Why we love the Roku Streaming Stick Plus
Why we love the Roku Streaming Stick Plus
If you’re shopping for a new Roku device, we think the Streaming Stick Plus model is the way to go.
The Roku operating system is wildly popular in the United States, thanks to the ease of use associated with Roku devices and the thousands of hours of free content that viewers can access by watching The Roku Channel on their streaming player.
But if you’re not sure exactly which Roku streaming device is the best choice for you in 2026, we can help. After careful consideration of each Roku device, we think the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is the way to go for those looking to purchase a new Roku, either for the first time or as a returning Roku customer.
So, why did we go with the Roku Streaming Stick Plus? We’ll explain our methodology below and show you the other streaming devices in the Roku family to help you decide for yourself if the Roku Streaming Stick Plus will satisfy your streaming needs at a reasonable price.
Why the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is the best Roku device in 2026
Roku streaming players
From $40
How many devices does Roku sell?
Roku sells a range of streaming devices from basic to advanced, including models that top out in 1080p HD and Ultra-High-Definition 4K. See the list of modern Roku devices now, and click the links to start comparing if you’re ready.
- Roku Streaming Stick HD
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus HDR 10+ and Dolby Vision
- Roku Streaming Stick Plus
- Roku Ultra
Roku also offers three lines of in-house manufactured smart TVs, all of which come with its operating system pre-installed. The Roku Select series is available in sizes from 43 inches to 85 inches; the Roku Plus series ranges from 55 inches to 75 inches; and the Roku Pro series is available in 55-inch and 65-inch sets.
What are the features of the Roku Streaming Stick Plus?
The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is a compact, sleek streaming stick that will fit into your TV’s HDMI port without blocking other ports. Setup is a breeze; in just a few minutes, you can have your new Roku Streaming Stick Plus connected and ready to go.
The Roku Streaming Stick Plus offers Ultra-High-Definition 4K picture quality, as well as HDR 10+, which improves picture quality by automatically adjusting brightness and color in every frame. The stick provides a high-resolution stream with a strong internet connection, and doesn’t break the bank to do so (more on that in a bit).
Owners can also connect Bluetooth headphones to a Roku Streaming Stick Plus and use the Roku app to set up a private listening session with the device when watching TV. The player also comes with a voice remote for easier search and navigation, and the remote also has TV controls that are compatible with most modern smart TVs. Finally, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is compatible with Apple AirPlay, allowing iPhone owners to cast to the device with ease.
How much does the Roku Streaming Stick Plus cost?
The normal retail price for the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is $60, which is fairly middle-of-the-road as far as equivalent streaming devices go. In the summer of 2026, Roku and other streaming device manufacturers raised the prices raised the prices of their players to offset the difficulties in sourcing RAM caused by the construction of AI data centers.
Critically, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is $20 cheaper than the next-most-expensive model in the lineup, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. There isn’t a ton of difference between the two sticks — the biggest being that the Roku Streaming Stick 4K supports Dolby Vision, and the Streaming Stick Plus does not. For our money, saving the extra $20 is the smarter move, especially since most streaming services don’t include Dolby Vision in any but their most expensive subscription tiers.
Comparing the Roku Streaming Stick Plus to other models
| Roku streaming player | Price | Picture quality | Headphone mode? | Dolby Atmos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roku Streaming Stick HD | $40 | HD | With Bluetooth and mobile app | No |
| Roku Streaming Stick Plus | $60 | HD, 4K, HDR10+ | With Bluetooth and mobile app | No |
| Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus HDR 10+ and Dolby Vision | $80 | HD, 4K, HDR10+, Dolby Vision | With Bluetooth and mobile app | No |
| Roku Ultra | $150 | HD, 4K, HDR10+, Dolby Vision | With Bluetooth and mobile app, or headphone jack in remote | Yes |
Why we chose the Roku Streaming Stick Plus
The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is the right intersection of features and value. At $60, it has most of the features of the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, and it’s $20 cheaper. To get all the bells and whistles of the Roku Ultra, including a headphone jack in the remote, backlit remote buttons, and Dolby Atmos support, you’ll have to pay $150 — almost $100 more than the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, and prohibitively expensive for most budgets.
Most customers simply won’t find that price difference worth the extra features, unless they have a truly top-of-the-line smart TV that will support all the extra bells and whistles that come with the Roku Ultra. For everyday streaming needs, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is more than enough.
We do recommend the Streaming Stick Plus over the Roku Streaming Stick HD because the supported picture quality is so much better. A 4K display offers four times the pixels of a 1080p HD display, and many streamers provide at least some 4K content to all subscribers, even on ad-supported plans. The difference is easy to spot once you line HD and 4K images up side by side, and it’s worth bypassing the Roku Streaming Stick HD in favor of the Streaming Stick Plus in our eyes.
Where to buy the Roku Streaming Stick Plus
You can find the Roku Streaming Stick Plus at a ton of retailers in the United States, both online and in brick-and-mortar stores. To compare prices at major American retailers now, use the links below:
- Shop the Roku Streaming Stick Plus at Amazon.
- Shop the Roku Streaming Stick Plus at Best Buy.
- Shop the Roku Streaming Stick Plus at Target.
- Shop the Roku Streaming Stick Plus at Walmart.
Roku streaming players
From $40
Roku streaming players make it easy to access your favorite streaming apps in one simple interface. With options for HD and 4K viewing, there’s a Roku device for every budget and setup.
