Our picks for the best streaming device to connect to your TV to stream video will help you figure out which one is right for your needs. We’ve reviewed nearly every streaming device and major smart TV system on the market today, including Roku, Google Chromecast, Amazon and Apple TV. With the exception of smart TVs that actually run streaming software from Roku, Google or Amazon, these add-on streaming devices often have simpler remotes, streaming dongles, more apps, better search and more frequent updates than the smarts built into your TV set.
Roku, the biggest name in streaming hardware, has a $40 streaming device called the Roku Express 4K Plus that’s taken the top spot on our list of the best streaming devices. It’s $10 cheaper than the new Roku Streaming Stick 4K, yet is just as capable. Amazon’s new Fire TV Stick 4K Max sets the bar for speed on a streaming device and offers plenty of features at a slightly more expensive $55.
At the high end of the market, Apple’s latest version of its Apple TV 4K streaming box sells for $179 and comes with a couple of slick upgrades, including an all-new Siri remote control (the company is also selling the remote separately for $59).
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Which one should you buy? Read on as I break down the best streaming devices available now.
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Best streamer overall
Roku Express 4K Plus
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Roku is our favorite streaming system, with the most streaming app options, the simplest streaming platform interface and the best search. It also has a content-agnostic platform that doesn’t push any one media streaming service provider, like Amazon Prime Video or Apple, over another. The Express 4K Plus is one of the cheapest streaming TV options with 4K HDR. (Even if your current TV doesn’t support those formats, your next one probably will.) Thanks to the AirPlay update, this Roku device is one of the least expensive ways to connect your iPhone or other Apple device to your TV. At $10 cheaper than the company’s Streaming Stick 4K and other 4K HDR streamers, it’s our top pick for best streaming device overall.
Read our Roku Express 4K Plus review.
$25 at Amazon
$29 at Walmart
$25 at Best Buy
Second-best streamer overall
Chromecast with Google TV
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The Chromecast with Google TV isn’t quite as good as the Roku Express 4K Plus, but it comes closer than any other device on the market. Chromecast outdoes Roku by adding Dolby Vision compatibility, but its biggest smart device strength is Google Assistant voice search, which works well for finding stuff to watch. We also like the impressive integration with other Google services such as Google Photos and YouTube TV. The interface is more evolved-looking than Roku, but ultimately we prefer Roku’s simpler approach, no-nonsense search results and lower price. That said, the new Chromecast is a better smart streaming device choice for those already living in Google’s world.
Read our Chromecast with Google TV review.
$40 at Google
Third-place runner-up
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
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The new Roku Streaming Stick 4K is the long-awaited update to the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. It features the same simple interface, large app selection and impressive search function found on all Roku devices, but also offers Dolby Vision support. Along with a stick-like design, Dolby Vision HDR is the main difference between the Streaming Stick 4K and the Express 4K Plus, and is ostensibly why the Streaming Stick 4K is $10 more expensive than its sibling. While we think the Streaming Stick 4K is a great device, we’re just not sold on the Dolby Vision upgrade — mostly because we generally don’t think that it provides a major image quality upgrade over standard HDR. Our advice is to pocket the $10 and get the Express 4K Plus instead. But if Dolby Vision is important to you, this device will not disappoint.
Read our Roku Streaming Stick 4K review.
$40 at Best Buy
$30 at Amazon
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Fastest Streamer
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
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If you’re looking for a speedy device, look no further than the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max. The Max loads apps almost immediately, and navigating around the system is swift and smooth. Even better, the Max supports Wi-Fi 6 and nearly all the latest playback standards, including Dolby Vision. The downside to the Max is its Fire TV platform and the fact that ads are featured prominently throughout. We just don’t appreciate the TV becoming a giant rotating billboard for content or ads when in screensaver mode. But this is a good choice for those looking for a fast device or those hooked into the Amazon ecosystem. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the best Fire Stick on the market today, and it’s worth the extra money over the standard Fire TV Stick 4K.
Read our Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max review.
$35 at Amazon
$35 at Best Buy
$35 at Target
Best budget streamer
Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite
Let’s get this out of the way first: If you prefer the simplicity of Roku’s app-based menus, you might like the Roku Express better. But the Lite trounces the Express in features-for-the-money. This Fire TV remote control device’s biggest advantage is a remote with built-in voice search and control (the cheapest Roku with a voice remote is the Streaming Stick Plus) thanks to Alexa. The Fire Stick’s remote also doesn’t need line of sight to work. If you can’t step up to a $50 player, the Lite is your best streaming device bet.
Read our Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite review.
$20 at Amazon
$20 at Best Buy
$20 at Crutchfield
Best for convenience
Roku Ultra
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Roku’s most expensive streamer is more than twice the price of our top streaming device pick, but maybe you’ll appreciate its extra features enough to want the upgrade. It offers more conveniences, including a headphone jack and programmable shortcut keys on the remote as well as our favorite feature, a remote finder in case you lose the clicker in the couch cushions. It also delivers Dolby Vision video, faster responses, improved Wi-Fi and a wired Ethernet port — particularly welcome if your home Wi-Fi is overloaded.
On the other hand you can upgrade any Roku streaming device to get an even more tricked-out remote, and the new Express Plus 4K works with wired Ethernet dongles too. Adding both to the Express plus 4K still costs less than an Ultra 4K UHD.
Read our Roku Ultra (2020) review.
$66 at Amazon
$74 at Walmart
$70 at Best Buy
Best for Apple fans
Apple TV 4K (2021)
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The perfect foil to the affordable 4K streamers above, the new Apple TV 4K still costs $179, but is the better choice for people who want to check every feature box — or who just want an Apple device to use Apple Arcade for gaming or take full advantage of their Apple One subscription bundles. Video purists will appreciate its flexible HDR and TV calibration feature, while those with older Apple boxes will love the new and improved remote.
For most people, however, Apple’s venerable remote control streamer just isn’t worth the money, especially now that Roku has nearly all the major apps and AirPlay. If you really want Dolby Vision, you can find that on the Roku Streaming Stick 4K at a fraction of the price.
Read our Apple TV 4K review.
$150 at Amazon
$179 at Apple
$180 at Best Buy
Second-best budget streamer
Roku Express
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We don’t like it quite as much as the Fire TV Lite, but it is a Roku. Roku Express delivers all of the goodness of Roku’s platform, and it includes a remote, HDMI and Micro-USB ports, an HDMI cable and a little sticker to keep it in place. And it’s often on sale for less than $30.
Read our Roku Express (2019) review.
$29 at Walmart
Best soundbar-streaming combo
Roku Streambar
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Soundbars with streaming onboard may be a relatively recent development, but Roku’s new Streambar nails it. It has the Roku interface we know and love, complete with 4K HDR with improved sound for any TV, especially dialog. It’s smaller and more affordable than its predecessor, the Roku Smart Soundbar, but we think the new Streambar media streamer device makes more sense for most people.
Read our Roku Streambar review.
$99 at Amazon
$100 at Best Buy
$100 at Target
Best for gamers
Nvidia Shield TV
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Sure, it’s an expensive media streamer at $150 — and that’s before adding a game controller — $50 less than the Nvidia Shield TV Pro with 8GB of storage and 2GB RAM, compared to 16GB of storage and 3GB RAM, but if you want a jack-of-all-trades video streaming player, the Shield is it. In addition to 4K streaming and HDR, it offers a robust library of games, both console-level and Android, Steam Link, built-in Google Assistant complete with smart home control, NAS access, Plex server capability, HDHomeRun integration and much more.
Read our Nvidia Shield TV review.
$150 at Amazon
$150 at Walmart
$130 at Best Buy
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