Amazon and Sky are two of the biggest contenders when it comes to getting full access to hundreds of TV channels, series and films but both are at opposite ends of each other when it comes to price.
The cost is a major deciding factor for shoppers looking to upgrade their TV sets and can mean the difference between getting access to specific channels or not. With a £430 price difference between the Sky Stream and Amazon Fire Stick, it leaves a lot of consumers wondering about the differences between the two popular streaming products.
To top it off both providers offer their own versions of a smart TV, which is where another rivalry between the Sky Glass (smart TV fitted with a Sky Stream box) and the new Amazon Fire TV come in.
READ MORE: Sky Glass versus Amazon Fire TVs - prices, spec and latest deals
The Amazon Fire Stick and Sky Stream are both satellite-free streaming products, which give users access to hundreds of channels without the need for a satellite (gone are the days of the dishes on houses). The only thing watchers have to have is a strong broadband connection.
Since the release of Amazon's latest Fire Stick device many avid TV users are saying its new qualities rival that of the Sky Stream, but for a more affordable price. The plug-in stick can be used on any old TV as long as it has an HDMI port, allowing you to stream from a handful of apps as long as it's connected to home WiFi.
Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, BBC and ITVX are all on the list just like the similar Sky Stream TV box. Despite the price difference both products have very similar features, so it can be tricky for consumers to know which one would suit them best, so let's get into it.
The price difference
Arguably the biggest difference between the two is price and it is likely to sway shoppers as to which product they buy.
The Amazon Fire Stick is the cheapest of the two starting at an outright £44.99, or £68.98 for those in need of an attachment cable. The Sky Stream plan costs £26 a month but customers will have to stick to an 18-month contract, bringing the total minimum cost to £468, leaving a huge £423.01 difference between the two.
Although Sky's price does come with the added benefit of inclusive Netflix and Sky Entertainment which brings with it access to 300 channels, Amazon's Fire Stick does not. A comparable downside of the Fire Stick is that users have to connect already existing TV apps, so the price of Netflix and Disney+ for example is not included.
Amazon Fire Stick features
The Amazon Fire Stick lets users stream video, install apps, and play music as well as a built-in 'Alexa' voice assistant, very similar to the 'Hello Sky' feature on Sky Glass and Sky Stream.
The plug-in device can connect to most TVs, so it doesn't have to be a smart TV, in order to get easy access to extra apps. Unlike Sky, users don't get access to wider UK TV channels (300+) which are included with Sky Stream.
As well as the latest Fire TV Stick, Amazon also offer the Fire TV Stick 4K from £59.99 and Fire TV Stick 4K Max from £64.99.
All Fire Stick models also come with Amazon's famous cloud-based voice assistant, Alexa. Alexa can help with thousands of operations including answering questions about the weather, setting alarms and launching and operating compatible smart home devices.
The whole idea of the Fire Stick is to 'de-clutter' users TV apps, putting them all in one central space making it a lot easier to access. It's a plus for those who don't have a smart TV (with built-in apps) instead, users can use the Fire Remote to access their app accounts.
Apps include subscription-based ones like Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ as well as access to free apps like BBC iPlayer, My5, All4 and ITVX.
How does Sky Glass compare?
A huge rival when it comes to streaming TV series, movies and sport (to name a few) Sky offers satellite-free streaming through its Sky Glass TV or Sky Stream Box.
Sky Stream is the newest addition to the Sky TV lineup and users can watch boxsets, films and channels without a satellite dish. Everything is done over Wi-Fi, which means the only necessity is good broadband (TV signal does not come into play here).
Popular apps like Netflix, Disney+, iPlayer and Amazon Prime can be found all in one place, but unlike Amazon, the majority of Sky customers can get a Netflix subscription included with the Sky package. The Stream box relies on voice activation to find specific films or series quickly.
Similar to the Amazon Fire Stick the Sky Stream box can plug into any TV with no installation required, as long as your television has a HDMI port.
It's thought Sky Stream was introduced as an 'alternative' for those without a Sky Glass TV (which start at £699) as it plays in full HD, has a voice-controlled remote, and same channel access.
Latest deals on Amazon Fire Stick and Sky Stream
Sky are currently offering no upfront fees on its £26 a month Stream package, which users are tied in for 18 months. It's Sky Stream and Netflix deal is currently included at this price. Next up on Sky is the combined Stream, Sport and Netflix package which starts at £46 a month.
The provider also offers a £37 a month Sky Stream, Netflix & Cinema package, which is the same as the cheaper £26 a month deal but with added film channels.
Amazon is currently selling its range of TV Sticks at full price online, which can be found here. Retailers including John Lewis, Curry's and Argos regularly offer deals on the Amazon devices too.
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