There are a lot of things your small Chromecast device can do. This capability is as a result of numerous apps that it can support. Chromecast apps are what make the Chromecast device more powerful and stylish. The app allows you to compete in dance competitions against people around the world and stream your latest pictures to your 4K TV screen. With the Chromecast app, you can play games with your family members in the living room and keep up with the latest news and songs. Isn’t that interesting?
When you use Chromecast apps on your Android, iOS smartphone or computer, you essentially hand off content to the Chromecast. This you do whenever you tap the Chromecast built-in apps symbol, which is a square with wavy lines in the left corner within the app. The Chromecast app aggregates thousands of apps to create entertainment such as games, movies, TV shows, music, sports, etc, for everyone. Google Play Store and App Store contain many apps to use with Chromecast. Here are the best Chromecast apps for whatever need you may have:
Plex is a Chromecast app for PC, Mac and Linux. It is designed to stream local homemade videos and movies to your TV through Chromecast. To use this app, you need to subscribe the PlexPass and pay $4.99 for Plex app. June 21, 2018 No Comments on Chromecast App for Laptop Here are steps to download and setup Chromecast App for Laptop: If you already configure Chromecast App to TV setup we can go to the next step to download and install google chromecast app for laptop configuration. Before you can use the Chromecast app from Mac, the physical setup (manually connecting your Google Chromecast to your TV without the use of WiFi network) and the software setup (with the help of WiFi network) needs to be done.
Netflix
This app integrates very well with Chromecast Ultra because Netflix has a growing collection of 4K Ultra HD and HDR content. You cannot boast of having a dedicated streaming device without Netflix. The Netflix app works extremely well across multiple devices. It’s just like a streaming backbone that creates space for every device. There is a place for you in spite of what you are using to cast. For example, if you are seeing a movie with a couple of friends on iPad and one of you has to leave to attend to urgent needs, opening the Netflix app on his own smart device allows him to instantly control the movie and continue watching.
Google Home
Chromecast app has Google Home as one of its main apps. You will need the app to set up the device with your TV. The app allows you to browse trending content from your Cast-enabled apps. It also helps you to search for specific movies and actors using your own voice. With Google Home app, you can automatically generate quick actions to get things done easily. Things like turning off the lights in one room, viewing your security cameras, etc, can now be done with just a click from the app. It also gives a quick, at-a-glance layout of the current state of your smart home. This gives you the ability to view from anywhere in the world how things are going at your home in real-time. You can even call up DVR recordings from Google’s live TV streaming service and YouTube TV.
YouTube and YouTube TV
All the variants of Google-based apps work very well with Chromecast. With YouTube app on your smartphone, you can pull videos, music from the cloud and play it directly on your TV. It gives you the ability to search for anything on your device without having to interrupt what is showing on your TV. The app puts the power of creation in your hands. You can create a playlist of music and videos from YouTube music videos. Your $40-per-month live TV streaming service from YouTube TV is no exception. The app integrates well with it and offers you the opportunity to search for content using voice-chat on cloud DVR of YouTube TV.
Spotify
Whenever you think about music streaming, Spotify comes to mind. Over the years, Spotify found purpose in Chromecast deployment. Spotify is a great choice to pair with your Chromecast. With Spotify app, you can pull any song in Spotify’s catalog and play it through your HDTV and/or accompanying home theater system via Chromecast. The app works with Android and iOS devices to deliver millions of songs to users.
HBO Now and HBO Go as Chromecast apps
Chromecast App
Your $15 a month HBO Now is a great streaming service that works perfectly well with your Chromecast device. This makes both the subscription-based app, HBO Go, and stand-alone streaming service, HBO Now, must-haves for any dedicated streaming device. The cable network’s unparalleled array of original programming always leaves you glued to your TV screen. HBO Now is still the best way to access popular TV series like Game of Thrones.
Pandora app
Pandora has become a household name because the Pandora app allows users to play songs they love from popular artists. It provides on-demand streaming service similar to Spotify for just $10 a month. You can cast Pandora to your TV from your devices in a very simple step.
