The Best Streaming Sticks For 2024

Nicolas Ward By, Nicolas Ward
Updated
Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device
Image credit: Amazon.com

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device

Get your hands on the new Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device to enjoy unlimited entertainment with Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and more. With a compact size that's easily hidden behind any TV and easy set-up, it's the perfect way to stay connected with your favorite content. Read Review

2. Best Bang For The Buck: Roku Streaming Stick+ | HD/4K/HDR Streaming Device

The Roku Streaming Stick+ features a wireless receiver that gives you a stronger signal and extended range, providing dramatically better streaming quality. With our Built-in caching technology, files are written to the flash memory first so you can keep on working without delay, even while large files transfer. It's also easy to share your videos and photos wirelessly with your Apple devices using AirPlay. Read Review

3. Best Efficient: Fire TV Stick 4K Max streaming device

With Fire TV Stick 4K Max, you can stream 4K content in up to 60 frames per second and benefit from fast app starts and more fluid navigation. Enjoy a cinematic experience with support for Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10+, and immersive Dolby Atmos audio. Read Review

4. Best Smart: Roku Ultra | Streaming Device HD/4K/HDR/Dolby Vision

The Roku Ultra is the centerpiece of your home theater. Find your lost remote: Simply press the button on your streaming device and your Roku remote will play a sound. Cinematic streaming: Roku Ultra is the centerpiece of your home theater with spectacular 4K and Dolby Vision picture plus immersive Dolby Atmos sound. Read Review

With more and more people moving from the traditional cable service to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, there’s a growing need for an affordable way to stream these services from any TV. That’s where the best streaming sticks come in. These streaming devices connect your TV to the internet, allowing you to stream shows and movies directly from these websites instead of paying for a cable subscription or renting from stores like Netflix.

So whether you’re looking for a option with limited features or a pricier option that offers better performance and more features, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we will discuss everything you need to know about choosing the best streaming devices. We will cover what are the best devices on the market right now, as well as some of our recommendations if you want something affordable but still with good performance.

