Best Roku devices 2026

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 and even full-on TVs, there's no shortage of Roku-powered devices.

The Streaming Stick Plus might be the best Roku device thanks to its lower price point and good performance, 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. We've got the full round-up down below.

The best value roku device

Roku launched two new streaming sticks in 2025, 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 and was delighted by its performance. Its major misstep for me was the absence of Dolby Vision, which is why I still use the Ultra as my daily driver, though.

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 pinnacle 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. 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 in 2025 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 pricier than any of the Roku Streaming Sticks, but that makes sense for all that you get with the new 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.

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.

To help, 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.