Buying a streaming device for your own lounge is about picture quality and which apps you like. Buying one for a rental is different. It has to work for strangers, survive a dozen different guests a month, keep their accounts separate, and be manageable without a visit. That changes which device is “best” quite a lot.
The short answer
For most rentals, pick a Google TV or Android TV device. Our usual recommendations are the Google TV Streamer 4K or the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K. If you would rather not set anything up yourself, the BetterSTR TV box arrives with the app installed and ready to go. The rest of this article explains why, and what to check if you are looking at something else.
Why the platform matters more than the specs
For a rental, the most important question is not 4K or Dolby Vision. It is whether you control what guests see when the TV switches on. Google TV and Android TV let an app such as BetterSTR TV become the home screen, so guests land on your welcome page with their name, the WiFi QR code, your guidebook and the streaming apps you choose.
Other platforms don’t allow that:
- Roku and Apple TV don’t let a third-party app replace the home screen.
- Amazon Fire TV runs Amazon’s own system and BetterSTR TV does not support it.
- Samsung (Tizen) and LG (webOS) smart TVs have no BetterSTR TV app, and each brand works differently, which is hard to standardise across properties.
You can still use any of those TVs. Plug an Android TV device into a spare HDMI port and make that the input the TV starts on.
The main options compared
| Device | Good for | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Google TV Streamer 4K | A reliable, current Google device with wide app support | A small box rather than a stick, with an Ethernet port |
| Xiaomi TV Stick 4K | A compact stick that hides behind the TV | WiFi only unless you add an adapter |
| Chromecast with Google TV | If you already have one | Replaced by the Google TV Streamer, but still supported by BetterSTR TV |
| Smart TV with Google TV built in (TCL, Sony, Philips, Hisense and others) | No extra device, one remote | Check the model runs Google TV or Android TV, not the maker’s own system |
| Generic Android TV boxes | Low cost | Quality varies a lot. Uncertified boxes may not run every streaming app properly |
| BetterSTR TV box | Hosts who want it working out of the box | Android 14, 4K with HDR10+, dual-band WiFi, voice remote. Arrives installed, locked down and managed |
A buying checklist for rental TVs
If you are looking at a device not listed above, check it against this list:
- Google TV or Android TV, officially certified, so the main streaming apps install from Google Play and play properly.
- HDMI-CEC support, so the device can switch the TV on and select its own input.
- A remote that controls TV power and volume, so guests only need one.
- 4K output if the TV is 4K. If it isn’t, it doesn’t matter.
- Ethernet, or the option of an adapter, if the router is close by.
- Mains power, rather than relying on the TV’s USB port.
- A brand you can buy again, so a replacement for a lost device is the same model.
Stick or box?
Sticks plug straight into the HDMI port and disappear behind the TV, which suits wall-mounted screens. Boxes are usually easier to cool, often have Ethernet, and are easier to reach if you ever need to restart one. For a TV on a cabinet with the router nearby, a box is the more reliable choice. For a wall-mounted TV, a stick is tidier. Whichever you choose, use the same model in every property where you can, so one set of instructions and one spare covers them all.
Don’t forget the network
The best streaming device in the world will buffer on a weak connection. Before you blame the device, check the network where the TV is:
- Test the speed at the TV, not next to the router. Run a speed test on your phone standing where the TV is.
- Run a cable if the router is close. Ethernet removes a whole class of problems, especially in apartments where many networks compete.
- Add an access point if the lounge is a long way from the router. If you use UniFi or TP-Link Omada access points, the same gear can also run a guest WiFi sign-in page.
- Put the TV on the guest network. Guests can then cast from their phones once they join the WiFi.
Remotes matter more than you think
Guests judge a TV setup by the remote in their hand. A few habits help:
- Leave one remote out, and pair it so it controls the TV’s power and volume as well as the device.
- Keep spare batteries somewhere obvious, and say where in your guidebook.
- Buy a spare remote when you buy the device. They go missing more than the devices do. The BetterSTR TV shop sells replacement remotes for its box.
- A voice remote helps guests find a show without typing on a TV keyboard.
Three ways to get BetterSTR TV on it
| Option | Effort | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Install from Google Play | About 10 minutes per TV, on a device you already own | The welcome screen, guidebook, WiFi QR and app tiles. You enable a couple of settings yourself, and updates come from the Play Store |
| Free setup tool (Mac or Windows) | Run once per TV on your network | A locked-down home screen, silent updates, and the option to clear guest app logins at checkout |
| Pre-configured BetterSTR TV box | Plug in, scan a QR code | Everything the setup tool gives you, with no setup tool needed |
Once the device is chosen, our guide to the best TV setup for a vacation rental covers wiring, streaming logins and the cleaner’s checklist. If you are comparing welcome-screen products, see how BetterSTR TV compares with WelcomeScreen or the GuestView Guide alternative that runs on your own TV.
What it costs
The BetterSTR TV app is free on Google Play, and every device starts with a free trial of 2 weeks with all features on. After that the welcome screen, WiFi QR, guidebook and app tiles stay free. Premium features are $3 a device a month for Guidebook Premium customers, or $4 otherwise. The BetterSTR TV box is $35 USD plus shipping. See the pricing page for the details, including BetterSTR Simple, which covers up to 3 TVs per property.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a Fire TV Stick in my Airbnb?
Guests can watch on one, but you can’t replace its home screen with your own welcome page, and BetterSTR TV doesn’t support Fire TV. A Google TV or Android TV device gives you that control.
Do I need a 4K streaming device for a rental?
Only if the TV is 4K. Reliability, HDMI-CEC support and a remote that controls the TV matter more to guests than picture resolution.
Will BetterSTR TV work on a TV I already own?
Yes, if it runs Google TV or Android TV you can install the app free from Google Play. Any other TV with an HDMI port works with a plug-in Android TV device.
