Why is the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K better than Chromecast in 2025?

Many longtime fans of the Google Chromecast have owned one since it first launched in 2013. However, the Chromecast's discontinuation in 2024 has forced them to switch to Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K — and it's actually a great upgrade!

 

6. Intuitive and feature-rich interface

 

If you haven't owned an Amazon streaming device since the first-generation Fire TV Stick, you'll be impressed by the significant improvements Fire TV OS has undergone in recent years. In 2025, it's one of the most user-friendly streaming interfaces available, and while Chromecast has a leg up on Google TV, the Fire TV Stick's UI still trumps it in terms of personalization, discoverability, and overall responsiveness.

5. Superior remote control with built-in Alexa

 

The Fire TV Stick 4K has a newly redesigned Alexa voice remote , which sets it apart from the Chromecast with Google TV — the only generation of the device to have a remote. While the latter supports Google Assistant , it's not as polished and lacks the deeper ecosystem capabilities that Amazon Alexa offers.

The latest Alexa voice remote is intuitive, with dedicated app buttons, volume and power buttons that sync with your TV. A blue-highlighted microphone button sits proudly on the top of the phone next to the microphone. This lets you not only open apps and search for shows and movies, but also control smart home devices, check the weather, and manage Alexa routines.

4. Support third-party apps and native streaming services

 

One of the main benefits of the Fire TV Stick 4K is its support for a wide range of third-party streaming apps and services. There are, of course, the usual suspects, including Netflix , YouTube , Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Live TV, among others. But what really sets it apart from other devices is the ability to sideload apps for greater customization and a more personalized viewing experience.

3. Simple integration for smart home

Amazon has put a lot of effort into creating its own native ecosystem, and the Fire TV Stick 4K integrates seamlessly, offering automation and control that surpasses its Google counterpart. Amazon's smart products are affordable and easy to buy, and the Fire TV Stick 4K easily connects to a wide range of devices, including Echo speakers, Ring doorbells, Blink cameras, and smart plugs.

2. Improved overall performance

The latest Fire TV Stick 4K is equipped with an upgraded quad-core processor and GPU combination for smoother navigation, faster app launches, and lag-free playback. It also supports 4K Ultra HD, HDR10+ , Dolby Vision , and Dolby Atmos , delivering a premium, self-sustaining audiovisual experience when connected to a high-quality TV.

1. Great value for money

Value is the most compelling reason people choose the Fire TV Stick 4K. In recent years, Google has decided to ditch the super-compact, smartphone-enabled, affordable Chromecast in favor of the more expensive, bulkier, remote-controlled Chromecast with Google TV. That product was eventually replaced by a bulkier console, the Google TV Streamer, which is significantly more powerful and also more expensive.

When you consider that the Fire TV Stick 4K combines portability, convenience, app compatibility, performance, and affordability, along with the ability to stream live TV and ad-supported content for free, it's a no-brainer.