Both Amazon and Roku have doubled down to bring you the best streaming experience possible. They both offer affordable streaming through plug-in sticks, branded televisions, and streaming boxes. This review looks at the sticks — the cheapest and most versatile of both brands’ streaming players to figure out who wins a spot in your home.
Amazon Fire TV Stick:
Amazon has four stick players available. There are two HD players and two 4K Ultra HD versions.
All the Fire Sticks support the following apps: Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, Apple TV, Sling TV, Disney+, Peacock, STARZ, SHOWTIME, Paramount+, YouTube TV, IMDb TV, Tubi, Pluto TV, Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, IHeartRadio, and more.
Here’s a breakdown of each:
Fire TV Stick Lite | Fire TV Stick | Fire TV Stick 4K | Fire TV Stick 4K Max | |
Price |
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Picture quality | 1080p Full HD | 1080p Full HD | 4K Ultra HD | 4K Ultra HD, picture-in-picture |
Audio quality | Dolby-encoded | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos |
Storage | 8 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB |
Memory | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1.5 GB | 2 GB |
Wi-FI | Dual-band | Dual-band | Dual-band | MT7921LS |
Bluetooth | 5.0, LE | 5.0, LE | 5.0, LE | 5.0, LE |
Remote: Alexa Voice Remote Lite, does not control a TV or other peripherals
Picture quality: 1080p Full HD (1920×1080), HDR 10, HDR10+, HLG, H.265, H.264, Vp9
Audio quality: Dolby-encoded
Wi-Fi: Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO), supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi networks
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0, Bluetooth Low Energy
Storage: 8 GB
Memory: 1 GB
Quad-core processor: CPU 1.7GHz, GPU 650MHz
Includes: Stick, remote, HDMI extender, USB cable with power adaptor, and two AAA batteries
Remote: Alexa Voice Remote with buttons for Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu, includes TV voice controls
Picture quality: 1080p Full HD (1920×1080), HDR 10, HDR10+, HLG, H.265, H.264, Vp9
Audio quality: Dolby Atmos
Wi-Fi: Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO), supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi networks
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0, Bluetooth Low Energy
Storage: 8 GB
Memory: 1 GB
Quad-core processor: CPU 1.7GHz, GPU 650MHz
Includes: Stick, remote, HDMI extender, USB cable with power adaptor and two AAA batteries
Remote: Alexa Voice Remote, includes power and volume controls for IR-enabled TVs, soundbars and receivers
Picture quality: 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HDR10+, HLG, H.265, H.264, Vp9
Audio quality: Dolby Atmos
Wi-Fi: Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO), supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi networks
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0 + LE
Storage: 8 GB
Memory: 1.5 GB
Quad-core processor: CPU 1.7GHz, GPU 650MHz
Includes: Stick, remote, HDMI extender, USB cable with power adaptor and two AAA batteries
Remote: Alexa Voice Remote, includes power and volume controls for IR-enabled TVs, soundbars and receivers, buttons for Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu
Picture quality: 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HDR10+, HLG, H.265, H.264, Vp9, picture-in-picture mode
Audio quality: Dolby Atmos
Wi-Fi: MT7921LS, supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6)
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0 + LE
Storage: 8 GB
Memory: 2 GB
Quad-core processor: CPU 1.7GHz, GPU 750MHz
Includes: Stick, remote, HDMI extender, USB cable with power adaptor and two AAA batteries
Roku Streaming Sticks:
Roku offers two streaming sticks, although you may find other versions made for specific retailers such as Walmart or Best Buy.
All of Roku’s offerings support the following apps: Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, Apple TV, Sling TV, Disney+, Peacock, STARZ, SHOWTIME, Paramount+, YouTube TV, IMDb TV, Tubi, Pluto TV, Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, IHeartRadio and more.
Here’s a breakdown of Roku’s sticks:
Roku Streaming Stick 4K | Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ | |
Price |
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Picture quality | 4K Ultra HD | 4K Ultra HD |
Audio quality | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos |
Remote | Two AAA batteries | Rechargeable, more buttons |
Remote: Voice-compatible, controls most TVs, buttons for Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu
Picture quality: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 4K, HD
Audio quality: Dolby
Wi-Fi: Long-range 802.11ac dual-band, MIMO Wi-Fi
Quad-core processor: Yes
Includes: Stick, remote, USB power cable, USB power extender cable, power adaptor, and two AAA batteries
Remote: Roku Voice Remote Pro is rechargeable, controls most TVs, buttons for Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu
Picture quality: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 4K, HD
Audio quality: Dolby
Wi-Fi: Long-range 802.11ac dual-band, MIMO Wi-Fi
Quad-core processor: Yes
Includes: Stick, remote, USB power cable, USB power extender cable, power adaptor, remote charger cable
Amazon Fire Stick vs Roku:
Which wins, category by category?
