Best Roku devices 2025

The best Roku devices can improve both old and new TVs through the power of Roku OS. The TV interface offers a wide variety of free channels, features, and custom controls that make home entertainment all the more enjoyable.

I've been testing Roku products for nearly four years and found there's a Roku device for almost every buyer. From soundbars with Roku OS built into them to budget HD streaming sticks, Roku has many options, which even includes excellent TVs.

The best part is value. Roku devices are typically inexpensive, yet still offer snappy navigation, great picture performance, and tons of free content. These streaming sticks are also apt alternatives to Google's Chromecast models, which were discontinued in 2024.

The most recent Roku device I tested was the Streaming Stick Plus, which offers brilliant 4K HDR performance for the price. If you're looking for Dolby Vision-enhanced content, the Streaming Stick 4K is the better choice. It remains the best Roku device for this very reason.

The Streaming Stick 4K might be the best Roku device, but I still use the Roku Ultra on a daily basis. It's packed with the most premium features and some of the fastest navigation offered on a Roku device. You can find the one that fits your needs the most below.

The quick list

The best Roku devices available right now

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Best Roku device for most people

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K remains top dog among the best Roku devices. It's kited with a range of specs that make it stand out, all set on a budget price that's still hard to beat.

This Roku device shines in its 4K HDR performance, thanks to Dolby Vision. The Streaming Stick 4K also has both HDR10 and HDR10+, which is perfect for me as I use it on my Samsung TV, which doesn't have Dolby Vision support. This means I still get quality HDR performance and the snappiness of Roku's OS.

While the Streaming Stick 4K might skimp on Dolby Atmos, it's to be expected for a device of this size. It also doesn't have an Ethernet port, but the included Wi-Fi range extender makes up for this. I have the Streaming Stick 4K plugged into a TV far from my router and it still offers fast search results.

You can also just use the TV USB port for power, which is a nice touch if you don't have an outlet close enough to the screen like me. It also means you can hide the pesky cables behind the TV, keeping your entertainment setup nice and neat.

Above all, I recommend the Roku Streaming Stick 4K primarily for its price. It's available for $49, but you'll often fin it discounted to just $39, making it an excellent TV interface upgrade.

Read our full Roku Streaming Stick 4K review.

The best value roku device

Earlier this year, Roku launched two new streaming sticks, which included the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. The new design is slimmer and sleeker than any other streaming device on the market, offering a range of HDR support at up to 4K resolution.

I tested the Roku Streaming Stick Plus earlier this year and was delighted by its performance. Its major misstep for me was the absence of Dolby Vision, which is why the Streaming Stick 4K is a better value proposition.

But even at $39, this streaming stick still makes a name for itself as one of the best Roku devices. It's compact enough to bring with you anywhere and can use a TV's USB port as its main source of power.

Roku's interface is also hard to beat. I found the Streaming Stick Plus offered a fast and fluid navigation, if only held back by minimal lag at times. Overall, it's barely noticeable and its picture performance in both HDR and standard content makes up for these minor blunders.

You also have tons of voice controls at your disposal. I found myself using these with its included Roku Voice Remote more than I like to admit. It makes light work of search and navigation across Roku's extensive ecosystem.

One of my favorite newer features on the Roku Streaming Stick Plus was Backdrops, which lets you set various art and photography as wallpapers on the connected display. It allowed me to give that ugly blank screen a touch of personality whenever the Streaming Stick Plus was powered down.

Read our full Roku Streaming Stick Plus review.

The best premium Roku device

The Roku Ultra is the zenith of of Roku streaming deices and by far my personal favorite. It's the most premium model you can get, hence its name, making it one of the most expensive models of the bunch, and that's for good reason. The Ultra nets you 4K resolution streaming, an onboard Ethernet port for improved internet connectivity, plus a USB port so you can watch your own videos and music where necessary.

The Roku Ultra got a sleek refresh last year at $99 (slashed down to $79 already) that's much faster and smarter than its predecessor. In my testing, I found it to be faster than all previous models among the best Roku devices, plus it even uses Quick Media Switching for improved performance in content that switches refresh rates. The only other device in this category with this feature is the Apple TV 4K.

It's certainly got the premium price, but that's a worthy sacrifice for all that you get with the new (and old) Roku Ultra. It might be a tad bulky in design compared to most other streaming devices, but its flatter body makes it easy to simply stick to the back of the TV with Velcro or tape, which is exactly what I do. Even when nestled out of view, the improved remote works as well as all the others.

Read our full Roku Ultra (2024) review.

Ryan Epps

I have tested and used tons of streaming devices, including most of Roku's many models, the Google TV Streamer and Chromecast devices, as well as the Apple TV 4K (that's in desperate need of a refresh). I've also tested tons of different TVs and soundbars.

