Chromecast vs. Roku vs. Amazon Fire

Chromecast, Roku, and Amazon Fire are the most popular streaming devices on the market and pretty much cover the market completely. While they each differ a bit from each other, with any of the devices from these popular families, you're going to get a great streaming experience. No matter your budget, there's definitely a product in here for you, especially if you're just looking for a simple streaming experience. Ahead, we'll break down the biggest differences between the products in all of these streaming device groups so you can decide which one is right for you.

Chromecast vs. Roku vs. Amazon Fire pricing

Chromecast

Google Chromecasts are easy on your wallet. There are two Chromecasts currently available through Google, and they are $30 and $50. The regular Chromecast is $30, whereas the Chromecast with Google TV is $50. You can purchase these through Google or at retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, Target, and others.

Roku

Roku streaming devices range in price from $30 to $180. The most budget-friendly Roku product is the Roku Express, which is $30. It's the simplest Roku product. As the products become more advanced, they increase in price, from the Roku Ultra at $100, all the way up to the Roku Streambar Pro for $180, which is a streaming device and sound system all in one. Roku's products can be purchased through Roku, as well as at a number of popular retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, Home Depot, and more.

Amazon Fire

Amazon Fire's collection of streaming devices is small but mighty. They start in price at $30 for the Fire TV Stick Lite, but sales and deals are not hard to find. Amazon will often offer deals on Fire TV products, especially during times like Prime Day and Cyber Monday. Other than shopping directly with Amazon, you can buy Fire TV streaming devices at retailers like Target and Best Buy.

Chromecast vs. Roku vs. Amazon Fire features

Chromecast

Google offers the Chromecast and the Chromecast with Google TV. The standard Chromecast is a little different from other streaming devices. It plugs into your TV and is quite simple to set up, but you control everything from your phone. What Chromecast does is offer you a larger screen than your mobile phone or small device. The standard Chromecast doesn't include a remote, because your phone is your remote. 

The Chromecast with Google TV, however, has a remote and plugs into your TV to function like other popular streaming devices. The remote is incredibly simple, with just a few buttons to use. 

Chromecast has voice-enabled capabilities with other Google products -- you can control your Chromecast with your Nest. You can still cast your viewing through Android and iOS products, though. And because Chromecast operates through your phone, you can plug in your headphones for private listening. With the Chromecast with Google TV, you can stream up to 4K HDR, but you'll only get HD up to 1080p with the regular Chromecast. 

Chromecast with Google TV offers a wide variety of streaming content. Find all the major streaming apps, like Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV+, Starz, Showtime, and many more. With subscriptions to these apps, you can watch award-winning TV, movies, and documentaries any time you want. There are also news, music, and sports apps you can install, like Spotify, iHeartRadio, Bloomberg, NBC News, ESPN, Fox Sports, and more. With all these channels, you can constantly stay up to date on current events, including who won last night's NFL game, the latest political news, and what song is No. 1 on the charts right now.

You can also download Facebook, Twitch, and even Peloton. Chromecast actually has several wellness-focused apps you can install, so you can get in a workout before you curl up on the couch to watch Netflix. There's a little bit of something for everyone with Chromecast.

Roku

Roku has a large family of products to choose from. These devices, in general, are very easy to install. Roku offers a simple plug-and-play setup. You plug each of the devices into your TV with an HDMI cord and connect to your internet. Follow the prompts on the screen to set up your device. 

Some of the Roku devices have a voice-enabled remote. These, for the most part, work with Alexa, Hey Google, and Siri to make voice controls quick and easy. The simpler Roku devices, like the Roku Express, don't have a voice remote but can still operate with Alexa, Siri, and Hey Google. 

Roku also offers private listening with its devices. With the Roku app on your phone and a set of headphones, you can listen to your TV and movies privately without disturbing those around you. Some of the Roku devices come with headphones, while others simply offer the functionality. 

The streaming quality is where you'll find the biggest difference across Roku products. The simple Roku devices are designed for standard HD TVs and stream at 1080p with upscaling from 720p. Some of the more advanced Rokus, like the Roku Ultra, can stream in 4K HDR with Dolby Vision. 

As for Roku content, there's a little bit of everything, including all your favorite streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, and more. With these apps, you have access to award-winning shows and movies, including those that aired on cable, as well as originals that are unique to the streamers. You'll find everything from Jane the Virgin to New Girl and Bridgerton to Ted Lasso.

Roku also offers music channels like iHeartRadio, Pandora, and Spotify, as well as free channels for TV, sports, news, and more. Free channels include The CW, Peacock, CBS Sports, and Crackle. Roku also offers The Roku Channel, with a variety of content. The Roku Channel has movies, TV, and more, all free, including everything from classics to current TV. Check out the latest options on The Roku Channel here.

Amazon Fire

Most of the Amazon Fire family of products are of the stick variety, aside from the Fire TV Cube. Amazon's sticks are easy to hide behind your TV, whereas the Cube is a bit cumbersome. All of them are easy to install once plugged in. After you're connected to the internet, you'll be prompted through the setup process and then will reach your home screen. The home screen will auto-populate with popular apps, but you can customize what's there by adding more. 

The Amazon Fire remotes are simple and only have a few buttons. They're voice-controlled with Alexa, of course, and it happens with the touch of a button. Amazon Fire products can also be tethered to other Amazon voice products so your whole family of Amazon devices is knitted together. That means you can use your Amazon Echo to control certain features of Amazon Fire TV with select devices. 

The streaming quality varies on the Amazon Fire devices. On the low end of the spectrum are the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite and Amazon Fire TV Stick. Each offers HD streaming up to 1080p. The two top-level devices, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and the Amazon Fire TV Cube, stream at 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision. 

Amazon Fire devices also offer a bevy of apps and live and on-demand streaming to choose from. You'll, of course, find the go-to apps like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime Video. With your subscriptions to these, you can watch everything they have to offer, including classics, cable favorites, originals, and more. 

Beyond that, your selection of apps is practically endless. One look at Amazon's page of apps to choose from shows that there are more than 10,000 available across all genres. You can find sports channels like ESPN, Fox Sports, and CBS Sports, plus kids' networks like Noggin, Nick Jr., and Pokemon TV. 

Amazon Fire also offers a number of games you can download, like Candy Crush and Sonic the Hedgehog, though if you want to play games on your Amazon Fire TV, you'll want to get a separate controller. It's just one more aspect of Fire TV that sets it apart from the rest -- it's a streaming device first and foremost but can also be turned into a gaming console.  

Our final take

All three of these device families are appealing, and it really comes down to your allegiances. If you're an Amazon devotee, then by all means, select an Amazon Fire product. It will function much the same as a Roku or Chromecast. If you're more of a Google fanatic, the Chromecast will work just fine for you. If you don't have much sway in any of the brands, perhaps Roku will be a fine fit. We like all of them and think they're all solid options. For value for the price, though, we think Amazon Fire might just edge out the competition.