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Amazon Fire TV vs. Chromecast vs. Roku vs. Apple TV

Amazon just launched its new Fire TV. Here's how it compares to the other three biggest streaming device platforms in terms of features, apps, form factor, remotes, and pricing.

David Katzmaier Editorial Director -- Personal Tech

David reviews TVs and leads the Personal Tech team at CNET, covering mobile, software, computing, streaming and home entertainment. We provide helpful, expert reviews, advice and videos on what gadget or service to buy and how to get the most out of it.

Expertise A 20-year CNET veteran, David has been reviewing TVs since the days of CRT, rear-projection and plasma. Prior to CNET he worked at Sound & Vision magazine and eTown.com. He is known to two people on Twitter as the Cormac McCarthy of consumer electronics. Credentials

Although still awaiting his Oscar for Best Picture Reviewer, David does hold certifications from the Imaging Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology on display calibration and evaluation.

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David Katzmaier

April 2, 2014 10:56 a.m. PT

Today Amazon launched the Fire TV streaming media box .

Its standout features include an extensive library of games, an optional game controller ($40), voice search via a mic on the remote, an "ASAP" function that's said to launch certain videos immediately, and a "Free Time" function that allows parents to limit their kids' media consumption, much like on Amazon's Kindle Fire tablets.

It also offers a lot of content options.

So without further ado, here's a comparison of the four major streaming devices as they stand today.

	Amazon Fire TV	Chromecast	Roku	Apple TV
Price	$99	$35	$49 - $99	$93
Form factor	Box	Stick	Stick or box	Box
Video apps	Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, Showtime Anytime, Crackle, Vimeo, more	Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Vudu, Crackle, more	Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, Showtime Anytime, Vudu, Crackle, M-Go, Vimeo, PBS, PBS Kids, Disney Channel, Redbox Instant, Time Warner Cable, Slingplayer, more	Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Crackle, Vimeo, PBS, Disney Channel, more via AirPlay
Audio apps	Pandora, Vevo, Qello, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, more	Pandora, Rdio, Vevo, Songza, more	Spotify, Pandora, Rdio, Mog, Amazon CloudPlayer, Vevo, Qello, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Slacker, more	Vevo, Qello, "radio"
Major proprietary apps	None	Google Play Movies & TV, Google Play Music	None	iTunes Movies and TV shows, iTunes Music, iTunes Radio
Sports apps	Watch ESPN, NBA League Pass, "many more"	None	Watch ESPN, MLB.TV, NBA League Pass, NHL Gamecenter, more	Watch ESPN, MLB.TV, NBA League Pass, NHL Gamecenter, more
Games	Yes, playable via remote, tablet/phone, or optional controller ($40)	Yes, playable via tablet/phone	Yes, playable via remote	No
Control	Voice search, physical remote, app	App only (no physical remote)	Physical remote, app	Physical remote, app
Screen mirroring	via Kindle Fire HDX only	via Chrome browser	No	via AirPlay
Photo, video and music files	via Plex, Amazon Cloud	via Plex, other apps	via Plex, other apps	via AirPlay, native Mac and iOS support, iCloud
Cross-platform search	No	No	Yes	No
Parental Controls	Free Time (app- and time-based restrictions + walled garden)	No	No	Basic per-app passcode restrictions

Amazon Fire TV Chromecast Roku Apple TV
Price $99 $35 $49 - $99 $93
Form factor Box Stick Stick or box Box
Video apps Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, Showtime Anytime, Crackle, Vimeo, more Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Vudu, Crackle, more Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, Showtime Anytime, Vudu, Crackle, M-Go, Vimeo, PBS, PBS Kids, Disney Channel, Redbox Instant, Time Warner Cable, Slingplayer, more Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Crackle, Vimeo, PBS, Disney Channel, more via AirPlay
Audio apps Pandora, Vevo, Qello, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, more Pandora, Rdio, Vevo, Songza, more Spotify, Pandora, Rdio, Mog, Amazon CloudPlayer, Vevo, Qello, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Slacker, more Vevo, Qello, "radio"
Major proprietary apps None Google Play Movies & TV, Google Play Music None iTunes Movies and TV shows, iTunes Music, iTunes Radio
Sports apps Watch ESPN, NBA League Pass, "many more" None Watch ESPN, MLB.TV, NBA League Pass, NHL Gamecenter, more Watch ESPN, MLB.TV, NBA League Pass, NHL Gamecenter, more
Games Yes, playable via remote, tablet/phone, or optional controller ($40) Yes, playable via tablet/phone Yes, playable via remote No
Control Voice search, physical remote, app App only (no physical remote) Physical remote, app Physical remote, app
Screen mirroring via Kindle Fire HDX only via Chrome browser No via AirPlay
Photo, video and music files via Plex, Amazon Cloud via Plex, other apps via Plex, other apps via AirPlay, native Mac and iOS support, iCloud
Cross-platform search No No Yes No
Parental Controls Free Time (app- and time-based restrictions + walled garden) No No Basic per-app passcode restrictions

Note that the apps for Amazon's Fire TV come via the official product page, which says "many more" are coming. Major missing services at launch include HBO Go, Vudu, and most subscription music services like Spotify.

Update April 03: Updated Chromecast section to include additional apps.

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