Roku streaming player

What hackers pick instead

• Apple TV 4KRecommended as a fast, private replacement for spammy smart TV software, controllable with one remote via CEC, though Apple pushes its own promotions and it is pricey.323recommend
• Nvidia Shield TVA long-supported Android TV box that plays local 4K media well with audio passthrough and app freedom, though its 2015-era chip lacks newer codecs and the interface shows ads.113recommend
• Apple TV 4KRecommended for smooth, simple streaming, fast hardware, long software support and a privacy-friendly business model, though critics cite missing audio passthrough and a higher price than before.93recommend
• Amazon Fire TV StickPeople recommend it as a cheap way to add streaming and sideloaded apps to an older TV, with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max as the top model; critics mainly object to ads and data collection by Amazon.19recommend
• Roku streaming devicePeople recommend it for a consistent, fast, clean interface and a cheap price; the main caveat is ads and settings changed after updates.14recommend

Every quote

The 40 most detailed of 93 comments. Each links to the original.

1. With Roku you can connect your headphones to you phone, and then just start streaming the audio directly to your headphones.

   Recommends · Oct 2026 · in “New Apple TV 4K”

2. The ads are not particularly obnoxious - they are always off to the side and don't interfere in navigation in any way.

   Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”

3. I am able to use my phone as a remote via the roku app. This includes typing on mobile via my phone's keyboard.

   Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Roku LT Operating System open source distribution”

4. they already changed the default home screen a few weeks ago to show recommendations, SO MANY ads, etc

   Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”

5. They have a few ads here and there but I've always found the interface to be super slick.

   Mixed · Dec 2025 · in “Microsoft Copilot AI Comes to LG TVs, and Can't Be Deleted”

6. my household and extended family has been running on roku for literally over a decade

   Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”

7. The Roku stuff already exists, and is paid for, and it works with Plex

   Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “WiiFin – Jellyfin Client for Nintendo Wii”

8. I use Roku for Apple TV (the streaming service) and works great.

   Recommends · Oct 2026 · in “New Apple TV 4K”

9. External devices like AppleTV, Roku or Xboxes are responsive.

   Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Floppy disks turn out to be the greatest TV remote for kids”

10. Roku + optical player works pretty well.

    Recommends · Feb 2026 · in “What I Learned After Building 3 TV Apps Coming from Mobile”

11. 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.

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”

12. 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

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”

13. 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.

    Criticizes · Sep 2026 · in “216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]”

14. The old version of Roku, and even streaming sites within recent memory, offered a significantly less enshittified product.

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”

15. the seasonal ad sections that continued popping up in the menu despite my continually blocking them wore on me

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”

16. Roku bypasses DNS blocking with hardcoded tables so it can report back on various data they track on you.

    Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “Read This Before You Buy That TV Streaming Stick”

17. Rokus and built-in smart TVs are actively tracking and monetizing everything you do on your television

    Criticizes · Oct 2026 · in “New Apple TV 4K”

18. it also does pretty extensive tracking of you, what you watch (ACR), what devices on your network

    Criticizes · Oct 2026 · in “An ad-free Android TV”

19. I have always been unhappy with Roku's decision to get involved in streaming content at all

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”

20. FOX will still own all your viewing history (years?) to use for behavioral marketing, etc.

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”

21. It was clear many years ago that their shift form platform to ad provider was underway.

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”

22. Roku has patched so much new garbage into the product since I originally bought mine.

    Criticizes · Mar 2026 · in “Hisense TVs force owners to watch intrusive ads”

23. Due to `*.roku.com` DNS black hole, roku showed no ads but things like Netflix and YouTube using standard roku apps("channels") worked fine.

    Mixed · Dec 2025 · in “Texas is suing all of the big TV makers for spying on what you watch”

24. forced parsimony imposed on the developers could be a reason to give Roku a try again

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”

25. Roku at least felt non-evil or non-evil adjacent in its notional neutrality.

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”

26. My PC and the roku device were both wired to two different ports on a router

    Mixed · Jan 2026 · in “The WiFi only works when it's raining”

27. appletv, roku, or similar streaming boxes delivers that best.

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “LG to Ban Residential Proxies from Smart TV Apps”

28. Roku has all of B5 - with less commercials than the others

    Recommends · Feb 2026 · in “Babylon 5 Is Now Free to Watch on YouTube”

29. But the streaming is so strewn with ads, it's unbearable

    Mixed · Dec 2025 · in “Why Your TV Will Probably Never Be Better Than It Is Now”

30. time to switch out my Roku for something better

    Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”

31. the built-in Roku software refusde to even display from an HDMI or DP input unless it was logged in and connected to WiFi

    Criticizes · Nov 2026 · in “Ask HN: Which TV do you recommend for privacy?”

32. Roku loves auto changing to really innapropriate shit after the kid appropriate episode ends.

    Criticizes · Mar 2026 · in “Hisense TVs force owners to watch intrusive ads”

33. easily replace Fire TV sticks, AppleTV boxes, Rokus and other similar proprietary garbage

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “Linux on Older Hardware: The Complete Revival Guide”

34. compared to Roku/Fire/whatever Google is doing these days/literally any built-in solution

    Criticizes · Oct 2026 · in “New Apple TV 4K”

35. YouTube on PS4 and Roku both serve adds from (what I assume are) hardcoded IP addresses

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”

36. Services are really never safe. Or at best, they should be considered temporary.

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”

37. I've had that problem with Roku, Google, and Vizio updates too, over the years.

    Criticizes · Aug 2026 · in “Fixing a Bricked Framework Laptop”

38. seems like that is not true for Roku which is specifically the one that is bad

    Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “Jellyfin founder Andrew leaves team”

39. Can barely do anything on it without an internet connection or Roku account.

    Criticizes · Sep 2026 · in “Owners mourn spoiled food after firmware update bricks Samsung smart fridges”

40. they slowly began to degrade the experience with ads on their home screen

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”