You probably stream most, if not all, of your content. A good streaming device makes that process easier. If you’ve purchased a new TV recently, it likely has a built-in streaming interface. Some of these are fine, but a stand-alone streaming device can offer a better experience. We’ve tried them all—from Roku, Apple, Google, Amazon, and even a cheap Walmart-owned brand—so you don’t have to, and we’ve separated each of our favorites by what they do best.
To test streaming devices, I note how easy or complicated the setup was, from the first plug-in to signing into all our favorite streaming services, and then I watch TV! I stream a lot of content in general even when I’m not testing a new device, but for at least a week, I watch a few hours of movies, TV shows, and YouTube videos every day, installing and deleting apps, and playing around with any additional features within the device itself or on the remote.
Be sure to check out all our home theater guides, like the Best Roku Devices, Best Streaming Services, Best TVs, Best Soundbars, and Best Projectors.
Updated October 2024: We’ve added the new Google TV Streamer (4K) and Roku Ultra.
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