Luckily, there’s no lack of content at the moment since Roku offers virtually all major services with nearly 2,000 apps available. Without the ability to sideload apps not in the app store, Roku ends up being more limited and at the mercy of its developers who support it with content. You can’t sideload apps or games like you can with a Fire TV product, so if a developer chooses to remove their app (like YouTube TV had just recently), you can’t download it. There’s no advanced algorithm for finding spot-on recommendations, and the biggest hassle is that Roku apps are locked to a limited app store. Unfortunately this isn’t a case of “If it ain’t broke, don‘t fix it,” since customization is extremely limited and scrolling through more than a dozen channels feels slow even when you hold the scroll button up or down. This menu feels lightweight, there’s minimal lag across devices, and apps auto-update in seconds. You can click right into your apps without being bombarded by full-screen ads, and your favorite services are easily accessible with a press. Once you turn on one of these devices, your downloaded apps (which Roku calls channels) show up in rows of three, broken down into large easy-to-see rectangles.

But as one of the first streaming devices to hit the market nearly a decade ago, and the interface is showing its age: It’s too straightforward for its own good. If you don’t care for a customized content experience and want to launch straight into your media, you can’t go wrong here. Roku’s proprietary operating system is simple to use, which is both a blessing and a curse. The Best Roku and Fire TV Streaming Devices

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