On the floor, Roku and Amazon Fire TV have loads in widespread. Both provide inexpensive streaming gamers that you just which you can plug into virtually any flat-panel TV, and each will allow you to entry a variety of in style streaming providers, from Netflix and Hulu to YouTube TV and Disney+.

Digging a bit deeper reveals some large philosophical variations between the 2 streaming platforms: Roku’s software program emphasizes simplicity over flashy options, whereas its expansive {hardware} lineup tries to hit each conceivable finances. Amazon takes the other method, pairing a small variety of simple-yet-effective {hardware} choices with a sprawling software program interface.

There is not any clear winner between these two approaches. Instead, selecting between Roku and Fire TV as your streaming platform of alternative might be a matter of non-public choice. To make the choice a bit simpler, let’s stroll by how the 2 hottest streaming platforms evaluate.

Ease of use

If you’re used to the concept of launching apps in your cellphone, you’ll be fairly snug utilizing a Roku system. Its principal menu presents a grid of icons, letting you shortly launch streaming apps equivalent to Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. And once you’re getting arrange, it’s straightforward to seek out the most well-liked apps by the “Channel Store” part of the house display screen.

The Fire TV menu is way more cluttered. Instead of a single app launcher, there are separate rows for favourite and up to date apps, together with a grasp app listing you may entry by holding down the house button. The house display screen can be surrounded by further menus for films, TV reveals, and apps, every with its personal layers of really useful movies. There’s some advantage to this method, which I’ll describe within the subsequent part; however in comparison with Roku, it’s more durable to navigate.

Advantage: Roku

Jared Newman / IDG

Content discovery

The flip facet is that Amazon’s Fire TV interface is best at suggesting what to look at with out making you bounce out and in of various apps. Keep scrolling previous the app listing, and also you’ll discover row upon row of urged films and reveals to look at. Most come from Amazon’s personal Prime Video service, however you may additionally get suggestions from different apps, equivalent to Netflix or HBO Now. While this method can really feel inscrutable—largely as a result of Amazon doesn’t allow you to customise the suggestions that seem—it’s useful for these occasions once you’re feeling indecisive.

Jared Newman / IDG

Roku’s makes an attempt at content material discovery are way more conservative. There’s a “Featured Free” part on the house display screen that spotlights free films and TV reveals to look at, however that doesn’t assist if you wish to know what’s new on Netflix or Hulu. And whereas Roku provides editorially-curated “zones” for various genres, it’s a must to search and drill although a number of menu layers to entry them. As a outcome you’ll most likely spend extra time within the apps you already know greatest as an alternative of discovering what else is on the market.