14 Best Streaming Devices for Netflix, YouTube, and Smart TV Apps

This Roku stick turns any basic television into a fast, modern media center. It suits people who have older 1080p screens and just want a simple way to watch their shows.

The best feature is how it gets power. You can plug the power cord directly into the USB port on the back of your TV. This means you do not have to run a cord down to a wall outlet. The stick hides completely behind the screen.

Buyers consistently mention how easy this device is to set up. Many people buy it to replace a lost remote and end up surprised by how much it speeds up their TV. A few users point out that it makes older, non-smart TVs feel brand new again.

This works best for a bedroom or guest room TV. You can keep the wires hidden and use one simple remote to control the power, volume, and streaming apps.

I really like how simple Roku keeps the home screen. You just see your apps in a grid. I would skip this if you have a 4K television, as it maxes out at standard HD resolution.

The Roku Ultra is a fast, powerful set-top box. It suits people who want the best picture quality and the fastest app loading times available from Roku.

The remote is the standout feature here. It has backlit buttons so you can see them in the dark. It charges via USB-C, so you never need to buy batteries. It even has a lost remote finder that makes the remote beep when you misplace it.

Customers love how fast this box runs. Many reviewers note that apps open almost instantly. Buyers also praise the Bluetooth listening feature, which lets them connect wireless headphones easily. A few users complain about the ads that appear on the Roku home screen.

This box shines in a main living room setup. If you have a nice surround sound system and a large 4K TV, this device gives you the speed and audio support to match your gear.

Honestly, the remote finder makes this worth considering. We all lose the remote in the couch cushions. I would recommend this to anyone who uses their TV daily. I would not recommend it if you want something that hides behind the TV, as this is a physical box that sits on your TV stand.

This is Amazon’s upgraded 4K streaming stick. It works well for people who already use Amazon Echo speakers and want to control their television with voice commands.

The Wi-Fi 6 support makes a real difference. It helps the stick grab a stronger wireless signal. This means your 4K movies load faster and stop buffering, even when other people in the house are using the internet.

Reviewers frequently mention the smooth 4K picture quality. Many buyers say it completely fixed the lag they experienced with their old smart TVs. However, several users complain about the remote control. They find the dedicated app buttons annoying because they hit them by accident.

This stick works perfectly in a busy household with lots of devices on the Wi-Fi. The upgraded wireless antenna keeps your video running smoothly while the kids play games online in the next room.

I like how deeply Alexa integrates into this stick. You can ask it to find specific types of movies, and it actually understands. I would warn you about the remote, though. The extra app buttons at the bottom are easy to press by mistake when you just want to pause your show.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is Amazon’s most powerful stick. It suits people who download a lot of apps and want the absolute fastest menus possible.

The 16GB of internal storage matters the most here. Most streaming sticks only offer 8GB. The extra space lets you download more streaming apps and games without the device slowing down or asking you to delete things.

Buyers love the speed of this device. Many reviewers note that apps open instantly and the menus never lag. Users also enjoy the ambient art feature that displays paintings when the TV is idle. A few users mention that the Amazon home screen feels cluttered with suggested content.

This is the right choice if you use heavy applications or play cloud games on your TV. The fast processor and extra storage keep everything running smoothly even under heavy use.

If you hate waiting for apps to load, this is the stick to get. The extra storage alone prevents so many future headaches. I would not recommend it if you only use one or two apps, as the extra power might be more than you actually need.

Compared to the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, this Max version has double the storage and a slightly faster processor.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Select offers standard 4K streaming without extra bells and whistles. It suits casual viewers who want a clear picture without paying for features they will not use.

The AI-powered voice search is the most helpful feature. Instead of typing out long movie titles with the remote, you just press a button and tell Alexa what you want to watch. It checks all your apps at once to find the show.

Customers appreciate how easy this is to install. Many buyers mention that it instantly fixed their slow, outdated smart TVs. However, some users report that certain older apps do not show up in the app store, and the on-screen keyboard can be frustrating to use.

