# Roku streaming player 20 Hacker News commenters recommended Roku streaming player and 66 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 9 of 13 months; owners who said how long report a median of 10 years (5 owners). **Verdict:** People recommend Roku for its slick interface and phone remote app, but critics most often cite home screen ads and viewing data tracking. ## Why people recommend it - Reliable and responsive for years (3 comments): "my household and extended family has been running on roku for literally over a decade" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48543278)) "I use Roku for Apple TV (the streaming service) and works great." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50078011)) "External devices like AppleTV, Roku or Xboxes are responsive." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46590005)) - Phone remote and headphone streaming (2 comments): "With Roku you can connect your headphones to you phone, and then just start streaming the audio directly to your headphones." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50074048)) "I am able to use my phone as a remote via the roku app. This includes typing on mobile via my phone's keyboard." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48379659)) - Slick interface with ads off to side (2 comments): "The ads are not particularly obnoxious - they are always off to the side and don't interfere in navigation in any way." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48542520)) "They have a few ads here and there but I've always found the interface to be super slick." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46272494)) - Works with Plex and optical players (2 comments): "The Roku stuff already exists, and is paid for, and it works with Plex" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47761512)) "Roku + optical player works pretty well." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47126307)) ## What people warn about - Home screen ads and recommendations (4 comments): "they already changed the default home screen a few weeks ago to show recommendations, SO MANY ads, etc" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48541197)) "Your Roku already has advertisements and other content nudges on the Home Screen, and now those are going to be very one-sided and potentially politically motivated." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48547329)) "On my Roku the ads aren't just off to the side. When I go to the home screen there are now "recommended" shows above and below my channels" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48543162)) - Tracks viewing and network data (5 comments): "examine your network when you plug a roku in. then read their privacy policy if you want to see someone give LG a run for their money." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49599505)) "Roku bypasses DNS blocking with hardcoded tables so it can report back on various data they track on you." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49114175)) "Rokus and built-in smart TVs are actively tracking and monetizing everything you do on your television" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50076171)) - Shift toward ad-driven content (3 comments): "The old version of Roku, and even streaming sites within recent memory, offered a significantly less enshittified product." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48546876)) "I have always been unhappy with Roku's decision to get involved in streaming content at all" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48540767)) "It was clear many years ago that their shift form platform to ad provider was underway." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48543115)) - Software bloat added over time (2 comments): "The old version of Roku, and even streaming sites within recent memory, offered a significantly less enshittified product." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48546876)) "Roku has patched so much new garbage into the product since I originally bought mine." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47340224)) ## Alternatives hackers recommend - [Apple TV 4K](https://hackerapproved.com/p/apple-tv.md): 323 recommend - [Nvidia Shield TV](https://hackerapproved.com/p/nvidia-shield-tv.md): 113 recommend - [Apple TV 4K](https://hackerapproved.com/p/apple-tv-4k.md): 93 recommend - [Amazon Fire TV Stick](https://hackerapproved.com/p/amazon-fire-tv-stick.md): 19 recommend - [Roku streaming device](https://hackerapproved.com/p/roku-streaming-device.md): 14 recommend ## Where to get it - [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Roku+streaming+stick&tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link) - [Official site](https://www.roku.com/) ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Roku streaming player", https://hackerapproved.com/p/roku/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).