5 Best Alternatives to Chromecast Audio

Google axed production of Chromecast Audio devices in early 2019 and shifted its focus towards smart speakers. Now that it’s gone, many consumers are looking for alternatives. 

It’s still possible to create a smart speaker system without upgrading to all smart speakers — here are the five best alternatives we’ve found to Chromecast Audio.

1. WiiM Pro

The WiiM Pro is one of the best Chromecast Audio alternatives you can find. It’s compatible with AirPlay and Chromecast, as well as the following voice assistants:

• Siri
• Alexa
• Google Assistant

WiiM Pro offers a sound quality similar to Chromecast Audio. It supports high-quality 192 kHz, 24-bit audio, gapless playback, and offers 26 EQ options to customize your listening experience. 

You can connect all your music streaming accounts to the WiiM Home app, so there’s never any need to close one music app to open another.

There are three ways to connect the WiiM Pro to your sound system — RCA, optical, or coaxial cable. However, unlike Chromecast Audio, it can’t connect to speakers via aux.

2. WiiM Mini

The WiiM Mini is similar to the WiiM Pro. However, it’s only compatible with Alexa and Siri — not Google Home. 

You can still download the WiiM Home app to control your speaker on an Android device, but you won’t be able to control it with Google voice commands.

It features aux and optical outputs and can connect wirelessly to Amazon Echo devices and Apple HomePod Mini. Like the WiiM Pro, it supports “bit perfect” audio up to 192 kHz 24-bit, with gapless playback and 23 preset EQs. 

However, it doesn’t feature an RCA output like Chromecast Audio does.

3. Echo Link

The Amazon Echo Link is essentially the Amazon equivalent of Chromecast Audio. You can connect it to your audio system via: 

• Aux
• RCA
• Optical
• Coax
• Bluetooth

It can even connect directly to a subwoofer.

As you’d probably expect, the Echo Link is fully-compatible with Amazon Alexa. But, there’s no direct way to connect it to Google Home. 

You don’t necessarily need an Alexa device to control it, but you do need to connect it to the Alexa app. Alexa isn’t built-in to the Echo Link, so you’ll need an additional device to use voice commands to stream music.

Like Chromecast Audio, the Echo Link supports Hi-Fi audio up to 192 kHz and 24-bit.

4. Google Chromecast

One way to mimic the Chromecast Audio experience is using Chromecast to play music through the speakers connected to your TV.

You can do this whether you have a Chromecast dongle or a Google TV. Just tap the Cast icon in whatever music app you’re using and select your TV or Chromecast from the list of devices. 

This will only work if the speakers you want to use are already connected to your TV, but it’s a good alternative in a pinch.

5. Google Speaker Groups (Google Speakers Only)

New Google smart home devices have Chromecast built-in. If you create a Speaker Group in the Google Home app, you can use it to cast to multiple speakers at once. 

Note that this will only work to group together speakers manufactured by Google. At this time, it’s not possible to add third-party speakers to a Speaker Group.

1. Plug the speaker into a power outlet.
2. Open the Google Home app.
3. Tap the “+” icon > Set up device > New device. 
4. Follow the on-screen steps to add the speaker to the app.

Once all your smart speakers are connected to the Google Home app, follow the steps below to create a Speaker Group:

1. Open the Google Home app.
2. Select “Devices,” then “Add.”
3. Tap “New Device,” then “Speaker Group.”
4. Select all the speakers you want to group together, then press “Next.”
5. Name your group and tap “Save.”

Now, you can use Google Assistant commands to stream music to all the speakers in your group. Just say, “Hey Google, play (song) on (Speaker Group name).”

FAQ: Chromecast Audio

Why Was Chromecast Audio Discontinued?

Google Chromecast Audio was discontinued in 2019. Google claimed they already had a lot of similar products and wanted to shift their focus to creating the best smart speakers possible. 

Will Chromecast Audio Still Work?

Although Chromecast Audio was discontinued by Google, it is still supported on the Google Home app. You can even buy refurbished devices online from third-party retailers. 

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