How to choose the best Roku device for you

There's a Roku device for everyone. In the void left by the discontinuation of Chromecast, Roku streaming sticks and devices make for the best alternatives. Whether you're looking for an affordable 1080p model or a soundbar with the Roku ecosystem built into it, Roku's got it all. However, with so many Roku devices sharing similar-sounding names, it can get confusing when picking the right one for you.

Fortunately, I've been covering Roku products for the past four years and have seen numerous new TVs and streaming sticks enter the market. Roku launched two new streaming devices this past year: the Roku Streaming Stick and the Roku Streaming Stick Plus.

While the Roku Streaming Stick 4K remains our top pick, there's a lot to love in the Streaming Stick Plus. The best way to differentiate these newer models is to understand that the Streaming Stick Plus nets you 4K resolution and HDR support (specifically HDR10/10+ and HLG) while the base Streaming Stick is limited to 1080p.

This make the latter a better choice for those connecting to older, non-4K TVs. Otherwise, spending more on the Streaming Stick Plus would have no real gain, unless you own a 4K TV without support for Dolby Vision (like most Samsung models).

The crème de la crème of Roku devices and most premium of the bunch is the Roku Ultra. It was refreshed in 2024, now offering faster speeds and enhanced networking capabilities. The Roku Ultra is only recommended if you want an Ethernet port for increased networking capacity and if you're keen on getting the Roku Voice Remote Pro, which is bundled with the device.

Lastly, Roku also offers a soundbar with its Roku OS built into the system. The Roku Streambar SE is a unique offering and is only recommended if you want to upgrade your TV audio and OS without paying for two separate devices. The Strembar SE is also an excellent pairing with one of Roku's many TV models.

Here's a full breakdown of what each Roku device has to offer in terms of resolution, upscaling, audio, HDR, and networking:

Is Roku a streaming service?

Roku has a slew of free channels to dive into on its platform, all of which are hosted on the Roku Channel app. It's here where you can find all kinds of FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channels ranging from movies and shows to sports and live news broadcasts.

A popular area within the Roku Channel is the Sports Zone, which houses all kinds of major sporting events and pastimes for you to enjoy. This includes EFL Cup soccer games, WNBA basketball games, Tour of de l'Ain cycling sprints, and so much more. You can also dive into highlights from your favorite sports, including baseball, tennis, monster truck rallies, and the like. It's practically endless.

Everything is totally free to enjoy too, no subscription required. Roku does offer some premium subscription models if you want them, netting you access to various other streaming platforms, including HBO Max, STARZ, Paramount+, and others. Roku launched its own premium subscription service called Howdy on August 5. The app consists of ad-free TV and several movies for a monthly $2.99 fee.

Chromecasts are discontinued — now what?

Google discontinued its Chromecast with Google TV device lineup in August 2024 as it rolled out its newest premium streaming device, the Google TV Streamer, which goes toe to toe with the Roku Ultra. For over 11 years, Chromecast devices served as among the best streaming devices for their price-to-performance ratio and the myriad of models offered.

This hole left in the wake of the departure of Chromecast devices leaves just two major brands in contention for budget streaming sticks: Amazon and Roku. While Fire TV Sticks do have their merits, especially for gamers, Roku proves a better proposition largely for its streamlined navigation, simplified interface, and price.

This extends to Roku vs Google TV. While we do like Google's incredible search and voice functionality on TVs, plus the tons of free channels it offers, Roku is just as adept — and now even better for all kinds of needs. Google only has a $99 streaming device right now, where Roku runs the gamut in options, including 1080p HD, 4K without Dolby Vision, and 4K with the slew of HDR and audio features.

Our Roku Ultra vs Google TV faceoff is a great example of this, highlighting the multitude of smart home and AI features offered via Google TV, many of which might be borderline useless for most users. Roku's commitment to keeping things simple and budget is its major selling point. You don't need to spend a fortune when you just want to turn you dumb 1080p TV into a smarter display with Roku at the helm.

How we test the best Roku devices

I've tested tons of streaming devices beyond Roku models. With Roku, I like to test across all varied use cases: watching movies, shows, and listening to music. Depending on the model, I'll also try other features, like smart home testing and sound quality, as in the case for the Ultra and Streambar.

Snappiness is a top priority. That's not only in regards to navigation but also in terms of how fast apps open. It's one of the reasons I love the Ultra, but also is why several other models listed here are perfect for a wide range of users.

Although Roku devices all offer the same operating system, price is a major factor. If one can stand out from the rest by loading 4K content faster than the others, that's worth some points in our scorecard, but it's not always the key to victory, as not all of them have 4K resolution.

Depending on the model, I also try to gauge HDR content. Of course, most users won't be using best TVs with a Roku device, because why would you they have their own robust operating systems? But to get the best out of your Roku device, check out our guide on the best cheap TV deals if you need a discount.