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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

The Roku App (Official) vs Reforo

The Roku App (Official) 4.7★ · Free to download 75
Winner The Roku App (Official)
Reforo 4.5★ · Free + IAP 40

The Roku App (Official) is the clear winner due to its official status, more reliable connection, and lack of forced payments or excessive ads, despite some recent update issues.

Full reviews: The Roku App (Official) · Reforo

The Roku App (Official) generally functions well as a remote and offers private listening, though recent updates have caused connectivity and usability issues for some users. Reforo, a third-party app, is plagued by frequent ads, connection problems, and user complaints about being charged for basic remote functionality.

Head to head

Features edge: The Roku App (Official)R1R5R17R21
The Roku App (Official) The Roku App (Official) is praised for its remote functionality, including private listening with headphones, which is a highly valued feature for many users R5R17R41. However, some users report that private listening has stopped working or disconnects frequently after updates R1R21R39. The app also serves as a central hub for managing channels and subscriptions .
Reforo Reforo primarily functions as a remote control, with users appreciating its convenience when the physical remote is lost . Some users mention a 'turn up button' feature, but report it doesn't work as expected or requires payment . The app is criticized for a lack of detailed features .
Ease of Use edge: The Roku App (Official)R2R3R8R11
The Roku App (Official) Many users find The Roku App (Official) easy to use and responsive once connected R2R8R11. However, recent updates have introduced usability issues, such as changes to the remote layout or input navigation that users dislike R3. Some also report the app freezing or requiring restarts .
Reforo Reforo is generally described as convenient and easy to use by some . However, a significant number of users find it frustrating due to excessive ads that interrupt usage R66R67R73R77, and issues with the app forcing AirPlay or not allowing selection of the correct TV .
Reliability edge: The Roku App (Official)R1R9R10R12
The Roku App (Official) The Roku App (Official) suffers from significant connection issues for many users, with complaints about the remote taking multiple tries to connect, frequent disconnections, or not connecting at all R1R9R10R12. Some users have to reinstall the app to get it to work R12.
Reforo Reforo also has widespread reliability problems, with users frequently reporting that the app fails to connect to their TV, stops working entirely, or only loads once R82. These issues are particularly frustrating for users who have paid for the app R103R107.
Price/Value edge: The Roku App (Official)R7R15R28R55
The Roku App (Official) The Roku App (Official) is free to download and use, with users appreciating the absence of ads within the app itself R55. However, some users complain about Roku's overall platform being too heavy on ads R15 or unexpected charges for subscriptions R7R28.
Reforo Reforo is a free download but heavily relies on in-app purchases (IAP) to remove ads and unlock full functionality. Users are very critical of the constant ads that make the free version almost unusable R66R67R73. Many express frustration about having to pay for a basic remote function, especially after purchasing a Roku TV . Some users who paid for the app reported it stopped working afterwards R103R107.
Support edge: The Roku App (Official)R16R28R103R107
The Roku App (Official) Users of The Roku App (Official) report a complete lack of accessible customer support, with no chat or phone options available to resolve issues like subscription problems or technical glitches R16R28.
Reforo Reforo reviews do not mention customer support directly, but the numerous complaints about the app stopping working after payment and lack of documentation R103R107 suggest that support is either non-existent or ineffective.
Pick The Roku App (Official) if

Pick The Roku App (Official) if you want the official app for your Roku device, value features like private listening, and prefer a free app without intrusive ads, even if it means dealing with occasional connectivity issues or recent UI changes R5R17R41.

Pick Reforo if

Pick Reforo if you are desperate for a remote replacement and are willing to tolerate frequent ads or pay for an in-app purchase, despite the risk of the app becoming unreliable after payment .

Evidence note: The Roku App (Official) has a significantly larger number of reviews, providing a more robust dataset. Reforo's reviews are heavily skewed by complaints about ads and payment issues, which is common for 'free + IAP' apps that offer core functionality behind a paywall.

