Roku has had its fair share of controversies last year. There’s been the addition of a new Roku channel that streams 24/7 AI-generated slop, the removal of the free-motion snapshot feature from the brand’s smart home cameras, and recent price hikes for Roku devices. One issue that isn’t as new is how users are forced to attach their credit card details when setting up a Roku device. You don’t get charged anything unless you pay for a subscription later, but it’s still one of the main reasons why some people hate Roku.
The first and easiest way to bypass adding a credit card is to create a Roku account using a specific backend portal link (signing up through this allows you to create a Roku account without the payment method page ever appearing. This is an official link from Roku, and is the most common way Roku users recommend to create an account without adding a credit card.
Often, you can also get away with this by using a sneakily hidden unsubscribe button located on the payment methods page. When you see this page, scroll down and you may see a button labeled “Skip” or “Add Later.” Selecting this button allows you to create a Roku account without giving payment details. However, this is inconsistent, with the button appearing for some users but not others. If it doesn’t appear on your phone or tablet, it’s worth checking it on your laptop or desktop.
Remove the payment method after adding it
If you don’t see the option to skip adding a payment method, don’t want to click on a link you don’t know, or just want the convenience of logging in using a QR code on your TV, there’s still something you can do: add the payment method, then remove it immediately after setup. This is perhaps the most foolproof method, as it is directly integrated into Roku and widely documented in official sources.
You can remove a payment method, such as your credit or debit card, on Roku through your TV or an external device. On TV, go to Settings on the home page, then select Payment methods. On another device, such as your smartphone or tablet, you can remove your credit card information from Roku by logging into the Roku website, tapping your profile icon in the upper right corner, then selecting My account. In the left sidebar you will find Payment methods.
It’s also worth noting that you don’t need to add a payment method to create a Roku account. If you create a new account on a device and are on the payment page, you can close the website. You have already received the activation email and once you activate your account, you can log back into the Roku website without seeing the payment method prompt. However, note that you may still need to add a payment method when trying to sign in on a Roku device with this account.
Why does Roku ask for your credit card information?
Roku produces smart TVs and media players, so you might wonder why it needs your credit card information in the first place. Of course, there is a premium subscription, but the majority of users will pay for subscriptions directly through other apps.
Roku says this is for user convenience, as adding a payment method to your TV makes some things much easier. You can subscribe to services directly on your TV without managing different subscription apps, you don’t need to log into a phone or other device to make changes, and you can start free trials instantly. There are also some psychological factors, such as the fact that users are more likely to pay for services if it’s easy for them to do so, and having more free trials also makes you more likely to sign up for a subscription.
There may be a bigger reason why Roku needs to push users to add a payment method to stay as profitable as it is. Many people believe that the company’s main profits come from the sale of its equipment. However, the reality is quite different: Roku devices sell either with minimal profit margins or at a loss. This is a deliberate choice, as the intention is to get the Roku system into the hands of as many people as possible to benefit from its most profitable products – advertisements and subscriptions to other streaming services. Every time you pay for a Paramount+ or Crunchyroll subscription through Roku, the company pockets a portion of it, usually 20%. However, that’s only if you pay using a payment method associated with your Roku account, which may explain why it’s so important to the company that users attach their credit card information.
