The Best Fire Stick Alternatives of 2024 (2024)

Our Top Picks

Amazon offers several devices under the Fire TV brand with varying levels of functionality. As far as streaming devices go, the Fire TV Cube is top-of-the-line. Since it includes built-in Alexa support, the Fire Cube can do everything an Amazon Echo Dot does in addition to streaming movies and TV.

Unlike the original Fire Stick, the Fire TV Cube supports 4K video, HDR, and Dolby Atmos. It also features an infrared (IR) blaster, allowing the Cube to control Blu-ray players, cable boxes, soundbars, and other devices that work with an IR remote. You can even connect a wireless security camera and view the feed on your television.

Apple TV isn't a smart TV. Instead, it's a streaming device like the Fire Stick. Apple's streaming box is compatible with your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, so you can cast videos and even mirror your device through Apple AirPlay. Another standout feature is the Siri remote, which lets you control your TV and other smart devices using voice commands.

Since Apple TV's compatibility is limited to other Apple devices, it's only ideal if you're already invested in the Apple ecosystem. The regular Apple TV doesn't support 4K streaming, but with the Apple TV 4K, you can watch your iTunes movie library in 4K Ultra HD.

The original Roku popularized the concept of internet streaming on TVs, so the brand has a reputation for its solid products. Today, Roku makes streaming sticks, media players, and smart TVs. There's also a Roku streaming service, but you don't need a Roku to subscribe.

If you want a barebones streaming device for watching Netflix, Max, and similar services, you can't go wrong with Roku. Although Roku doesn't support Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant out-of-the-box, some models support voice search. Since there are so many versions to choose from, carefully research which features each specific device includes.

Since Chromecast is made by Google, it's built to be compatible with Android and Google Chrome. That means you can easily stream video from the internet on any computer or mobile device. You can also stream videos and music directly from an external hard drive or shared folders on your home Wi-Fi network. Chromecast even offers a small amount of local storage.

The original Google Chromecast looked like a USB stick, but newer Chromecasts have a flat design with a built-in magnet so that you can attach the end of the HDMI cable when not in use.

At $200, Nvidia's Shield TV Pro is the most expensive option on this list, but you get what you pay for in terms of quality. It boasts a Tegra X1+ processor with 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB of local storage, blowing the Fire TV Cube and Chromecast out of the water in terms of speed and performance. Designed with gamers in mind, the device makes it easy to play mobile and PC games on your TV.

The Shield TV Pro features two USB ports and an Ethernet port, allowing it to connect directly to your modem or router. As a result, you don't have to worry about poor Wi-Fi connections, and you can even connect a game controller. The original Shield TV lacks USB and Ethernet ports, but it supports game controllers and other peripherals via Bluetooth.

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