Here’s an in-depth analysis of Roku vs. Fire Stick vs. Chromecast to help you make the decision that gives the best bang for the buck.
Roku vs. Fire Stick vs. Chromecast: How Does It Work?
If you’re like most people, you’re probably a Netflix or Hulu subscriber. However, watching on a small phone screen or even a laptop screen isn’t enough sometimes. You’d want to make use of your smart TV but without all the hassle of connecting your laptop to the TV. So, if you find yourself wondering how it works, you’ve come to the right place.
Roku Streaming Stick+
The Roku is fairly easy to set up with a straightforward and simple user interface. Just connect it to your Wi-Fi and an on-screen interface will automatically be available for you to access streaming services. Using the Roku remote, you can easily browse through their wide selection of channels. You can also control your device’s power and volumes quite easily with the remote. It’s pretty handy since the remote doesn’t even require it to be in the stick’s line of sight to work. What’s more, if your hands are full, you can alternatively use voice control on Roku’s remote to search content. If you have more than one Roku device but want them to have universal settings, Roku’s user sharing setup is customizable. All you need is to sign in to the same Roku account on both devices so that they can share the same settings. However, the order of the content and some other minor settings may have to be modified per device.
Google Chromecast
With the Chromecast, you don’t get an interface right on your TV the way you do with the other two. Instead, you can use it to connect to your phone, tablet, or laptop to play their content on your TV. It’s essentially “broadcasting” your phone’s music and video content to your TV as long as your app’s compatible. There are even compatible games, although they are few. With this setup, your mobile phone becomes sort of your remote control. What’s great about the Chromecast is that you can broadcast things from your computer. With Chromecast’s Plex support, you should be able to broadcast your laptop’s media content. Moreover, you can also broadcast almost anything on your Chrome browser making the Chromecast multi-functional. In terms of processing power, the Chromecast is pretty responsive. However, overall performance when consuming media content will depend on your connected device. If your device is slow, your Chromecast experience will be affected.
What Are The Available Channels and Apps?
It’s easy to think there’s no difference between Roku vs Fire Stick vs Chromecast. While they are similar in many ways, they’re all different in the content they offer. This is often the make-or-break factor in people’s decisions because the content is what you’re after.
Roku Streaming Stick+
Roku Apps Store: 18,599 Available Channels: 3,000
If you’re looking for the sheer bulk of apps between the Roku vs Fire Stick vs Chromecast, then Roku takes the cake. It even has smaller services available on the platform, which is a big plus. When it comes to games, however, Roku is a bit lacking compared to its alternatives. You can play a few games like Angry Birds and a few others but that’s about it. It’s probably not the best solution if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution for both movies and games.
Apps and Games: 15,000++ Available Channels: 60++
Google Chromecast
Apps and Games: 143 Available Channels: 100
The Chromecast is a little different compared to the Roku vs Fire Stick. You don’t get a remote to navigate any interface because there is none. All you do is connect your Android / iOS / PC to the Chromecast to “broadcast” content. There isn’t even an interface you have to fiddle with nor an account you have to sign into. Just connect the device to your TV and then your network, and viola! You have your Chromecast ready. The Chromecast can broadcast content to your TV, but that doesn’t mean everything can be broadcasted. Of course, it’ll only work with supported apps but there are thousands of those nowadays so you shouldn’t worry. BBC iPlayer, Now TV, YouTube, BT Sport, Deezer, and Spotify are just some of the supported apps. The problem arises when you’re using different platforms since app support for Chromecast varies between PC, Android, and iOS. When it comes to games, however, don’t expect the Chromecast to have a good selection of them. They may be alright for some, but it’s doubtful you’d want to play its games. You might get by if you broadcast your PC’s browser to the Chromecast, though.
What About the Viewing Experience?
It’s fun to have many shows and movies to watch. However, it may be irritating for some people to have to watch in low quality. Whether it’s the video or audio quality, both should influence your purchasing decision between Roku vs Fire Stick vs Chromecast.
