I give up on Chromecast. Would you recommend Amazon Fire Stick or Roku?

[Miles Archer]

First, I have some kind of problem with Google Chrome. It doesn't load correctly, and I have uninstalled / reinstalled it twice, without any plugins, to rectify the issue. Didn't work. Chromecast is visible on my screen, but when I click "cast" on my laptop, I get the dreaded "no casting devices found" message. Sometimes, after a half hour of Russian Roulette fixes, it works (no single fix works every time). Other times I give up for the night and pop in a DVD.

I've been looking at the Roku stick and the Fire Stick. Your thoughts?

On the Fire Stick, the "Alexa Voice Remote" is part of the bundled software / apps, correct? I haven't been able to figure out if you just need to buy the stick or if you need an Echo device as well. If you do, that rules out Fire Stick for me.

Your thoughts are appreciated. I want this primarily for Netflix and Hulu. I really don't care about anything else, although I may do some exploring. But as far as a buying decision goes, I need something for Netflix and Hulu, that's it.

[bettyellen]

1. Did some research and decided on the Firestick and am getting it today.

So ask me tomorrow! I do think it has Alexa in it- and also it’s easy to jaikbreak and use the net for TV streaming that sounds great. My Roku was glitches, remote broke easily and the app for the remote didn’t always work.

[shenmue]

2. I use a Roku III box

It's pretty good.

[comradebillyboy]

3. I use Roku. It's super easy to use and delivers the services

I get netflix, hulu, amazon and a bunch of other services. Easy to set up, easy to use, cheap hardware.

[marylandblue]

4. I'm happy with the Firestick

I think mine came with a voice remote, but I don't use that feature and I don't have Alexa. I have Netflix and Hulu through Amazon, they work fine. I also like Amazon's own programs like The Man in the High Castle.

[OnDoutside]

5. I have 2 firesticks loaded with mobdro and kodi on it.

Look up a YouTube channel run by a guy called Peter Carcione, who I find is extremely helpful.

I have the basic firesticks, not the voice controlled one.

[HopeAgain]

6. Use Roku and have never had a problem with it

I have both the stick and the larger tabletop receiver on different TVs and both have worked like a charm. I got it because I cut the cable and Sling has sports channel options I wanted.

[Sedona]

7. Two flawless rokus in my house for three years

Bought three for my kids. Working flawlessly too.

My mom had both and just replaced the Firestick with another roku

[Xipe Totec]

8. Roku.

I've had both Chromecast & Roku.

Roku is the better choice, no question.

[lisa58]

9. I have both and amazon is better...

Decided to go smart tv in the kitchen w Roku and kept getting thrown off even though the WiFi was 10 feet away.

[Codeine]

10. I used a Roku box for almost a decade

and then got a new RokuStick when the box just became too old and obsolete. We use it a lot and it has performed flawlessly. I heartily recommend Roku to everyone.

[Lochloosa]

11. Roku. I love mine.

[hedda_foil]

12. Fire stick works every time for me. The voice control is built-in

But you don't have to use it. There's a perfectly good search function that doesn't require voice commands.

[Heddi]

13. Roku. I have all 3 (roku, firestick, chromecast)

I feel the roku has so much more to offer than the firestick. Chromecast was just...eh. I got it for free and only used it once in 2 years. Firestick....eh. I got that for free and I'm not even sure where it is. I love roku so much I have a box for the living room and a stick for the bedroom. So many channel choices. So much more than firestick.

Get it on Amazon. If you don't like you can return.

[Thx]

14. I've had Roku

for 6 years now, but I'm not sure if my box has developed a defect though because the streaming is stretched in the vertical sense, people are thin and tall.

But I must say it's the best $59 I ever spent, I watch tons of news and with the Roku Plex channel I built a 4000 disc archive of classic movies and TV.

$800 (for the discs, both Roku and Plex cost me nothing) and I built a collection that would cost $24,000 if you bought them pre-recorded.

(In fact, lol, a lot of the movies came from Alpha video in the first place, and they want about $6 a piece.)

So overall I would highly recommend Roku.

Thx

[Fla Dem]

15. Roku for my TV, not laptop. But it works great on the TV. Very easy and delivers.

[Zorro]

16. I have both

Both stick options support Hulu and Netflix.

Fire Sticks are good for Amazon sponsored programs; Rokus used to have a dedicated button on their remotes for the Amazon app (they do have a dedicated Netflix button), but it's missing on newer versions (but Amazon Prime is still available as a Roku app).

I prefer Roku's user interface; the Fire Stick UI seems a little more finicky to me. Fire Sticks have the UVerse app, where I can stream MSNBC; MSNBC programs can be found on the Roku NBC app, but it's only recorded programming and not live.

In general I think a Roku stick is the better choice, but both have their strengths and weaknesses. Roku sticks are occasionally on sale for $40 around holidays, and Amazon in the past has dropped the Fire Stick price to as low as ~$25.

[hibbing]

17. Can you get a smart TV?

I cut my cable a while ago and bought a cheap smart TV. It is great, it has Netflix button and others on the remote and has a bunch of other streaming services available. Just my two cents.


Peace

[Nikkiroy12]

20. Amazon Fire Stick or Roku

I have both the stick and the bigger tabletop collector on various TVs and both have brought about the ideal result. I got it since I cut the link and Sling has sports channel choices I needed.

[gopiscrap]

21. welcome to DU