Google Cast
Chromecast features Google Cast home screen, thereby making the app one of the essentials of Chromecast for everyone. It has got loads of easy-to-use features that make it a one-stop shop for exploring what you can do with your Chromecast device. Google Cast acts like a catch-all for other apps on your phone or tablet that have streaming services activated. The app allows you to easily browse through your personal media files and other streaming media on Netflix and YouTube. It works well with Chromecast Audio too.
Google Chrome
With the Google Chrome app, you can access content from the web via a Chrome tab projection. This you can do by opening a tab in Chrome and clicking the Chromecast icon. The app will send what is opened in your Chrome tab to your TV screen. What this means is that you can open several tabs at the same time on your PC and control what other viewers see on the TV screen while you work on your laptop or desktop computer.
The Google Chromecast is one of the best gadgets to come out in recent years. The low-cost dongle turns any TV into a smart TV, so you can watch YouTube or Netflix on the big screen while controlling it from the smartphone in your hand.
But that’s not all that it does, there are plenty of other reasons to love ChromecastGoogle Chromecast Review and GiveawayGoogle Chromecast Review and GiveawayWe're giving away a Google Chromecast, so read through our review, then join the competition to win!Read More. You can cast any movie, music, or photo from your Mac’s hard drive to the big screen, use it to mirror your iPhone or iPad to your TV, and can play mobile games on your TVThe 7 Best Mobile Games to Play on a Google ChromecastThe 7 Best Mobile Games to Play on a Google ChromecastSome mobile games deserve to be played on a TV. Here are the best mobile games to play on a Google Chromecast.Read More. It’s just a matter of knowing which apps and tools can do it.
What You Will Need
- A Google Chromecast: It doesn’t matter whether you have the original or the new Chromecast 2.0Chromecast 2.0: What's New?Chromecast 2.0: What's New?The aptly named Chromecast 2.0 is Google's first major revision to the device since it was first released all the way back in July 2013. What's new?Read More, the functionality for Mac is the same. New users, learn how to set up a ChromecastHow to Set Up Your New Google ChromecastHow to Set Up Your New Google ChromecastIf you own a brand new Chromecast but have no idea how to use it, let our easy-to-follow guide help you get started in mere minutes.Read More.
- Any Mac computer: I haven’t tested it with Hackintosh buildsHow To Build Your Own HackintoshHow To Build Your Own HackintoshThis 'How to Hackintosh' guide outlines what you need to do in order to build a power PC Hackintosh. This guide shows you the way.Read More, but it should work the same.
- An active Wi-Fi connection: Make sure both the Chromecast and the Mac are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, and that neither is running a VPN.
- Chrome and Chromecast extension: While it’s not needed for everything, it will help to have the Chrome browser and its Chromecast extension.
How to Stream Movies from Mac to Chromecast
Let’s start with movies, since that’s what the Chromecast excels at. With Internet-based movies, you can make Chromecast into a media centerHow To Make Chromecast Your Smart Media CentreHow To Make Chromecast Your Smart Media CentreAt just $18, the Chromecast is an unmistakably great way to make your TV 'smart', but it can feel a bit of a one-trick pony once the initial euphoria wears off.Read More for your TV. But things are a little different for locally stored files. You should check out two apps to do this.
Airflow (Free)
The best and simplest app to stream videos to Chromecast is Airflow. The interface is so easy to use that you’ll master it in seconds. Just drag-and-drop or add your videos, choose the right Chromecast, and click play.
Airflow is completely free, supports playlists, and plays a wide range of movie files with ease. You get preview thumbnails in the playback bar, so you can see exactly which part of the movie you’re skipping to. It includes hardware-accelerated transcoding, outstanding subtitle support, and supports surround sound. You can also customize the audio, video, and subtitles to get everything just the way you like it.
Videostream (Free, In-App Purchases)
AirFlow is missing a companion mobile app, and it doesn’t remember your last playback point. If those are important for you, check out Videostream for Chromecast, a browser-based app for Chrome.
Videostream is a freemium app, which means some of its features are free, but you’ll have to pay for others. In the free version, you can’t make playlists or change the appearance of subtitles. And well, it runs in Chrome, which some consider a poor browser choice on OS XSafari vs. Chrome for Mac: 9 Reasons You Shouldn't Use ChromeSafari vs. Chrome for Mac: 9 Reasons You Shouldn't Use ChromeBetween Safari and Chrome on Mac, Safari is the clear winner. Here's why you should avoid using Google Chrome on Mac.Read More.
