Amazon’s Fire TV Stick as well as the Roku are two of the most popular streaming devices in the world.
With hundreds of millions of units sold between the two companies, many people have ended up owning both a Roku device, as well as an Amazon Fire Stick.
Therefore, you may find yourself wondering – is it possible to use both the Firestick as well as the Roku at the same time?
This is an excellent question. In this article, we’ll cover everything that you need to know!
Can You Use The Amazon Fire Tv Stick And Roku On The Same TV?
Yes. You can use both the Firestick as well as the Roku streaming on device on the same television, as long as you have two HDMI ports on your television that can accommodate them.
In fact, because each device has its own pros and cons, many people do in fact end up using both. While there’s not a lot of overlap and you can certainly get by with just one or the other, owners of both devices may prefer each one for different things.
However, it should be noted that things such as settings and downloaded apps will not be synced across devices. Therefore, if using both devices for the first time, you may need to log into all of your streaming services twice – once on each device.
Of course, activity on each streaming platform itself should sync over. This means if you start watching something on Netflix for example, you will be able to pick up where you left off on either device (or a different device entirely.)
There are a few reasons why you may want to regularly use both devices. These include:
- You prefer the user interface of one device, but some of the features of the other one.
- There are apps that are only available on one of the two devices.
- You want to sideload apps onto your Fire Stick without interfering with any of the normal apps you’d use.
Can You Use Fire Sticks On Roku TVs?
We now know that you can use both a Roku streaming device as well as an Amazon Fire TV Stick on the same television. But if you’re using a Roku TV, that has Roku built into it? Will you still be able to use an Amazon Firestick?
Thankfully, the answer is yes. All Roku TVs can still use a Fire Stick, Apple TV, Google Chromecast or any other streaming device. As long as you have a free HDMI port, it can be plugged in and used by your Roku TV.
All you have to do is hook everything up, then switch your TV over to that HDMI port using the ‘Input’ or ‘Source’ button on your remote. This is the exact same process as you would do for any other TV, so it should be quite straightforward.
Of course, switching back to Roku is easy. All you have to do is press the ‘Input’ or ‘Source’ button again until you switch back to the Roku.
For fans of the Roku ecosystem, buying a smart TV with Roku built in is an excellent choice. To make things even better, you won’t need to buy an external Roku streaming device, freeing up an HDMI port for yourself!
Can You Use Rokus On FireOS TVs?
Yes. Just like you can use a Fire Stick on Roku TVs, you can also use Rokus on televisions that come with Amazon’s Fire Stick OS (FireOS) built into them.
Simply plug the Roku device into your television’s HDMI port, and switch to it using the input or source buttons on your remote.
Then, you will be able to use the Roku the same way you would be able to on any other TV.
Is The Amazon Fire TV Stick Or Roku Better?
Both the Amazon Fire TV Stick as well as the Roku streaming device have a lot of overlap, making them quite comparable.
Both devices allow you to add smart TV functionality to any regular television, and quickly utilize streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.
Of course, there are some subtle differences that may cause you to prefer one over the other. So is the Roku or Firestick the better device, and how can you choose between them? Ultimately, it comes down to just a few things.
First of all, it depends on how far you’re already integrated with Amazon’s ecosystem. Amazon definitely prioritizes their own devices and services, meaning that the Fire Stick is heavily integrated with both your Amazon account as well as Alexa.
The Fire Stick also makes it easier to sideload third-party apps, that aren’t available on Amazon’s official app store.
However, most people agree that the Roku has a far superior organization and search system. This may make it the better option for casual streamers that don’t need any of the bells and whistles that the Fire Stick provides. Put quite simply, it’s quicker to get to where you want to go, and actually get to watching content, rather than fumbling through menus.
Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with either device. Both will support the apps that you love, and the streaming services you’re signed up to.
Conclusion
Thankfully, you can use both the Roku as well as the Amazon Fire TV Stick on the same device.
This is true even if you are using a smart TV with Roku or FireOS built into it.
Of course, many people prefer one device over the other, and you certainly don’t need the both of them in order to have a good viewing experience.
I hope that you’ve found this article helpful. If you have any other questions about streaming devices such as the Firestick or Roku, please ask them using the comment form below.
Wishing you the best,
– James McAllister