Figuring out the best streaming service is more than just a matter of who has the greatest TV shows or movies to stream. It’s about the app experience, how quickly they release new content and value for money.
The TV landscape has been changing fast, thanks to the new streaming services of 2020 – and that means every major studio in the US is figuring out how to play catch-up when faced with huge competition from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Figuring out the best streaming service, then, is tougher than ever, especially with newer options like HBO Max and Peacock.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for traditional networks in all of this. For example, a lot of the best TV right now can still be found on cable network FX – but even that network has began debuting new shows on Hulu at the same time they air, likely a sign of things to come.
Viewers have signed up to the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime in droves, and for good reason. There’s never been so much choice when it comes to picking the best streaming service for your needs, which is great for viewers in some respects but it can be overwhelming and expensive to make the right decision.
You’ve got the market leader, Netflix, which has become the default streaming service for many. There’s also the Amazon Prime Video service that comes as part of an Amazon Prime subscription, the May 2020-released HBO Max for shows like Game of Thrones or Westworld, and the likes of Hulu, YouTube TV and Sling for getting live TV without the hefty monthly bills.
Late last year, the House of Mouse entered the fray with Disney Plus, which hosts shows and movies from Star Wars, Marvel and more. Apple has also thrown its hat into the ring with Apple TV Plus, which may not be able to compete with the rest when it comes to back catalogue, but has ambitious plans for fresh new programming. Even Quibi has entered the fray, though we wouldn’t necessarily recommend that mobile-focused service as it stands.
To help you choose from the best TV streaming services out there, we’ve put together this guide to the essentials.
What is the best TV streaming service you can get right now?
The best streaming service around by far
Compatible devices: Android, Apple, Windows, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Smart TVs | Free trial: 1 month | Simultaneous streams: 1-4
If you’re a connoisseur of movies and/or TV, there’s only one must-have player in town and that’s Netflix. It is, unequivocally, the biggest and best streaming service, despite not always stocking its digital shelves with must-have new movies and TV; that said, this is the staple streamer you need to own if you ever plan on cutting the cord and surviving without it.
These days, most smart TVs have Netflix apps and finding a streaming box without it is the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack. The quality of the movies and TV we tried – mostly streamed in Ultra HD – on both TV and on tablets is exquisite.
Since launching its own original content in 2013, Netflix’s originals library has swelled to an enormous size, boasting dozens of award-winning shows including Stranger Things, Orange is the New Black, The Crown, Master of None, House of Cards and later The Witcher and Top Boy – you can see our pick of the best Netflix series in the US.
The number one threat to Netflix is its licensed content disappearing to newer, competing networks. Friends, for example, has left the service already, and The Office will eventually depart for NBC’s ad-supported Peacock. Both garnered significant audiences on Netflix in the US. Netflix will have to work hard to make up for those losses.
Subscription costs have gone up by $1-2 a month, with the basic plan at $9, HD plan at $13, and 4K Premium plan at $16. But don’t forget you can also give Netflix a spin with the 1-month free trial (in the US, anyway) to see if it’s worth your money.
Verdict: 5/5
A strong selection of both popular films and TV
Compatible devices: Android, Apple, Windows, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Smart TVs | Free trials: 1 month | Simultaneous streams: 3
Amazon and Netflix are two sides of the same coin. That’s not to say they’re identical – they’re not – but the differences are few and far between, and Prime comes a close second in the battle of the best streaming services.
Like Netflix, Amazon Prime video has its own set of original series – Upload, Hunters, and The Boys among others – but, generally speaking, they don’t receive the same fanfare as their Netflix-bred brethren.
Although Netflix is as guilty for dud programming as the rest of them, it’s worth mentioning Amazon Prime does get some pretty terrible new additions from time to time. So always check out guide to the best Amazon Prime TV shows before you dive in head-first.
The two big differentiators between the services are the fact that access to Amazon’s streaming service comes standard with a subscription to Amazon Prime – meaning access to Amazon Music and premium delivery services – and Amazon has its own proprietary set-top box, the $69 Amazon Fire TV.
As far as its cost, a subscription to Amazon Prime will run up around $12.99 per month, just under Netflix’s basic plan, though there’s also a 30-day free trial so you don’t have to pony up any money when you first start.
Prime Instant Video is available for PC and Mac, the Kindle Fire HD, iPad, Xbox One, PS4, internet-enabled TVs and Blu-ray players, Sony’s Home Cinema system, Sony’s Network Media Player and myriad other minor devices that will go unmentioned.