Amazon Fire Stick | Roku | |
Support | Tie | Tie |
Remote control | ✓ | |
Ease of use | ✓ | |
Streaming quality | ✓ | |
Pricing | ✓ |
Support
Tie
Both sticks offer a wide variety of picture and audio support to ensure compatibility with older and new televisions. Picture quality is only as good as the television itself — you won’t get 4K Ultra HD from a ten-year-old HD TV. Luckily, both companies provide compatibility for tons of picture modes including HDR 10, HDR10+, HLG, H.265, H.264, and Vp9.
Amazon’s audio support may be better since three of the four models also support Dolby Atmos. However, Roku’s 4K+ offers a private listening mode so you can connect to your earbuds or audio headset.
Remote control
Roku wins
Roku’s streaming sticks make navigating and selection far simpler than Amazon Fire TV Sticks. You’ll notice the Roku remote has more control buttons and quick access to the top streaming apps of Apple TV+, Netflix, Hulu and Disney+. Only two of the four Amazon Fire Sticks include four app buttons on the remote.
A common question users ask is whether they can remap the app buttons to switch out Hulu, for example. It isn’t possible to reprogram the presets, but Roku’s remote has two extra programmable shortcut buttons that can be used to add quick navigation to other viewing or music apps.
Ease of use
Roku wins
Roku makes navigating to what you want to watch incredibly simple. It certainly requires fewer clicks to tune in than Amazon’s Fire Stick. Performing a search on Roku gives you a list of viewing options with pricing as the main point. You can quickly find the free version or know what channel will let you stream it cheaply.
Fire TV’s search results require extra work to sift through. You’re given one primary channel and have to select “more ways to watch” to see all the other options. You’ll often find multiple options are available, but clicking on them may lead to a paywall or dead end.
Streaming quality
Fire TV Stick 4K Max wins
As far as streaming quality goes, the upper-end sticks from both companies are capable of delivering 4K quality to compatible televisions. However, Amazon’s 4K Max wins because it edges Roku out on sound quality with Dolby Atmos and zippier connection due to its wider Wifi options. Although the Roku may possibly deliver a longer range through 802.11ac dual-band, MIMO Wi-Fi, the Amazon Fire Stick supports WiFi 6, which could provide a more stable internet connection for streaming with less buffering.
Pricing
Amazon Fire TV Sticks win
When it comes to price, Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks beat Roku on price. Roku’s streaming sticks retail for $50 and $70. Amazon’s range in price is between $30 and $55. In a head-to-head match between the two top-end models, the Roku 4K+ and Fire TV Stick 4K Max, both are similar in features although the Amazon player is $15 cheaper. Plus, the Fire Stick is WiFi 6 compatible (Roku’s isn’t yet) for extra value.
Amazon Fire Stick vs Roku: which is the right one for you?
Deciding between Amazon and Roku comes down to nitpicking, really. Both companies offer a great streaming solution at an affordable price. Honestly, you could probably switch between the two systems without much of a learning curve. If you have to choose one stick over the other, it all comes down to price point. Amazon’s Fire Sticks are cheaper.
However, the Roku Streaming Sticks are just a touch more user-friendly. You’ll notice the difference when you search for a specific movie or show. The remote is also better designed, with all the buttons you need in one place, plus a couple of extra programmable ones.
Are there alternatives worth considering?
A streaming stick may not be the perfect solution for all applications, but it’s a small, portable and relatively inexpensive solution to turn a standard TV into a smart one. You could always go with a more expensive alternative, such as buying a smart TV that’s already Wi-Fi integrated and equipped with the most popular streaming apps. However, the investment is far more than the cost of a $50 TV stick.
If you’re happy with your current TV and not ready to upgrade to a Roku or Amazon Fire model yet, you could always upgrade to a freestanding player. Roku offers the Roku Express and Ultra streaming boxes or the Roku Streambar, a soundbar with video streaming capability built right into the audio device. As for Amazon, the Amazon Fire TV Cube is a freestanding streaming box with more storage and power than the sticks.
Do Amazon or Roku streaming sticks have a monthly streaming fee?
Neither sticks charge you to stream your favorite apps. You could save money by only watching the free TV and movie channels such as Vudu, Roku TV, Peacock, or Tubi TV. And if you have an Amazon Prime account, Amazon Video is included. While more recent movies and shows may come with a fee, Amazon Video has hundreds of thousands of free programming available through your Roku or Amazon Fire player.
Do I need to pay for subscriptions if I have a streaming TV stick?
Streaming players broadcast what’s available from the apps. While many streaming apps offer free content, some of the most popular such as HBO Max, Disney Plus, ESPN+, and Netflix come with a monthly subscription fee. If you’d like to access Netflix from your Roku Streaming Stick, for example, you would need to pay for a monthly Netflix subscription and log into your account through Roku’s interface.
