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If you want to cut the cord and enhance your streaming TV experience, you may wonder which device is best suited for you. The Amazon Fire TV Stick and the Roku Streaming Stick are two of the most popular options on the market — and Amazon just announced a new Fire TV Stick HD
. The process is straightforward, but it can take some time to complete. Meanwhile, on the Fire TV Stick, simply log in to your account to start watching.
My Roku remote (left) doesn’t get lost in my couch cushions nearly as often as the Fire TV Stick remote (right).
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
The Roku remote is rounder and thicker than the Fire TV remote, which is thinner and more prone to getting lost between the couch cushions. The Roku remote also has old-school arrows and an “OK” button, whereas the Fire TV remote has a circle with a round “OK” button in the middle and, you guessed it, no letters or arrows in this navigation wheel, which makes it a little less intuitive for someone getting familiar with it.
Also: How to reset your Roku: 4 easy ways
Aside from this, both remotes are quite similar: they both have mute and volume buttons to control compatible televisions, standard navigation buttons, and four-channel shortcut buttons that are not reprogrammable on either remote. Additionally, both devices feature a mobile app that lets your phone serve as a remote control if you lose your physical remote.
The newest Roku Streaming Stick HD and Plus models feature a convenient benefit that makes them the most travel-friendly streaming devices: they’re powered by your TV’s HDMI port. Aside from the Stick itself and the remote, there are no extra cables or add-ons to the Roku Stick Plus.
This not only makes installation easier than ever, but also makes it easy to carry if you want to take it on a trip. Taking your Roku lets you use your own streaming device and subscriptions at a hotel or short-term rental without having to log in to them or, worse, forgetting to log out before leaving.
A streaming stick may not be the perfect solution for every application, but it’s a small, portable, and inexpensive way to turn a standard TV into a smart one.
There’s also the option of a more expensive alternative, such as buying a smart TV that’s already Wi-Fi-integrated and equipped with the most popular streaming apps. However, the investment is far more than the cost of a $50 TV stick.
All the Fire Sticks support the following apps: Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, Youtube Kids, Apple TV, Sling TV, Disney+, Peacock, Starz, Showtime, Paramount+, YouTube TV, IMDb TV, Tubi, Pluto TV, Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and many more.
Similarly, all of Roku’s offerings support the following apps: Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, Apple TV, Sling TV, Disney+, Peacock, Starz, Showtime, Paramount+, YouTube TV, IMDb TV, Tubi, Pluto TV, Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and more.
Streaming players broadcast what’s available from the apps. While many streaming apps offer free content, some of the most popular such as HBO Max, Disney Plus, ESPN+, and Netflix come with a monthly subscription fee. If you’d like to access Netflix from your Roku Streaming Stick, for example, you would need to pay for a monthly Netflix subscription and log in to your account through Roku’s interface.