Cord Cutting Q&A: Roku vs Fire TV, Which Should You Buy?


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One of the most common questions we get is should you buy a Roku or Fire TV for cord cutting. Often, people who want an Apple TV or Android TV are quickly sold. Yet Fire TV and Roku buyers frequently ask which one is better. With so many emails and questions about this, we want to answer this question for everyone.

Should you buy a Roku or a Fire TV?

The truth is, there is no one device that is best for everyone. Much like with streaming services, what you want and need may be different from what I want and need. Just because a Fire TV may be perfect for you, a Roku may be best for others.

The Fire TV has amazing support for Alexa devices and has built-in Alexa. Roku has support for Google Home and apps the Fire TV does not. So there really is an argument that each device has features the other does not.

So, if there is no one best device what should you look for when you are trying to pick a streaming player? Here is my guide to help you choose the best one for you.

#1 Does it have the services you want?

Most of the big services are on both Roku and the Fire TV, but some are not. YouTube and YouTube TV, for example, does not have an official Fire TV app. Roku does have an official YouTube and YouTube TV app. Yet Roku does not have an official Twitch app or support for the Fire TV Recast DVR for example.

So, I would visit both the Roku Channel store and the Fire TV app store to see if they have the services you want.

#2 The Remote

If a remote is important, you may want to look at each device’s remote. Some people love having quick launch buttons for services like Hulu and Netflix on their Roku remote. Others hate it and prefer not to have any quick launch buttons and pick the Fire TV. I would look at both and see what you like.

#3 The User Interface (UI)

The user interface on both the Fire TV and Roku have a very love-hate relationship with people. Some people love the extremely easy to use Roku UI. Others think the Roku UI is ugly. Some love the Fire TV UI, but others complain it is overly crowded and full of what they see as ads.

I would suggest you look at both UIs and see which you like.

Final Thoughts

Both devices are great streaming players. Both have their shortcomings and both have their selling points. Personal preference plays a big part is which most people buy. Do your research and pick the one you’ll enjoy using.

Which device do you love? Leave us a comment and let us know what you use.

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