This works well for a secondary TV in a bedroom or office. It gives you full 4K resolution and voice controls without requiring a complicated setup.

I think this is a very practical choice for most people. It does exactly what it claims to do. I would look elsewhere if you need a lot of storage space, as this model fills up quickly if you download heavy games.

The NVIDIA Shield TV Pro is a high-end Android streaming box. It suits advanced users who host their own media files and want top-tier audio and video processing.

The AI upscaling feature is incredible. The internal processor takes standard HD video and enhances it in real time to look like 4K. It makes older shows and YouTube videos look noticeably sharper on a large screen.

Buyers praise the audio and video quality. Many users with expensive surround sound systems say this is the only device that handles heavy audio files perfectly. On the downside, several users report that the device occasionally crashes and requires a hard restart.

This device shines in a dedicated home theater room. If you use Plex to organize your own movie files, the Shield Pro acts as a server and plays everything without breaking a sweat.

I would only recommend this to tech-savvy buyers. It offers amazing features, but it requires some patience to set up properly. If you just want to watch Netflix, this box is total overkill. But if you have a massive library of your own movies, nothing else comes close.

The Google TV Streamer replaces the old Chromecast. It suits people who use Android phones or have Google smart home devices around their house.

The built-in smart home panel makes a big difference. You can pull up a menu on your TV to dim your lights or check your front door camera without stopping your movie. It brings all your home controls to the biggest screen in the house.

Customers love the clean interface. Reviewers note that the device runs smoothly and the picture quality is excellent. Many buyers appreciate the remote finder feature. A few users mention that the initial setup pushes annoying pop-up messages that are hard to skip.

This sits perfectly on a media console in a Google-powered home. You can cast videos directly from your Android phone to the TV instantly.

I really like the new remote design. It feels much better in the hand than the old Chromecast remote. I do find it annoying that Google does not include an HDMI cable in the box. You will need to buy one separately before you can set this up.

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is a 4K device built for tough Wi-Fi environments. It suits people who have televisions far away from their internet routers.

The advanced wireless receiver is the key feature. It sits directly in the power cable and grabs Wi-Fi signals much better than standard sticks. This stops your movies from buffering when you watch TV in a distant bedroom or basement.

Buyers praise how easy it is to use. Many customers love the simple Roku menus and the crisp 4K picture. A common complaint is the placement of the power button on the remote, which users say they often hit by accident when picking it up.

This is the perfect device for a basement TV or a garage setup. The strong Wi-Fi receiver ensures you get a clear picture even through multiple walls.

I always recommend Roku for people who hate complicated menus. It just works. However, the included USB power cable is quite short. If your TV does not provide enough power through its own USB port, you might need an extension cord to reach a wall outlet.

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is a slim, portable device. It suits people who travel often and want to watch their own streaming apps in hotel rooms.

The travel connection feature stands out. It allows you to easily bypass hotel Wi-Fi login screens using your smartphone. This means you can plug the stick into a hotel TV and watch your own shows instead of paying for hotel movies.

Reviewers love the picture quality. Buyers mention the Dolby Vision support makes colors pop. Many users praise how well it hides behind the TV. A few buyers mention that the included AA batteries for the remote seem to drain quickly.

This stick is ideal to keep in your suitcase. It takes up almost zero space, and it saves you from having to log into your Netflix account on a public hotel television.

I think this is one of the most reliable sticks you can buy. It runs fast and the picture looks great. I would warn you to keep spare batteries around, as the voice remote tends to eat through them faster than older models.

Compared to the Roku Express, this stick hides completely out of sight and has a stronger Wi-Fi antenna.

The Fire TV Cube is a hybrid streaming box and smart speaker. It suits people who want to control their entire entertainment system without ever touching a remote.

The built-in microphone and speaker change how you use your TV. You can walk into the room and ask Alexa to turn on the TV, switch to the cable box, and start a specific show. It sends signals to your other devices to make it all happen hands-free.

