If you’re looking at cutting the cord, you may already know which streaming services you’ll be subscribing to. What you may not know is how you’re going to watch them. With a wide range of streaming devices available — such as smart TVs, gaming consoles and plug-and-play devices — it can be hard to decide which one will work best for you. Plus, there’s a wide range of prices within streaming categories. How do you know you’re getting the best value possible? Read on for steps to choose a streaming device that fits both your budget and your media needs.
[See: 10 Steps to Cut the Cable Cord.]
Know the difference between streaming services and devices. When setting up your cord-cutting system, it’s important to know what components you’ll need. A streaming service is typically a subscription-based service that allows you to watch content either on demand, live or both. Examples of streaming services include Netflix, PlayStation Vue and Hulu. A streaming device allows you to watch a streaming service on your screen of choice. For example, a standard TV without smart capabilities cannot connect to the internet or download streaming apps, but a streaming device can.
Evaluate what you already have. The best deal you can get on a streaming device is not buying one at all, so if you already have something that allows you to connect, using it can save you money and time. Most mobile devices don’t need additional devices to access streaming services, so you’ll just need to download the service app to be ready to go. You should also check your gaming systems and TVs to see whether any of them can support streaming services.
[Read: Frugal Families, Discover the Best Cheap Ways to Watch TV Without Cable.]
Decide which type of device best fits your entertainment setup. Depending on how you want to watch your content, smart TVs, plug-and-play devices, gaming consoles and mobile devices can all provide solutions for your streaming setup.
— Smart TVs can connect to the internet and access streaming services without additional devices. Some of these smart TVs come with devices built in, such as the Roku TVs offered by TCL, Insignia and Sharp. Other TVs, such as ones from Samsung and LG, have their own interfaces for streaming.
— If you want to watch on a TV but don’t have one with internet capabilities, plug-and-play streaming devices can add online functionality to almost any newer TV. Roku makes some of the most popular of these devices, but Google Chromecast, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV are all good options as well.
— For gamers, some video game consoles also offer streaming capabilities. Newer models of PlayStation and Xbox, as well as the Nintendo Switch, all connect to the internet and provide support for several streaming services. And if you or someone else in your household enjoys gaming, this could save money in the long run.
— If you prefer to watch on a mobile device instead of a TV, you probably won’t need additional plug-ins. Many streaming services, especially the most popular ones like Netflix, have apps available on both the Apple app store and Google Play.
Compare features. Each streaming device offers unique features, and they’re each tailored to a different type of user’s needs, so it will pay off to make sure you’re familiar with the features you find most important. For example, many cord cutters want a user-friendly remote to control how they navigate through their services. Some streaming devices, such as Chromecast, are controlled exclusively from your mobile device, which could be convenient for viewers who don’t want to keep track of a remote. On the other hand, the design of a remote on devices such as the Roku Ultra might be better for users who want a separate remote to navigate menus and controls.
Make sure your streaming service is supported. An important thing to note about streaming devices is that they don’t all support every streaming service out there. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that impacts this, but ultimately you’ll need to do some research to see which devices support your streaming services. Gaming consoles, in particular, can be tricky, so if you’re planning to use yours to stream, make sure to double-check that your choices work together. For example, of the mainstream streaming services, the Nintendo Switch only has an app for Hulu, so if you’re a Netflix user, you’ll have to find another solution.
[See: 10 Big Ways to Boost Your Budget — Without Skimping on Your Daily Latte.]
Don’t forget to stick to a budget. There is a big range of prices when it comes to streaming devices, with popular options selling for anywhere from $30 to over $150. Each of these offers different features, formats and compatibility specifications, so some may be worth that extra cost, but you should set a budget for your streaming device so you don’t end up spending too much.
If you do your research and keep value in mind, you’ll be able to find a device to support your streaming service of choice without breaking the bank. With on-demand libraries, movies and more new shows all the time, cord-cutters have plenty to watch once they bring their streaming services to their screens.
More from U.S. News
11 Expenses Destroying Your Budget
12 Useless Fees Draining Your Budget
8 Big Budgeting Blunders — and How to Fix Them
How to Pick the Best Streaming Device for Your Budget originally appeared on usnews.com
