The Best Media Streaming Devices for 2025

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is one of two competing media streamers that offer incredible value for just $50. It’s loaded with features, including the Alexa voice assistant, which you can access via the included remote control, or hands-free through a separate Echo smart speaker. It streams at ultra high-definition (4K) resolution with support for high dynamic range (HDR) content in HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. And it can handle Dolby Atmos as well. The newest version has a faster processor, more RAM, and Wi-Fi 6, though you might not see a big jump in performance unless you have a Wi-Fi 6 router to go with it.

This is the media streamer to get if you subscribe to Amazon Prime and use Alexa-compatible smart home devices. Prime Video offers tons of content and the Fire TV interface sorts through it quite nicely, while also aggregating many other non-Amazon services. If you already have an Echo and use Alexa to control your lights and other connected devices, a Fire TV media hub offers that same capability via the remote for added convenience. And if you have a Ring security camera or video doorbell, you can bring up its feed on your TV through the stick. Just be aware that it only has Miracast, not AirPlay or Google Cast, so you can’t seamlessly stream your phone or tablet to it like with some other streamers on this list.

Not everyone has a 4K TV, and that’s fine because Amazon has a budget-priced 1080p option. That’s the Fire TV Stick HD’s role in Amazon’s lineup, and it does the job well.

If you haven’t upgraded to a 4K TV yet, you don’t need to spend $50 for good media streaming capabilities. The Fire TV Stick HD is downright cheap while offering the Fire TV platform’s sprawling content selection and access to the Alexa voice assistant. This is an economical way to breathe new streaming life into aging 1080p TVs that might not have many (or any) streaming capabilities.

The Fire TV Cube remains the most powerful Fire TV media streamer available, with one big advantage over the rest: far-field microphones that let you interact with Amazon’s Alexa assistant hands-free. It’s much more convenient than picking up the remote, holding the voice button, and speaking into it. It also has HDMI pass-through, so you can get Alexa visual information on your TV while you use your set-top box or game console. Finally, it supports Wi-Fi 6E, for a fast and reliable network connection.

This is best for dedicated Amazon users. Even if you aren’t already deep in Amazon’s device ecosystem, this is an excellent starting point to go hands-free with your home theater and begin using smart home devices. Neither Apple nor Google offer a media streamer with far-field microphones, though some televisions with the Google TV platform on board have hands-free Google Assistant. Roku does have a media hub with hands-free voice control, but it’s far from the full-featured voice assistant Alexa is.

Amazon Fire TV and Google TV have a bit more whole-home power because of their fully functional voice assistants, but Roku is still an excellent platform purely for media streaming. And the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is an ideal choice in the lineup. It’s an affordable media hub that plugs into your TV and offers 4K media streaming with support for HDR10 and HDR10+, with a big benefit Fire TV and Google TV lack: Apple AirPlay support. That integration lets iPhone, iPad, and Mac users stream their screens to the TV.

The Streaming Stick Plus is our top pick in Roku’s lineup for most people. This cheap, reliable 4K media streamer covers most bases (except Twitch), and is especially attractive for Apple users thanks to its AirPlay support (for a third of the price of an Apple TV 4K). Its simple interface should also appeal to less tech-savvy users who want to stream their favorite shows without dealing with extraneous features.

The Roku Streaming Stick is the most budget-friendly media streamer on this list. It has most major streaming services and supports Apple AirPlay for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users as well as WiDi/Miracast for PC users. Its interface is easy to use and doesn’t overwhelm with recommendations, so it’s good for less tech-savvy users who just want to watch their shows. Because the Roku interface is primarily focused on media and doesn’t have many ancillary features like a full-fledged voice assistant or robust smart home controls, it’s also much more accessible to users who don’t want to build their home theater into a hub for everything in their home.

If you have an older 1080p TV and want to add streaming features while keeping it simple and accessible, the Roku Streaming Stick is your best and cheapest choice. Thanks to its built-in AirPlay support, it’s especially worth considering if you’re an Apple product user.

The Ultra is Roku’s most feature-rich media streamer. It has Wi-Fi 6 for fast streaming and an Ethernet port for the most reliable network connection if you can run a cable. It comes with the second-generation Roku Voice Remote Pro that allows for hands-free voice control. It supports Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos spatial audio. And, of course, Roku’s interface is very simple and easy to use, with tons of media streaming apps and services along with Apple AirPlay support.

If you want the most accessible streaming experience paired with the best network connectivity options and hands-free voice control support, this is the media hub to get. Just be aware that while you can control a handful of Roku’s smart home devices, Roku’s voice features don’t have the broad functionality of full voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Twitch still isn’t available on Roku’s platform, either.

The Apple TV 4K is a capable media streamer that can serve as an Apple HomeKit hub if you prefer Apple’s ecosystem for your smart home devices. It’s also the only device that lets you use Siri rather than Alexa or Google Assistant (though only through the remote, since there’s no hands-free model).

The Apple TV 4K is for dedicated Apple users. If you have an iPhone, iPad, Mac, use Siri, and your smart home devices support HomeKit, this ties them together in your living room. It’s expensive if you aren’t a hard-core Apple fan, though.

The Google TV Streamer is a disappointment, even with plenty of useful features. That’s because it replaced the Chromecast With Google TV (one of our favorites, and an Editor’s Choice) and costs twice as much, so Google no longer has a budget-priced media streamer at all. It’s a bit faster than its predecessor, can function as a Matter hub and a Thread border router, works with Google Assistant voice commands, and has an Ethernet port, so that’s nice..

This is the only way to add Google TV to your television. The Google TV Streamer is a strong performer, it’s just expensive for what it offers.