Chromecast, Fire TV Stick, or Roku: What’s the best streaming stick for ~$50?

We've overhauled our guide to the best streaming sticks to account for the new devices and OS updates launched by Amazon, Roku, and Google since our initial comparison in January 2021. We've also added a section covering the hardware differences between the major players in the category.

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  The Google Chromecast with Google TV. [credit: Jeff Dunn ]

Most of us have a short list of requirements for a video streaming device. We just want something that easily delivers content worth watching and works with all the other devices in our living rooms without friction.

In most cases, a good streaming stick will do the trick. There are some reasons why someone would want to pay for a pricier set-top box: the Apple TV 4K doesn't stuff ads on its home screen, for instance, while a device like Nvidia's Shield TV Pro gives you more ports for local media streaming and enough power for gaming. Most people, though, don't need to spend more than about $50 on a streaming device to get an enjoyable, and oftentimes superior, experience. Google, Amazon, and Roku, three of the biggest names in the space, all offer useful and competitive options around this price point.

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