Roku Vs. Firestick: The Best Streaming Devices

Roku and Amazon Fire TV streaming devices add smarts to any TV or monitor that has an HDMI input. Think of them as mini computers, since they provide a standalone operating system for accessing the internet so that you can download streaming apps or channels like YouTube, play video games like the Jackbox series of party titles, and even browse the web. These days they’re primarily for 4K video streaming through subscription services like Netflix or HBO Max, but you can turn your home‘s largest screen into an advanced media center with tons of functionality if you know how to make the most of them. We tested several devices from Roku and Fire TV, pitting them head to head to see which is best in a range of price and functionality tiers.

See quick info from our testing below, then scroll down for in-depth reviews and testing notes of these models.

Budget

Mid-Range

High-End

Roku’s proprietary operating system is simple to use, which is both a blessing and a curse. If you don’t care for a customized content experience and want to launch straight into your media, you can’t go wrong here.But as one of the first streaming devices to hit the market nearly a decade ago, and the interface is showing its age: It’s too straightforward for its own good. Once you turn on one of these devices, your downloaded apps (which Roku calls channels) show up in rows of three, broken down into large easy-to-see rectangles. You can click right into your apps without being bombarded by full-screen ads, and your favorite services are easily accessible with a press. This menu feels lightweight, there’s minimal lag across devices, and apps auto-update in seconds. Unfortunately this isn’t a case of “If it ain’t broke, don‘t fix it,” since customization is extremely limited and scrolling through more than a dozen channels feels slow even when you hold the scroll button up or down. There’s no advanced algorithm for finding spot-on recommendations, and the biggest hassle is that Roku apps are locked to a limited app store.

You can’t sideload apps or games like you can with a Fire TV product, so if a developer chooses to remove their app (like YouTube TV had just recently), you can’t download it. Without the ability to sideload apps not in the app store, Roku ends up being more limited and at the mercy of its developers who support it with content. Luckily, there’s no lack of content at the moment since Roku offers virtually all major services with nearly 2,000 apps available. If you have an iPhone, Roku’s ecosystem makes a lot of sense because it supports AirPlay for casting content and your screen directly to the device. Plus, HomeKit allows smart controls and voice input through Siri.

Trevor RaabTrevor Raab

Amazon’s Fire TV OS operates atop an Android interface, so using it feels like an extension of a modern computer or mobile device with more freedom of choice and applications (over 12,000 available). The app store allows for more productivity apps and 3D games, which Roku lacks, in addition to complex operations like downloading files and sideloading applications. Annoyingly, ads are front and center at the top and bottom of the screen as your main menu hides in the center of the screen with tiny app icons that get buried among TV show cards. To Amazon’s credit, the tailored algorithm accurately recommends content based on what you watch, which can be helpful. But ultimately it just feels like a ton of ad bloat. Navigating the screen to the app you want to use can occasionally be downright difficult in comparison to Roku’s highly visible and organized channel layout and single, unobtrusive sidebar ad.

But look deeper into the chaos and you’ll see an OS and integration with other services that really benefits you if you’re invested in Amazon’s ecosystem. For example, you can control your entire smart home with Alexa and pull up a visual dashboard for things like viewing security cameras, set Amazon-drive saved photos as a screensaver background, and play the latest video games over the Cloud using Amazon Luna. But for those not already invested in Amazon, the biggest draw will be the low price for all the smart features, which bests Roku. There’s no AirPlay streaming protocol for iPhone, but you can mirror and stream your Android Smartphone or Windows laptop display using Miracast.

Related StoriesOLED Versus QLED: The Best High-Resolution TVs6 Best Floating TV Stands for Any SpaceThe 10 Best Monitors For More Screen Space

The body size of a streaming device determines if you can fit it within your current setup. On the lower end of the price spectrum under $50, you can expect thin streaming sticks. They don’t require a separate HDMI wire—the connection is built right into a compact body, which is meant to be tucked away behind your TV. This format is lightweight and portable so you can take it on vacations or work trips. Step up to mid-range streaming, and you see boxes like the Roku Ultra below. Dedicated streaming boxes are larger and more powerful than a stick and offer advantages like a USB port for plugging in physical media storage sources as well as ethernet connectivity. At the higher end, streaming devices are discretely integrated into hardware like a smart hub or sound bar, so functionality extends to being a Bluetooth speaker for your room or a smart assistant for controlling your home.

If you want superior surround sound, you’ll want to make sure your device supports Dolby Audio, especially the latest surround sound of Atmos. For enhanced color, you’ll need HDR 10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG support to see enhanced palettes and brightness levels. You’re better off shelling out the few more dollars to ensure you make use of all supported enhancement features your TV provides to see the most optimal cut of content upon every viewing.

