Each streaming platform offers something unique for viewers, which is why many households try to juggle the use of multiple streaming services. This tends to be done across different devices, but what if there was a more practical entertainment setup available?
Is there a way to use Roku and Firestick on the same smart TV?
Yes! If you’d like to use Roku and Firestick on the same TV, you’d need HDMI compatibility – and 2 free ports for convenient streaming. One HDMI port would still let you use Roku and Firestick on the same smart TV, but you’d need to swap cables between device uses or connect both to an HDMI switcher.
Each streaming company has its own pros and cons, but that also means they mitigate one another’s drawbacks pretty well. Smart TVs can run Roku and Firestick at the same time, giving you the option to enjoy the best of both worlds – at the expense of a modest subscription fee.
Can You Use Roku and Firestick on the Same TV?
Does Your Smart TV Have HDMI Ports?
Most modern streaming TVs (even non-smart TVs!) tend to have multiple HDMI ports, so you ought to be able to connect both streaming devices to your TV without issue.
But what if your TV is among the few with only one available port – or worse, no port at all?
Only One HDMI Port?
If your unit only has one HDMI port, you can still use both Roku and Firestick on your smart TV with the assistance of something called an HDMI switcher.
An HDMI switcher is a device that allows users to connect multiple HDMI sources to a single port, allowing them to toggle between source devices as needed. Note that this is very different from an HDMI splitter, which splits a single source input between multiple display devices.
Think of it this way:
- An HDM switcher lets you run multiple source devices on one TV.
- An HDMI splitter lets you stream one source device on multiple TVs simultaneously.
It’s very easy to get these two mixed up at the hardware store, so bear this distinction in mind.
No Built-In HDMI Port?
If your TV doesn’t have an HDMI port, your options here are going to be quite limited.
For starters, you’ll have to use a composite-to-HDMI video converter to even connect streaming devices to your TV. Composite cables are less effective than their HDMI counterparts, so your stream quality will suffer from the hardware limitations.
Many of these converters only support one HDMI input, so you’ll either need to splurge on an HDMI splitter or get used to swapping between source devices. The former is costly, the latter is tedious, and both methods still have their performance hamstrung by outdated hardware!
You can use both Roku and Firestick on a TV without HDMI ports, but it’ll be a serious pain that requires some dedicated hardware – all for subpar performance.
Roku vs. Firestick (Key Differences)
While you can use Roku and Firestick on the same smart TV, why should you? Wouldn’t it be a little pointless to have more than one streaming device?
It actually wouldn’t be pointless at all. Each platform offers distinct advantages, so running both Roku and Firestick on the same TV gives you a ton of flexibility – not redundancy!
Roku boasts a ton of programs to choose from, owing to its relative neutrality in the market. It also has an excellent user interface, allowing seamless access to many different content providers – some of which aren’t available on the Firestick.
On the other hand, Firestick is a lot more specialized – it’s meant to be used chiefly with Amazon products and software. Amazon Prime video in particular is stellar on the Firestick.
You can even use your Firestick to shop online if you take a moment to set that up! And with integrated Alexa support, you can do all of that using voice commands!
If you can pick up both streaming devices, it’d be a good idea to use Roku and Firestick on the same smart TV. Use the former when you want more content options, and the latter when you’d like to take advantage of their superior Amazon product integration.
Does the TV brand matter?
Given that both Roku and Amazon produce smart TVs, you might be wondering if they’d be incompatible with other streaming devices – a bit like phones with different charger types.
We’re glad to say that isn’t the case at all! The majority of streaming devices – Roku, Firestick, and everything in between – connect to smart TVs via HDMI, which is universal.
Products manufactured by the same brands tend to have better integration (i.e. Firesticks and Amazon Prime video), but there’s nothing impairing performance between competitors!
You can use your Firestick on Roku TVs – and you can be certain that you can use Roku on any TV too! Both devices should work for any smart TV, regardless of brand.
Final Thoughts
If you’d like to use Roku and Firestick on the same Smart TV, just plug them into your HDMI ports! If you only have one HDMI port (or none!) you can still work around that limitation, though it’ll take some specialized hardware to see you through. Lastly, a smart TV’s brand won’t matter at all so long as it’s got HDMI support!