A Google TV alternative has to do three things. It runs your streaming apps, it plays your own files, and it lets you send something from your phone to the big screen. No single box does all three without some company in the middle, so pick the one that matches how you watch.
Google TV knows a lot about that. Google says it collects your watchlist, what you watch, which services you use, your installed apps and your approximate location, and that it uses this for recommendations and for ads on TV devices. Google stopped making the Chromecast in 2024. Its replacement, the Google TV Streamer, is $149.99 on Google’s US store (Oct 2026) and adds Gemini and a Google Home hub, which ties the TV even more closely to your account.
Quick Comparison
| Alternative | Best for | Price (Oct 2026) | Privacy | Based in | Open source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple TV 4K | The easiest switch | $299 for the new A19 model | No Google; needs an Apple Account | US | No |
| LibreELEC with Kodi | Your own media, full control | Free software, plus a Raspberry Pi or mini PC | No account at all | Community project | Yes |
| Your Google TV device, turned down | Spending nothing | Free; Projectivy has an optional paid upgrade | Less Google, not none | Not applicable | Partly |
| Basic TV mode | TVs with Google TV built in | Free | No Google account, no apps | Not applicable | No |
| The TV’s own apps | One less box | Free | The TV maker collects data instead | Varies | No |
Which One Should You Pick?
- If you want it to just work and you can spend the money, buy an Apple TV 4K. Every big streaming app is there.
- If you have a shelf of ripped movies or a home server, build a LibreELEC box and add Jellyfin.
- If money’s tight or the device still works fine, keep it and turn down the Google parts. It takes 15 minutes.
- If you only watch broadcast TV and use a set-top box or console for apps, reset your TV to basic TV.
The Alternatives, One by One
Apple TV 4K
Apple’s box runs Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube and most other services. It needs an Apple Account rather than a Google account. If you’re also replacing Google Home, it doubles as a home hub for Apple Home and Matter accessories.
- Pick it because it’s the smoothest swap. iPhone and Mac users get AirPlay, which replaces casting.
- A possible deal-breaker is the price, and that you trade Google for Apple.
- The new A19 model is $299 in the US (Oct 2026) and is on pre-order until November 13, 2026.
LibreELEC With Kodi
LibreELEC is a small open-source system that boots straight into Kodi, the open-source media center. LibreELEC 12.2.1 comes with Kodi 21.3. There are builds for Raspberry Pi, ordinary PCs and several other boards, and the LibreELEC USB-SD Creator writes the installer for you.
- Pick it because nothing on it needs an account, and it plays almost any video file. Pair it with a Jellyfin server on a computer at home, and your own library looks like a streaming service. Jellyfin says no subscription is needed for its server or official apps.
- A possible deal-breaker is that the big paid streaming services don’t run on it. Keep a second device, or use the TV’s own apps, for Netflix and the rest.
- The software is free. You pay for the hardware.
Keep Your Google TV Device, With Less Google
You don’t have to throw away a working Chromecast with Google TV or Google TV Streamer. Three changes cut most of what it collects.
- Apps only mode replaces the recommendation home screen with your installed apps. It also turns off Google’s search, the Assistant and the watchlist. Apps can still recommend things from their own history.
- Deleting the advertising ID stops apps from using it for personalized ads. Google says you can’t turn the ads themselves off.
- Projectivy Launcher is an ad-free home screen from the Play Store. It’s free to install, and a premium upgrade unlocks extras such as custom wallpapers. It can take over from the stock launcher, using an optional accessibility service that the developer says collects no data.
These steps reduce tracking. The device still runs on a Google account, because streaming sticks need one to install apps.
SmartTube for YouTube
SmartTube is a free, open-source YouTube app for Android TV boxes with no ad elements and built-in SponsorBlock. It doesn’t need Google services, and it lists the Nvidia Shield and the Chromecast with Google TV among supported devices.
- Pick it because it plays YouTube on your TV without ads and can skip sponsored segments.
- Possible deal-breakers come in two parts. The developer has reported that his development computer was infected by malware and that some builds may have been affected, so install only the current release from the project’s GitHub page. And it isn’t on any app store, so the developer warns against copies on app stores and APK sites. It doesn’t run on phones, Samsung or LG TVs, or Apple TV.
Our YouTube alternatives cover the rest of the YouTube question.
Nvidia Shield and Other Android TV Boxes
An Nvidia Shield runs Android TV, so it gets the same treatment as a Google TV device. Replace the launcher, use SmartTube for YouTube, and keep Google’s apps out of the way. Whether you can finish setup without a Google account depends on the model and software version, so check before you factory reset one.
Your TV’s Own Apps
Samsung, LG and other TV makers ship their own app stores, so you may not need a separate box. This only swaps Google for the TV maker. Many smart TVs can recognize what’s on screen, often called ACR, and use it for ads. Look through the TV’s privacy settings and turn off anything about viewing information or content recognition. The names differ by brand.
Roku and Fire TV aren’t a privacy upgrade. Both lean heavily on ad tracking.
How to Switch From Google TV
Before You Unplug, Save What Matters
- Write down your watchlist. Google TV doesn’t export it, and no other box can import it.
- Check your purchases. Movies you bought from Google stay in your Google account. In the US, link them to Movies Anywhere before you switch, so purchases from participating studios also appear in Apple TV and other stores.
- Review your watch history. Open myactivity.google.com and search for Google TV, then delete what you don’t want Google to keep. Search Play Movies too if you used it.
Option A, Set up a New Box
- Plug in the Apple TV or LibreELEC box and sign in to your streaming apps one at a time.
- For LibreELEC, download the LibreELEC USB-SD Creator on a Windows or Mac computer, pick your device and write the installer to a memory card or USB stick.
- If you use Jellyfin, install its server on a computer at home, then add the Jellyfin app on your new box. On LibreELEC, use the official JellyCon add-on for Kodi.
Option B, Keep Your Device and Turn Down Google
- From the Google TV home screen, open Settings, then Accounts & Sign In. Select your profile, choose Apps only mode and select Turn on.
- Go back to Settings, choose Privacy, then Ads, then Delete advertising ID. Press the D-pad twice to reach the button, then press Select.
- In Settings, choose Privacy, then Location, and turn location off. Google notes it can still estimate your general area from your internet connection.
- Install Projectivy Launcher from the Play Store and set it as your home screen. Turn on its accessibility service only if you want the Home button to open it.
Option C, a TV With Google TV Built In
If you only use the TV’s inputs and live channels, you can run it as a basic TV with no Google account. You can’t switch an already set-up TV to basic TV, so this means a factory reset. Then choose basic TV during setup. In this mode you can’t install apps, cast to the TV or use the Play library.
Finally, Clean Up
- Before you sell or give away a Google TV device, factory reset it so your account is removed.
- In your Google account’s device list, remove the old TV if it’s still listed.