How to Stream Music from Mac to Chromecast
Your MacBook, like most laptops, kicks out a fairly low volume from its built-in speakers. We’ve talked about a few ways to fix Mac audioWant Better Mac Audio? Here's What You Need to DoWant Better Mac Audio? Here's What You Need to DoMacs are known for a lot of things, but great sound isn't one of them. Here's what you can do to give your Mac's sound a boost.Read More, but using external speakers (or headphones) is almost always the best idea.
If your TV’s connected speakers are better than what your Mac has, then it could makes sense to use that. As long as you have a Chromecast connected, you can stream your Mac’s audio to the TV. This means you can use Apple Music from iTunes on MacGetting Started With Apple Music — What You Need to KnowGetting Started With Apple Music — What You Need to KnowAfter the purchase of Beats last year, Apple has finally unleashed its streaming music service upon the world.Read More, but hear it all through the TV’s speakers (or a fancy surround sound system).
Here’s what you need to do:
- Download and install Soundflower, which allows Mac apps to pass their audio to other apps.
- Download Soundcast (free).
- Double-click the Soundcast .ZIP file to extract the contents.
- Drag-and-drop Soundcast.app to your Applications folder.
- Double-click the Soundcast application to run it.
You will now see the Soundcast icon in your OS X menu bar. Click it to see the Cast to option in the drop-down menu. Choose the appropriate Chromecast and you’re good to go. Now, any audio from your Mac computer will be played through your TV’s speakers. So feel free to use any app — iTunes, Spotify, even YouTube in a browser.
Unfortunately, Soundcast does not support album art or lyrics, so you won’t get a cool display on your TV. Bummer!
How to Stream Photos from Mac to Chromecast
Despite OS X having the wonderful new iPhotos for MacA Cleaner, Faster iPhoto: Upgrade to Photos for OS X YosemiteA Cleaner, Faster iPhoto: Upgrade to Photos for OS X YosemitePhotos for OS X has finally arrived, replacing iPhoto with an image management application that Mac users will actually want to use — but is there enough here to satisfy Aperture refugees?Read More or plenty of other great photo appsThe Best Mac Apps to Install on Your MacBook or iMacThe Best Mac Apps to Install on Your MacBook or iMacLooking for the best apps for your MacBook or iMac? Here's our comprehensive list of the best apps for macOS.Read More, not one of them supports Chromecast. In fact, there is no Mac app that lets you stream photos to the TV using Chromecast. To do this, you’ll need to rely on a Chrome app called PictaCast (free). Yup, you’re trapped in ChromeI Hate Google Chrome But I'm Trapped In It. Here's WhyI Hate Google Chrome But I'm Trapped In It. Here's WhyIn the Chrome vs. Firefox war, I'm siding with the Google users. But I don't want to. Chrome is my browser of choice because it has features that I can't live without.Read More and there’s nothing you can do.
Install and start PictaCast. Things are easy from there. You’ll see two distinct options: Add Folder and Add Music. Point PictaCast to the folder with your photos, and add a track from your local music library. Choose the appropriate Chromecast from the Chrome extension. Just like that, PictaCast will start playing the images from the folder on your TV.
PictaCast is surprisingly customizable. You can set your images to fit to the screen in full-screen mode, shuffle them for a random order, or choose from four different types of picture walls. You can also control the speed at which it flips to the next photo, and choose to display file name and time. And there’s the option of rotating the screen too!
Other users in your room can install PictaCast on their phone. They can then add their own photos to the slideshow, which is a great way to share photos in a gathering.
The free version of PictaCast is restricted to 30 minutes of usage per day, while the $3 paid version lifts this limit.
Download:Pictacast for Chromecast (Free)
One App to Rule Them All: Plex
Chromecast App For Mac Laptop
All the above apps focus on being simple and easy-to-use. But if you have the time to set it up, then Plex can manage movies, music, and photos from a single app. It’s a little difficult to master if you’re a complete novice, but the end result is worth it.