Verdict: 5/5
The go-to for big name TV shows
Compatible devices: Apple, Android, Windows, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Smart TVs | Free trials: 1 month | Simultaneous streams: 1
Video streaming service Hulu offers big-name titles like The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live, and South Park alongside a huge number of titles from NBC, FOX and Comedy Central. It’s also the only streaming service app on the Nintendo Switch.
Hulu comes in two flavors: the standard on-demand streaming service you’ve always known and loved, and the new Hulu with Live TV -to learn more you can read our full Hulu review here.
The former works well and is well worth its cost of entry – especially since Hulu’s price cut brought the monthly subscription to only $5.99 (you can also combine it with Disney Plus and ESPN Plus for $12.99 per month). Sure, it’ll air with a few advertisements, but it’s nothing you’re not used to coming from traditional cable. On the homepage you’ll find highlighted shows based on your past visits to the site. It’s got a pretty great anime section, too.
The other option on the table is Hulu with Live TV, a cable alternative that will run you around $40 a month – which is, unfortunately, limited to the US. The service lives up to its name by offering you a bevy of live TV channels and 50 hours cloud DVR service and two simultaneous screens. This is a bit less than the next contender on our list – YouTube TV – which offers more screens and unlimited DVR space.
The biggest problem with Hulu is that it lets users run head first into the paywall, keeping you from the content you’re most apt to pay for.
Some call this good business. Some call it extortion. Wherever you stand on the subject the fact that you get so much free content upfront means that the old adage of “you get what you pay for” definitely does not apply here.
Verdict: 4/5
The new home of Disney shows and movies
Compatible devices: PS4, Xbox One, Samsung and LG devices, Roku players, Amazon Fire TV and Fire tablets, Apple TV, Android TV, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Google Chromecast | Free trials: 7 days | Simultaneous streams: 4.
Disney Plus doesn’t feel like it’s trying to be the main TV streaming offering in your life. Instead, it’s a family-friendly option that feels like it lives alongside a Netflix or Amazon Prime Video subscription. It has a very specific selection of content: Disney animated movies, Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel, and National Geographic. Essentially, if Disney owns it and kids can watch it, it’s on here.
The app is easy to use, with useful genre listings, and 4K streaming is included as part of the same $6.99 per month package (you can also subscribe for a year at $69.99, and bundle it with ESPN+ and Hulu for $12.99 per month). It’s pretty well-priced, then, and as far as classics go, Disney Plus launched with a whole bunch of fantastic movies. If you can’t stream a particular movie on the service, too, a listing page will tell you when you can. In 2020, films like The Rise of Skywalker and Onward have made Disney Plus feel even more worthwhile.
The library isn’t nearly as comprehensive as Netflix or Amazon at this stage, then, but Disney Plus benefits from having a very specific angle. On the horizon, too, it has a few impressive exclusive shows in the works from Marvel Studios, and it launched with The Mandalorian, a fantastic live-action Star Wars show.
Verdict: 4/5
Live TV streaming without the hassle
Compatible devices: Apple, Android, Windows, Roku, Xbox, Google Chromecast, Apple TV, Smart TVs | Free trials: 7-30 days | Simultaneous streams: 6
Ask someone what they think was the biggest internet revolution of the 21st century and they’ll probably say it was YouTube. And with good reason – the user-generated video-blogging site has changed the online landscape forever.
It lets anyone, however well known they are (or not), whatever the quality of their content and wherever they hail from, upload their weird and wonderful videos for anyone around the world to watch at their convenience. The beauty of YouTube is that in the blink of an eye it’s taken the broadcasting power from the bigwigs and placed it right in our hands.
OK, so it might not have stopped people wanting to watch a high quality, professionally made production in their living room TVs, but it’s an insight into how TV might be produced in the future. After all with YouTube you don’t need a big budget – or indeed any budget at all – to produce your own TV series and establish a massive following.
While the free portion of YouTube will always remain the most popular (the latest statistic says that a whopping eight years’ worth of content is uploaded each and every day to the site), but if you’re looking for quality content, YouTube TV is also an excellent option worth considering.
A subscription to YouTube TV is on the expensive side at $40 a month, but you’re treated to a fair amount of content – around 60 channels replete with cloud DVR functionality. The service is available only in the US for now, however, and even here it’s only available in around 100 markets around the country. Still, if you’re lucky enough to be in one of those areas, it’s the best live TV streaming service out there right now.
