Chromecast vs. Apple TV vs. Roku 3: Which media streamer should you buy?

Why it's great: Roku 3 is still the best box

If I could recommend just one streaming box, it would be the Roku 3. Here's why:

Over 1,000 apps: Roku is the undisputed winner when it comes to content, with a massive channel library that includes Netflix, Amazon Instant, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Pandora, Spotify, Rdio, MLB.TV, Amazon Cloud Player, Vudu, PBS, TWC TV, and (finally) YouTube. Roku is often the first to get new channels, plus the company has a good track record of bringing updates to its boxes years after they've been released.

Headphone jack in the remote: Plug in headphones to the Roku 3's remote and you can listen to whatever you're streaming, while it automatically mutes your TV so nobody else in the room is bothered. It's a truly killer feature, especially for late-night watching without bothering anyone else.

Blazing-fast: The Roku 3 has the fastest chip of any of Roku's boxes and it shows, making it feel more responsive than any other streaming box I've used.

Cross-platform search: Roku's cross-platform search is a standout feature, letting your scour through Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant, HBO Go, Vudu, Crackle, M-Go, and Blockbuster On Demand to see where content is available. It's undeniably frustrating to rent a movie that you later find out was available on Netflix (I've done it), and Roku's search takes a lot of the pain out of finding out what is available where.

Why it's great: An excellent iOS companion

The Apple TV is the oldest box of the bunch, but that doesn't mean you should necessarily rule it out -- especially if you're invested in the Apple ecosystem.

It 'ust works' in the Apple ecosystem: If you're invested in the Apple ecosystem, the Apple TV lets you access all your content on your TV. It works with your purchased iTunes content, including TV shows, movies, and music, plus if you use iTunes Match, all your cloud-stored music is available as well. iTunes Radio was also recently added, given you a free radio option in your living room too.

AirPlay is still awesome: Again, if you have other iOS devices, it's dead simple to push music, photos, and videos from nearly any app to your Apple TV. It also gives you access to a lot of apps that aren't supported natively by the Apple TV; for example, there's no Pandora app on the box, but it's easy to stream Pandora from an iPhone or iPad. And if you have a relatively recent Mac, screen mirroring works pretty well too.

Catching up with apps: The Apple TV used to get a lot of flak for its limited app support, but it's done a much better job recently, adding high-quality services like HBO Go and Watch ESPN within the last year.