Frequently asked

Does The Roku App (Official) offer private listening?
Yes, The Roku App (Official) offers a private listening feature that allows users to listen to TV audio through headphones connected to their phone, which many users find very convenient R41. However, some recent reviews indicate that this feature has stopped working or disconnects frequently for some users R1R21R39.
Are there ads in Reforo?
Yes, Reforo has a significant number of ads in its free version, which many users find excessive and disruptive, often appearing after almost every button press R66R67R73R77. Users can pay to remove these ads, with prices mentioned around $6, $14.99, or $40 a year R107.
Can I use these apps without Wi-Fi?
The Roku App (Official) requires Wi-Fi to connect to the Roku device, which some users note as a limitation R9. Reforo also requires both the phone and TV to be on the same Wi-Fi network to connect, and users report issues even when they are R82.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] The Roku App (Official) 1/5 · US Update sucks: Updated app because it kept dropping the private listening. Now it won’t control my sound at all?!!!
  2. [R5] The Roku App (Official) 5/5 · US Good for remote: I’m a lazy girl so when my clicker is to far away from me I just use my phone for the remote and it’s nice so yeh
  3. [R17] The Roku App (Official) 5/5 · US To Roku from Dylan dancer: Thank you for still letting us use our TV what are phones that save my life a lot so when I lose my remote, I can just use it with my phone
  4. [R21] The Roku App (Official) 3/5 · GB Love the headphones mode .. BUT: The Headphones mode is great but it doesn’t work on the AppleTV app! Please fix this bc I am hard of hearing and love using my headphones with Roku.
  5. [R2] The Roku App (Official) 4/5 · US It does its job: It does it's job, what more can I say?
  6. [R3] The Roku App (Official) 3/5 · US Center OK button: I don't like the new center OK button
  7. [R8] The Roku App (Official) 5/5 · US Good Going: More than I expected
  8. [R11] The Roku App (Official) 5/5 · US Great: Great!
  9. [R9] The Roku App (Official) 3/5 · US Good: It would be wonderful it you did not need WiFi to connect
  10. [R10] The Roku App (Official) 1/5 · US Terrible: Controller takes 5 tries to actually connect and multiple open and closing of app
  11. [R12] The Roku App (Official) 3/5 · US Doesn’t work all the time: Sometimes it takes me a few minutes to get it to work and every few months it stops working and I have to delete it and reinstall for it to work again but when it does work it’s nice
  12. [R7] The Roku App (Official) 1/5 · US Charges: Money keeps taken away me even after I cancel subscriptions
  13. [R15] The Roku App (Official) 3/5 · US Adds: Roku in general is far too heavy on adds.
  14. [R28] The Roku App (Official) 1/5 · US ROKU: I’m getting charged $8.55 per month to have ROKU and I have never used it as I don’t know how and I don’t know how I got enrolled in it and I don’t know how to get out of it so I don’t have to pay for this service I don’t use. Please help me out. I don’t know where to call if that’s what I need to do. I’m not tech-savvy so please help.
  15. [R55] The Roku App (Official) 5/5 · US Love it: No ads , easy to access , i would say 10/10. best remote app to use i hope they do not add any ads anytime soon
  16. [R16] The Roku App (Official) 1/5 · US No chat, no phone: There’s no way to contact a real person or even a chat bot on Roku. I subscribed to Fox one to watch World Cup soccer. All of a sudden the screen changed to a “Your program will return soon.” There’s absolutely no tech support available to figure out why I’m getting this message. I’m thinking about switching to a different streaming device. 🤬
  17. [R103] Reforo 1/5 · US Stopped Working.: My roku remote hasn’t worked in a week and I paid $14 for it.
  18. [R107] Reforo 1/5 · US Stopped working after paying: I’ve had this app on my phone for awhile now, and since I started using more, I decided to pay the $15 to remove the ads… A couple of weeks later the app no longer works at all… I sure hope this gets fixed as I feel a little scammed.
  19. [R39] The Roku App (Official) 3/5 · GB Roku WI, FI Remote App for iOS: The only problem I have when using this app is with using the remote’s Bluetooth Private Listening audio feature. It constantly disconnects from ALL devices I have tried using it through within the first 2-3 seconds or so. This issue needs to be fixed.
  20. [R41] The Roku App (Official) 5/5 · US Upgraded Experience: So nice to not have buy replacement batteries any more. And the headphone connection feature has made living in an apartment with thin walls easier.
  21. [R66] Reforo 3/5 · US Meh: It’s to many adds and it cuts off your phone quickly meh app
  22. [R67] Reforo 1/5 · US This is the worst I can’t even click anything: Every time I try to use this app fake Roku because I can’t get the 16 update because apparently I can’t update this phone that I’m using in this app every time you have to go through something just use the remote every time I click OK ad every time I do something bad every time I turn the phone off and back on and then go back into the app ad
  23. [R73] Reforo 1/5 · US Too many adds: There are so many adds that you can’t even fully start a movie without having to navigate thru multiple. It’s too much
  24. [R77] Reforo 4/5 · US Winner winner chicken dinner: Great option but way too many ads
  25. [R82] Reforo 1/5 · US Can’t connect anymore: Won’t let me connect to tv and I’m standing right in front of it, says I’m not in the same network. Makes no sense! Worked last year!

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store