Battle of the streaming sticks: Chromecast vs. Roku vs. Fire TV Stick | Computing
Streaming sticks and compact dongles used to exist solely as low-budget alternatives to bigger, better, and more powerful set-top boxes. Nowadays, though, these tiny little tech marvels can often perform the same tasks as their larger brethren, but at more manageable prices (and sizes).
Google, Roku, and Amazon are the biggest players in this market, with each touting signature streamers at reasonable rates that are packed full of desirable features. But which one is best? Google’s hockey-puck-shaped Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra are monsters of their respective domains. Amazon’s Fire TV Stick isn’t too shabby either, and both Roku options — the Express Streaming Stick+ and the Roku Express — have plenty of streaming muscle.
We decided to pit them all against one another in the categories that matter most, from ease of use to price and features. Take a look to see which streamer should win your heart (and your wallet).
Film buff? Once you’ve officially opted for a streaming device, take a look at our guides to the best Netflix movies, the best movies on Hulu, and the best movies on Amazon Prime.
Google Chromecast (2nd generation) |  Google Chromecast Ultra |  Roku Streaming Stick+ |  Roku Express |  Amazon Fire TV Stick | |
| Price | $30 | $69 | $70 | $30 | $40 |
| Video | 1080p | 4K UHD | 4K UHD | 1080p | 1080p |
| Dedicated remote | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Controller app | Android, iOS, MacOS, Windows, Chrome OS | Android, iOS, MacOS, Windows, Chrome OS | Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BB10 | Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BB10 | Android, iOS |
| Voice search | Yes, via Home app | Yes, via Home app | Yes | Yes, via app | Yes, via app or remote |
| Cross-platform search | Limited | Limited | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| DT Review | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Available here | Best Buy, Various retailers | Best Buy, Various retailers | Amazon, Roku | Amazon, Roku | Amazon |
Ease of use
Even though they let you access the same content, the Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra function quite differently than the other devices. Since Chromecasts use your mobile device or computer to “cast” content to your TV, they’re devoid of a traditional menu-based user interface, a remote control, and onboard storage. In fact, in a world of smart devices, the Chromecast is perhaps the dumbest of them all.
But when it comes to simplicity and ease of use, that’s a very good thing. Chromecast devices leave all the smarts to your device, simply acting as a conduit through which your TV can access content. Find what you want to watch or listen to on your personal device, “cast” it at the Chromecast with the tap of a button and, voilà, it’s on your TV. That includes any content you can put on a Chrome browser window, i.e., anything on the web. It’s not that the other options here are complex — in fact, they’re all quite manageable — but the Chromecast takes the top spot here.
Winner: Chromecast, Chromecast Ultra
Processing power
Well, technology moves fast, so the winner in this category is generally the most recently released product. As of our most recent update, that would be the Roku Streaming Stick+. Moving on!
Winner: Roku Streaming Stick+
Games
Sure, the Roku devices will let you play Angry Birds and a handful of other cute games, but the Fire TV Stick has access to a huge library of more advanced titles (like Machinarium and Minecraft). Plus, the Fire TV Stick can be used with the same console-style gaming controller available with the Fire TV (sold separately). These games are highly appealing to casual gamers and represent more than just a novelty. Chromecast’s games are fine, but you won’t find much to please the console crowd. Most are multiplayer party titles such as Risk, Scrabble, and Monopoly.
Winner: Amazon Fire TV Stick
App library
When it comes to the sheer number of available apps (not counting games), the Roku devices, with access to thousands of apps (or channels, as Roku calls them), win by a landslide. You can also use the official Roku app to select content on your smartphone.
Chromecast apps (“Cast Enabled” apps) also number in the thousands now, but support for the casting platform between PC, Android, and iOS devices varies, which can be frustrating. The good news is that, unlike Roku and Amazon Fire TV, any Android or iOS app can be Cast-enabled if the developer chooses, making for an ever-growing selection. But Chromecast still can’t natively play Amazon Prime Instant Video due to the ongoing war between the two megacorps. All of this to say, Roku is still king of app mountain.
Winner: Roku Express, Roku Streaming Stick+
User interface
We’ve owned one Roku device or another for the last several years but also have put some serious time into testing Fire TV set-top boxes and streaming sticks. As we’ve now come to use both the Roku and Fire TV interfaces regularly, this has become a tough call to make. The Roku interface is extremely user-friendly — some might even call it “bubbly” — whereas the Amazon Fire TV interface has a little more techno-flash, yet is still very able to take care of business. We enjoy using both for different reasons, and neither is significantly better than the other by any objective measurement, so we’re calling this one a draw.
While Chromecast does have a lot of functionality via the Home app, it doesn’t really have a traditional user interface, per se. Instead, you’ll be navigating apps and content libraries through your phone, tablet, or PC. While that does technically put it behind the other devices, as long as you’re comfortable with your casting device of choice, Chromecast is incredibly simple.
Winner: Roku Express, Roku Streaming Stick+, and Amazon Fire TV Stick (tie)