Roku has been a popular choice among streamer shoppers for a long time. It offers a simple user interface and doesn’t lock you into a smart home ecosystem, supporting both Alexa and Google Assistant. But Roku has had a fair share of issues in the past, with streaming services like YouTube TV and Amazon Prime Video threatening to leave the platform at various times. If these issues have deterred you from a Roku, that’s okay because there’s no shortage of top-tier streaming devices to choose from. So, from ultra-affordable to professional-grade, we’ve assembled the best Roku alternatives for you to consider.

Top alternatives to Roku for cord-cutting


Chromecast with Google TV (4K)

Source: Google

Google Chromecast with Google TV (4K)

Best overall

Excellent UI, solid app library, and Dolby Vision support

$40 $50 Save
$10

Chromecast with Google TV (4K) is Google’s flagship streamer. It’s perfect for most people and brings support for Dolby Vision HDR. You also get multiple user profiles.

Pros

  • 4K with Dolby Vision and Atmos
  • Remote can control your TV and sound system

The Chromecast with Google TV (4K) was the first to come with a real interface and a cute little remote, completely transforming the way we knew our humble Chromecasts. While it has some modern capabilities, like Dolby Vision and Atmos, Google actually priced it lower than its previous 4K dongle, making it one of our favorite streaming devices. In addition, it has double the RAM of what you typically get on similar Roku sticks. And due to the revamped Google TV interface, the Chromecast integrates better with the larger Google ecosystem.

Google Assistant can do a lot more than the limited TV-only capabilities of Roku’s voice assistant, such as controlling your smart home devices. Plus, if you aren’t happy with the content-focused interface, you can always swap it for a third-party launcher, and there are plenty of other things you can customize on your Chromecast as a power user.


nvidia-shield-tv-pro-square

Nvidia Shield TV Pro (2019)

Premium pick

Powerful processor and AI-powered upscaling

The Nvidia Shield TV Pro is undoubtedly one of the most powerful streaming boxes on the market. It’s versatile and supports 4K HDR streaming, GeForce Now, Steam Link, and much more.

Pros

  • Excellent performance
  • Supports a variety of audio and video standards
  • Excellent support from Nvidia
Cons

  • Expensive
  • Just 16GB of internal storage

For those who want to do more than just stream movies on an Android TV box, Nvidia Shield TV Pro is the best (and maybe only) choice. No Roku streamer can even come close to the Shield TV Pro’s capabilities and versatility. For one, the Shield TV Pro gets 3GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage, both of which are more spacious than most other streaming hardware.

Although the storage is actually a step down from the 500GB offered on previous Pro models, those used a slower hybrid mechanical HDD. Secondly, when paired with a game controller (sold separately), you can use the Shield to play games from a variety of sources, including GeForce Now and Steam Link. And if you attach an external hard drive to it, you can even turn it into a great Plex server. However, all those capabilities came at a price that most buyers won’t consider affordable.


onn-google-tv-4k-streaming-box

Onn Google TV 4K Streaming Box

Best value

An inexpensive 4K Google TV streamer

The Onn Google TV streamer is one of the more affordable 4K streaming boxes you can get. It’s not the most powerful, but it performs reasonably well.

Pros

  • Great value for money
  • Google TV interface
Cons

  • Lacks Dolby Vision HDR
  • No support for lossless audio formats

The newest entrant in the streamer space, the Onn Google TV 4K Streaming Box, comes from Walmart. Onn is a private label of the retail giant, and it has been selling Android TV boxes for some time. The latest box offers a pretty good value at just $20. It can stream in 4K and supports HDR10. But unfortunately, there is no support for dynamic HDR formats, like Dolby Vision or HDR10+.

The overall performance of the Onn TV box is good, even though it’s not super powerful, like the Nvidia streamers. You’ll also be happy to see the Google TV interface instead of the older Android TV one. Moreover, the bundled remote has pretty much everything you need and quick access keys for YouTube, Disney+, Netflix, Paramount+, and Google Assistant. All-in-all, it’s a good deal if you need a cheap 4K streamer but don’t care about Dolby Vision or lossless audio.


amazon fire tv 4k max

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Best for Fire TV OS

Amazon’s flagship offering

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the fastest streamer in the company’s portfolio. If you like the Fire TV OS, it’s hard to go wrong with it.

Pros

  • Most audio and video standards are supported
  • Works with your Alexa smart speakers
  • Fire TV OS feels smooth and responsive
Cons

  • Not a big upgrade over the predecessor
  • Software is cluttered

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max brings rather minor improvements to the hardware over its predecessor, but the experience has improved manifold in real-world use. For example, the apps open quickly, and moving between multiple apps is a breeze for the Max. Amazon also offers virtually any streaming service you can imagine, and since Fire OS is essentially Android at heart, you can easily install APKs to access even more apps. If you’re already deep in the Amazon ecosystem, a Fire TV Stick is a no-brainer, as it’ll integrate pretty well with your Echo speakers and many smart home devices that work with Alexa.

The new remote also has dedicated volume keys and the ability to control your TV and soundbar, though the branded shortcut keys may not be to everyone’s liking. Moreover, Amazon’s revamped Fire TV UI offers improved Alexa controls. However, the interface has started to feel cluttered with ads and promotional content taking over.


apple-tv-4k-3rd-gen

Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)

Powerful but expensive

Best for Apple enthusiasts

Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) delivers one of the most refined media streaming experiences on the market. It’s also very powerful. But you’ll have to pay a premium for it.

Pros

  • Plenty of storage
  • Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support
  • Software and app library are great
Cons

  • Doesn’t integrate with non-Apple devices
  • Ethernet port limited to 128GB model
  • No bundled HDMI cable

The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) may be more expensive than every Roku streaming device, but it’s one of the best media streamers on the market, if not the best. If you are already a part of the Apple ecosystem, there is no better Roku alternative. The 3rd generation Apple TV, the latest version of the device, is considerably cheaper than its predecessors and starts at $129.

For this price, you get a powerful Apple A15 Bionic chip to keep everything running smoothly, an extremely easy-to-use user interface, a well-stocked app collection, and support for game controllers. The Apple TV 4K also supports all major HDR standards, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, and it can decode or pass through Dolby Atmos surround-sound audio format.

Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t bundle an HDMI cable in the box. And you’ll need an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable to fully realize its potential. Also, the Ethernet port and thread networking support is limited to the more expensive 128GB model.


amazon fire tv stick lite

Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite

A budget Fire TV streamer

Tons of apps and Alexa support

Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite is one of the cheapest ways to get steaming capabilities on your TV. It supports up to full HD streaming and has a decent selection of apps.

Pros

  • Supports HDR 10+ and Dolby Atmos
  • Great value, especially during sales
  • The remote has Alexa support
Cons

  • Software isn’t the cleanest
  • No dedicated volume keys on the remote

If you still haven’t given up on your old HD TV or have a liking for Amazon’s Fire TV interface, the basic Fire TV Stick Lite could be the one for