Once you download and install it, you’ll have to set up Plex and add movie, music, and image libraries from your local drives. It’s a process that is best explained in our guide to making a Plex media server.
Plex supports myriad file formats, works across platforms, and is free for basic personal use. It also scrapes information from the Internet to add things like movie synopsis, album art, lyrics, subtitles, and more.
But again, Plex requires the Chrome web browser and the Chromecast extension, since it’s a browser-based app.
Chromecast vs. Apple TV
Not everyone who owns a Mac has an Apple TV. Plus, it costs over four times what you’ll pay for the Chromecast. So we want to hear from users who have both a Chromecast and an Apple TV.
Is the Chromecast a worthy “cheap option” to the Apple TV? Have any MakeUseOf readers out there bought both?
Explore more about: Chromecast, Google Chrome, OS X Yosemite.
Chromecast Pc App
Google Chromecast App For Macbook
I also managed to play a video and cast it by simply dragging and dropping the video file into chrome.
Why say Airflow is completely free, when it obviously is not? I went through the trouble of downloading and am now being asked to pay
why do you list Airflow as free, when it only gives a 20 minute playing, and then demands close to 20 dollars?
I dont mind paying for apps I use, but please be accurate :)Airflow is NOT free! It looks it, but then when you open the app you need to activate it to play more than 20 minutes. Ridiculous that this isn't mentioned!
AirFlow ! Boom! It played an .avi, .mp4, .mkv , Right off the bat!!
My phone immediatly had a mini remote in the notifications screen, then as I was playing an XVID encoded .avi I tried to throw some .jpg in and see if i could see some pics,it didn't work . But it recognized that they were unplayable files and didn't crash the stream.
Nice work on the app guys!
Plex is awesome ,but so involved.
Thanks for the recommendation ,wish I had seen this a year ago!Airflow was EXACTLY what I was looking for!, Thought id have to shell out and buy AppleTV!
Awesome. I am just at a point where I am done with giving apple my money. Got a chrome cast 2 today because I want to have the features of an apple tv, and used airflow which works great. The only time it doesn't work the greatest is when you're loading Blu-ray movie files through it that are essentially above 8-9GB. I found it worked perfectly for everything under that, but over it was buffering slow.
This may also have been because my network strength is at about half at this part of my condo so hoping it's better in the new place.
The only thing you lose is games from apple tv vs chromecast, but I have a ps4 already for that so I don't see a point. The new version of Google Home app is really good and has tons of apps available that work with the cast and almost replace all of the apple tv features entirely.
Seriously worth the $35. F apple and their $100 equivalent.
Great article btw, it made me decide to go through with getting a CC2.
I found Airflow was buffering quite a bit. I quit the program and then tried to use Videostream and had no issues at all so I immediately bought the monthly 'Premium' subscription on their website ($1.71 USD a month) which is about the same as a cup of coffee. I'm more than happy with their service and will continue to use it.
Thanks for the great article and be sure to support developers!
Thanks for this cool Airflow tip! It's a real nice well functioning and easy to use program!!
HELP! I do not want to cast videos or music or photos. I want to cast my DESKTOP. Not a browser window, the actual desktop where I can edit files on my hard drive using programs installed on my computer. I have a mac and a chromecast and they are on the same network. Can I do REAL casting of ANYTHING on my screen to a bigger one?
In the Chromecast extension for Chrome:
If you click on the icon on the toolbar, in the top right corner of the popup, there's a very tiny drop down arrow. If you click on that, there's a 'Cast screen/window (experimental)' option, which will let you cast your desktop.
Give AirParrot 2 a go, you won't be disappointed!
Thanks for this very interesting post. I just bought my self a Chromecast today, for my bedroom TV (mostly for netflix). For now I have only tried Videostream to play local video.
I also have an apple tv in my living room for the apple tv of a lot more features (Games, VOD, screen mirroring on both mac and Iphone, and Sound sharing). And it real time HD screen mirroring.
For my AppleTv is really easier and works perfectly with both iPhone and Mac. But Chromecast is cheaper and handy for netflix. But if you have an iPhone and no netflix account, I will recommend the former generation of Apple Tv, that you can find for 80$.