What Is a Fire Stick and How Does It Work?

The Fire TV Stick is Amazon’s most popular streaming device. It can turn any TV into a smart TV, which means you can watch movies and TV shows over the internet. It also comes in different models, giving you choices in terms of costs and features. Here’s everything you need to know about the Amazon Fire TV Stick, how it works, how much it costs, and where to buy it.

What Is a Fire TV Stick?

With an Amazon Fire TV Stick, you’ll have access to all the popular streaming services, like Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, YouTube, and more. All you need is a reliable WiFi connection and a TV with an HDMI port, and you can use the Fire Stick to replace your expensive cable subscription.

With Fire TV, you can watch over 500,000 movies and TV episodes from free and paid streaming services. You can also watch live TV and sports or listen to music with Spotify, Pandora, and more.

You can get the regular Fire TV device to watch content in 1080p HD (high-definition) resolution, or you can get the more expensive version to stream content in 4K Ultra-HD.

If you want to know more about the difference between 1080p and 4K, check out our article here.

How Does the Amazon Fire Stick Work?

Once you plug your Fire TV device into your TV’s HDMI port, it will connect to your WiFi network. Then you will go through the set-up process and sign in to your Amazon account. Finally, you just need to download apps to watch your favorite shows and movies.

Any digital music or videos you’ve purchased through Amazon will immediately be available when you log in. Also, photos stored on your Amazon Cloud Drive will be available for viewing.

All Fire TV devices currently come with a remote that lets you control your TV with voice commands. The remote has a built-in microphone that lets you ask Alexa to pause, rewind, or search for new content.

Check out our step-by-step guide on how to set up an Amazon Fire TV Stick, if you just got one.

How to Use a Fire Stick

To use a Fire Stick, you’ll have to download apps first. These apps are like TV channels, except you can watch the content at any time. Some of these apps offer free content, while others require you to pay a subscription fee.

There are lots of apps that require a subscription fee, such as Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. You can also watch blockbuster movies and highly-rated TV shows using apps like Pluto TV, Tubi, Crackle, IMDb TV, and other free apps that don’t require a paid subscription.

If you want to cut the cord on your cable or satellite, you can watch live TV and sports with subscriptions to Hulu, Sling, Youtube TV, and many more. You can even stream music through services like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, and iHeart Radio.

If you want to see what kind of apps you can download with a Fire Stick, check out our list of the 10 best Fire Stick apps here.

Where to Buy a Fire Stick

You can buy the Amazon Fire TV Stick on Amazon’s website, or you can buy the Fire Stick at any Best Buy, Staples, or Target stores. If you want the best deal, you might want to wait for the Fire Stick to go on sale on Amazon.

Best Buy has the device available for purchase online with free shipping, or you can pick it up in your local store. You can get next-day delivery when you order Amazon’s streaming device in a store. You also have the option of picking it up in-store or ordering online and selecting the pick-up option.

Staples is another retailer that has this device available in-store. You can order it online and have it delivered the next day for free, pick it up in stores, or order online and choose the pick-up option.

Target also has this device available. You can order online and have it delivered, but you’ll receive it a week later. Like the other two retailers, you have the option of picking it up in-store or ordering it online and choosing the pick-up option.

Shop: Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Staples

How Much Is a Fire Stick?

The Fire TV Stick Lite currently costs $29.99, but it doesn’t come with a power button or volume controls. The Fire TV HD currently costs $39.99, but it only lets you stream in 1080p high-definition resolution. If you want to stream in 4K Ultra-HD, you’ll have to get the more expensive Fire TV Stick 4K, which currently costs $49.99.