Technology

How To Decide: Fire TV vs. Cable – Which is More Cost Effective?

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Written by Ryan K

Amazon’s Fire TV is probably one of the most popular streaming devices out there – and with good reason. Their high-quality devices which include the Fire TV Box and the Fire TV Stick allow you to access extensive libraries of content that include videos, music, apps, and games. This means that more and more people are considering Amazon Fire TV as a source of home entertainment.

Of course, this begs the question: Which is more affordable – Amazon Fire TV or Cable? To answer this question, one has to consider differences in content, ease of use, and costs. Let’s take a look at what each of these has to offer and, ultimately, which is more cost-effective.

Content

One of the biggest considerations when thinking of cord cutting is content. Since Amazon Fire TV by itself is not a source of content, but a way to access different streaming services, this can be a difficult question to answer. Amazon Fire TV allows you to subscribe to the most prominent on-demand streaming services, including Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu. With Amazon Fire TV you can also subscribe to lesser known or free streaming services.

Many people prefer to only subscribe to one paid service to prevent content overlapping. Before choosing a streaming service, you may want to read up on some reviews and online content that compares the different services with one another in terms of quality and variety of content.

Generally speaking, these high-end streaming services provide a lot in terms tv shows, movies, documentaries, and more. You also get access to thousands of apps and games that can provide you with hours of entertainment and tech solutions. With Amazon Fire TV, you can also subscribe to music streaming services like Pandora, Spotify, and Amazon Music. With these services you gain access to music playlists that you can customize completely.

Another big advantage of Amazon Fire TV is Kodi. Installing it on Fire TV is quick and simple, and it allows you access to add-ons containing thousands of free and popular content. Using your Amazon Fire TV in combination with Kodi means that you can save a ton of money when you switch to Fire TV from Cable TV.

One of the biggest drawbacks of Fire TV in terms of content is the fact that sports and live events are not included with out of the box Amazon Fire TV. You can, however, subscribe to broadcast television apps or streaming services to access and record live television or broadcasts.

Ease of Use

This may not have a direct influence on cost-effectiveness, but easy navigation and search is a consideration for many people. You want to change a movie or tv show just as easily as can change a channel on your cable tv. Amazon Fire TV comes with a remote that you can use to search and choose content or music tracks.

Amazon Fire TV is also equipped with Amazon Alexa software. This means that you gain access to Amazon artificial intelligence allowing you to change channels and search content with voice command. This is, unfortunately, only available for Amazon Prime content.

Costs

Before making the switch from cable to Amazon Fire TV, it is important to take an extensive look at your needs. If you’d like to have access to ESPN, for example, you can either consider subscribing to a streaming service that allows you access, or you can stick with cable. You can also subscribe to a free streaming service to gain some of the benefits that the Fire TV has to offer while still enjoying the cable tv broadcasts. Adding the costs of the streaming services you’ll need together and comparing it with your current cable bill will allow you to make an informed decision.

About the author

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Ryan K