Roku vs Fire Stick: Which one is best for your streaming needs?

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

If you want to cut the cord and enhance your streaming TV experience, you may wonder which device best fits you. The Amazon Fire TV Stick and the Roku Streaming Stick are two of the most popular options on the market. However, there are some key differences to consider before making a purchase.

Amazon Fire TV and Roku strive to provide the best streaming experience possible through dongles, branded televisions, and streaming boxes. Choosing the right device, however, involves more than just comparing price tags.

Also: I tested Samsung's 98-inch 4K QLED TV, and watching Hollywood movies on it left me in awe

In this article, we'll delve into the Amazon Fire TV Stick and the Roku Streaming Stick -- with additional information on each company's other streaming devices -- to help you determine which one best suits your needs and preferences.

Specifications

You should buy a Fire TV Stick 4K if...

Amazon

1. You want the most features for less money

When you compare the tech specifications of a Fire TV Stick 4K against the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, you'll find that both devices are very similar, even down to the $50 regular price. One thing is certain, however: Amazon offers bigger discounts more often on its Fire Stick than Roku does. This means you can typically find the Fire TV Stick 4K for a lower price than the Roku (like right now).

Also: The best live TV streaming services of 2024: Expert tested

The Fire TV Stick 4K has dropped to $28, while the Roku Streaming Stick dropped to $29. Both are discounted, but the former is the better deal.

2. You use Alexa in your smart home

Alexa, Amazon's voice assistant, seems to be a must on every Amazon device, and the Fire TV Stick 4K is no exception. The Alexa-enabled remote included with this streaming device has a button to press and hold to ask Alexa questions. Though the Roku also comes with a voice remote that you can use for navigation within the Roku platform, the Alexa remote can go beyond searching for your favorite TV show.

If you have Alexa-enabled devices as part of your smart home setup, you can tell Alexa via your Fire TV Stick remote to turn on a smart light or change the room temperature on your smart thermostat. You can even ask the voice assistant to show you compatible security cameras on your TV. 

Also: Why I recommend the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro even though I'm not a fan of subscriptions

Roku has a line of smart home products that can integrate its camera feeds with Roku TVs or streaming devices, but the feature is still pretty new and limited to its own Roku Home devices. 

3. You watch primarily Prime Video (and don't mind ads)

Unsurprisingly, the Fire TV platform is more focused on Prime Video. The streaming service comes pre-installed on the device, offering access to great exclusive programming. These include but are not limited to hit shows like The Boys, The Grand Tour, and The Marvelous Ms. Maisel. Of course, not everything is geared toward adults, as there are plenty of kid-friendly shows, such as Tumble Leaf.

As an Amazon product, it's not surprising that you'll find many ads while navigating the system. I personally don't mind the ads so much; I ignore most of them. But if you're an avid watcher of Prime Video content, you'll find the ads geared to users like you. 

Also: Crystal UHD vs QLED: A comparison for buying Samsung TVs this Black Friday

Roku devices offer Prime Video access, but the service is not pre-installed. You'll have to go to the Roku Channel Store, download the Prime Video app, register the app, write down a six-digit code, and enter that code into Amazon's MyTV webpage. It's a whole process that can take a while to complete. Meanwhile, on the Fire Stick, all you have to do is log into your account to begin watching.

You should buy a Roku Streaming Stick 4K if...

Artie Beaty/ZDNET

1. You prefer a more user-friendly platform

The Fire TV menu is visually attractive, but it's simply not as straightforward or user-friendly as the Roku platform. It's a sleek design, but you often have to take extra steps to do something compared with doing it on a Roku.

For years, Roku was the only one offering universal search, which lets you search for a title and have your Roku show you all the different apps you can watch it on, along with how much it costs to rent or buy, if applicable. Other streaming devices, like the Apple TV 4K and Fire TV devices, have since added the feature.

Also: This Roku Ultra streaming device gave my TV 4K superpowers - and it's on sale right now

Fire TV's search results have improved and even include AI powers, but they require more work to sift through. You're given one primary channel and must select "more ways to watch" to see all the other options. Multiple options are often available, but clicking on them may lead to a paywall or a dead end. 

2. You want an easier-to-use remote control

Admittedly, Fire TV remotes have come a long way in becoming more user-friendly and, in the process, more like the Roku remote. However, I still find the Roku remote easier to use than its competitor. 

Also: This Roku soundbar turned my old TV into an immersive 4K theater experience

It's the buttons for me; give me good old arrows, and I know where to go. I don't want to sound like a dinosaur here, but I'd choose the Roku remote if I had to choose between it, my Fire TV, Google TV Streamer, and Apple TV 4K remotes.

My Roku remote (left) doesn't get lost in my couch cushions nearly as often as the Fire TV Stick remote (right).

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

The Roku remote is rounder and thicker than the Fire TV remote, which is thin and easy to lose between the couch cushions. The Roku remote also has old-school arrows and an "OK" button, whereas the Fire TV remote has a circle with a round "OK" button in the middle and, you guessed it, no letters or arrows in this navigation wheel, which makes it a little less intuitive for someone getting familiar with it.

Aside from this, both remotes are pretty similar: Both have mute and volume buttons to control compatible televisions, your regular navigation buttons, and four-channel shortcut buttons that are not reprogrammable on either remote. Also, both devices have a mobile app that enables your phone to double as a remote should you lose your physical remote control.

3. You need the long-range Wi-Fi feature

If you have a bigger home or want to put your streaming device on any TV around your house, you may be interested in Roku's long-range Wi-Fi feature.

The Roku Stick 4K has a larger antenna than previous devices, allowing four times the wireless range. This is due to the included USB power cable with a Wi-Fi receiver, which holds the Wi-Fi hardware on the line farther away from the device for less wireless interference.