Roku Streaming Stick (HDMI Version) vs. Google Chromecast

Which tiny gadget is better for your streaming and casting needs?

With the introduction of Chromecast and a new Streaming Stick, Google and Roku have miniaturized the world of streaming and mirroring by packaging their respective tech into tiny cases. Both units are incredibly affordable, are small enough to fit into your jean's fifth pocket, and are available now—but while the two share some features and physical characteristics, the new gadgets are far from identical.
Take a look at how the two compare and find out which one works best for you.

Design

Roku's Streaming Stick and Google Chromecast share similar dimensions, with both larger than your typical thumb drive. Each device is about an inch thick, but the Streaming Stick is a bit longer at 3.1 inches and the Chromecast's 1.38-inch rounded body is a tad wider. Google's option is twice as heavy as Roku's, but at 1.2 and 0.64 ounces, respecitively, weight is completely negligible. Power is supplied to the Streaming Stick and Chromecast by either a USB port or a power outlet.

Streaming Options

Check out our Roku Streaming Stick review.

As a standalone streaming device, Roku's unit is, by far, the better of the two. The Streaming Stick offers just about everything you can find on the company's set-top boxes—which is, to say, a lot. All of the biggest video and music streaming options are available, with plenty of additional specialty channels to choose from. Roku says that its devices offer more than 1,000 channels, covering movies, television, sports, and news. If you're looking for a streaming service, chances are that you can get it through the Streaming Stick.
Chromecast, on the other hand, does not have any streaming capabilities right out of the box. To view content on your television, Google's unit requires an iOS or Android device, or a computer running the Chrome browser or Chrome OS.

Mirroring and Casting

As you would guess by its name, Chromecast is all about casting and mirroring. When paired with an Android or iOS device, the Chromecast mobile app lets you initiate streams from services like Netflix, HBO Go, and Google Play Music and Movies, while tab mirroring lets you watch video and listen to music from your Chrome browser-equipped computer. Using a Chromecast-compatible mobile app results in quality streams, but tab mirroring can be laggy.
Tab casting can be used for more than just another way to streaming video and audio content, though. Just about anything that you can pull up through the Chrome Browser can be mirrored to your television. This feature is particularly useful when wanting to quickly share content with others or if you'd like to view your browser on a larger screen.

Google Chromecast: Unboxing and Setup

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Catch up with our Google Chromecast review.

As of now, the Streaming Stick's casting capabilities are very limited. You can initiate Netflix and YouTube viewing sessions through your Android or iOS phone or tablet, but both apps are already available on Roku's device. You can also share locally stored photos and video by using the Roku mobile app. PC mirroring is in the works for the Streaming Stick, but it's not yet available.

Ease of Use

Since the Streaming Stick is a standalone product, it's simple to get up and running, although it may take some time to get everything set up. When you first power on the device, you'll need to connect to your Wi-Fi network, sign in to (or create) your Roku account, then install and sign in to whatever channels you want to use on the device. Once done, all you need is the Roku remote or mobile app to use the Streaming Stick.
Chromecast handles things differently, but the process is still easy. Instead of initializing the setup directly through the unit and your television, syncing the Chromecast with your wireless network is handled with the device's app. From there, you'll be able to mirror and cast from your phone or tablet by using a compatible app, or you can install the Chromecast extension for the Chrome browser or through Chrome OS.

Price

Roku's Streaming Stick is priced at $49.99, making it cheaper than just about any other decent streaming device on the market. The less expensive Chromecast can be purchased for just $35, but it's important to remember that you need another device to make use of Google's option—something to keep in mind if you decide to get one for a friend or family member who may not be tech savvy.

So which device is better? It all matters on what you're looking for. Roku's Streaming Stick is much better when it comes to streaming—and it does so right out of the box—but the cheaper Chromecast shines when it comes to mirroring and casting. As far as support, Roku has been building its relationships with content providers for quite some time, and it has the channel store to prove it. Chromecast is still in its infancy, but it's getting better as more developers jump on board to create compatible mobile apps.
Which mini-gadget have you picked up or are planning to purchase? Let us know in the comments below.