Following extensive study and analysis, we've come up with the Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device, which we hope will meet your demands. However, it is not the only thing on our list. We also show a full buyer's guide and a number of different options are available to help you find the most suitable.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device
Our Score:
9.7
Amazon
  • Endless entertainment - Stream more than 1 million movies and TV episodes from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Peacock, and more, plus listen to millions of songs. Subscription fees may apply.
  • Alexa Voice Remote - Search and launch content with your voice. Get to favorite apps quickly with preset buttons. Control power and volume with one remote.
  • Cinematic experience - Watch in vibrant 4K Ultra HD with support for Dolby Vision, HDR, and HDR10+.
  • Easy to set up, compact enough to stay hidden - Plug in behind your TV, turn on the TV, and connect to the internet to get set up.
  • Home theater audio with Dolby Atmos - Feel scenes come to life with support for immersive Dolby Atmos audio on select titles with compatible home audio systems.
  • Control your smart home - Ask Alexa to check weather, dim the lights, view live camera feeds, stream music and more.
  • Live and free TV - Watch live TV, news, and sports with subscriptions to SLING TV, YouTube TV, and others. Stream for free with Pluto TV, IMDb TV, YouTube and more.
  • Simple and intuitive - Quickly access your favorite apps, live TV, and things you use most, all from the main menu.
TOP Choice #2 Roku Streaming Stick+ | HD/4K/HDR Streaming Device
Our Score:
9.5
Roku
  • No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, mute, and control your streaming all with one remote—use your voice to quickly search across channels, turn captions on, and more in a touch
  • Brilliant picture quality: Experience your favorite shows with stunning detail and clarity—whether you’re streaming in HD, 4K, or HDR, you’ll enjoy picture quality that’s optimized for your TV with sharp resolution and vivid color
  • Tons of power, tons of fun: Snappy and responsive, you’ll stream your favorites with ease—from movies and series on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Netflix, to cable alternatives like Sling, enjoy the most talked-about TV across thousands of channels
  • Private listening on mobile: Use the free Roku mobile app to pump up the volume on your shows without disturbing the house
  • Endless entertainment: Stream what you love, including free TV, live news, sports, and more. It’s easy to stream what you love and cut back on cable bills with access to 500,000+ movies and TV episodes across thousands of free and paid channels
  • Automatic software updates: Get the most up to date software including all the latest features and available channels without even thinking about it
  • Wireless that goes the distance: Basement rec room Backyard movie night Bring ‘em on. The long-range wireless receiver gives you extended range and a stronger signal for smooth streaming even in rooms farther from your router
  • Works with popular voice assistants: Enjoy easy voice control with Siri, Alexa, or Hey Google
  • Share it with Apple AirPlay: Effortlessly share videos, photos, music, and more from your Apple devices to your TV
  • Setup is a cinch: Plug it in, connect to the internet, and start streaming—it’s that simple
TOP Choice #3 Fire TV Stick 4K Max streaming device
Our Score:
9.3
Amazon
  • Cinematic experience - Watch in vibrant 4K Ultra HD with support for Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10+ and immersive Dolby Atmos audio.
  • Live and free TV - Watch live TV, news, and sports with subscriptions to SLING TV, YouTube TV, and others. Stream for free with IMDb TV, Pluto TV, Tubi, and more.
  • Do more with your smart home - View the front door camera without stopping your show using Live View Picture-in-Picture. Ask Alexa to check the weather or dim the lights.
  • Endless entertainment - Stream more than 1 million movies and TV episodes. Watch favorites from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Peacock, and more, plus listen to millions of songs. Subscription fees may apply.
  • Our most powerful streaming stick - 40% more powerful than Fire TV Stick 4K, with faster app starts and more fluid navigation.
  • Alexa Voice Remote - Search and launch content with your voice. Get to favorite apps quickly with preset buttons. Control power and volume with one remote.
  • Game on - Fluid gameplay and fast-rendering graphics with a 750Mhz GPU. Access popular games with a Luna cloud gaming subscription.
  • Support for next-gen Wi-Fi 6 - Enjoy smoother 4K streaming across multiple Wi-Fi 6 devices.
  • Cinematic streaming: Roku Ultra is the centerpiece of your home theater with spectacular 4K and Dolby Vision picture plus immersive Dolby Atmos sound
  • No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your streaming device with one Roku voice remote
  • Share it with Apple AirPlay: Effortlessly share videos, photos, music, and more from your Apple devices to your TV
  • Voice search & control: Quickly search, play entertainment, and control your streaming device with the Roku voice remote
  • Outrageously powerful: Enjoy a lightning-fast interface and channels like Sling, Hulu, Netflix, and Prime Video that launch in a snap on the fastest, most powerful Roku player ever
  • Watch what you love: Upgrade your streaming with a massive selection of free, live, and premium TV, including Roku Originals and 200+ free Live TV channels on The Roku Channel
  • Find your lost remote: Simply press the button on your streaming device and your Roku remote will play a sound
  • Works with popular voice assistants: Enjoy easy voice control with Siri, Alexa, or Hey Google
  • Our best Wi-Fi: Enjoy fast, smooth TV streaming in any room in the house with our best Wi-Fi or choose to wire up over Ethernet
