Roku uses "pending charges" and "authorization holds" to confirm your payment method linked to Roku Pay is valid. You may see authorization holds when you:
- Add or update your method of payment
- Purchase a paid, recurring subscription
- Sign up for a free trial subscription
Authorization holds, pre-authorization holds, and pending charges are common anti-fraud practices that do not represent actual charges. The amount and duration of the hold varies depending on your credit card company's policies, but generally speaking, this activity appears as a $1 (USD) charge that is released within 3 – 5 business days. Feel free to contact your credit card company with any questions.
Note:
- Roku does not collect any amount associated with authorization holds.
- Free trials (e.g., a 7-day free trial) automatically turn into paid subscriptions that bill you on a recurring basis. To avoid charges, cancel your subscription before the trial period expires.
- You may see more than one authorization charge if Roku tries to validate your payment method multiple times, or if you attempt to validate multiple cards.
Last updated at 3/6/2026 11:32:56 PM
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