Why I like Roku better than Fire TV, or Google TV

If you've followed along for any period of time, you know I'm firmly in Team Roku. However, I also will use and do appreciate the other major streaming platforms. Apple TV's interface is good, as is the Google TV (and Android TV) interface. And, yes, the Amazon Fire TV interface is good as well.

My favorite is Roku, because it's not pushing stuff on me.

Well, that's not exactly true, because there is that big ol' ad once you move over to select the app you want to launch. However, it stands out as an ad, and can be ignored if you like. On Amazon and Google, they mix the ads and promos in with the rest of the content.

Roku doesn't throw stuff at you. Well, there is that big ad, but you see it for what it is. It's a simple interface, and the apps don't jump around. Whatever you place as your first app in the list stays there. On Amazon and Google, they will move them around, with the most recent played at the front.

There is a line that doesn't change, but it only shows a handful of apps, meaning you have to hunt for more apps is you want one that isn't in the top six or eight. Roku puts them all there, in rows of three, and you can find the one you want because it's always in the same place, unless you move it.

Amazon and Google with promote content within the interface, rather than off to the side as Roku does. I don't like that. I prefer to know that if I see something, it's something I put there, not something that some company is trying to push off on me.

I've not talked much about Apple TV in all this. Apple TV is similar to Roku in the way the interface works. However, they do offer a couple of different views, including one that looks somewhat like the Amazon or Google one, and one that looks more like Roku in that it's simply a list of your apps.

Roku wins the interface battle for me, due to its simplicity.

But I get it. Some people like what is suggested to them. Roku does offer suggestions, but not at the main menu. And if  you like the Fire TV or Google TV interface better, that's fine. I'm not trying to change your mind. I'm simply trying to tell you what I like about the Roku interface.

To me, the others are too cluttered and jumbled and make it harder to find something to watch. I want things simple in my Streaming Life, and Roku does that for me.