Although you can also control a Chromecast from a laptop and cast websites, that’s a horribly clunky way to use it, so for the most part you will use your Android phone or iPhone.
It’s also possible to control a Chromecast with your voice if you have a Google Home. Both the Chromecast and Google Home need to be configured using the Google Home app, so you’ll need a compatible smartphone in any case.
And the reason we’re explaining all this is because it defines what you can watch on a Chromecast. The question “What can you watch on a Chromecast?” is the same as “Which apps support Chromecast?” Instead of installing apps on a Chromecast, you install them on your phone and cast from that.
If you’re reading this because you want to know what you can watch before buying one, then know that they cost £30 / $30 from Google, Argos, John Lewis and other retailers. Occasionally they are discounted, but you’re more likely to find the 4K Chromecast Ultra discounted from its usual price of £69 / $69.
You might also like to know how to use a Chromecast and how casting works.
Here’s a list of the most popular apps and services which support casting:
YouTubeNetflix (account required)Google Play Movies & TV (buy / rent)Plex (see below)BBC iPlayer (UK only)Now TV (UK only)ITV Hub (UK only)All4 (UK only)My5 (UK only)HBO Now / Go (account required, US only)Rakuten TV (rent)Vudu (US only)Sling TV (US only)Eurosport PlayerDailyMotionAllCastTwitchKodi (Android only)
You’ll find more apps – and games which support casting – listed on Google’s website, plus Wikipedia which clearly marks which apps support Android, iOS and PC.
Plex
One of the limitations with a Chromecast is that it’s designed for streaming video from the internet, but it’s not easy to stream video you have stored locally. For example, if you have a library of videos, films or TV shows on a NAS, there’s no easy way to watch these on a Chromecast. And that’s where’s Plex comes in.
Plex is a bit like Netflix for your own videos, providing a slick interface for content that’s stored on your home network, even if it’s scattered across different devices.
Fairly recently, a big update brought a host of new features including the ability to cast video from your phone to your Chromecast – even if the video or audio format isn’t supported.
We’ve also got a guide which explains how to stream video from PC to Chromecast.
Stream audio on Chromecast
As well as video, you can cast from a lot of music apps. Spotify, Google Music, SoundCloud, Tidal, TuneIn Radio, iPlayer Radio and others will stream to a Chromecast.
Google sells an audio-only version of the Chromecast called, appropriately, Chromecast Audio.
But if you have good speakers on your TV or connected to your TV, then streaming audio to a normal Chromecast may still make sense for some people.
Games on Chromecast
They use your phone as the controller and, in the case of Just Dance Now, the gyroscope and accelerometer to assess your movement.
Frankly, the Chromecast is not great for gaming so you’re better off using your phone’s screen, or opting for a proper games console if you want to play games on the big screen.
Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.
