Devices & Setup4 min read
IPTV for Roku Owners: Keep Your Roku, Add a Device or Switch?
If your home runs on Roku, IPTV forces a decision. This guide compares the three realistic paths so you can pick the one that fits your household.
By CatchON TV Team
Many households — particularly in the United States — built their TV setup around Roku. The platform is simple, affordable and familiar. But when those households want IPTV, they run into Roku's main limitation: third-party players cannot be installed from outside the Roku store, and IPTV players in the store are scarce. This guide is about IPTV for Roku owners and the choices they face.
That leaves a decision. Do you work around Roku's limits, add a second device alongside it or move to a different platform? This guide compares the three paths. For the technical details of each workaround, see our guide to how IPTV on Roku works.
Path 1: work around Roku's limits
Use whatever is possible on Roku itself: an IPTV player if one is available in the Roku store, screen mirroring from an Android phone or Windows PC, or AirPlay from an iPhone or iPad on supported Roku models.
Pros
- No new hardware
- Keeps the familiar Roku interface
Cons
- Limited or changeable player availability
- Mirroring and AirPlay depend on Wi-Fi and tie up your phone
- Fewer features: guide, favourites and catch-up may be limited
Best for: occasional IPTV viewing, or trying IPTV before committing to more hardware.
Path 2: keep Roku and add a streaming device
Add an Android TV / Google TV or Fire TV device to a spare HDMI port on the same TV. Use Roku for its apps and the second device for IPTV.
Pros
- Full-featured IPTV players with grid guides and favourites
- Keeps Roku for everything else
- Modest cost
Cons
- Two remotes, two home screens
- Needs a free HDMI port and power socket
Best for: households that watch IPTV regularly but like Roku for other apps. Many TVs support HDMI-CEC, which lets one remote control basic functions of both devices.
Path 3: switch platforms
Replace Roku with a platform that supports a wide range of players, such as Android TV / Google TV or Fire TV, and use it for everything.
Pros
- One device, one remote
- Wide choice of IPTV players plus mainstream streaming apps
- Advanced playback settings on many devices
Cons
- Learning a new interface
- Buying new devices for each TV
- Re-signing in to all your other apps
Best for: households where IPTV becomes the main way of watching TV.
Comparing the paths
| Work around | Add a device | Switch | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New hardware | None | One device per TV used for IPTV | One device per TV |
| IPTV features | Limited | Full | Full |
| Convenience | Lower | Medium | High once set up |
| Keeps Roku | Yes | Yes | No |
| Typical fit | Occasional viewers | Regular viewers | IPTV-first households |
A room-by-room approach
You do not have to choose one path for the whole house. A common pattern:
- Living room: add or switch to a device with full IPTV player support.
- Bedroom: keep Roku and use AirPlay or mirroring occasionally.
- Kids' room: keep Roku for familiar apps.
Questions to decide
- How often will we watch IPTV — occasionally or every day?
- Which TVs will be used for IPTV?
- Do we have free HDMI ports?
- Are household members attached to the Roku interface?
- What is our budget for devices?
Household examples
The occasional viewer: watches a few events a month. Path 1 — AirPlay from an iPhone — is enough.
The regular viewer who loves Roku: watches IPTV most evenings. Path 2 — a streaming device in the living room — gives full IPTV features without giving up Roku.
The cord-cutting family: IPTV replaces cable entirely. Path 3 — switching the main TVs — simplifies daily life.
Timing the change
If you are moving towards Path 2 or 3, timing helps. Set up the new device while the Roku is still in place, run both for a week or two, and only then change anything permanently. Use that overlap to set up favourites, check the guide and let household members get comfortable. If a sports season is about to start, finish the change before the first big game rather than during it. Doing it this way means nobody in the household loses access to their favourite apps while you settle in.
Devices and CatchON TV
Roku is not among CatchON TV's confirmed devices. iPhone and iPad are confirmed; Android TV and Fire TV depend on the app and setup. See our devices page or contact us to talk through your setup. If you are budgeting for devices as well as a subscription, our pricing page lists every plan.
Questions for Roku owners considering IPTV
Do I have to get rid of my Roku to use IPTV?
No. Many households keep Roku and add a second streaming device for IPTV, or use AirPlay or screen mirroring occasionally.
Can one remote control both a Roku and another streaming device?
Many TVs support HDMI-CEC, which allows one remote to control basic functions of connected devices, but full control usually still needs each device's own remote.
Which path is cheapest for IPTV on a Roku household?
Working around Roku's limits needs no new hardware, but offers fewer features. Adding one streaming device to the main TV is a common low-cost middle ground.
Choose the path that fits
IPTV for Roku owners comes down to three paths: work around the limits, add a device or switch. Occasional viewers can stay put; regular viewers usually add a device; IPTV-first households often switch. Decide room by room, and your setup will fit the way your household really watches.
