Is ‘Howdy,’ Roku’s Ad-Free Budget Streaming Service, Any Good?

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Streaming service pricing these days is getting out of hand. At time of writing, the cheapest available Netflix plan is $8 per month and shows you ads, while more specialized services like Disney+ start off even more expensive ($10 a month, in Disney's case) and still have ads on their lower-tier plans. That's why it was surprising to see Roku announce a new, ad-free $3 per month alternative earlier yesterday.

The service, called Howdy, quietly launched alongside the announcement, with "10,000 hours of entertainment" already available. Roku CEO Anthony Wood says it's intended more to "complement" premium streaming services like Netflix rather than compete with them, which might explain the low cost. But with such an affordable price point, it might also be a worthwhile compromise between more expensive streaming options and popular free streaming services like PlutoTV, Tubi, or even Roku's own Roku Channel. I've never been able to stick with these free sites for long, but I'll admit that their libraries, often focused on popular classics, are tempting—being able to pay a small fee for something similar, but without ads, might be just I need, and could possibly give me just enough to get rid of some of the costlier bigger names.

How is Howdy's library?

Howdy doesn't focus on big-budget originals like Netflix, although "select Roku originals" from the Roku Channel are a part of the offerings here. Instead, the library leans more on titles from partners like Lionsgate and Warner Bros., and there are some recognizable options on offer.

Roku advertises Weeds as a standout TV show, while it calls out Mad Max: Fury Road as an example of Howdy's movies. I love Fury Road, but here's what particularly appealed to me on the service so far:

• American Psycho

• The Cabin in the Woods

• Saw

• Stranger Than Fiction

• Blade and Blade II

• Escape From New York

• The Iron Giant

• Dirty Dancing

• Reservoir Dogs

• The Neverending Story

You'll notice that most of these movies are on the older end, although there are some recent picks as well, like 2022's Elvis. TV, meanwhile, does have some older comfort watches, but leans a bit more recent, with a heavy focus on reality television. Here are my picks:

• The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday

• The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Big Game

• Hot Ones

• Dan Vs.

• Bubblegum Crisis

• Nip/Tuck

Is this enough to be your only streaming service? For me, probably not, but that depends on your tastes. It could justify canceling at least one of your pricier subscriptions, if you're a certain type of viewer. Click here to see an expanded list of movies on Howdy, and here for an expanded list of TV shows.

Also, while Howdy is primarily a paid service, it's worth noting that some content is available for free on a rotating basis, with current options including Weeds, The Kids in the Hall, Nashville, and a few other programs.

Where can you watch Howdy?

It might be easy to assume that part of Howdy's cheap subscription cost is an excuse to sell Roku devices, and you wouldn't be entirely wrong. The service is available primarily on Roku TVs and Roku players, but you can also access it through howdy.tv or via dedicated mobile apps on iOS and Android. So, with a clever living room PC or AirPlay workaround, you could watch Howdy without bringing any Roku hardware into your home.

The fine print

According to an email from Roku, Howdy shows and movies max out at 1080p, although multiple audio tracks are available when content supports it, as well as subtitles. Downloads are not currently available, although Roku says that might change down the line. Similarly, the company also told me it plans to bring Howdy to additional streaming devices in the future, although specifics are still up in the air.

Is Howdy worth the cost?

I spoke this over with some of my Lifehacker colleagues, and yeah, I think so. It's not the most robust library, but there's worthwhile stuff here, and given that renting some of these movies piecemeal can cost as much as $4 or $6 on sites like YouTube or Amazon, getting access to the movie you want plus the rest of Howdy's offerings isn't a bad deal. When you're sitting down to rent a classic, it's worth checking if a month of Howdy might be a better value.