
- Firestick or chromecast movie#
- Firestick or chromecast android#
- Firestick or chromecast download#
- Firestick or chromecast free#
Adding smart bulbs, thermostats, doorbells, and security cameras to your home could mean you need multiple apps to control each device individually.Ĭheck the box, and do some research before making a purchase. Like other smart home devices, it’s best to choose one ecosystem and stick with it. Others work best, or only with FireStick streaming devices. Some smart doorbells work only with Google’s devices. Whichever streaming device you choose, keep in mind not all work with other devices in your home.
Firestick or chromecast android#
The Google Chromecast with Android TV is around $50 but you won’t find the latest version on Amazon. Without a remote or the remote app, you will be unable to control the streaming device.Īmazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target have already dropped the price of Roku and FireStick devices to around $20.

The included remotes are somewhat fragile and I’ve lost a few Roku and FireStick remotes as well as had some damage after getting caught in a sofa or someone sitting down on one. Roku and FireStick have their own remote control apps while Chromecast can use the Google Home app.
Firestick or chromecast download#
No matter which device you go with, download the companion app. You can purchase 9 Roku or FireSticks for the price of one Apple TV device If you have purchased movies, shows, and music from Apple: Apple TV If you want a simple interface and great search: Roku If you need or want quick suggestions on what to watch next: Amazon FireStick or Chromecast with Android TV If I want to just browse what’s playing, I’ll use the FireStick or Chromecast.Įach of the companies has devices that stream 4K and UHD content where available.
Firestick or chromecast movie#
When I want to find a specific movie or actor, I use the Roku search function.
Firestick or chromecast free#
Enter a search term such as a movie or show title, or an actor or actress name and the Roku will search all of the available services for results.įor example, when I entered “Ted Danson movies”, the Roku found just about every movie the actor appeared whether it was on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, AppleTV+, Disney or any of the free options. You won’t see content suggestions until you choose a service. After launching Roku, you’ll see tiles of all of your streaming options. The Roku interface is very simple and basic. Based on what you most recently watched, the Chromecast displays movie and show titles it thinks you’ll want to watch next. You can still open the Netflix or Hulu tiles for instance to browse content, but clearly, Amazon hopes you’ll choose something from Amazon Prime Video.Ĭhromecast with Android TV displays content similarly but Google doesn’t play favorites. The thing about the FireStick device is that it places Amazon Prime content in front of any other service. The Amazon FireStick displays available content on the screen with tiles showing the movie and shows title. The biggest difference between all of these devices is the interface. The Amazon FireStick, Roku, and Chromecast all have devices that do not require a set-top device although the Roku also has a small set-top box with more features.

For the most part, they plug into an HDMI input and some with their own remote control. They can all stream the popular services. So what’s the difference? Which one should you get for yourself or gift someone?įirst, these secondary devices are very similar. You can find them in almost any big-box retailer and online. The most popular choices right now are the Roku, Amazon FireStick, Chromecast, and Apple TV. What if you don’t have a smart TV? What if you do but you’d like to have another option? What if you’d like to take your smart TV options and streaming services with you when traveling? In those cases, you’ll likely want to invest a few bucks for a streaming device. LG smart TVs use WebOS, SAMSUNG TVs use Tizen and Vizio has its own operating system called SmartCast.

Those smart TVs have operating systems similar to web browsers. Most TVs these days are smart, meaning those streaming services can be viewed without any additional equipment.

One question I get frequently is “what’s the best way to view these streaming options?” There are also dozens of free options such as Pluto TV, Tubi, and Crackle. Depending on your taste in movies and TV shows, you can subscribe to streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube, YouTube TV, HBO Max, Triller, and lots of other offerings. What’s the difference in these streaming devices and which one is right for you?
