What payment methods Roku accepts and where to add them

Roku accepts credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal as payment methods for channels, apps, and in-app purchases. You add these to your account through the Roku website or directly on your device — the method you choose depends on whether you want to manage payments from a computer or your TV remote.

The fastest route is the Roku website: go to my.roku.com, sign in, select "Payment Methods" or "Billing" in your account settings, and add a card or PayPal account. This takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you have a Roku TV, a Roku streaming stick, or a Roku box. If you prefer to stay on your TV, you can add a payment method through the Settings menu on your device itself, though the process is slower with a remote.

Roku does not store your full card number on their servers. When you add a card, Roku sends the information to a payment processor, and only a token — a stand-in code — is saved to your account. This means if Roku's systems were breached, a thief would not gain access to your actual card details.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add credit cards, debit cards, or PayPal through my.roku.com under account settings, or through your Roku device's Settings menu.
  • Roku does not store your full card number; instead it stores a token that links to your payment method through a third-party processor.
  • You can have multiple payment methods on file and choose which one to use at checkout, or set a default method.
  • Removing a payment method from your account does not cancel subscriptions tied to that card — you must cancel subscriptions separately.
  • If a charge is declined, Roku will attempt to retry it a few times over several days before stopping; you can update your payment method to prevent service interruption.

Adding a payment method on the Roku website

Sign in to my.roku.com with your Roku account email and password. Once you are logged in, look for "Account" or "Settings" in the top menu, then select "Payment Methods" or "Billing Information" — the exact label varies depending on your account type.

Click "Add Payment Method" and choose whether you want to add a credit card, debit card, or PayPal. If you choose a card, enter the card number, expiration date, CVV (the three-digit code on the back), and the billing zip code. If you choose PayPal, you will be sent to PayPal's website to log in and authorize Roku; you will then return to Roku automatically.

After you add the method, Roku will show it in your list of payment methods with the last four digits visible (for example, "Visa ending in 4829"). You can set one as your default, which means it will be charged first if you make a purchase. You can also delete a method at any time, though this does not affect any subscriptions already using that card.

Adding a payment method directly on your Roku device

On your Roku TV or streaming device, press the Home button on your remote. Navigate to "Settings" (usually at the top or bottom of the menu), then select "Account" or "Billing." Look for "Payment Methods" or "Add Payment Method."

Using your remote, you will type in your card number, expiration date, CVV, and billing zip code one digit or character at a time. This process is slower than using a website, but it works if you do not have a computer nearby. PayPal is usually an option here too, though you may be asked to enter your PayPal email and password on the device itself rather than being sent to PayPal's website.

Once the payment method is saved, it will appear in your account on the website as well. Any device linked to your Roku account can see and use all payment methods you have added, so you only need to add a method once.

Managing multiple payment methods and setting a default

You can add as many payment methods as you want to your Roku account. This is useful if you want to use a different card for different purchases, or if you want to keep a backup method in case one card is declined.

When you make a purchase on Roku, you will see all your saved payment methods at checkout and can choose which one to use. If you set a default payment method in your account settings, that method will be pre-selected at checkout, but you can still change it before you complete the purchase.

To change which method is your default, go to my.roku.com, select "Payment Methods," and look for an option to set a method as default — usually a radio button or checkbox next to the payment method. If you want to remove a payment method entirely, select it and choose "Delete" or "Remove." The method will be removed from your account when ready, but any subscriptions using that card will continue to be charged to it until you cancel the subscription or change its payment method.

What happens when a payment is declined

If a charge fails — for example, because your card expired or you hit your credit limit — Roku will attempt to charge the card again automatically. Roku typically retries the charge every few days for up to two weeks. During this time, you can update your payment method in your account settings to fix the problem.

If you have a subscription (like Roku Channel+) and the payment keeps failing, your subscription may be paused or canceled after the retry period ends. Roku usually sends an email to your account address warning you before this happens, so check your email if you know a charge failed.

To prevent interruption, update your payment method as soon as you know a card will not work. Go to my.roku.com, select "Payment Methods," and either update the card details (if it is the same card with a new expiration date, for example) or delete it and add a different card.

Removing a payment method and what it affects

Deleting a payment method from your account does not automatically cancel any subscriptions or services using that card. If you remove a card that is tied to an active subscription, Roku will attempt to charge a different payment method on file when the next billing date arrives. If you have no other payment methods saved, the charge will fail and your subscription may pause.

If you want to stop being charged for a subscription, you must cancel the subscription itself — removing the payment method alone is not enough. To cancel a subscription, go to my.roku.com, find "Subscriptions" or "Manage Subscriptions," select the subscription you want to cancel, and choose "Cancel Subscription."

This separation exists because Roku wants to prevent accidental loss of service. If deleting a card automatically canceled everything, someone could delete a payment method by mistake and lose access to paid channels they use regularly.

Security and privacy of your payment information

Roku uses encryption to protect your payment information in transit — meaning the data is scrambled as it travels from your device to Roku's servers. Your full card number is never stored on Roku's systems; instead, Roku stores a token, which is a unique code that represents your card without containing the actual number.

When you make a purchase, Roku sends the token to its payment processor, which uses it to charge your card. The processor — not Roku — handles the actual card details. This setup means that even if someone gained unauthorized access to Roku's payment database, they would only see tokens, not usable card numbers.

You can review all charges to your Roku account by going to my.roku.com and selecting "Billing History" or "Transaction History." This shows every purchase, subscription charge, and failed charge attempt. If you see a charge you do not recognize, you can contact Roku support through their website to report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a gift card as a payment method on Roku?

Roku does not accept gift cards as a direct payment method. However, many retailers sell Roku gift cards that you can redeem for account credit. When you redeem a gift card code, the credit is added to your Roku account and is used before any payment method is charged. You can redeem a gift card at my.roku.com under "Redeem Code" or "Gift Cards."

What if I want to use a different payment method for each subscription?

You can change the payment method for a specific subscription without changing your default method. Go to my.roku.com, select "Subscriptions," choose the subscription you want to update, and look for an option to change the payment method. This lets you use one card for Roku Channel+ and a different card for another service, for example.

Can I set up automatic payments for a specific amount each month?

Roku does not offer automatic fixed payments. Instead, you set up subscriptions (like Roku Channel+ or individual channel subscriptions), and Roku charges your payment method on the billing date each month. The amount charged depends on the subscription price, which can change if the service raises its rates.

What should I do if my card is lost or stolen?

Contact your bank or credit card company when ready to report the card. Once your card is canceled, Roku will not be able to charge it, and any subscriptions using that card will fail at the next billing date. Log in to my.roku.com, delete the old card from your payment methods, and add a new card to prevent service interruption.

Can I use someone else's payment method on my Roku account?

Technically yes, but it is not recommended. If you add someone else's card to your account, they will see charges on their statement, and you will have access to their payment method. A safer approach is to ask them to add their card to their own Roku account, or to use a shared family account if Roku offers that feature in your region.