# Google Chromecast

43 Hacker News commenters recommended Google Chromecast and 26 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 10 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Cheap, simple way to cast media to any TV over HDMI. Critics say it has grown slower and less reliable over time.

## Why people recommend it

- Cheap and simple HDMI device (4 comments): "the Chromecast felt revolutionary to me when it launched, because the TV didn't need to be complicated" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46110535)) "Android TV works great as well. I have it running on an old Chromecast that cost less than $50 new." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46261748)) "I just use a $25 Chromecast and that does the business well-enough." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48549374))
- Casting works well with low latency (4 comments): "The latest chromecast devices have very low latency and have worked well for me." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46602666)) "Works better and faster than most smart TVs." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46112086)) "Airplay and Chromecast still work great" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45866957))
- Better than built-in smart TV software (3 comments): "the current Chromecast on an HDMI port is far superior than anything the TV vendors offer" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47534052)) "Likely not perfect for privacy, but not pure evil like built-in smart TV firmware" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49605375)) "streaming devices are still quite terrible unless it's a Chromecast" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49868372))
- Easy to swap in a new stick (4 comments): "If my 4k HDMI dongle begins to struggle, I will plug in a new device via HDMI." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46591668)) "Plug a new chromecast into one of the HDMI ports and use that and only that" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46594438)) "Connect a Chromecast to any HDMI display. Cast to that display." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46802801))

## What people warn about

- Breaks, resets, and flaky performance (4 comments): "I can't even count how many times I've had to reset a chromecast because something broke and wasn't fixable." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49133078)) "Both Android Auto and Chromecast are great ideas, but so incredibly flakey." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48950835)) "the Chromecast it's close to broken (and feels like abandonware)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46254684))
- Slows down and feels outdated (4 comments): "a product which has progressively become more and more shitty over the years to the point of being unusable" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46373381)) "I had hoped they would have a functional life for a little longer." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46221273)) "WiFi and worsening slowness woes with the Google TV/Chromecast" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48549200))
- Ties to Google's ads and business model (3 comments): "Google (Chromecast) and Amazon (Fire TV) operate on the same business model as the TV manufacturers" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46370577)) "Google (Chromecast) and Amazon (Fire TV) operate on the same business model" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46271740)) "the YouTube app will play an ad in the middle of a video and never return to the original video" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46059798))
- Limits user control and network choices (2 comments): "was disappointed at the level of hostility toward user control, which only increased over time" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46389089)) "hard-coded DNS servers with device (Google Chromecast) refusing to work without" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49689169))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Google TV Streamer](https://hackerapproved.com/p/google-tv-streamer.md): 19 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Google+Chromecast+with+Google+TV&tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Official site](https://store.google.com/?hl=en-US)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Google Chromecast", https://hackerapproved.com/p/chromecast/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).