Google's Chromecast made waves when it offered a home entertainment solution for $35, letting you stream all sorts of content to a tiny little HDMI-capable stick. Roku decided to take it head on with a stick of its own. Which one is better? We decided to take a head on look.
We've had our hands on a Chromecast for awhile, and though initial abilities weren't all that impressive it has since evolved into a pretty capable little device—so long as you have a phone or tablet to control it. Roku just started shipping their streaming stick for only $15 more, including the full Roku platform without the need for separate device. Each option has its own set of pros and cons, but this shootout intends to find a winner. Let's take at which device is worth the money.
Both Are Equally Portable
If you want to know if one might travel better than the other, don't. Both the Roku and the Chromecast are equally tiny with USB power connectors. While the Chromecast has a bulge at its base and the Roku doesn't, that tiny bit of extra mass doesn't really make a difference when you're tossing either one in a bag. Either device will serve you equally well for travel purposes.
Chromecast Streams More Stuff from Your Mobile Devices
Since all Chromecast does is stream content from mobile devices and computers, it shouldn't come as a surprise that it handles these tasks better and offers more choices. For starters, that includes your web browser, your phone's screen, podcasts, photos, music, and even content from Plex. Thanks to AllCast, you can also streaming any DLNA-capable media with ease (though Roku can, too).
Roku can only stream photos, videos, and apps using its own app and content from Netflix and YouTube. It makes up for these limitations with apps—something we'll get to in a moment—but if you prefer streaming from a device in your hand then the Chromecast covers far more ground.
Roku Offers Actual Apps
While you can download Chromecast-capable apps to stream content from your mobile to your device, you can download actual apps onto your Roku just like the full-sized set top boxes. This includes several content music and video channels, the full home media center app Plex, and even a small selection of casual games. Because these all exist on the device, they're ready to go once you start using the streaming stick. With Chromecast, you have to pull something up on your phone to get started.
Chromecast Is a Better Group Device
Chromecast accepts streams from mobile devices and laptops on your local network. That means if you want to share a YouTube video and have a friend share one afterwards, it's simply a matter of taking turns (so long as you're all sharing the same Wi-Fi). This is great for sharing media together, if that's something you want to do. While you can technically sync up several devices to contribute content to your Roku, their streaming stick wasn't really made for group activities.
Roku Offers More Methods of Control
Chromecast requires another device to provide it with content. Roku can use a mobile device, but it also includes a standard remote control. This gives you the option of controlling the device the way you like. If you like the feel of a physical controller with buttons, this is a big deal and easily worth the extra $15 to get the Roku. If you prefer controlling things from your smartphone, it's not.
Roku Offers Dual-Band Wi-Fi
While the tiny antennae in these streaming sticks might make it a moot point, technically the Roku offers greater Wi-Fi capabilities than the Chromecast. This is solely a result of dual-band. Both streaming sticks support 802.11n, but the Roku can use both the 2.4 and 5.0 GHz spectrums, while the Chromecast is limited to the former.
Chromecast Can Stream Anything via Google Chrome
While Roku has a lot of channels, it doesn't have everything. If there isn't an app for the content you want, you're out of luck. If Chromecast doesn't have an app capable of streaming the content you desire, you can fill in the gaps by streaming from Chrome. Using the Google Cast extension, you can mirror any browser tab on your television screen. As great as this sounds, it's far from perfect. The quality isn't phenomenal and there's a bit of lag. That said, it's far better than nothing at all.
There you have it. While both are capable devices and worth their respective price tags, I personally liked the Roku a bit better—it offers a bit more out of the box for an extra $15. You get apps on the device, a remote, more content choices, and pretty much all the streaming capabilities you'd want in a tiny little package. Most importantly, however, you get choice. If you like remotes, you get a remote. If you like controlling with your smartphone, you can use that instead. The Chromecast costs a bit less, though, and if you like streaming stuff from your mobile device, it might be the ideal choice for you instead.