All of the Roku Streaming Players Compared

I've been a big fan since Roku launched more than 10 years ago, and although I've tested all the players on the market, I always come back to Roku for my personal use. That's because Roku streaming players support more live TV channels than any other and offers thousands of streaming channels and more than half a million movies and TV shows to watch. In my experience, Roku's software is the most efficient when it comes to finding what you want to watch, no matter where it's streaming, allowing you to discover free, rental, and purchase options wherever available.

If you're considering buying a Roku player, you might feel a bit overwhelmed by the variety of models available – many of which are very similar. To help you make the right decision, I'll break down all the models, compare their features, and give you my recommendations. What's important to know is that every Roku model has the same user interface and access to the same channels, so the core functionality will be identical across devices.

Roku Model Comparison Chart

Best streaming for most people: Roku Ultra (2024)

Having used all of the Roku players, I can confidently recommend the new Ultra 2024 to most people. While it's the most expensive at $99, it offers the best of everything that's important – 4K streaming with support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+, WiFi 6 (802.11ax MIMO) wireless, and the most advanced remote control, the Voice Remote Pro (2nd Gen).

The Ultra (2024) is the first Roku streaming player to support WiFi 6, which provides better throughput and range. Combined with the Ultra's new processor, which is the fastest to date, the user experience will be faster and smoother than any other Roku player.

The bundled Voice Remote Pro (2nd Gen) is Roku's best remote for two key reasons: it's the only one with backlit keys, allowing use in the dark, and it runs on a rechargeable battery (via USB-C) that lasts about a month on a single charge. Like its predecessor, it offers an always-listening mode for Roku voice commands. When enabled, you can find your remote just by asking, "Hey Roku, where's my remote?" and control Roku search, play shows, and more. Additionally, it features two user-programmable "shortcut buttons" that can be assigned to any task you can perform with a voice command.

As Roku's flagship streaming player, the Ultra supports the most video and audio formats. In addition to HDR10/10+, it supports Dolby Vision for video and Dolby Atmos for audio. Uniquely, the Ultra is the only model that allows pairing with Bluetooth headphones for private listening.

Read more: Pair Your Bluetooth Headphones with Roku: A Step-by-Step Guide

The one potential drawback is the design. Some people might prefer the stick form factor of the Streaming Stick 4K over the Ultra's box design.

If you want the best Roku player, the new Ultra outperforms all other models and is easy to recommend to most people.

Price: $99.99

Best budget streaming: Roku Express

If you don't have a 4K TV and are on a budget, the Roku Express is a great choice. You can enjoy the same easy-to-use Roku interface as the more expensive models, and the remote, while basic, has direct access buttons for popular services. Plus, Roku makes it easy to use the Roku Express right out of the box, as it comes bundled with an HDMI cable and batteries for the remote. I particularly like the adhesive strip that Roku includes to mount the Express to the bottom of your TV to reduce clutter.

Price: $29.99

Updated on 9/24/2024 with the latest pricing and model information

[Image credit: Roku, Techlicious]

For the past 20+ years, Techlicious founder Suzanne Kantra has been exploring and writing about the world’s most exciting and important science and technology issues. Prior to Techlicious, Suzanne was the Technology Editor for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and the Senior Technology Editor for Popular Science. Suzanne has been featured on CNN, CBS, and NBC.