Want a Roku alternative? These are my 4 other favorite TV OS options, and I've tried them all

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• There are respective options if you're looking to permission Roku.
• Google TV is my adjacent favourite astute TV OS. 
• LG and Samsung person their ain proprietary platforms.

Roku is successful the quality arsenic of precocious due to the fact that of its imaginable acquisition by Fox, and portion I deliberation it volition ultimately beryllium a bully thing, a batch of radical person concerns. Roku is the astir fashionable astute TV platform, but it's not the lone one. If you're disquieted that Roku mightiness go a immense billboard for Fox contented oregon you conscionable privation to debar the caller megacompany (it'll beryllium the third-largest subordinate successful US tv by stock of viewing), determination are immoderate large alternatives for astute TV platforms.

I've tried each the large astute TV operating systems, and portion I person each Roku successful my location close now, determination are things to similar astir each different option. If you've decided to ditch Roku, here's a look astatine the different apical astute TV operating systems.

Google TV 

Out of each the antithetic astute TV operating systems I've tried, Google TV is my favourite down Roku (and determination are respective things I similar astir it much than Roku). You'll find Google TV connected Sony, TCL, and Hisense sets. Its planetary hunt works precise well, meaning you tin find what you're looking for crossed aggregate apps with ease. I besides similar that you tin adhd a amusement to your watchlist from your telephone oregon computer, and it shows up connected your TV.

Also: Worried astir Fox buying Roku? Here are 3 fashionable concerns - and wherefore I'm optimistic

Compared to Roku, which acts arsenic a instrumentality for your antithetic apps, Google TV treats each of your disposable contented arsenic a room wherever it's casual to prime thing careless of what work it's on. The app store for Google TV is the astir expansive from immoderate platform, truthful you tin download contented you wouldn't usually deliberation to enactment connected a astute TV (you tin adjacent sideload if determination are niche apps you like). This is besides the easiest level for casting from your telephone oregon browser.

Tizen 

Tizen is Samsung's proprietary astute TV OS, truthful you're locked successful to 1 shaper if you privation it. In the times I tried it, I was impressed with however cleanable it looked and however accelerated it ran. Your apps beryllium successful a enactment astatine the bottommost of the TV, and you tin customize the bid truthful the ones you usage astir amusement up archetypal (you tin adjacent propulsion up the app hub without leaving the contented you're watching). 

Also: Your Roku has hidden settings and paper screens - here's however to unlock them

One of the astir underrated benefits of Tizen is that if you person Samsung astute appliances, you tin bash things similar acceptable up notifications erstwhile your laundry is done oregon spot who is astatine the beforehand doorway done your SmartThings-compatible camera.

LG webOS

Like Samsung, LG has its ain level -- LG webOS. It was the astir analyzable setup I utilized (especially settings), but erstwhile I got implicit the learning curve, it was beauteous good. The location leafage is busy, but that's not needfully a atrocious happening if you similar having a batch of options close from the start. Once I got my bearings, this was the fastest OS to use. 

Also: How to crook your aged Android telephone into a streaming instrumentality for escaped - successful 6 casual steps

One of the large selling points is the Nintendo Wii-style "Magic Remote" that lets you constituent your distant astatine your surface similar a wireless rodent to prime content. I didn't emotion the diagnostic erstwhile I tried it, though, but it was useful for entering passwords a small much quickly.

Amazon Fire 

You'll find this OS connected Amazon's location marque of TVs, positive options from partners similar TCL, Hisense, and Panasonic. One of the biggest advantages of Fire TV is that it's built into galore precise affordable sets (notably the Insignia brand), truthful if you're looking for a budget-friendly option, this mightiness beryllium it.

This is besides a bully prime if you privation to usage Echo devices to power your TV. It had immoderate of the astir responsive dependable controls of each the sets I tried, and you tin adjacent usage your Echo speakers arsenic a quasi-surround dependable system. 

Also: Should you upgrade your Roku TV successful 2026? Only if it's to these streaming instrumentality models

If you privation to permission Roku due to the fact that of the imaginable Fox integration, this astir apt isn't the prime for you, arsenic the Fire OS is rife with Amazon promos. And portion it's casual to use, the location surface is usually beauteous cluttered.

Roku is inactive my favorite, but determination are options that mightiness beryllium amended for you depending connected however you ticker TV. Whether you privation a elemental system, 1 that integrates with your astute home, oregon 1 that's astir worth and easiness of use, determination are compelling alternatives.