The Best Smart TV Slideshow App Alternative
Looking for a free photo slideshow software that you can Chromecast or cast to your Smart TV? Skip the clunky native TV app stores. Here's the easiest method using your computer's browser.
PictaCast Team
Updated May 2026 · 3 min read
Why native Smart TV apps fall short
Most people search for a "smarttv slideshow app" to install directly on their TV. On paper, this sounds like the simple answer. In practice, native Smart TV apps come with a frustrating set of problems:
- Hard to get photos onto the TV. Native apps require you to either upload photos to their proprietary cloud or plug in a USB drive to the back of the TV.
- Terrible TV remotes. Navigating folders and selecting photos using a directional TV remote is an incredibly slow and frustrating experience.
- Outdated app stores. Smart TV app stores are often filled with abandoned, low-quality apps that haven't been updated in years.
A better way: Browser casting
If you are looking for photo slide show software free that you can chromecast, PictaCast is the easiest method. It is a web app that runs on your computer, reads a local folder of photos, and streams them directly to your Chromecast or Smart TV via your local network — with full slideshow controls and zero cloud uploads.
Open PictaCast in Chrome or Edge
Go to app.pictacast.com in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge on your Mac or Windows computer. Sign in with your Google account to get started.
Select your local photo folder
Click the folder picker and choose the folder that contains your JPG or PNG images. Your photos never leave your computer — they are read locally by the browser and streamed directly to the TV over your local network.
Click Cast and pick your TV
Click the Cast icon in PictaCast. Your browser will show a list of Chromecast devices and Cast-enabled Smart TVs on the same network. Select yours — the slideshow begins immediately at full resolution.
Why this beats setting up a media server
Some people try to set up Plex or a Windows DLNA server to achieve the same result. These work, but they require significant setup time, ongoing maintenance, and still don't give you a proper slideshow experience designed for photos.
No Setup Time
No servers to configure, no apps to install, no port forwarding. Open the browser and cast in under a minute.
Beautiful Layouts
Choose fullscreen crossfade or a dynamic picture-wall grid. Plex doesn't have a photo display mode designed for this.
Multitask Freely
Minimise PictaCast and use your computer for anything else while the slideshow keeps running on the TV.
Ready to try it?
Free for 10 minutes per day — no credit card required. One-time payment options available for unlimited access. Never expires.
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