Customers love the speed of the octa-core processor. Reviewers note that apps load incredibly fast. Buyers also appreciate the extra HDMI port for plugging in game consoles. However, several users report that getting the audio settings to output the correct surround sound formats can be frustrating.

This device belongs in a main living room where you have a soundbar or a cable box. It acts as a command center to switch between all your different inputs smoothly.

Being able to pause a movie while holding a bowl of snacks is a massive help. I love the hands-free control. I do not love that Amazon skips including an HDMI cable in the box for a device this advanced. You have to provide your own.

The Roku Express 4K+ is a small set-top box that offers high-quality streaming on a budget. It suits people who want an easy setup without worrying about buying extra cables.

The guided setup process is the best part. You just plug it into the wall and the TV, and the screen walks you through every step simply. It even includes the high-speed HDMI cable in the box, which many other brands make you buy separately.

Reviewers praise the value. Many buyers mention how clearly it displays 4K video. Users love the voice remote for finding shows quickly. A few customers complain about the remote’s side volume buttons, stating they are smooth and hard to find by touch.

This works well for a TV sitting on a stand or a dresser. Because it is a box, it needs to sit somewhere where the remote can point at it.

I appreciate that Roku includes everything you need in the box. It makes upgrading an old TV completely painless. I would skip this if your TV is mounted tight against the wall, as this box needs a place to sit and cannot hide behind the screen.

The ONN Android TV 4K is a budget-friendly streaming box. It suits people who like the Android operating system and want to install third-party applications easily.

The open Android TV system is the biggest draw. Unlike some sticks that block certain apps, this box lets you access the full Google Play Store. You can download almost anything, making it very flexible for users who want specific media players.

Buyers love the value of this device. Many reviewers say it runs just as fast as much more expensive options. Customers also appreciate the clean menu layout. However, a few users report that certain heavy apps, like Disney, occasionally stutter during playback.

This is a great option for a garage or basement TV where you want to experiment with different Android media apps without spending much money.

Honestly, this box punches way above its weight. It is fast and very easy to use. I would not recommend it if you plan to use wired internet or external hard drives, as it completely lacks ethernet and USB ports.

This is Amazon’s basic streaming stick. It suits people who have older 1080p televisions and want a cheap way to add smart features.

The access to free live TV stands out here. The home screen makes it very easy to find free, ad-supported channels like Pluto TV and Tubi. You can start watching live news and movies right out of the box without paying for any subscriptions.

Reviewers appreciate the straightforward setup. Many buyers say it boots up quickly and the Alexa voice remote works perfectly. Some users mention that the device can get slow and laggy if you download too many apps and fill up the storage.

This stick is perfect for a guest bedroom. It gives visitors access to all the major streaming apps and free live TV without requiring a complicated remote control.

I think this is a great quick fix for a dumb TV. It does exactly what you need it to do. I would definitely avoid this if you have a 4K television, as the picture quality will not look as sharp as it could.

Compared to the Fire TV Stick 4K, this model is slightly slower and only outputs in standard HD.

The KICKPI KP1 is a Google-certified Android 11 streaming box. It suits people who want to plug in their own hard drives or use wireless keyboards from the couch.

The multiple connection ports make this box unique. It features two USB ports and an SD card reader. This allows you to easily expand the storage or plug in a flash drive full of your own home movies to watch on the big screen.

Buyers appreciate the flexibility of the Android system. Users mention it handles productivity apps and web browsing well. However, some reviewers note that the USB ports can be finicky, requiring you to position the flash drive perfectly to get it to read.

This works best in a home office or dorm room where you might want to use the TV as a giant monitor for web browsing or side-loaded Android apps.

I like that this box gives you the freedom to customize your setup. The built-in Chromecast is also a nice touch. I would not recommend this to someone who just wants a simple plug-and-play Netflix machine, as the menus take some time to set up how you like them.