Roku Streaming Stick+
With the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, you get to experience some of the highest-end resolutions with its HDMI connection. Both 4K Ultra HD and HDR10 are supported by the device allowing you to stream in the best possible quality. Moreover, you get Dolby Atmos and 802.11ac wireless, too. Just make sure to have a compatible TV and a great Wi-Fi connection to get the most out of it.
Google Chromecast & Google Chromecast Ultra
Just like with the Fire Stick, the Google Chromecast has two versions: the Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra. For the Chromecast, the maximum resolution is 1080p, which is great for most people. However, if you’re really into viewing at the highest-end 4K resolution, the Chromecast Ultra is your best bet. It also supports HDR and Dolby Vision. If you’re looking for the absolute best experience, the Chromecast Ultra should be what you look into. That’s because the Ultra has an Ethernet connection meaning you can use hard wiring to connect to the internet. With this setup, you can officially say goodbye to unreliable Wi-Fi connections and stream directly from the source! You can enjoy streaming without worrying about the stability of your Wi-Fi connection.
How Much Are They?
How much is Fire Stick, Roku, or Chromecast subscription? First of all, they aren’t things you subscribe to since subscriptions to streaming services are sold separately. These streaming sticks are more mediums than they are the source of the content. With that said, the cost of each one does differ and will certainly affect your purchasing decision. So, the Roku vs Fire Stick vs Chromecast, which is cheaper and offers the best value? Let’s find out.
Final Word
Cutting the cord has certainly been made easier by the numerous streaming services that have popped up. While most people will miss watching their favorite shows and movies on the big screen, streaming sticks like the Roku vs Fire Stick vs Chromecast are heaven-sent products for many people. They’ve made the transition from the cinemas and cable TV to streaming services much easier. Roku streaming stick features an intuitive yet simple interface that’s perfect for those who want more without paying a premium price for it. The design is sleek though some users flagged that it looks outdated for some Roku’s model. Generally, we think this product is ultra-value for money without compromising its streaming quality.
– Value for money – Clean and easy to use interface – Comes with voice control remote (Not available for other models) – Lightning-fast responses – Delivers 4K and HDR video playback
– Dated menu display – Voice support can be better
They both offer similar video and audio quality. Hence, your decision may be swayed by the aforementioned qualities of each. Do you want the widest variety of content available? If so, the Roku is probably your best bet with a $50 budget. However, if you’re looking for sub-$50 devices, we suggest you look elsewhere.
– One time cost without a service fee – Quick set up – Inexpensive
– Only have 8GB internal storage and 1 GB memory – There is a limitation of how much content you can download
Google Chromecast Ultra in general is a more powerful and upgraded version of its predecessor. It allows 4K and HDR streaming unlike the other generations of the Chromecast. It comes with faster load and start-up time and it’s compatible with Google Stadia. If you’re considering Roku Plus, Google Chromecast Ultra is a good contender.
– Easy to set up – Comes with ethernet adapter – It supports 4K and HDR streaming – No setup cost required
– Chromecast Ultra is doubled the price of Chromecast Gen 3 – Limited features on Ultra as compared to Chromecast Gen 3
If you want the higher-end version of the Chromecast Ultra, you might need to have a big budget. That’s because the Ultra is the most expensive of the bunch, coming in at $70. Yes, that’s right, it’s a lot to pay for 4K resolution. If the resolution and sound quality are all you’re after, then it’s the Roku vs Fire Stick fight that you should be interested in. However, the Ultra does come with a bonus feature that the other two don’t have. That is its ethernet connection. If you want unhindered streaming by any sort of wonky Wi-Fi connection, the Ultra is the way to go. That, or if you want the experience of broadcasting via phone, tablet, or laptop to your TV with 4K resolution, this is also the best choice. However, at a $20 premium, it’s certainly a tough bargain.
