The XDA piece on dropping Roku for Google TV summed up what plenty of TV owners have been quietly doing this year: trading ad clutter for a sharper, sideload-friendly platform. Google TV runs full Android, which means it runs apps Roku doesn’t, including the Aptoide alternative store and the media-server clients homelab owners depend on. These are the eight Google TV apps to install first when you’re coming over from Roku.
What to look for in a Google TV streaming app
Roku had a lot of working defaults. Google TV is more capable but you have to rebuild them. The criteria that matter:
- Replaces a Roku staple. Pluto TV’s free linear channels, Roku Originals, FAST tier replacements.
- Works with a remote. Some Android apps assume a touchscreen and become painful with a D-pad.
- No subscription required to start. Free apps cover the bulk of casual viewing.
- Sideloads cleanly. Google TV blocks some apps from the Play Store; the good ones either appear on Play Store, on Aptoide, or as a Play-friendly APK.
- Server-friendly. If you already run Plex or Jellyfin, the client should be solid.
- Cast support. Google TV’s strongest feature is built-in Chromecast. Apps that ignore it lose a real advantage.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free | Subscription | Aptoide page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Roku Channel | Keep watching Roku Originals | Yes | No required | Yes |
| Pluto TV | Free linear channels | Yes | No | Yes |
| Plex | Personal library and free TV | Yes | Plex Pass optional | Limited |
| Jellyfin for Android TV | Open-source media server | Yes | None | Yes |
| Stremio | Aggregated catalog with add-ons | Yes | Premium tier | Yes |
| Kodi | Power-user media center | Yes | None | Yes |
| VLC for Android | Plays anything, from anywhere | Yes | None | Yes |
| Crunchyroll | Anime catalog | Limited free | $7.99/mo | Yes |
The 8 best Google TV apps to replace Roku
1. The Roku Channel — Keep your Roku habits on Google TV
The Roku Channel ships on Google TV as a proper app. Roku Originals, the free movies catalog, the Live TV guide, and any premium subscriptions you added on Roku all carry over once you sign back in. The transition is the smoothest possible: it’s the same content from your old box.
Where it falls short: No DVR support. UI density is rougher on Google TV than on Roku hardware. Cast support is hit-or-miss.
Pricing:
- Free: yes, with ads
- Paid: premium channel subscriptions stay optional
Platforms: Android TV, Google TV.
Download: Google Play, Aptoide.
Bottom line: Install this first. It’s the easiest part of the switch.
2. Pluto TV — Free linear channels
Pluto TV is the FAST service Roku users miss most when they switch. The same 250+ free channels, no signup, no paywall. The Google TV build supports the channel guide cleanly and remembers your last-watched channel.
Where it falls short: Ad load varies by channel. Search is weaker than the Roku Channel’s. Some regional channels aren’t on Google TV builds.
Pricing:
- Free: yes
- Paid: none
Platforms: Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV, mobile.
Download: Google Play, Aptoide.
Bottom line: Pluto TV for Google TV is what Roku’s Live TV row was for cord-cutters.
3. Plex — Personal library plus free movies and TV
Plex turns a home server into a Netflix-like experience and adds Plex’s own free movies, TV, and live channels on top. The Google TV client supports HDR pass-through, Atmos, and TVDB metadata. If your media library was already plugged into Plex on Roku, the move is one signin.
Where it falls short: Setup needs a server (PC, Mac, NAS). Plex Pass features (Live TV DVR, hardware transcoding) cost extra. Public catalog is improving but not a Netflix replacement.
Pricing:
- Free: client and most server features
- Paid: Plex Pass $4.99/month, $39.99/year, $119.99 lifetime
Platforms: Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV, mobile, web, desktop.
Download: Google Play.
Bottom line: If you ran Plex on Roku, install it on day one. If you didn’t, this is the upgrade Roku couldn’t offer.
4. Jellyfin for Android TV — Open-source media server
Jellyfin is the free, open-source media server that competes with Plex. The Android TV client is purpose-built for D-pad navigation, supports HDR and Atmos, and runs without any account or cloud dependency. Sideloads cleanly from Aptoide if Google blocks the Play Store version in your region.
Where it falls short: No free linear TV catalog. Initial server setup is more involved than Plex’s. Skin variety is limited.
Pricing:
- Free: fully open source
- Paid: none
Platforms: Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV, mobile, web, desktop.
