Should you buy a Roku streaming stick in 2025? Here's my buying advice after testing one

I remember making the switch from cable to streaming devices 14 years ago at my first apartment. I was fresh out of college and working an entry-level job, when paying $80 a month on cable became unsustainable. So I switched to a Roku streaming device in my living room and a Google Chromecast in my bedroom. 

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Multiple Roku devices have passed through my house since that day, but I still have the same 32-inch HD TV where I made the initial switch from cable to Roku in that apartment. It’s now my guest room TV, but it felt fitting to try the new Roku Streaming Stick on it. Of course, testing the Roku Streaming Stick Plus with 4K warranted a better TV, so I’ve been testing it in my living room. 

Cutting the cord was a permanent thing for me, as it is for most of us who do it, and I’ve since expanded my streaming device collection to include each of the major streaming platforms. But even if Roku, Google TV, Fire TV, and Apple TV have gotten as popular as cable was in its heyday, they each stand out for their individual accomplishments.

For me, Roku is the clear winner in user interface and ease of navigation. Since its launch, Roku has maintained a clean, no-frills aesthetic that makes it stand out for being the easiest to use. 

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This is why I keep a Roku in the guest room, which hosts family members of all ages, from grandparents to teenage nieces and nephews. Roku’s platform is easy for non-techy users to navigate without feeling intimidated. 

The remote that comes with the Roku Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick Plus is also a winner for simplicity. It’s not the premium Roku Voice Remote Pro 2, so you don’t get the ability to ping it easily when lost or the backlit buttons in low-light settings. But including that high-end remote would increase the devices’ affordable $30 and $40 prices. 

Replacing my old Roku Stick with the new Roku Streaming Stick in the guest room made a very noticeable difference in navigation. Even if my older Roku Stick was still getting the latest updates, it was slowing down somewhat, especially when loading apps. But the new Roku Streaming Stick is snappy, and the image looks crisp and detailed on my HD TV. 

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The new Roku Streaming Stick and Roku Streaming Stick Plus are slimmer and easier to install, too. Both devices are only slightly thicker than the HDMI port, so they don’t encroach on the space of other ports on your TV, which is a big plus. They’re also long, with the power port located at the end of the device, leaving it out of the way. 

The Roku Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick Plus both use your TV as a power source, so you don’t have to plug in yet another cord to a nearby outlet. This also reduces the number of cords you have hanging down from your TV.

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I’ve experienced issues connecting older Fire TV Sticks via the USB port to the TV and bypassing the outlet, but none with the new Roku Streaming Stick or Stick Plus — not even when streaming 4K content. The simplified connection means you can also take the new Roku Streaming Stick and Stick Plus anywhere you go, like a hotel or short-term rental.  

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Roku Streaming Stick and Roku Streaming Stick Plus both offer some of the best value you can get from high-quality streaming devices. I especially recommend the Roku Streaming Stick if you’re looking for an inexpensive way to upgrade an HD TV to make it smarter and snappier, especially an older one. For only $30, it’ll make it feel like new. 

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I’d recommend the Roku Streaming Stick Plus to anyone looking for a 4K streaming device, whether your TV is smart or not. These devices will give your TV a smart, intuitive platform and access to hundreds of free channels and media files via the Roku Channel.