  • Private listening: Plug headphones into the Roku remote with headphone jack or use a wireless pair with the Roku mobile app to listen without disturbing a quiet house
  • Breathtaking picture: Stream in 4K, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ with sharp resolution and vivid color
  • Works with popular voice assistants: Enjoy easy voice control with Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant
  • Super-fast startup: Start streaming channels like Disney+, Prime Video, HBO Max, Apple TV+, Netflix, Sling, and Hulu in a snap—just turn on your TV
  • Voice search & control: Quickly search, play entertainment, and control your streaming device with the voice remote
  • No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku Streaming Stick with the Roku remote
  • Hides behind your TV: The all-new design plugs right into your TV with a simple setup
  • Long-range Wi-Fi: Enjoy fast, smooth TV streaming in any room with a strong Wi-Fi connection, now up to 2x faster
  • Watch what you love: Upgrade your streaming with a massive selection of free, live, and premium TV, including Roku Originals and 200+ free Live TV channels on The Roku Channel
  • Brilliant picture quality: Experience your favorite TV in stunning detail and clarity; Perfect for HD, HDR, and 4K streaming, enjoy picture that’s optimized for your TV with sharp resolution and vivid color
  • Fully loaded: It’s got all the bells and whistles, including channels that launch in a snap, lost remote finder, USB and micro SD ports; You can stream from movies and series on Apple TV, Netflix, Disney +, The Roku Channel, HBO, Showtime and Google Play to cable alternatives like Hulu with Live TV
  • Ultimate connectivity: No matter what you’re streaming, enjoy a strong connection with dual-band wireless or use the Ethernet port for wired streaming
  • Endless entertainment: Stream it all, including free TV, live news, sports, and more; never miss award-winning shows, the latest blockbuster hits, and more; access 500,000+ movies and TV episodes; stream what you love and cut back on cable TV bills
  • Enjoy free TV: Stream live TV, 24/7 news, sports, movies, shows, and more on The Roku Channel, plus a huge collection of free entertainment from top channels on Featured Free
  • Power, picture, performance: Roku Ultra lets you stream free, live and premium TV over the Internet; right on your 4K TV; Roku’s top of the line media player with a quad-core processor and our best wireless, Roku Ultra is perfect for heavy streaming in HD, 4K, and HDR
  • New! Disney+ and Apple TV are now streaming on all Roku devices
  • Take control of your TV: Use your voice to set personal shortcuts for one-touch control, search across channels, turn captions on, and more with the enhanced voice remote; plus, enjoy private listening with the included Premium JBL headphones and TV controls
  • Automatic software updates: Get the most up to date software including all the latest features and available channels without even thinking about it
  • The free Roku mobile app: Turn your iOS or Android device into the ultimate companion; control your Roku media player or Roku TV, use voice search, enjoy private listening, and more on iOS and Android
  • Powerful and portable
  • 500, 000 plus movies and TV episodes. Free mobile app for iOS or android
  • Free Roku mobile app for private listening, voice search and more; TV Compatibility HD TVs Up to 1080p (1920 x 1080) with up scaling from 720p; TV must have an HDMI input that supports HDCP 2.2
  • Easy to use remote, intuitive navigation, search Across top channels
  • Voice remote with TV power and volume
  • Refer installation manual before use
  • Stunning HD video quality immerse yourself in the action with rich, vibrant video streaming up to 1080p HD
  • One stop search find your favorite movies and shows in a flash from top channels like Netflix, Hulu plus, amazon instant video, VUDU, and MGO
  • Quick and easy setup sets up wirelessly in minutes with just a few simple steps
  • Channel shortcut buttons jump straight to favorites with one push of the remote
  • 2,000+ entertainment channels choose from the widest variety of streaming entertainment, including movies, TV shows, music, sports, news, and more
  • Works with popular voice assistants: Enjoy easy voice control with Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant
  • Super-fast startup: Plug it into your TV for a simple setup and start streaming channels like Disney+, Prime Video, HBO Max, Apple TV+, Netflix, Sling, and Hulu in a snap—just turn on your TV
  • Find your lost remote: Simply say “Hey Roku, where’s my remote?” and your Roku remote will play a sound
  • Breathtaking picture: Stream in 4K, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ with sharp resolution and vivid color
  • Hands-free voice controls: Say “Hey Roku” to find your lost remote, play entertainment, control your streaming, and power up your TV from across the couch
  • Rechargeable voice remote: Keep your Roku Voice Remote Pro powered for months on a single charge so you can say goodbye to batteries
  • Long-range Wi-Fi: Enjoy fast, smooth TV streaming in any room with a strong Wi-Fi connection that’s great for streaming in the best picture quality
  • Hides behind your TV: The all-new design plugs right into your TV with a simple setup
  • Private listening: Plug your headphones into the Roku remote with headphone jack or use a wireless pair with the Roku mobile app to listen without disturbing a quiet house
  • Watch what you love: Upgrade your streaming with a massive selection of free, live, and premium TV, including Roku Originals and 275+ Live TV channels for free on The Roku Channel
  • Quad-core processor with fast dual-band wireless for up to eight times faster processing
  • Roku streaming player gives you portable access to streaming services and 3,000 other channels
  • Comes with a voice control remote that makes it simpler than ever to navigate your channels
  • Lightweight, portable design works with all the compatible televisions in your home
Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

