This is something I'm still collecting more information on. If you have any tips, please do bother me.

Google's strangehold on casting is seriously annoying. Alternatives?

RaspiCast

• https://github.com/HaarigerHarald/omxiv - archived repo since 2023-05
• https://github.com/HaarigerHarald/raspicast - source code for Android app, last commit 2 yrs ago
• https://www.instructables.com/Raspberry-Pi-As-Chromecast-Alternative-Raspicast

PiCast

Has to be considered no longer maintained. May or may not actually work at this point.

• https://github.com/lanceseidman/PiCAST - last commit 8 yrs ago
• https://pypi.org/project/picast

PyCaster

Built on PiCast and youtube-dl using NodeJS.

You connect to the Pi, the server-side JavaScripts delivers a simple webpage. The communication is done in real time thanks to the socket.io library. Your browser connects to the Pi, you send the URL you want to stream, and the Pi streams it for you through omxplayer and youtube-dl.

• https://github.com/DevonLian/PYCASTER - last commit 8 yrs ago

Pipecast

• https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/PipeCast - archived repo since 2022-11. By the NewPipe team.
• https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23873892

NymphCast

Alpha stage. But interesting, worth testing it. They already offer Android APK and server software which could run on a Raspberry Pi, for example.

• https://github.com/MayaPosch/NymphCast - 2.5k stars, 80 forks, last commit 3 months ago
• http://nyanko.ws/nymphcast.php

So it seems that around 2020 there was a flurry of posts about this project, describing it as "alpha". So the fact that the project is still alpha five years later is perhaps not very encouraging. But it is still actively developed, which is more than you can say about most other projects in this field. The Google stranglehold on casting continues to be heavily felt, unfortunately.

• https://features.jellyfin.org/posts/1706/nymphcast-the-gentlepersons-google-cast
• https://old.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/fhdnav/nymphcast_an_opensource_alternative_to_chromecast
• https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27482699
• https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/58714-nymphcast-network-audio-chromecast-replacement
• https://www.opensourceforu.com/2020/03/open-source-nymphcast-lets-you-use-raspberry-pi-like-a-chromecast
• https://www.tomshardware.com/news/using-raspberry-pi-like-a-chromecast-open-source-nymphcast-project-makes-it-happen
• https://old.reddit.com/r/selfhosted/comments/ter8fx/nymphcast_an_opensource_chromecast_alternative
• https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22457351
• https://old.reddit.com/r/raspberry_pi/comments/flgzu1/nymphcast_an_opensource_alternative_to_chromecast

Mirrorcast

• https://github.com/ASHS-School/mirrorcast - last commit 7 yrs ago, 49 stars, 7 forks

AirTame

Proprietary dongle with a proprietary app. Pricing really only meant for businesses.
Supports AirPlay, Miracast and Google Cast.

• https://airtame.com/products/airtame-2
• https://technicalustad.com/chromecast-alternative

TeeWe 2

Proprietary dongle. It was sold in India around 2015. Very likely long since dead.

• https://www.crazyengineers.com/threads/teewe-2-review-this-hdmi-dongle-packs-a-punch-for-the-price.81277
• https://www.purevpn.com/blog/best-chromecast-alternatives

iPazzPort Cast

It's just a Miracast dongle. Out of stock and probably long dead. Chinese no-name webstore.

• https://www.ipazzport.com/product-category/ipazzport-cast/miracast-dongle
• https://www.purevpn.com/blog/best-chromecast-alternatives

TV Buddy Caster

Looks like vaporware.

• https://old.reddit.com/r/TVDetails/comments/g175t4/tv_buddy_is_it_legit_or_is_it_a_scam
• https://www.amazon.ca/Streaming-Smartphone-Widescreen-AirMirror-Cross-System/dp/B081SYDYXJ
• https://www.purevpn.com/blog/best-chromecast-alternatives

Google Cast reimplementations

• https://github.com/vishen/go-chromecast - 900 stars, 86 forks, last commit a month ago
• https://github.com/tristanpenman/go-cast - 8 stars, 1 fork, last commit 3 weeks ago

Notes

• https://github.com/enen92/script.tubecast - learnt about it while researching Youtube on Kodi
• https://helpdeskgeek.com/the-best-4-alternatives-to-google-chromecast
• https://old.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/11ygmqx/chromecast_alternative
• https://old.reddit.com/r/fossdroid/comments/8vavp2/chromecast_netflix_w_microg