Binge-Watch to Your Heart's Content
The era of cable and satellite TV is coming to an end as more and more people are choosing to pay for streaming services. Live TV is not only more expensive than streaming services, but it no longer offers what people want.
According to the numbers, most viewers of live television are older individuals. A study done by the Pew Research Center showed that 61% of people aged 18-29 get their TV fix primarily from streaming. Something else to keep in mind is that young people keep their eyes glued to their smart devices, such as smartphones and tablets; both devices where streaming services thrive. The future waits for no one, and live TV simply can’t keep up with the times.
The once impressive HDTVs of the last generation have been pushed aside by the rise of 4K TVs/Smart TVs that offer streaming functionality. So it’s only a matter of time before live TV is completely dead, and there’s no reason for anyone to jump aboard a sinking ship.
That being said, it’s high time for you to pick the best TV streaming service to use, isn’t it? There are a lot of streaming services to choose from, for better or for worse.
We’ve narrowed it down to five competitors: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max. So let's get started on helping you find the best TV streaming service so you can easily watch TV online.
Netflix
- Basic: $9.99/month
- Standard: $15.49/month
- Premium: $19.99/month
Netflix has been a dominant force in the streaming service market for years. Right before the pandemic, they were ranked as the fastest-growing brand, doubling its value in a year. Back in 2019, Netflix claimed to have 10% of all TV time in the United States.
Netflix is also extremely popular among young people, the primary demographic for streaming services. Britain’s BBC has openly admitted that more young people watch Netflix than BBC. So what is it about Netflix that has people so hooked?
Advantages of Netflix
The Exclusives
Netflix is all about original content. It has been cutting back on third-party content and focusing on exclusives. By 2025, almost half of their budget is projected to go toward their original content. And they certainly have a pretty stellar original content lineup.
With widely successful shows such as Squid Game, Bridgerton, Stranger Things, The Witcher, and 13 Reasons Why, Netflix offers up high-quality shows that you won’t be able to watch on any other streaming services.
Stand-up Comedy
While most of Netflix’s focus and budget have gone to original programming, the streaming service juggernaut has also spent a ton of money on stand-up comedy specials.
It started back in 2012 when Netflix gave comedian Bill Burr his own string of stand-up specials. Since then, Netflix has made big comedy acquisitions, nabbing deals with legendary comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Ricky Gervais, and Dave Chappelle. Rock, Gervais, and Chappelle have each been paid $20 million per stand-up special, and Seinfeld has been paid a whopping $100 million for several stand-up specials as well as rights to stream his popular web show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
Netflix has a ton of stand-up specials on their service now and continues adding specials practically every week. As a result, Netflix pretty much outperforms the combined efforts of HBO, Showtime, and Comedy Central when it comes to comedy.
If laughing is your thing, there’s no better streaming service to get than Netflix.
Entire Seasons Released at Once
Arguably one of Netflix’s greatest decisions is releasing every episode of their original shows all at once. Do you hate having to wait a week for the next episode to show up? I know I do. How about TV shows that take mid-season breaks and are gone for months? Talk about a drag. Thankfully, every episode of the newest season is released on day one for Netflix's original shows. And this is an absolute godsend.
There are few things more enjoyable on a snowy or rainy day than binge-watching the latest season of your favorite Netflix Original.
Streaming on Four Screens at Once
Netflix’s premium plan is the most expensive option on this list, but it also provides the most streaming benefits. For example, Netflix subscribers with the premium plan are able to stream on up to four devices at once.
Amazon Prime lets you stream to three devices, and Hulu’s streaming-only plans only allow you to stream from two devices.
Accessibility and Convenience
Another great thing about Netflix is how accessible and convenient it is. Netflix subscribers can use the service on a number of devices. Along with being able to watch Netflix via smart devices such as tablets and smartphones, users can also enjoy the streaming service via Smart TVs, Blu-ray Players, and even video game consoles. Netflix also allows offline viewing, which is great when traveling somewhere with shoddy or non-existent WiFi.
Netflix has a pretty clean user interface that makes it easy to navigate, set up preferences, and weed out content/genres that you are uninterested in. As a result, you should have no trouble using Netflix's service, even if you’re not the most technologically savvy person.
Disadvantages of Netflix
Less Content Than Amazon Prime
While Netflix does have more content than Hulu (Hulu has an estimated 3,000 titles for you to choose from), it has much less content than Amazon Prime. Netflix currently has over 5,000 TV shows and movies to enjoy, whereas Amazon Prime has over 26,000, plus additional movies and TV episodes you can buy or rent and over 100 premium channels you can add to your subscription.
