What's the Difference Between Google Chromecast and Apple TV? GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Streaming > Streaming Devices 507 507 people found this article helpful
What's the Difference Between Google Chromecast and Apple TV?
Learn which smart TV device is best for your home
By Sam Costello Sam Costello Writer Ithaca College Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on November 13, 2020 Reviewed by Jessica Kormos Reviewed by Jessica Kormos Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Jessica Kormos is a writer and editor with 15 years' experience writing articles, copy, and UX content for Tecca.com, Rosenfeld Media, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email In This Article
Expand Jump to a Section Apps Give Apple TV an Edge Control Methods Compatibility Price Install Your Own Apps Display Mirroring Music Radio and Photos Summary Devices that bring web-based entertainment platforms like Netflix and Hulu to your TV are some of the hottest gadgets these days, and two of the most popular options are Google Chromecast and Apple TV. Both are small, relatively inexpensive devices that connect to your TV and stream all kinds of content, but they differ in significant ways. Colleen Tighe / Lifewire Apple TV More Than Apple' s Version of Chromecast
Apple TV and Google Chromecast do two different things. Apple TV gives you everything you need apart from a TV and an internet connection. That's because it has apps built into it including Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, WatchESPN, and dozens of other services. If you already have a subscription to one of these services, you can start enjoying entertainment right away. Google Chromecast, on the other hand, doesn't have any apps installed on it. Instead, it's basically a conduit by which a computer or smartphone that has certain apps installed on it can broadcast to a TV. Not all apps are Chromecast compatible (though there is a way around that, as discussed below). You can use Apple TV directly with a television without the need for additional hardware, but using Chromecast requires a computer or a smartphone as well. Controlling Apple TV vs Google Chromecast
Devices running iOS, like the iPhone and iPad, as well as computers running iTunes, can control an Apple TV. Both iOS devices and iTunes have AirPlay (Apple's wireless streaming media technology) built into them, so there's no need to install additional software to use them with the Apple TV. If you use an Android device, however, you must install software to make it communicate with the Apple TV. Chromecast, on the other hand, requires that you install software on your computer to set up the device and to send content to your TV. For smartphone apps, there's no built-in Chromecast support in the operating system, so you have to wait for each app you want to use to be updated with Chromecast-compatible features. Apple TV is more tightly integrated with its compatible devices than the Chromecast. Compatibility With Android iOS Mac and Windows
Apple TV is made by Apple while Google makes the Chromecast. You'll get the best experience with the Apple TV if you have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. That said, Windows computers and Android devices can work with the Apple TV too. Chromecast is more platform-agnostic, meaning you'll have about the same experience with it on most devices and computers. However, iOS devices can't mirror their displays; only Android and desktop computers can (see below for more information about display mirroring). Price
Both devices are fairly inexpensive, but the Chromecast carries the lower sticker price at $35 compared to $150 for the Apple TV. Install Your Own Apps
While Apple TV has lots of apps pre-installed, users can't add their own apps to it. Therefore, you're limited to whatever Apple gives you. With the Chromecast, you have to wait for apps to be updated to include compatibility with the device. Many, but certainly not all, apps work on both devices. Display Mirroring
One cool workaround for apps that aren't Apple TV or Chromecast compatible is to use a feature called display mirroring. This tool helps you broadcast whatever is on your device or computer screen directly to your TV. The Apple TV includes built-in support for a feature called AirPlay Mirroring from iOS devices and Macs, but it doesn't support mirroring from Android or Windows devices. Chromecast supports display mirroring from Android devices as well as from desktop computers running its software, but not from iOS devices. In short, both devices support mirroring, but they favor the products from their parent companies. Music Radio and Photos
Both the Apple TV and the Chromecast can deliver non-video content like music, radio, and photos, to your home entertainment system. The Apple TV provides built-in apps and features for streaming music from iTunes (either your computer's iTunes library or songs in your iCloud account), iTunes Radio, internet radio, and podcasts. It can display photos if they're stored in your computer's photo library or in your iCloud Photo Stream. Chromecast doesn't support these features out of the box. Some common music apps, like Pandora and SoundCloud support Chromecast with more being added all the time. In Summary
Overall, the difference between the Apple TV as a platform and the Chromecast as an accessory is that Apple TV delivers better on more varied types of content, for now at least. Chromecast may end up with more options, but presently it's a bit less refined. You may enjoy the Apple TV more if you use other Apple products, yet the Chromecast might be more ideal if you rely on Android devices. What’s the Difference Between Apple TV and Fire Stick? How to Cast Apple TV to Chromecast Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Connect a Phone to a TV Wirelessly How to Get Peacock on a Smart TV How to Mirror Android to TV (Connect Your Phone Wirelessly) How to Chromecast to a TV How to Connect an iPad to a TV How to Download a Different Samsung TV Internet Browser How to Cast Apple TV to Chromecast How to Do Screen Mirroring on LG Smart TVs How to Use AirPlay to Stream Videos to a TV How to Authorize a Computer for Apple TV 6 Ways to Connect Your Computer to Your TV How to Add Apps to Your Vizio Smart TV How to Cast a Zoom Meeting to Your TV How to Use Google Chromecast on Android and iOS How to Fix a Missing AirPlay Icon on iPhone and Mac How to Cast to Roku TV From Android Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies