media player.

But there’s no need to worry as you can still watch Roku on your iPad. Find out more in the article below.

The Roku Channel – Streaming Roku Content Directly to iPad

The Roku Channel was released is 2018 as an alternative way to watch Roku content. Although it doesn’t have as many features as a set-top-box Roku player, it’s still a viable option if you want to watch Roku from your smart device.

Once you set up the Roku Channel account, you can add it to the Roku player and have all the channel’s available content for free to watch on your large screen TV. On the other hand, if you want to stream the recent blockbuster hits or classic TV shows from your computer or a smart device – you can do that too.

The Roku Channel offers a wide range of different programs including on-demand TV, recent Hollywood flicks, some cinematic classics, as well as daily news and your favorite TV shows. Since the program is synched with the Roku devices, the database is constantly changing and growing, so you’ll always receive new content.

If that’s not enough, you may pay for a premium version of this channel. This is somewhat close to a regular Roku device (box or a stick) since you can pay for some of the top channels such as HBO and Showtime and watch them via this service. You’ll receive a single bill for all the premium channels on the Roku Channel, allowing you to personalize your experience.

Who Can Watch the Roku Channel?

If you’re living in the US or Canada, you can set up the Roku Channel account for free and gain access to all the available content. This free version mostly uses ad revenue to keep the channel going, so you’ll have to get used to a fair amount of commercial breaks. Of course, you can always opt for an aforementioned premium version.

On the other hand, if you’re living abroad, there’s a huge possibility that the Roku Channel isn’t available in your country. Although the channel has been available for some time now, until recently access was limited only to the United States. There’s currently no information about the potential release of the channel elsewhere, such as major European and Asian countries, as well as Australia.

There’s still a way to bypass the regional restriction via the Virtual Private Network service such as ExpressVPN. You can mask your IP and make it appear as you’re logged-in somewhere in the United States. However, with the limited bandwidth of VPN services (and high fees if you cross the threshold), it’s usually not worth it.

How to Set Up the Roku Channel on iPad?

Setting up the Roku Channel is a fairly simple process. First, you’ll need to create a Roku account (if you don’t have one), and use it to access the Roku Channel directly from your iPad’s browser. Here’s what you should do:

Launch your favored web browser app on your iPad.
Go to Roku’s official website.
Tap the ‘sign in’ button at the top-right of the screen.
Enter your credentials.
Tap the ‘Sign in’ button.
If you don’t have an account, tap the ‘Create account’ button to the right of the screen.
Go to the Roku Channel.
Note: If you get a screen saying “The Roku Channel currently isn’t available in [your country name],” you can either try with a VPN or switch to a service that’s available in your country.
Follow the on-screen instructions to set up the channel.

When you set up the Roku Channel for the first time, you can use the same method to sign in to it via iPad and stream any content from the web browser using a built-in player.

Watch Roku from Anywhere

Whether you’re on a train or in a room without a TV, you can still enjoy most of the Roku’s content from your smart device. In some ways, it’s more user-friendly than an actual Roku device itself, and it’s also free for everyone.

However, you should keep in mind that the service is still accessible only from the US. If you’re living in another country, opting for alternative service wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Would you recommend some other, more globally present free streaming services to our readers? Share them in the comments section at the bottom of the page.