Download: Google Play, Aptoide.
Bottom line: Best free Plex alternative for households that want one media server with no subscriptions.
5. Stremio — Aggregated catalog
Stremio aggregates content from your Plex or Jellyfin server, free-with-ads platforms, and torrent or debrid add-ons (where legal) under one search bar. The Google TV build is built for the remote and supports cast.
Where it falls short: Add-on quality varies. Some add-ons venture into legally grey territory; that’s on the user. UI density is high.
Pricing:
- Free: most features
- Paid: Stremio Premium for cloud streaming, around $3.99/month
Platforms: Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV, mobile, web, desktop.
Download: Google Play, Aptoide.
Bottom line: Strong fit for households that already understand add-on hygiene.
6. Kodi — Media center power user
Kodi is the venerable media center that Roku never had. Skins, scrapers, library management, IPTV add-ons, and a community of plugins make it the most flexible TV app on Google TV, full stop.
Where it falls short: Setup takes a weekend. Some third-party add-ons are sketchy. Updates can break configurations.
Pricing:
- Free: fully open source
- Paid: none
Platforms: Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV, mobile, web, desktop, Raspberry Pi.
Download: Google Play, Aptoide.
Bottom line: Install this on a second box first, learn the skin and scraper setup, then make it the household default.
7. VLC for Android — Play anything
VLC for Android plays every file format you’ll ever encounter. The Android TV build supports network shares (SMB, NFS, FTP), HDR pass-through on many GPUs, and works with the remote. Roku’s media player is a shadow of this.
Where it falls short: No proper library view. Each session is more like a manual file browse than a media center. Cast is limited.
Pricing:
- Free: open source
- Paid: none
Platforms: Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV, mobile, desktop.
Download: Google Play, Aptoide.
Bottom line: Install for the file-format insurance. Useful even if you also run Plex or Jellyfin.
8. Crunchyroll — Anime catalog
Crunchyroll is the anime catalog Roku had and Google TV keeps. Search, dub/sub toggles, watchlist sync across devices, and a clean Google TV-tuned UI make it the default for anime households. Subtitles are reliable.
Where it falls short: Ad-supported tier is limited; serious viewing needs the subscription. Some titles still drop early access for premium-only.
Pricing:
- Free: limited catalog, ad-supported
- Paid: Fan $7.99/month, Mega Fan $9.99/month, Ultimate Fan $15.99/month
Platforms: Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV, mobile, web, desktop.
Download: Google Play, Aptoide.
Bottom line: Install for anime nights. Skip if your household doesn’t watch anime, obviously.
How to pick the right ones
If you only want one app to feel at home: install The Roku Channel. The content and subscriptions you added on Roku come back with one sign-in.
If you want free, never-pay viewing: pair Pluto TV with The Roku Channel. Between them you have most of Roku’s free linear and on-demand tier.
If you ran a media server on Roku: install Plex or Jellyfin first. The Google TV clients support HDR and Atmos better than Roku’s ever did.
If you’re an anime household: Crunchyroll covers the bulk. Stremio with reliable add-ons fills gaps.
If you sideload from non-Google stores: Aptoide is on the Play Store and gives you Plex, Jellyfin, Kodi, and Stremio in one place without Google Play account dependencies.
FAQ
Can I install Roku apps on Google TV? The Roku Channel itself is a Google TV app, so yes for that one. Roku’s other native apps don’t run on Google TV; you swap them for Google TV equivalents from this list.
What is the best free Google TV streaming app? Pluto TV for linear channels and The Roku Channel for free movies. Jellyfin if you have a home server.
Do I lose The Roku Channel when I switch to Google TV? No. The Roku Channel ships on Google TV with the same content and the same subscriptions you set up on Roku. Sign in and it carries over.
Does Google TV have FAST channels like Roku? Yes. Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Tubi (in supported regions), Plex’s free TV, and Stremio’s add-ons all bring free linear content to Google TV.
Is sideloading allowed on Google TV? Yes. Enable “Apps from unknown sources” in settings, or install via Aptoide from the Play Store. Several apps that are blocked on Roku appear on Google TV without trouble.
Will Plex or Jellyfin support 4K HDR on Google TV? Yes, on supported hardware. Both apps detect Dolby Vision and HDR10 on Google TV boxes that pass them through. Hardware transcoding on Plex Pass speeds up older clients.
