Choosing a Device for FreePlay
FreePlay runs on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, and Apple TV devices. This page tells you exactly which devices to buy for your classroom TVs — and, just as importantly, which ones to avoid.
Quick Answer
For most churches, buy the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max. It has 16 GB of storage (double most sticks — important for downloading lessons for offline play), a fast processor, strong Wi-Fi, and runs Fire OS, which FreePlay fully supports.
Recommended Devices
| Device | Why | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Fire TV Stick 4K Max — best choice | 16 GB storage for offline lesson downloads, fastest stick, Wi-Fi 6E, runs Fire OS | Amazon |
| Fire TV Stick 4K Plus | Solid mid-range pick, runs Fire OS | Amazon |
| Onn 4K Pro (Walmart) | Budget Google TV box with 32 GB storage — great capacity for offline lessons | Walmart |
| Onn 4K Streaming Device (Walmart) | Cheapest reliable option; runs the Android TV version of FreePlay well | Walmart |
| Fire TV Stick HD (2024 model) — budget pick | Around $20 on clearance — great for outfitting several classrooms. 1080p and 8 GB storage, which is plenty for most classroom TVs. Buy the 2024 model only — see warning below | Amazon |
| Apple TV 4K | Premium option; great if your church is already Apple-based | Apple |
Only buy from the links above (or the exact model names) — several current Fire TV models look nearly identical but cannot run FreePlay; see the warning below.
Older Fire TV Sticks you already own (Fire TV Stick 4K, older HD/Lite models) also work — if the device runs Fire OS and can install apps from the Amazon Appstore, it can run FreePlay.
⚠️ Devices to Avoid
- Fire TV Stick HD (2026 edition) and Fire TV Stick 4K Select — these newer budget models run Amazon's new Vega OS instead of Fire OS. Vega OS cannot run Fire OS apps, and FreePlay is not available for it. They are often the cheapest sticks on the shelf, which makes them tempting — don't buy them for FreePlay.
- Roku — FreePlay is not available on Roku devices.
Amazon sells Fire OS and Vega OS sticks side by side at similar prices. Before buying, confirm the model: 4K Max, 4K Plus, and the 2024 Fire TV Stick HD run Fire OS (FreePlay works); the 2026 Fire TV Stick HD and 4K Select run Vega OS (FreePlay does not). The two HD sticks share the exact same name — use our link above to get the 2024 model. Amazon has announced that future Fire TV Sticks will move to Vega OS, so if you're standardizing on Fire TV, the 4K Max and 4K Plus are the models to stock up on.
Why Storage Matters
FreePlay's superpower is playing lessons without internet on Sunday morning — volunteers pre-download the week's content, and videos play from the device's storage. Downloaded lessons can take several gigabytes, and the operating system uses much of a device's advertised space. The 16 GB on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max gives comfortable room for multiple weeks of content; 8 GB devices work but may require clearing old downloads more often.
Installing FreePlay
Once you have your device, installation takes about two minutes — see Getting Started:
- Fire TV: Amazon Appstore → search "FreePlay" (direct link)
- Android TV / Google TV (incl. Onn): Google Play Store → search "FreePlay" (direct link)
- Apple TV: App Store → search "FreePlay" (direct link)
Related Articles
- Getting Started — installation and remote controls
- Choosing a Pairing Mode — connect the TV to your classroom or plans
- Downloading Content — offline playback for Sunday morning