4 Roku streaming alternatives that are actually worth using

If you’re looking for a smooth streaming experience at a lower cost, Roku’s streaming devices are undeniably a compelling choice for several reasons. They are easy to set up, as they plug directly into your TV’s HDMI port, and the software they run, Roku OS, is one of the largest streaming platforms in the US, featuring a straightforward user interface that makes it easy to find your favorite streaming services.

However, that doesn’t mean Roku’s streaming devices aren’t without their flaws. For example, Roku OS is known for being quite ad-heavy, and compared to other streaming devices, it feels more closed off and restrictive because you can’t use VPN services or sideload apps on it.

Now I’m not saying Roku’s streaming sticks aren’t worth buying, but if you’re already using one and considering a switch, or if you’re purchasing a streaming device for the first time, options from companies like Google, Amazon, Apple, and even Walmart are worth exploring. Plus, with some Black Friday sales already underway, if you want to buy something more premium and feature-rich than a Roku and save money, now is an excellent time.

Google TV Streamer 4K

The successor to the Chromecast

Although I was disappointed when Google retired the Chromecast brand, there’s a lot to like about the Google TV Streamer 4K that replaced it. This streaming device from Google is packed with features, including support for 4K streaming, various HDR formats like HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, and Google Gemini. It also has 32GB of storage, which is more than enough for all your streaming services and apps, and it includes an Ethernet port so you can connect it directly to your router for the fastest internet speeds.

What I appreciate most about the Google TV Streamer 4K is its Android TV operating system. Unlike Roku OS, it offers much more flexibility, allowing you to download a variety of apps beyond streaming from the Google Play Store, including VPN services and media players like VLC. Although similar to Roku OS, it tends to display a lot of ads, but you can bypass this by installing a new launcher. In terms of design, the Google TV Streamer is more of a tabletop device rather than a streaming stick, making it similar to a Roku Ultra rather than a Roku Streaming Stick.

In terms of pricing, the Google TV Streamer starts at $100, which is quite a bit pricier than most of Roku’s offerings. However, with Black Friday sales already underway, you can find it on sale for as low as $75.

Dimensions: 6.4 x 3 x 1-inch
Connective Technology: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Brand: Google

Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Amazon’s best streaming stick

I’ve always been a fan of Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks, but admittedly, its lineup of available streaming sticks can be a bit confusing, as there are four different models that all look the same. The Fire TV Stick I always recommend to friends and family — and now to you — is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.

This is Amazon’s top-of-the-range streaming stick, supporting 4K streaming, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and cloud gaming through Amazon Luna and Xbox Game Pass. Compared to Amazon’s other streaming sticks, such as the 4K Plus and 4K Select, the 4K Max is faster and features Wi-Fi 6E for improved internet connectivity. It also packs more storage with 16GB, compared to the 8GB of storage on all the other models.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max runs Fire OS, which is similar to Google TV and Roku OS in terms of user-friendliness. An advantage Fire OS has over Roku OS is that, since it is based on Android, you can install a wider range of apps, including VPN services, and even sideload more. The 4K Max is regularly priced at $60, but Amazon frequently discounts it for $40 or less during sales.

Brand: Amazon
Resolution: 4K
Audio codecs: Dolby Atmos
RAM/storage: 16 GB

Apple TV 4K

It’s expensive, but it provides a lot of value in terms of performance and features

If you’re already part of the Apple ecosystem with an iPhone, Mac, or iPad, chances are you’ll enjoy the Apple TV 4K. It’s easily one of the most powerful streaming devices available, as it’s equipped with Apple’s A15 Bionic chip — the same chipset used in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14. Although those phones are a few years old and the A15 processor isn’t the newest chipset from Apple, it still packs some substantial power, especially for a streaming box, resulting in the Apple TV 4K providing one of the fastest and smoothest streaming experiences you can get.

As for the software that runs on the Apple TV 4K, it is called tvOS, which like Roku OS, has a very intuitive and easy-to-navigate user interface. If you’ve used an iPhone or iPad before, it will feel very familiar, and with the latest tvOS 26 update, the experience is even more in line with the iPhone and iPad, thanks to the unified Liquid Glass design. I know there are mixed opinions on Liquid Glass, but I’m a fan of it, and I think it looks great on the big screen.

The Apple TV 4K has very similar streaming capabilities to some of the other streaming devices I’ve mentioned, as it supports 4K streaming, as well as Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for the best possible sound and video quality. The biggest disadvantage of the Apple TV 4K is its price, as it starts at $130 for the Wi-Fi-only model with 64GB of storage, and it doesn’t go on sale too often. But if you want the fastest and arguably the most premium streaming experience you can get, the Apple TV 4K is the choice to make, and you can watch all your favorite streaming services on it by downloading them from the App Store.

Brand: Apple
Bluetooth codecs: 5.0
Wi-Fi: 6
Ethernet: Gigabit (128GB model only)

Onn 4K Pro

There’s plenty to like about this Google TV streaming device from Walmart

Finally, if you’re looking for an affordable Roku alternative that still provides a wide range of features, the Onn 4K Pro from Walmart might pique your interest. The best way to describe the Onn 4K Pro is that it’s a budget version of the Google TV Streamer, as it also runs Google TV, although with lower build quality and slightly slower performance.

The price of the Onn 4K Pro is likely to appeal to you, at just $50 — half the price of the Google TV Streamer. Even at this lower cost, it supports premium streaming features like Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos and comes with 32GB of storage. The Onn 4K Pro also offers Wi-Fi 6 and includes an Ethernet port. Additionally, since it runs Google TV, it will soon support Google Gemini, which is gradually being rolled out to more devices.