If You Hate Ads This is The Media Streamer to Buy
Roku, Apple TV, and Nvidia SHIELD, Chromecast with Google TV all have Great Media Streamers
When it comes to media streamers, Roku, Apple TV, and Nvidia SHIELD, Chromecast with Google TV are all very nice. All but one will pester you with ads.
If you hate being blasted with advertisements when using your media streamer, there are not a lot of options, unless you use a mini PC to stream your content. Because almost every media streamer sold today by the top brands now has ads, except one.
Even though the ads are not nearly as bad as what you are forced to watch with a cable or satellite subscription, they are still there on the home screen, constantly getting you to try and buy content from streaming channels you may not want or pay for.
While you may not mind ads, they do use extra data and resources that can slow down your media streamer. This is why many cord-cutters would rather not be distracted by them.
Media Streamers Ranked from Best to Worst When it Comes to Ads
1. Apple TV - For a nice clean interface that won't constantly push ads at you there is no better media streamer than an Apple TV. It's incredibly fast, clean and friendly to use. And its amazing 4K screensaver is almost worth the price of admission alone.
While an Apple TV does limit you to apps only available from their app store. It's not nearly as locked down as Roku, because you can still add a handful of IPTV apps available on their app store. And you can even sideload Kodi if you want. But there are some limitations to doing this.
2. Nvidia SHIELD and Google TV - Both these media share a similar Android operating system. And since a recent update, ads are now also included on the Home screen on both. This is something that was not an issue during the first six years with a Nvidia SHIELD. But a recent software update changed this and it upset many SHIELD owners.
But there are still workarounds to eliminate the ads like adding a custom launcher or installing an Android ad-blocker that will remove the ads. And that will give you back a large portion of your home screen. Which you can then use for launching apps instead of watching advertisements for paid streaming services you may not want. Here are several workarounds to disable ads on an Nvidia SHIELD.
3. Roku - This media streamer is number one when it comes to ads. And this is by design. Roku unlike Apple and Nvidia price their hardware to sell at a loss. And they make most of their money from advertisers on their platform. This is the only way they can remain profitable.
If you can't afford a SHIELD or Apple TV 4K, then a Roku Ultra for less than a hundred dollars is a great choice. As long as you don't mind ads, you would be very happy with it. Roku is also a very user-friendly streamer with thousands of channels listed in its app store. Unfortunatly, Roku is also now the most restrictive streamer in the content they allow you to watch compared to the rest.
Your Privacy Is At Risk
Besides ads, some media streaming companies love to track what you watch and even sell or use this information to send you more relevant and personal ads. Apple is the most privacy-conscious, compared to Google and Roku, which both extensively track your viewing habits.
You can opt-out of ad tracking on both Google and Roku's platforms, ads are very much integrated into both these media streamers. So if you absolutely despise ads, and value your privacy, again the Apple TV or a home theater PC is your best alternative.
Also, See - Roku Casting and AirPlay Mirroring How to Sideload and Watch Other Online Content
Also, See - Roku Casting and AirPlay Mirroring How to Sideload and Watch Other Online Content
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Use of third-party trademarks on this site is not intended to imply endorsement nor affiliation with respective trademark owners.
We are Not Affiliated with or Endorsed by Roku®, Apple, Google or Other Companies we may write about.