Verdict: 4/5
All of HBO, with a bunch of other stuff thrown in
Compatible devices: Apple, Android, Windows, Xbox, Google Chromecast, Apple TV, Android TV, Smart TVs | Free trials: 7 days | Simultaneous streams: 3
In addition to HBO Go, which is thrown in as part of a HBO cable subscription, and the existing HBO Now on-demand service, HBO Max is the new mothership of streaming services under the premium cable network’s banner. Having three services is too confusing, really, but what you need to know is that HBO Max is now the main focus. It’s where you’ll find the most stuff, and it’s free for most existing HBO subscribers.
For $14.99 per month, you get all of HBO’s content like The Sopranos, Game of Thrones and The Wire, plus a range of other stuff from Warner’s archive, like Friends, The Big Bang Theory and DC superhero movies. If Warner owns it, you’ll find it here either now or far into the future. Whereas HBO’s remit is adult drama and comedy, this is a more broadly appealing service that tries to offer content for everyone.
On top of that, Warner Bros has curated multiple channels of content, including TCM, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Studio Ghibli. It certainly feels like a premium service, and the range of movies here easily rivals Netflix already, which is a great start.
Of course, the price is one potential barrier for HBO Max, considering it’s only a dollar cheaper than Netflix’s premium plan, and it doesn’t feature 4K streaming or HDR (yet, anyway). The lack of support for Amazon and Roku devices for HBO Max is a big weakness right now, too, although we expect that to be fixed in the future.
Another downside is the lack of great originals, right now, but we expect that situation to improve over time. Love Life, Doom Patrol and Search Party are among the bigger shows you can enjoy now. HBO Max needs a breakout hit, really, to capture widespread attention, but just the presence of all these HBO shows and channels means Warner has a great base to grow the service with.
Verdict: 3.5/5
More affordable than YouTube TV but not as good
Compatible devices: Apple, Android, Windows, Roku, Xbox, Google Chromecast, Apple TV, Android TV, Smart TVs | Free trials: 7 days | Simultaneous streams: 3
Sling TV is a kind of cure-all for the cord-cutting generation, something that we knew we needed but no company stepped up to make. That said, it’s everything cable’s not. It’s affordable. It’s no-obligation. And there are absolutely zero sales reps trying to stop you from cancelling your contract. Best of all, you won’t have to give up some of the perks cable provided in the last few years like the ability to pause live TV or watch something that aired up to 72 hours ago.
We’ve spoken at length about the service in our Sling TV review but in case you missed it, here’s what you need to know: Sling TV is live TV streaming from DISH whenever and wherever. But unlike traditional cable or satellite, there’s no contracts, no equipment and no costly bill at the end of the month.
But let’s get down to brass tacks. $20 a month gets you a TON of cable channels – ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Travel Channel, CNN, Cartoon Network, ABC Family, Disney Channel and AMC, and many, many more.
If the included channels aren’t enough, Sling TV sells nine add-on packages for $5 a month that add around five channels each and focus on a particular theme (International News, Latino Programming, etc…) . Sling TV makes it in to our best sports streaming sites guide, too.
Unlike most services, you can actually watch Sling TV for free. It hosts over 5,000 shows and films at any one time that requires no credit cards or log in to watch. You literally just head to the website and start watching!
Sling TV is available on iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick, Xbox One and Roku TV, plus select LG and Samsung smart TVs and on PC and Mac via the website portal.
It’s not without limitations, however. The standard Sling TV package, called Sling TV Orange, while available on a plethora of mobile and living room gadgets, will only work on one device at a time and, admittedly, at $20 per month doesn’t present the same content-to-dollar ratio that Netflix or Prime Instant Video provide.
Verdict: 3.5/5
A one-stop shop for all of your anime needs
Compatible devices: Apple, Android, Windows, Roku, Xbox, Google Chromecast, Apple TV, Android TV, Smart TVs | Free trials: 14 days | Simultaneous streams: 3-4
Call us crazy but there’s something endearing about a streaming service that knows exactly what its audience wants. Crunchyroll is the best streaming service any anime, manga or East-Asian cinema fan in your life has always wanted and never knew about.
Founded by Berkeley graduates back in 2006, Crunchyroll started as a bootleg website of sorts where users uploaded their favorite shows without permission of the original owners. Not the humblest of beginnings. But now it’s an essential offering for anime fans.
While you won’t find genre staples like Dragon Ball Z, Digimon or Pokémon around, most of the site’s 200-plus series are available to watch for free in SD, typically prefaced with a 20-second advert. Watching any content in full 1080p HD requires a $7.99 monthly subscription to the service, just be sure to check out the 14-day free trial before you begin.
Besides the slick web interface, Crunchyroll is available on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, PS4, Wii U, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku, Google TV and Samsung and Panasonic’s line of Smart TVs.