What to Look For in a best streaming sticks?

You may have some trouble making a purchase if you don't research it thoroughly. You are expected to invest time and focus on best streaming sticks before investing in them. Usually, it will take you a long time to research a favorite product. But rest assured, we are here to assist you with your best streaming sticks issue, no matter what time of day or night.

Although choosing a product is complicated, it will be more accessible and more available to everyone with today's information technology network. You are now given available sources of information such as famous websites, sale forums, or even customer's feedback. It can be said that information from these sources about best streaming sticks will be beneficial to you.

So now you are expected to focus on needed criteria about best streaming sticks. All of them will come with your investment. 

Performance

Set-top boxes load faster than streaming sticks and your spending will affect the speed and smoothness of the process.

Ecosystem Tie-ins

Apple TV is the only way to access pple services and apps (like Apple Arcade or Fitness+), although Apple TV has an Apple TV app that allows you to view Apple TV+ content and rent videos from iTunes. Fire TV is the best way to access Amazon Prime Video. Google's music and video services can be accessed through Chromecast and Android TV. Roku offers apps for Amazon and Google Play Movies & TV. However, it is not as sophisticated and has fewer smart home controls than other platforms.

Resolution

If you have a 4K television, and a fast internet connection, then a television streaming device that supports 4K is the perfect way to watch ultra-high-definition content. You can future-proof your set by purchasing a streaming device that supports 4K resolution if you do not have a 4K TV.

Connectivity

Are you planning to connect a USB storage device or ethernet cable or a sound system using an optical or analog audio cable? You should ensure that your streaming box supports the correct connections. If you are concerned about your home network's bandwidth, you will also need a device that supports 802.11ax Wi Fi (or WiFi 6),

Captive Portal Support

You might encounter Wi-Fi networks which require you to log in using a web browser if your streaming device is being taken on the road. It is also known as "captive portal" and it does not support all streaming devices.

Private Listening Options

Bluetooth headphones are supported by many devices. This is useful for those times when you don’t want to wake your children or spouse. Roku devices also allow wired headphones via the Roku mobile application and the remote control of its set-top boxes.

Content Discovery Features

The media-streaming device is evolving beyond static apps. Roku Feed, the Apple TV's TV app (TV), and Amazon recommendations are available directly from the Fire TV Home screen. These approaches can be compared to help you decide which is most attractive.

Remote Control Features

While some remotes have buttons that allow you to fast-forward, rewind and perform other functions, others are simpler. Remotes that can turn on your TV's volume and have microphones to allow you to speak commands. There is no perfect remote, but you can look through the included ones to determine what is most important.

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FAQs

What Is The Point Of A Streaming Stick If You Have A Smart TV?

Although many smart TVs today come pre-installed to run a variety of apps, it is true that external streaming devices almost always enhance the interface for a particular app.
Amazon's Fire Stick gives you more control over your TV than standard Amazon TV apps. Other products from Amazon come with Alexa, giving you additional options to use your voice to control your TV.
A smart TV may not come with every available streaming service. Apple TV Plus is a rare app that comes preinstalled on smart TVs. This is why you need Apple's 4K HDR streaming device, which Panasonic TVs do not support.

What Kind Of Internet Connection Do You Need For Your Streaming Device To Be Effective?

A minimum 5Mbps internet connection is required to stream the majority of streaming content at 1080p. You will be able to stream 4K video without any interruptions if you have more bandwidth.

Will A Streaming Device Work In Your Country?

Yes. Yes. You can use a VPN to bypass restrictions on certain services or shows.

Do Streaming Devices Have Monthly Fees?

No. No. Monthly fees are not charged for streaming devices. You will need to pay monthly fees to watch certain channels, such as Netflix and HBO Max.

How Much Data Does TV Streaming Use?

This depends on the resolution and platform you are streaming from. Based on data collected from major streaming platforms, bandwidth usage can drop to hundreds of megabytes an hour for low definition (480p) videos. However, streaming services that stream standard HD/1080p video report between 2 and 3 gigabytes an hour. You can expect to see 4K video at 7 to 8GB an hour, depending on the video.

Do You Need A Streaming Device With A Smart TV?

Not necessarily. Smart TVs often come equipped with their own streaming platforms that allow users to download top apps such as Netflix or Hulu. Samsung smart TVs have a lot of options. TVs are now compatible with major streaming services like Roku, Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV.

What Is A Streaming Device And How Does It Work?

A streaming device, or streaming stick, allows you to stream (i.e. You can stream (or streaming stick) entertainment content, such as movies, TV series, music or photos. It is usually connected to an HDMI port.
The apps that you will have access to depend on which streamer you are using. It's worth noting, however, that a subscription does not automatically come with a service. If you wish to view Netflix for example, you'll need to purchase it separately. However, there are some deals available for certain streaming services.

Can I Get All The Channels I Want On Any Device?

Each streaming device can access major streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and HBO Max. However, all streaming services may not have the same access. The Spectrum TV app is a good example. Although it is accessible on all platforms, the app is not available for Amazon Fire TV devices. Before you make a purchase, it is a smart idea to check that the device supports all of your apps. You might find yourself in a difficult situation if your phone doesn't support one of your favourite services.

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About Nicolas Ward

Nicolas Ward

Nicolas Ward is an elite author with many years of experience in the music field and the owner of many engaging articles at TheAudioInsights. He studies music production and has many years of passionate research into sound systems. Appearing in many popular newspapers, Nicolas Ward provides useful knowledge and the latest information on music and sound.