Streaming Media Apps Comparison
Confused and unsure which streaming media will work for you? Check out this handy caparison chart to help you decide!
The Chart: Major apps compared
| Roku | Apple TV | Amazon Fire TV | Google Chromecast | Google Nexus Player | |
| Netflix | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes |
| Amazon Instant | Yes | AirPlay | Yes | TabCast | TabCast |
| YouTube | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes |
| Hulu Plus | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes |
| HBO Go | Yes | Yes | Yes* | Cast | Cast |
| Showtime Anytime | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cast | Cast |
| Vudu | Yes | AirPlay | No | Cast | Cast |
| Flixster | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cast | Cast |
| Crackle | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes |
| PBS | Yes | Yes | Yes | TabCast | TabCast |
| PBS Kids | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes |
| FXNow | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Disney Channels | Yes | Yes | Yes | TabCast | TabCast |
| Time Warner Cable TV | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| SlingPlayer | Yes | AirPlay | No | Cast | Cast |
| Sky News | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Starz Play | No | No | No | Cast | Cast |
| Bloomberg TV | No | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes |
| Watch ESPN | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cast | Cast |
| MLB.TV | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes |
| NFL Now | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cast | Cast |
| NBA Game Time | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes |
| Pandora | Yes | AirPlay | Yes | Cast | Yes |
| Spotify | Yes | AirPlay | Yes | TabCast | TabCast |
| Rdio | Yes | AirPlay | No | Cast | Cast |
| Beats Music | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Rhapsody | No | AirPlay | No | Cast | Cast |
| Vevo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cast | Cast |
| “Radio” & iTunes radio | Roku | Apple TV | Amazon Fire TV | Google Chromecast | Google Nexus Player |
| TuneIn | Yes | AirPlay | Yes | TabCast | TabCast |
| iHeartRadio | Yes | AirPlay | Yes | Cast | Cast |
| Amazon Music | Yes | AirPlay | Yes | No | No |
| iTunes content | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Google Music | No | No | No | Cast | Yes |
| Google Play Movies and TV | Yes | No | No | Cast | Yes |
| Plex | Yes | AirPlay | Yes | Cast | Yes |
*HBO Go is available now on the Fire TV box, but not coming to the stick until Spring 2015.
Other chart Notes: Apps were selected based on editorial discretion. All of these devices support additional apps beyond those listed here. “Yes” means the device supports the app natively; “AirPlay,” “Cast” and “TabCast” mean the device supports the app using that mirroring function instead of natively; “No” means the device does not currently have the app or did not fully support it via mirroring in our tests. The list applies only to the U.S. market; app selection varies in other countries worldwide. App selection is current as of December 19, 2014.
Category : Product Review