Verdict: 3.5/5
The NBC-powered service with a great free option
Compatible devices: Web browsers, Android, iOS, PS4, Xbox One, LG Smart TVs (LG WebOS 3.5 or above), Xfinity cable boxes, Cox Contour Box, Cox Stream Player, Vizio TV: SmartCast 2.0 or 3.0 | Free trials: 7 days (Premium) | Simultaneous streams: 3
Peacock is the latest (and hopefully final, for now) entrant in the streaming service wars in the US. It’s NBC’s own streamer, which features an extensive ad-supported free tier, where you can watch the entire series of shows like 30 Rock or Parks and Recreation without spending anything. You don’t even need a credit card to start watching – just a login.
Spending $4.99 per month, though, will grant you access to another tier of programming, featuring originals like Strange New World and paywall-protected shows like Cheers and Frasier. Spending $9.99 per month gives you the same service without ads (except for a small amount of content). Both paid tiers also feature live sports, including the Premier League, and access to new NBC shows after they air.
At present, Peacock isn’t available on Roku and Fire TV devices, which is a downside. It’s also not necessarily worth paying for right now if you’re on a limited budget – not when the programming archives of Netflix, HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video offer plenty of originals to check out.
The service also doesn’t feature any 4K content right now, which could potentially change in future. Still, the free tier gives this service a good angle, and in early 2021, this’ll be the only US streaming home of The Office.
Verdict: 3/5
The electronics giant enters the streaming game
Compatible devices: Apple, Samsung Smart TVs, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, LG Smart TVs, Vizio TVs | Free trials: 7 days | Simultaneous streams: 6
Apple’s newest streaming service has money bags and talent on its side. Launching with The Morning Show, an expensive drama starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carrell, as well as See with Jason Momoa, Apple is flexing its muscles to get the best talent.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a deep content library, which is what the platform would need to be the best streaming service in 2020. At a very lean $4.99 per month, though, some of the programming here is well worth checking out – particularly Mythic Quest, a sitcom from the creators of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, or the excellent documentary Beastie Boys Story. Over time, that library could develop into something great, and making big swoops for films like Tom Hanks’ Greyhound has worked in its favor.
Apple also needs to work a little harder to get its app onto other devices. Pretty much every streaming service is available on games consoles, but not this one – and that’s a real disadvantage.
Verdict: 3/5
Free streaming of game playthroughs, musicians and so much more
Compatible devices: Apple, Android, Windows, Xbox, Google Chromecast, Apple, Nvidia Shield | Free trials: N/A | Simultaneous streams: Unlimited
For a certain crowd, Twitch (formerly known as Justin.tv) is about the best invention since sliced bread. Essentially it’s a livestreaming platform that focuses primarily on videogames where you can find everything from world tournament coverage to someone muddling their way through that indie darling you had your eye on buying.
It’s not traditional by any means, but you’ll find plenty to see and do on Twitch. Best of all the app is free on almost any platform you can think of: iOS, Android, Xbox One, PS4, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV … you name it, it probably has a Twitch app. You can read more about Twitch here.
Twitch may be limited to a niche audiences of gamers at the moment, but the platform clearly shows promise. Amazon bought the service wholesale in December 2014 for a cool $970 million. Whether you count it as real TV programming, however, is another question.
Verdict: 3/5
A free streaming service with a rotating hit or miss collection of films
Compatible devices: Apple, Android, Windows, Chromecast, Android TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Google Chromecast, Xbox, Playstation, Blu-ray players | Free trials: N/A | Simultaneous streams: unlimited
While creating this list, we gave some serious thought to leaving Crackle off completely. With a poor selection and even poorer streaming quality you’d be forgiven for never knowing about Sony Pictures Entertainment’s unfortunate streaming offshoot.
Crackle offers a rotating selection of a few dozen films from motion picture studios’ archives that focus on six categories: action, comedy, crime, drama, horror and sci-fi. One month you might see a kitsch classic like Ghostbusters, while the next you won’t be as fortunate and will only find a few throw-away films from the ’90s. Warning: Each film is streamed in standard definition, and a tiny ad floats at the bottom of the screen throughout the entirety of your stay.
What helped it make the cut? Its price. Streaming any one of the few dozen movies and TV shows found on Crackle’s website is completely free, no strings attached. Keep in mind that advertisements pop up before each movie starts, and expect a few intermittently throughout the film.
Should you choose to endure it, Crackle is available on iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Nook, Kindle, Roku, PlayStation TV, Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, most Blu-ray players, smart TVs, game consoles including the PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PlayStation Vita, online and T-Mobile TV.
Verdict: 1.5/5
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