Add to Chrome
Add to Edge
Add to Firefox
Add to Opera
Add to Brave
Add to SafariWhen comparing Chromecast (2015) vs Plex, the Slant community recommends Plex for most people. In the question“What are the best TV streaming solutions?” Plex is ranked 2nd while Chromecast (2015) is ranked 4th. The most important reason people chose Plex is:
It's pretty hard to find a NAS or STB that doesn't support Plex.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Pretty cheap for what is on offer
Chromecast costs only $35 which makes the overhead to jump into the ecosystem pretty minimal on the consumer's part.
Pro Can be powered using TVs USB port
If you have a USB port on your TV, you can use that to power the Chromecast. The Chromecast is powered through a standard micro USB port.
Pro Does the processing on a different device
Unlike other set top boxes, the Chromecast just takes in a video stream in VP8 or H.264 format, and can stream that content either directly from the provider, or through a device that processes video to those formats. Because everything is done on a different device, you wont need to upgrade the Chromecast as often as other set top boxes, and anyone can play content from their phones, tablets, or computers.
Pro Available SDK means any app can utilize chromecast
With the amount of apps available on the Play Store, seeing that an SDK is available for any of them to use means that a large swath of apps can and do use Chromecast making for a very large ecosystem for what is a pretty cheap streaming device.
Pro Easily support multiple bands of Wi-Fi
Dual-band Wi-Fi support with 2.4GHz and 5GHz allows for easy connection to multiple different routers, this way no one is left out with a non compatible device as well as support for faster speeds which is helpful with HD content.
Pro Color choices available for easy matching or preferences
The device has red, yellow and black options which allows for one to match some of their other devices in their living room as well as offers a choice to be more of an individual through a color option.
Pro Simple to use once setup
Once the device is set up, using Chromecast is straightforward. Just click the the cast icon from within apps or programs to stream it to your TV.
Pro Supported on many devices
It's pretty hard to find a NAS or STB that doesn't support Plex.
Pro Accessible via web browser
A modern web browser is enough to get everything Plex has to offer.
Pro Added lots of media databases
Metadata for media files will automatically be updated by using media databases. This provides posters, movie trailers, descriptions, information about actors, etc.
Cons
Con Limited OS support
The device is designed for Windows, OSX, Android and iOS. Linux support is limited and Windows Phone support is nonexistant.
Con Somewhat lengthy setup process
To set up Chromecast, attach it to your TV, download the Chromecast app on your host device, pair it, connect the Chromecast to your Wi-Fi, wait for the updates to download and from there you are ready to cast.
Con Needs registration
You need a PLEX account even if you use it on your local LAN.
Con Proprietary software
Unfree software.
Con No gapless audio-playback
Plex still does not support gapless playback of audio files such as mp3 or FLAC.
Con Playback error: This server is not powerful enough to convert video
More hardware requirements on Plex due to a useless/non-intuitive transcoder. When using lower spec hardware (eg SBC) Plex will not transcode or play HD+ videos. When compared to other packages (eg Jellyfin which transcodes nicely using FFMeg), Plex falls short on video playback and transcode settings to get videos to play (fastest/lightest option still fails).
