Best Roku devices 2024

The best Roku devices are gateways to all of your favorite entertainment using the Roku platform. Using one of the best Roku devices means you might have a TV that isn't smart with bare bones features or you have a Google TV or Fire TV and the ecosystem isn't right.

Fortunately, we know where to look when scouring the internet in search of a valiant Roku device, as we've tested practically all of them. On top of that, our knowhow in the TV and set top box spaces are years in the making. That's how we know which among the best Roku devices adds the most features and performance necessary on a particular budget.

Like the Roku Streaming Stick 4K perhaps? It's not just a beast of a device that costs all but a mere $35 but it's also one of the best Roku devices, too. It gives your TV access to Dolby Vision support and several additional HDR formats. The Roku Streambar is also a wise choice for users looking to get the best of all worlds, but the Roku Ultra was just announced and it's got some serious pep to its step.

The best Roku device is one that serves you in a variety of different ways, and whether you're looking for the best of the best or one that can work well as just an entertainment platform, these will be the most optimal options.

The quick list

Here's a quick overview of the best Roku devices you can buy right now based on our testing and reviews. And keep up on scrolling if you want to see our in-depth analysis of all the top streaming devices for every user and budget. 

The best roku devices you can find today

The best roku devices you can find today

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is our pick for the best streaming device, so it's no wonder it's also the best Roku device. While it's not a huge leap over the older Streaming Stick Plus, it keeps everything we loved and fixes one of the biggest flaws of its predecessor by adding Dolby Vision. Roku has also added a new quad-core processor in the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, which it claims provides 30% faster app boot times. That's a bit hard to measure, but the Roku Streaming Stick 4K felt snappy and fast enough. Major apps opened within 11 seconds. If you find your Roku not working at some point, don't worry, as it's easily fixed.

Now that the stick supports Dolby Vision (along with HDR10/+), you can stream all your shows and movies just as beautifully as anything else. The picture plays in crisp UHD image quality. However, the device is lacking when it comes to audio standards, missing the spatially-focused Dolby Atmos sound technology. And the standard remote works fine, but if you want the superior Voice Remote Pro, check out our write-up of the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ further down this list. Don't forget to check out our Roku Streaming Stick 4K vs. Chromecast with Google TV face-off to see how it fares against Google's contender for the best streaming stick.

Read our full Roku Streaming Stick 4K review.

The best value roku device

Getting crisp 4K streaming at under $40 is rare, and always comes with a caveat or two. The new Roku Express 4K Plus fixes one of the big annoyances of the Roku Premiere it replaces, by giving you a better remote. This remote doesn't require a direct line of sight, so you can point it in whichever direction you please. That upgrade, plus fast performance and UHD streaming makes the Roku Express 4K Plus a great option for those trying to get a 4K Roku (and all the apps that it comes with)  at the lowest price.

That said, we still have two reasons to consider paying a little more. Its design is a little too light, so you might spend a minute fiddling with it to have it lie flat on a surface — making the Streaming Stick Plus' easy-to-use design even better by comparison. Also, there's no Dolby Vision or Atmos Audio, but some might not see that as worthy of going higher up the price chain. 

There is a cheaper 4K streaming device, though, so check out our onn 4K Google TV streaming box review. That said, that model is hard to find, and the Express 4K Plus is not.

Read our full Roku Express 4K Plus review.

The best premium roku device

If you're looking for the crème de la crème of Roku devices, this is the one to get. It's a premium model, hence its Roku Ultra naming, making it one of the most expensive options on this list, which ensures you the most streamlined performance. The Ultra not only nets you 4K viewing, but also an onboard Ethernet port for improved Internet and a USB port to provide your own videos and music where necessary.  

Do note that the Roku Ultra has been refreshed by Roku with a new $99 model that's every bit as fast as its predecessor. Roku notes that the new Ultra is 30% faster than all of the previous best Roku devices, plus it even uses Quick Media Streaming for improved performance in content that switches refresh rates.

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. Stick to Tom's Guide for a full review of Roku's newest design later this month.

Read our full Roku Ultra (2020) review.

The best Roku soundbar

When you want the excellence of the Roku platform, but your TV doesn't have the strong sound you want? Well, the Roku Streambar is a great solution that's often on sale. Its design won't take up too much space on your countertop or entertainment center but also provides quality sound with both loudness and clarity. Its bass leaves something to be desired, but that's not a problem for most TVs. And this way, you can combine your streaming device and soundbar into the same package, and save more space.

Read our full Roku Streambar review.

The best cheap Roku

Roku improved the remote for its 2022 edition of the Express, but this streaming device entered a more competitive market. Sure, if you only compare it against other Rokus, you'll see it as a competent $30 HD streaming device. The kind of streamer you buy to upgrade a 'dumb' TV or display that doesn't have any apps. Its performance is relatively snappy for its price point (but by no means as fast as the above models), and it's still a Roku, so you still get all the standards like a customizable home screen and all the apps. Plus, that Remote app allows for wireless private listening.

But, at $30, it's got to contend against the Chromecast with Google TV HD, which has a better remote, as well as the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite, which has a voice-enabled remote. While it's a good streaming device, it's not our favorite Roku by far, and it's not the best $30 streamer either.

Read our full Roku Express (2022) review.

How to choose the best Roku device for you

Figuring the right Roku device for your needs can get a little complicated since the most affordable ones are not too visibly distinct. While we believe the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is best for most people, your mileage may vary. If your budget is tight, the Express 4K Plus is just as good at delivering crisp imagery, but its quality isn't as strong thanks to a lack of support for certain standards.

That said, we love the Roku Ultra for its dedicated Ethernet cord. In areas with highly congested Wi-Fi, it allows you to ensure super-steady streaming. It's also nice that it's got the premium Roku Voice Remote Pro, which is rechargeable (fewer batteries to buy) and includes wired headphones (ever scarce as they are) for private listening. But if you don't want to keep your listening private the Roku Streambar is a great way to get audio worth showing off.

How we test the best Roku devices

We test Roku devices like we test all streaming players: watching movies, shows and more on them. Of course, Roku devices all offer the same operating system, so they all share the same software and access to the same apps, which is a pretty wide range of content.

So, primarily, we test Roku devices by seeing how fast and snappy they are. If one can stand out from the rest by loading 4K content faster than the others, that's worth some points in our scorecard. 

We'll also watch a few different shows on a variety of services to gauge the quality of the video and audio, to make sure they look good regardless of if you have one of the best TVs or not. That said? Check out our guide to the best cheap TV deals if you need a discount.