The add-on factor is a definite consideration if you’re already all-in on Amazon. Roku vs chromecast tv#YouTube TV does this, too, but there are a lot fewer people that actually use that service. Nothing’s stopping you from subscribing to those services separately from Amazon and watching them in their own apps, but going through Amazon lets you get to them in the standard Fire interface, no extra apps required. If you like, you can treat Prime like a basic cable package, adding on extras like HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Stars, CBS All Access, PBS Kids, and many more, for between $5 and $15 a month. Just be prepared to see ads for Amazon’s video content more or less everywhere outside of those apps.Īmazon also has an advantage that Roku lacks: add-ons to its Prime service. Roku vs chromecast free#Those who subscribe to Amazon Prime Video and who already have tons of Alexa-powered smart home gear are obviously the primary customers here, though you can use Fire TV to play video via subscription and free services all the live-long day. What Amazon offers is integration with its corporate retail empire-which might be a good thing, if you’re already all-in on it. That is an entirely subjective determination, by the way-if you disagree, you’re not wrong, and Roku probably isn’t for you. There’s an argument to be made for putting the content front and center, but we still think dividing it into individual apps and services is easier to manage. Roku vs chromecast android#In contrast, both Fire TV and Android TV/Chromecast tend to blast you with recommendations for individual shows and movies. And thanks to a recent update, Roku also finally has access to HBO Max. You have to go into the apps themselves to start browsing content. Roku vs chromecast plus#Roku’s homepage is about the apps, just the apps, ma’am: Users see a grid of the services they can access, plus live TV and HDMI inputs if their TV is Roku-branded. And all of them are going to be inexpensive compared to other options in the same form factor.īut Roku is also the most focused of the popular smart TV platforms, if only because its approach is somewhat old-fashioned. You might even find a soundbar or two that runs it. First, it’s the most widely available: In pretty much any electronics store, online or brick-and-mortar, you’re going to find both Roku streaming sticks and TVs preloaded with Roku software. Roku gets our top spot for a couple of reasons. Roku: For Bargain Hunters and Fans of Simplicity Roku Roku: For Bargain Hunters and Fans of Simplicity And they’re all extremely accessible, with 4K streaming capabilities at the $50 level (or lower), so they’re a good add-on to even a budget TV. Update, 9/2/21: Checked content for accuracy.īut in various forms and flavors, all three of them can be added on to an existing TV, and there’s a good reason to do so: All of them are better-supported and more expandable than, say, the prebaked TV operating systems that come from LG, Samsung, and Vizio. Sony, the one premium brand to buck the trend of custom-built operating systems, uses Android TV (aka Google TV, aka the new Chromecast, because Google sucks at branding). For most consumers who want something besides their smart TV’s built-in interface, or who are shopping for a new TV and want a widely supported UI baked in, you’ve got a choice between Roku, Fire TV, and Chromecast.Īll three are preinstalled on many televisions, mostly budget brands: TCL, Hisense, Element, and Philips, Toshiba, and Insignia all offer TVs with either Roku or Fire TV baked in. At this point, the set top box market has settled on three major choices-or rather, two major choices and a dark horse.
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