Best Chromecast Apps in 2026 (Essential Picks)
Google retired the Chromecast dongle in 2024, but "casting" is more alive than ever — it's baked into the Google TV Streamer (4K) and thousands of phone and TV apps. Whether you still run a 3rd-gen Chromecast or Chromecast Ultra, or you've upgraded to the $99 Google TV Streamer, these are the apps worth installing in 2026. We've grouped the essentials below with current pricing and noted which ones cast for free.
The Best Chromecast Apps in 2026
YouTube
Free (YouTube Premium $13.99/mo optional)
The app Chromecast was practically built for. Hit the Cast icon and your phone hands playback straight to the TV, then doubles as a remote and queue manager. It's completely free (ads supported), works on every Chromecast generation and the Google TV Streamer, and is the most reliable casting experience you'll find.
Netflix
Paid (from ~$7.99/mo with ads)
Still one of the best-behaved casting apps. Tap the Cast button in the mobile app and Netflix streams 4K HDR directly from the cloud to your TV while your phone controls playback. Plans in 2026 run from the ad-supported Standard tier up to Premium with 4K. Works on all Chromecast devices and natively on Google TV.
Disney+
Paid (from $11.99/mo with ads)
Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar and the full Disney library cast cleanly from phone or browser — just hit the Cast icon and pick your device. In 2026 the ad-supported plan is $11.99/mo and ad-free is $15.99/mo, with a $19.99 Premium tier for the highest quality. Older Gen 1 Chromecasts may still play it but no longer get updates.
HBO Max
Paid (from ~$9.99/mo with ads)
The service that briefly went by just 'Max' rebranded back to HBO Max in 2025, but the app and casting work exactly the same. Home of HBO originals, Warner films and DC content, it casts from mobile and the web to any Chromecast or Google TV device. Several ad and ad-free tiers are available.
Prime Video
Paid (included with Prime, or $8.99/mo standalone)
Amazon's catalog casts to Chromecast from the mobile app via the Cast icon. Note the 2026 shake-up: the base Prime Video tier now includes ads, 4K moved to a $4.99/mo Ultra add-on, and a standalone ad-supported plan runs $8.99/mo. It's pre-installed on Google TV as well.
Spotify
Free (Premium from ~$11.99/mo)
Spotify Connect beats plain casting — it hands the stream to the Chromecast directly so playback keeps going even if your phone sleeps, and you can swap devices instantly. Free and Premium accounts can both cast. Heads up: Spotify has been working through a 2026 bug where some Google Cast devices intermittently vanish from Connect.
YouTube TV
Paid (base plan $82.99/mo)
Google's live-TV service is a natural fit for casting, with 100+ channels, unlimited DVR and up to six accounts. The base plan is $82.99/mo in 2026, with new cheaper genre-based packages starting around $54.99/mo. YouTube TV members also frequently get steep discounts on the Google TV Streamer itself.
Plex
Free locally (Plex Pass $6.99/mo for remote)
The go-to for casting your own movie and music library to the TV. Plex organizes local media and streams it beautifully — but note that as of 2026, remote streaming (outside your home network) now requires a Plex Pass ($6.99/mo) or the cheaper Remote Watch Pass ($1.99/mo). Casting on your home Wi-Fi remains free.
VLC
Free, open source
The free, open-source media player casts local video and audio files to Chromecast via Playback > Renderer. It plays virtually any format, though it sometimes transcodes on the fly since Chromecast supports a limited codec set. 2025–2026 updates improved reliability, including a fix that disables HEVC streaming on older Chromecasts.
Google Photos
Free
Turn your TV into a digital frame: cast albums and slideshows, or set Google Photos as the Ambient mode screensaver on a Chromecast or Google TV Streamer to display curated highlights when the TV is idle. Free with your Google account and tightly integrated with Google's streaming hardware.
Twitch
Free (Turbo/subs optional)
The Twitch mobile app on iPhone, iPad and Android supports casting live streams to Chromecast — look for the Cast icon in the top-right of the player. It's free to watch (Turbo and subscriptions remove ads and support creators). Note it casts to Chromecast specifically, not arbitrary DLNA devices.
Hulu
Paid (from ~$9.99/mo with ads)
One of the most popular U.S. casting apps, Hulu streams on-demand shows and movies — and live TV on its pricier tier — straight to Chromecast from the mobile app. Plans start around $9.99/mo with ads and climb to the Hulu + Live TV bundle. Pre-installed on Google TV devices.
Casting Tips
Almost every major streaming and music app supports Google Cast — just tap the Cast icon while your phone and Chromecast are on the same Wi-Fi. YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Spotify and Prime Video are the essentials, while Plex and VLC handle your own media. The newer Google TV Streamer adds an on-screen app store and remote. For more, see our guide to cable TV alternatives and free apps to watch TV and movies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What apps work with Chromecast?
Most major streaming apps support Google Cast, including YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Prime Video, Hulu, Spotify, YouTube TV, Plex, VLC, Google Photos and Twitch. Look for the rectangular Cast icon in a mobile or web app — if it's there, the app can send playback to a Chromecast or any Google TV device on the same Wi-Fi network.
Can you cast any app to Chromecast?
Not directly. Casting only works in apps that have built-in Google Cast support (shown by the Cast icon). For apps without it, you can fall back to screen mirroring — casting your phone or Chrome browser tab's entire screen — but that's less reliable, drains the phone battery and won't play in true 4K like native casting does.
Do you need Wi-Fi to use Chromecast?
Yes. Both your phone (or computer) and the Chromecast or Google TV device must be on the same Wi-Fi network to discover each other and cast. Some streaming apps then pull content from the internet directly, but the initial handshake and remote control still rely on a shared Wi-Fi connection. The Google TV Streamer also adds an Ethernet port for a wired option.
What are the best free Chromecast apps?
YouTube, Spotify (free and Premium can both cast), Google Photos, VLC and Twitch all cast for free. Plex is free for casting media on your home network, though remote streaming now needs a paid pass as of 2026. These cover video, music, your own media library and live streams without any subscription.
Chromecast vs Google TV Streamer — what's the difference?
The original Chromecast was a dongle you cast to from your phone, with no on-screen interface of its own (later Chromecast with Google TV added a remote and apps). Google discontinued the Chromecast line in 2024 and replaced it with the $99 Google TV Streamer (4K) — a more powerful box with 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, a faster chip, an Ethernet port and smart-home hub features. It still receives casts from all the same apps, so 'casting' lives on even though the Chromecast brand is gone.
App availability and Chromecast/Google Cast support can change. Make sure your devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and your apps are up to date.