Apple TV vs. Roku: Find Out Which Streaming Device Is Best for You
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Cutting the cable and switching from traditional television to an internet-based option has become easier than ever. There are plenty of live TV apps and countless compatible streaming devices currently on the market.
Streaming media players like Roku and Apple TV have a wider selection of apps, a better interface, and more frequent software updates than Smart TVs.
If you want to easily stream your favorite shows and movies in HD without a cable subscription, but you're torn between the Apple TV and Roku, we can help you find the best one for you by comparing the two.
Apple TV
The Apple TV is one of the pricier streaming devices you can buy. It starts at $149, and it comes in 32 GB and 64 GB configurations. The smaller-sized variant will work just fine for most, but if you're planning on storing lots of videos, games, and apps on its hard drive, you should spend the extra $50 on the 64 GB version.
Apple TV is best for people who use iTunes and purchase a lot from it, because no other streaming device supports iTunes. We do really like the device's TV app, which offers users just a single sign-on that automatically logs you into all the streaming apps that come with your cable subscription. Apple TV has downloadable games and several live TV apps, including Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, DIRECTV Now, and YouTube TV. However, its App Store just isn't as expansive as Roku's.
In fact, Apple TV doesn't currently support Google Play Movies & TV and music streaming apps like Spotify and Google Play Music. Apple has announced that it'll support Amazon Video and VUDU later this year, but these apps have been available on other devices for years now.
One major advantage to the Apple TV is AirPlay. If you have an Apple TV, you can use AirPlay to stream video, music, and some apps to your HDTV. It also doubles as a way to mirror your Mac's display. Features like this and its easy HomeKit integration make it a great choice for users that like to be tied to Apple's ecosystem.
The Apple TV's user interface is gorgeous, but it isn't as intuitive as Roku's. Additionally, Apple puts higher priority on selling its own content, rather than offering pricing for other shows and movies from different apps. We weren't huge fans of Apple's on-screen keyboard, either. Fortunately, you can input text with voice or use a Bluetooth keyboard. Voice search with Siri also works well, but it isn't as impressive as the Amazon Fire TV and Roku, which search through more apps.
Roku
Roku is a streaming device that lets you stream video and music, plus play games. Roku offers a customizable and easy-to-use interface, the ability to watch with headphones, and the option to mirror your smartphone or tablet's display. There are several different Roku streaming devices available, which all vary in price and feature set. However, even the most expensive Roku, the Roku Ultra, is still $40 cheaper than the 32GB Apple TV.
Compared to other streaming devices, Roku has the widest selection of content. Roku streamers give you access to over 4,500 channels and apps, including Amazon Video, Google Play Movies & TV, HBO Go and Now, Pandora, Showtime, Spotify, WatchESPN, YouTube, and Vudu. You'd be hard-pressed to find an app Roku doesn't have. The three major services you can't access on Roku are Google Play Music, Apple Music, and iTunes.
What makes Roku shine is its universal search. Other streaming boxes only search a few apps. Roku, on the other hand, lets you search by title, actor, or director across multiple apps. It combs through more than 100 streaming channels (even if you don't have them installed) to find the show or movie you want to stream. Even better, results are sorted by lowest price.
You can follow a movie or TV show to receive notifications for when it's available to stream or if its price drops. Additionally, if you have a favorite actor or director, you can be notified when one of their new movies or shows is streaming.
So, Which One Should You Get?
While both the Apple TV and Roku provide you with easy ways to stream your favorite shows or movies directly to your TV, you have to weigh the pros and cons to both to see which one is best for you. If a large app selection is most important to you, go with a Roku. If you download a lot from iTunes, use Apple Music, and want to use AirPlay and HomeKit, the Apple TV is your best choice. We don't mean to make matters even more complicated, but you could pass on both and get an Amazon Fire TV or NVIDIA SHIELD instead as other options. Both work excellently with Kodi and are great alternatives. Good luck and happy cord-cutting!
More from Best Products:
Learn How to Install Kodi on Your Amazon Fire TV
Check Out Our Ultimate Cord Cutting Guide
Read Our Full Roundup On Roku Devices
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