Cloud DVRs on Roku devices: everything you need to know [guest post]

Posted: 12 Mar 2019 06:11 AM PDT

12Alex is a streaming and cord-cutting expert at HowtoWatch.com. We invited her to the Roku blog to share her best tips for our readers!

With today's busy schedules, cloud DVRs on Roku devices are a lifesaver for TV lovers. A lot of TV viewers don't have time to watch live TV as it airs, but there's no reason to let that prevent you from watching all the best new shows. Cloud DVRs function like traditional DVRs, but they store your recorded content online without the need for a physical DVR, so recording shows has never been easier. Even better, many cloud DVRs also allow you to record multiple shows at once, even if you're watching one in real time.

cloud dvrs on roku blog

Do Roku devices have DVR capabilities?

Roku device hardware does have DVR functionality, but several streaming services on the Roku platform offer a cloud DVR, allowing you to record movies and TV shows and watch them on-demand.

Currently there are seven cable alternatives that offer a cloud DVR on Roku players and Roku TVs. They all have free trials, so give them a try to make sure they meet your recording needs!

YouTube TV – YouTube TV is a great choice if recording is an essential part of your TV setup. Its unlimited space and 9-month time limit makes saving shows easy, and you can hang onto them for quite a while. The YouTubeTV DVR is included in your standard subscription with no add-on fee.

fuboTV – For sports fans, fuboTV offers plenty of live channel options. Although most sports are more fun to watch live, if you have to miss the big game, fuboTV has a solid DVR so you can catch up. Although you can only record up to 30 hours of content, you'll be able to keep whatever you record for as long as you want — there's no time limit.

If you're willing to shell out $9.99 more per month, fuboTV also has an option to add on a Cloud DVR Plus which allows up to 500 hours of recordings, also with no time limit. This would be especially helpful if you're using fuboTV to watch more than just sports.

Sling TV – Although Sling TV's packages don't include the option to record, you can add a Sling DVR on for $5 per month. With that add-on, you can record up to 50 hours of content and it won't ever delete. If you want to delete items on your own, it's pretty simple to manage your storage.

DIRECTV NOW – DIRECTV NOW’s True Cloud DVR offers 20 hours of free recording, which you can watch for up to 30 days. You’ll be able to fast forward and rewind at will, and eventually, DIRECTV NOW will offer additional storage options – including the ability to record up to 100 hours and keep it stored for up to 90 days for just $10 more per month.

Hulu with Live TV – Hulu's live TV option offers plenty of great live channels, including a ton of local coverage. While its basic plan includes 50 hours of storage and won't delete, it won't allow you to choose specific episodes to record. Instead, it predicts what you want based on general categories and the shows and channels in your My Stuff list.

If you want more than 50 hours of recording time, you can add on the Enhanced Cloud DVR option for up to 200 hours, but it will cost another $9.99 per month. It operates the same way as the standard version, though the Enhanced Hulu DVR version will allow you to fast-forward through ads.

PlayStation Vue – With unlimited recording space included in its standard subscription, the PlayStation Vue DVR is a good option if you record lots of content. Anything you record will be deleted after 28 days, so you won't be able to stockpile recordings.

The Playstation Vue DVR also won't allow you to choose specific episodes for recording. Once you add titles to your My DVR list, it will record all upcoming episodes and show you any On-Demand and Catch-up options for those titles, meaning that some shows will have episodes available even without recording them.

Philo – Similar to some services mentioned above, Philo offers an unlimited 30-day cloud DVR, and it’s included in the service’s $16 base package. One feature that stands out with the Philo DVR is the ability to fast forward through ads on recorded content.

With a Roku device, you have access to a ton of awesome streaming channels and cloud DVRs to keep up-to-date on all your favorite shows. Even with hectic schedules, nothing can stop viewers from watching all the best content TV has to offer!

The post Cloud DVRs on Roku devices: everything you need to know [guest post] appeared first on The Official Roku Blog.

Sorti Martin

Wednesday, 13 March 2019