Roku TV vs. Fire Stick: I compared the best streaming devices in 2025, and here's the winner

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If you privation to cut the cord and heighten your streaming TV experience, you whitethorn wonderment which instrumentality is champion suited for you. The Amazon Fire TV Stick and the Roku Streaming Stick are 2 of the astir fashionable options connected the marketplace -- and they're some connected merchantability close now. However, determination are immoderate cardinal differences to see earlier pulling the plug.

Also: Cyber Monday streaming deals 2025

Amazon Fire TV and Roku strive to supply the best streaming experience possible done dongles, branded televisions, and streaming boxes. Choosing the close device, however, involves much than conscionable comparing terms tags. I'll delve into the large differences betwixt Fire TV and the Roku streaming level to assistance you find which 1 champion suits your needs and preferences, utilizing the comparable Roku Streaming Stick Plus and Fire TV Stick 4K Plus arsenic examples.

Specifications

You should bargain a Fire TV Stick 4K Plus if...

Amazon

1. You privation much features, though not for little wealth (right now)

When you comparison the tech specifications of a Fire TV Stick 4K Plus against the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, you'll find that some devices are precise similar. Amazon typically offers bigger discounts much often connected its Fire TV Stick than Roku does, though not currently. While the erstwhile is present disposable for fractional disconnected astatine $25, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus conscionable dropped to $19. The Fire TV whitethorn beryllium a amended woody if you worth Dolby Vision and seamless Alexa integrations, which brings maine to my adjacent point.

Also: I changed 10 settings connected my Fire TV to importantly amended the performance

2. You usage Alexa successful your astute home

Alexa, Amazon's dependable assistant, has go a indispensable connected astir each Amazon device, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is nary exception. The Alexa-enabled distant included with this streaming instrumentality features a fastener that tin beryllium pressed and held to inquire Alexa questions. Though the Roku besides comes with a dependable distant that you tin usage for navigation wrong the Roku platform, the Alexa distant tin spell beyond searching for your favourite TV show.

If you person Alexa-enabled devices arsenic portion of your astute location setup, you tin usage your Fire TV Stick distant to archer Alexa to crook connected a smart light or set the country somesthesia connected your smart thermostat. You tin adjacent inquire the dependable adjunct to amusement you compatible security cameras on your TV. 

Also: 12+ almighty Alexa commands you should commencement utilizing astatine location (no subscriptions required)

Roku offers a line of astute location products that tin integrate its camera feeds with Roku TVs oregon streaming devices; however, the diagnostic is presently constricted to Roku Home devices. Roku is rolling retired an updated Roku Voice diagnostic with a akin virtual adjunct to Alexa, but that update hasn't been released yet.

3. You ticker chiefly Prime Video (and don't caput ads)

Unsurprisingly, the Fire TV level is much focused connected Prime Video. The streaming work comes preinstalled connected the device, offering entree to large exclusive programming. These include, but are not constricted to, deed shows similar Fallout, The Boys, and the upcoming Steal. Of course, not everything is geared toward adults, arsenic determination are plentifulness of kid-friendly shows, specified arsenic Tumble Leaf and the newer BatFam, which my kids love.

As the Fire TV is an Amazon product, it's not astonishing that you'll find many ads portion navigating the system. I personally don't caput the ads truthful much; I disregard astir of them. However, if you're an avid spectator of Prime Video content, you'll find the ads tailored to users similar you. 

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Roku devices connection entree to Prime Video, but the work is not preinstalled. You'll request to sojourn the Roku Channel Store, download the Prime Video app, registry the app, grounds a six-digit code, and participate that codification into Amazon's MyTV webpage. The process is straightforward, but it tin instrumentality immoderate clip to complete. Meanwhile, connected the Fire TV Stick, simply log successful to your relationship to commencement watching.

You should bargain a Roku Streaming Stick Plus if...

Artie Beaty/ZDNET

1. You similar a much user-friendly platform

The Fire TV paper is visually attractive, but it's not arsenic straightforward oregon user-friendly arsenic the Roku platform. You often person to instrumentality other steps to execute thing compared to what tin beryllium completed successful a azygous measurement connected a Roku.

Also: Try this 30-second refresh connected your Roku TV earlier replacing it for good

The Roku operating strategy is not lone easier to navigate for mundane users but besides for guests who aren't acquainted with it, including children and older people. The strategy uses tiles that marque it much intuitive to find what you need, and it doesn't autoplay ads portion you're connected the location screen, portion you're deciding what to watch.

2. You privation a foolproof distant control

Admittedly, Fire TV remotes person travel a agelong mode successful becoming much user-friendly and, successful the process, much similar the Roku remote. However, I inactive find the Roku distant easier to usage than its competitor. 

Also: I watched Roku's escaped unrecorded TV channels, and it felt similar the cablegram I grew up with

It's the buttons for me; springiness maine bully aged arrows, and I cognize wherever to go. I don't privation to dependable similar a dinosaur here, but I'd take the Roku distant if I had to take betwixt it, my Fire TV, Google TV Streamer, and Apple TV 4K remotes.

My Roku distant (left) doesn't get mislaid successful my sofa cushions astir arsenic often arsenic the Fire TV Stick distant (right).

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

The Roku distant is rounder and thicker than the Fire TV remote, which is thinner and much prone to getting mislaid betwixt the sofa cushions. The Roku distant besides has old-school arrows and an "OK" button, whereas the Fire TV distant has a ellipse with a circular "OK" fastener successful the mediate and, you guessed it, nary letters oregon arrows successful this navigation wheel, which makes it a small little intuitive for idiosyncratic getting acquainted with it.

Also: How to reset your Roku: 4 casual ways

Aside from this, some remotes are rather similar: they some person mute and measurement buttons to power compatible televisions, modular navigation buttons, and four-channel shortcut buttons that are not reprogrammable connected either remote. Additionally, some devices diagnostic a mobile app that allows your telephone to service arsenic a distant power successful lawsuit you suffer your carnal remote.

3. You privation to instrumentality your Roku anywhere

The newest Roku Streaming Stick HD and Plus models diagnostic a convenient payment that makes them the astir travel-friendly streaming devices: they're powered by your TV's HDMI port. Aside from the Stick itself and the remote, determination are nary other cables oregon add-ons to the Roku Stick Plus.

Also: Which Roku streaming instrumentality should you bargain successful 2025?

This not lone makes installation easier than ever, but besides makes it casual to transportation astir if you privation to instrumentality it with you connected a trip. Taking your Roku lets you usage your ain streaming instrumentality and subscriptions astatine a edifice oregon short-term rental without having to log successful to them or, worse, forgetting to log retired earlier leaving. 

Alternatives to consider

A streaming instrumentality whitethorn not beryllium the cleanable solution for each applications, but it's a small, portable, and inexpensive solution to crook a modular TV into a astute one. 

There's besides the enactment of a much costly alternative, specified arsenic buying a astute TV that's already Wi-Fi-integrated and equipped with the astir fashionable streaming apps. However, the concern is acold much than the outgo of a $50 TV stick.