Trevor Raab

I’ve used both brands devices in my daily life for years as they serve different purposes in my household. For testing purposes, I evaluated the six standalone devices below over the course of one week. During this time, I hooked them up to a 65-inch LG C1 television to confirm 4K 60 output as well as an Atmos-capable sound bar to confirm the Dolby sound output quality of each device. I linked up each of my subscription services from Hulu to HBO Max to compare streaming video quality, menu navigation, and overall speed performance while taking notes on any hangups or positives.

---

At entry-level pricing, both Roku and Amazon scale down their offerings to sticks. This format plugs neatly behind your TV for easy and seamless integration, is easy to travel with, and costs less than a more powerful option. With that comes a drop in speed, but for the most part these streaming sticks pack the full capabilities of their more expensive siblings into a thin body with minimal sacrifices. Neither has a major advantage over the other—their speeds are about the same, but if you care about Dolby Atmos sound, the Fire TV Stick 4K supports it.

Size: 3.9 x 1.2 x 0.6 in. | Media enhancement technology: Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR, HLG, and HDR10+

Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming DeviceAmazonamazon.com$49.99$37.99 (24% off)Buy Now

Size: 3.7 x 0.8 x 0.5 in. | Media enhancement technology: Dolby Vision, HDR, HLG, and HDR10+

4K Streaming StickRokuamazon.com$49.99$37.97 (24% off)Buy Now

Size: 4.9 x 4.9 x 0.8 in. | Media enhancement technology: Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR, HLG, and HDR10+

Ultra Streaming DeviceRokuamazon.com$99.99$69.99 (30% off)Buy Now

Size: 3.9 x 1.2 x 0.5 in. | Media enhancement technology: Wi-Fi 6, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR, HLG, and HDR10+

Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming DeviceAmazonamazon.com$54.99Buy Now

Size: 3.4 x 3.4 x 3 in. | Media enhancement technology: Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR, HLG, and HDR10+

Fire TV Cube Streaming DeviceAmazonamazon.com$119.99$69.99 (42% off)Buy Now

Size: 14 x 4.2 x 2.4 in. | Media enhancement technology: HDR10 and HLG

Streambar Streaming DeviceRokuamazon.com$129.99$107.79 (17% off)Buy Now

As TVs shrink each year, so do their speakers. Chances are that your home setup can benefit from a sound bar. The Roku Streambar isn’t just a powerful two-channel Bluetooth bar but also a streaming player. Admittedly, I initially ran into a laggy keyboard and finicky remote that unpaired during my first day of testing. But I straightened it out with a full reset—one of the only points of contention I had with this device.

Trevor Raab

Compact and matte, the bar sits in any space without being a distraction. Aesthetics aside, I didn’t expect much sound for its size. I plugged the streamer into the first HDMI port of our test TV, which supports eARC, so that audio and power run through the bar even when tuned to a different input entirely. This little bar proved me wrong with rich sound that comes out in a wide 2.1-channel cone pattern. From the sides, you won’t be as enveloped. But sit in the center of the output, and you’ll find yourself immersed in sound from a bar just slightly longer than a picture frame.

From the acceleration of a car’s engine as it gained speed to the rustles in bushes of a jungle shot, I noticed small audio details better than I had with the default speakers. In our testing room I was able to stand 25 feet back and still hear sound clearly without any distortion at maximum volume. And dialogue was enhanced and amplified without any sort of tin or grating noise. It’s not true surround sound, but for the price you get an impressive media player and sound bar. In music, the mids were fantastic and lyric-heavy songs came across clear but at the cost of flatter sounding effects and backing strums. You can pump up the bass with a separate wireless subwoofer, which immensely enriches thumps and adds plenty of texture to sound without distortion. If you’re in tight spaces, the kick of low frequencies can be a bit overwhelming. For those that already have a good sound system, I recommend the Roku Ultra to save cash—it’s equally as fast without the sound bar and offers more features and Dolby Vision and Atmos support.

This being a higher-end Roku player, it baffles me that the Streambar uses the simplest remote. It lacks even a basic headphone jack for private listening through a 3.5-mm connection. Second, it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos or Vision like its lower-priced Ultra. So shows that benefit from it, like Ozarks, look darker and less enhanced than on the lower-priced Ultra model. While I noticed this had fast menu animations, it’s clear that fast channel launch on the Ultra isn’t a gimmick. Physically, the package is a step forward with some awesome-sounding speakers. But functionality-wise, this is lacking without remote finding, inferior network range, and a separately purchased ethernet adapter. At double the price, you can get the Roku Streambar Pro, which rectifies these complaints.

Hunter FenollolHunter Fenollol, our resident expert of all things consumer tech, from smart home to VR gaming headsets, has years of knowledge creating product explainers, in-depth reviews, and buying guides to help you get the most from the latest electronics.