#Chromecast vs roku tv tv#
The Roku Stick and the Fire TV Stick, then, have extremely similar selling points. The Chromecast is out on this count, as it lacks Amazon Video, thanks to an ongoing dispute between Google and Amazon. Naturally, most of them are chaff, so it really comes down to which sticks supply the wheat. In the past, Roku won this category handily based on sheer numbers alone, but now each product has access to thousands of apps. In the kingdom of streaming content, the product with the most apps is king. The Roku Stick has an admirable menu system, but it feels a little staid, while the Fire TV Stick's Amazon focus can feel relentless. While the Chromecast eschews traditional menus, it's still the simplest and quickest way to get your content up on the big screen. The latter, however, puts such an overwhelming focus on Amazon content that just finding apps like Netflix and Hulu can be a pain. Both the Roku Stick and the Fire TV Stick offer fairly snappy scrolling speeds. The Roku has the better menu of the two, letting users customize the placement of apps on their home screen, putting favorite ones front and center, and deleting irrelevant ones. In terms of sheer numbers, though, neither one holds up to the Roku's unified search function. The combination of Netflix and Google Play Movies and TV tends to be a little richer than Amazon Video's subscription and a-la-carte options, so the Chromecast gets a slight edge in this category. The former can search through both Amazon Video and Hulu, while the latter has Netflix and Hulu. The Fire TV Stick and the Chromecast both trawl about 20 services apiece. I wasn't thrilled with either stick's performance in this regard.
#Chromecast vs roku tv download#
Each one lets users scroll through various menus, which let you search for content, download new apps or simply watch the channels you've already downloaded. The Roku Stick and the Fire TV Stick use a much more familiar system of getting around. Each one lets users scroll through various menus, which let you search for content, download new apps or watch the channels you've already downloaded. While the Chromecast app can act as a hub, it's not strictly necessary for anything except initial setup. The content will show up on your TV, and your device will act as the remote. To use an app on the Chromecast, simply open it on your phone, tablet or computer, then press the Cast button.
While the Roku Stick and the Fire TV Stick provide slightly different spins on the tried-and-true method of scrolling through menus, the Chromecast employs an unusual way of finding and watching videos. Streaming sticks can display thousands of videos, none of which will do any good if you can't find your way to them. The Roku Stick is slightly easier to set up than its Amazon counterpart, though. While it requires a phone, tablet or computer, the Chromecast gets up and running in the quickest, most foolproof manner. The Fire TV Stick requires users to sign into the device itself, one painstaking remote-controlled letter at a time. The Roku Stick has a bit of an advantage, however, as you can sign in via phone, tablet or computer. The Roku Stick and Fire TV stick are a bit more traditional, in that you'll have to sign into an account and wait for your information to sync with a server. Since you're likely already signed into your Google account (not to mention your Netflix, Hulu, YouTube or other streaming accounts) on your device, you're good to go as soon as the Chromecast connects to your Wi-Fi network. Once again, the Chromecast provides the most straightforward setup, since all you have to do is visit a website on your phone, tablet or computer, download an app and select Set Up. You'll also need an existing user account with either Google, Amazon or Roku, depending on your device. All three systems have fairly similar setup processes: Plug the device in, connect to Wi-Fi and follow a few simple instructions.
Setup (10)Īlthough you only have to run a streaming stick's setup once (in theory), it should still be a painless process that puts as few steps as possible between you and the content you want to watch. The Fire TV Stick is too finicky about its power cable requirements. While the Roku Stick gets the job done, the Chromecast excels with a flexible, aesthetically pleasing design that can fit into almost any TV setup.
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