I’ve been looking for a new device to cast audio to my TV but I notice the Google Chromecast Audio has been discontinued. So, I looked at the options that can do the same, and here’s what I found.
Overall, the best Google Chromecast Audio alternatives are the Roku, Miracast, Fire TV stick, and Mi TV stick. All of them have the same functionality as a Google Chromecast Audio and are in a similar price range.
Whether you’re interested in their features, how they compare based on price, and how they work, this article will cover everything you need to know about the best Google Chromecast Audio alternatives.
As you may be aware, if you have a smart TV or an Apple TV you do not need a separate casting device, and casting is built into it. You can cast to your Apple TV or Apple device using AirPlay.
However, each smart TV works a little bit differently, for example on a Samsung smart TV uses the SmartThings app to screencast. But, a casting device for both audio and video is needed if you aren’t using a smart TV.
I put together a table that compares the different Chromecast Audio alternative by price below:
| Device | Price Rating (rated Best to Worst) |
| Miracast | $26 |
| Roku | $40 |
| Mi TV stick | $45 |
| Fire TV stick | $50 |
And here’s a table that shows how they compare based on the average customer rating, as well as, how many customer reviews they have:
| Device | Average customer review rating (rated best to worst) |
| Fire TV stick | 4.7 out of 5 – 150,000 reviews |
| Roku | 4.7 out of 5 – 80,000 reviews |
| Mi TV stick | 4.5 out of 5 – 7,000 reviews |
| Miracast | 3.4 out of 5 – 500 reviews |
As you can see the overall winner is the Roku. However, the Fire TV Stick and Mi TV stick are very close second. The one device that works, but most people didn’t find that great is the Miracast.
Here’s a breakdown of each of the different options from best to worst, as well as exactly how they cast music and video to your TV.
1. Roku
Roku streaming devices have been around for years, and are an excellent way to stream TV shows and movies to your TV. A Roku can also cast in the same way that a Google Chromecast Audio can.
Coming in at $40 it is the cheapest of the Google Chromecast Audio alternatives that have a good review rating.
How it works
The Roku and your smartphone, iPad, or laptop are connected to the same internet connection. Usually, these devices are all connected to the same router via Wi-Fi but some devices can be connected with an ethernet/LAN cable directly to your router.
There are a few steps to set it up the first time. But, once it’s set up you can mirror your entire screen very easily by enabling it in the settings of your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
2. Amazon Fire TV stick
An Amazon Fire TV stick is a small USB device that you plug into the HDMI port on your TV. You can install apps on your Fire TV stick such as Netflix and Hulu. And it streams TV shows and movies using Wi-Fi.
How it works
The Fire TV stick and your smartphone, tablet, or computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi connection. You then enable mirroring using your Fire TV stick remote. Then on your phone you enable casting in the settings.
You then select your TV as the device you want to cast to. After 5 to 10 seconds it will display whatever is on the screen on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop onto your TV. It will also play any audio.
3. Mi TV Stick
A Mi TV stick is a very nice to use device that will convert a non-smart TV into a smart TV. You can download all the popular apps such as Netflix and you can either get a Mi TV Stick or a Mi Box S.
It also has a very good average customer rating, and is a close second to the Roku.
How it works
The Mi TV stick uses the Google Home App and works identically to a Google Chromecast. To cast using your Mi Box you simply tap the cast icon that displays when you play any video or music.
The only thing you need to check beforehand is that both your Mi TV stick and your smartphone, tablet, or computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi connection.
You also need to install and set up the Google Home app on the device. It’s a bit more involved to get it to work with a computer, however, you can download and use the Google Home app on any smartphone whether it’s an iPhone or an Android. As well as any tablet.
4. Miracast
A Miracast dongle is a well known device for casting the screen on a smartphone, tablet, or computer to a TV.
Not all PC support Miracast cast but all mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets can cast to your TV. Before you get one of these you should check whether your computer supports casting to your TV using a Miracast dongle.
I found a really good article that gives step by step here. If you like the look of this device. However, in my opinion, you’re better off going with one of the more trusted devices that are only slightly more expensive.
It costs on average $25 to buy a Miracast dongle. The major drawback of the Miracast is the average customer review rating was a lot lower than the others.
How it works
The Miracast dongle is plugged into the HDMI port on your TV. When you first plug it in, it will prompt you to pair any devices such as your smartphone, tablet, or computer to your Miracast.
After that it will be on in the background without any additional setup. From there, your TV
What’s the cheapest Chromecast alternative?
I also wanted to know which Chromecast alternative is the cheapest. This is it…
The Miracast is the cheapest Chromecast alternative. It is priced at around $25 which is half the price of the other Chromecast alternatives. And it has all the same functionality. The main difference is that most customers who used it didn’t rate it very highly.
But, other than that it works exactly the same, and will cast virtually any device to your TV.
Sources
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