The amount of content on Netflix has been sliced in half since 2012 when the company had around 11,000 TV shows and movies. Given that Netflix is focusing more and more on original content, it seems likely that the number of TV shows and movies that Netflix has will continue to decline.
Netflix Has Begun to Suffer From Third-Party Content Casualties in the Streaming Wars
Many media giants are jumping into the streaming industry, and Netflix’s third-party content has taken some major hits because of this.
All of Netflix’s Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars content has been moved over to Disney+, including Star Wars’ The Clone Wars, and the widely popular Marvel shows, Daredevil, The Punisher, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist.
Those aren’t the only major hits Netflix recently took. Friends was moved to HBO Max in 2020. Last year, the streaming giant took another big blow when it lost its close-knit relationship with Fox. Popular shows such as Bob’s Burgers, 30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother, Scrubs, and many more were removed from Netflix and are now on either Hulu, Amazon Prime, or Disney+.
As more media giants enter the streaming war, expect more of your favorites to disappear from Netflix’s catalog.
Netflix Is Extremely Slow Adding More Episodes/Seasons of Third-Party Shows
One of the biggest complaints about Netflix is how long the streaming service takes to add seasons of third-party shows to their platform.
Netflix may do a huge service to their customer base by releasing every episode in the season for their original programming shows all at once, but when it comes to third-party shows, Netflix is honestly terrible. It’s not uncommon to have to wait up to six months for another season of the show you’re watching to show up on Netflix. Even when said shows are years old and have long since gone off the air, Netflix won’t have every season in the series.
If You Want to Keep Up with New Shows on Traditional Television, Netflix Isn’t for You
Do you want to ditch traditional TV but still want to watch some of the new TV shows found on traditional TV channels? Then you may want to rethink subscribing to Netflix.
Hulu uploads episodes of the newest TV shows the day after they air. Amazon Prime Video allows you to buy episodes or seasons of new TV shows right after they air as well.
You can expect to wait months before any of these shows arrive on Netflix. Your friends will be talking about Season 2, and you'll still be on Season 1: Episode 4.
Amazon Prime Video
- Amazon Prime: $14.99/month or $139/year (1-month free trial)
- Amazon Prime Student: $7.49/month or $69/year (6-month free trial)
- Amazon Prime Video-Only: $8.99/month
Coming in second place is Prime Video from Amazon. At this point, Amazon is pretty much a corporate empire. As of 2021, Amazon sits at third for the most valuable public company in the world, behind only Apple and Microsoft.
This is thanks to Amazon having its hands in many different industries, and dominating a fair portion of them. With involvement in industries like online retail, online grocery, cloud computing, and robotics, and with companies like Whole Foods, Audible, Zappos, PillPack, and more under their control, Amazon’s empire keeps getting bigger and bigger.
You might think that since Amazon is stretching themselves so much, their streaming service wouldn’t be as good as competitors who place more focus on streaming, but you’d be dead wrong. Amazon Prime Video is quite good. Here’s why.
Advantages of Prime Video
Prime Video Is Just One of Many Benefits that Come from Being an Amazon Prime Subscriber
While you can sign up for just a Prime Video subscription, it’s highly recommended to spend $4 extra a month and get the full Amazon Prime subscription. If you do, Prime Video comes as one of the many benefits that Amazon Prime members enjoy. And what benefits does Amazon Prime offer you? A lot. Here are just some of them:
- Free two-day shipping
- Free same-day or one-day shipping
- Free release-date delivery
- Free no-rush shipping
- Unlimited access to Prime Video
- Amazon Channels (pay an additional fee to watch TV networks)
- Unlimited access to Amazon Music Prime
- Unlimited access to Amazon Photos
- Prime Try Before You Buy
- Prime Reading
- Amazon First Reads
- Audible Channels for Prime
- Twitch Prime
- Exclusive savings on purchases
No streaming service provides more bang for your buck than Amazon Prime. This is especially true if you are a college student.
Prime Video Has Nearly Four Times as Much Content as Netflix
If you’re bored on a rainy weekend and looking for a new TV series or movie to watch, Prime Video certainly has a big enough selection to browse through. Currently, Prime Video has roughly 24,000 movies and over 2,100 TV shows in its catalog.
Prime Video is by far the best streaming service if you’re looking for obscure cult classics or straight-to-video B-list movies.
Amazon Prime has a great selection of TV shows as well. From classics like Boardwalk Empire, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Parks and Recreation, to Amazon Prime Originals like Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Bosch, The Boys, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Prime Video is sure to have something for you.
Twitch Prime Is Great for Gamers
For better or worse, Twitch is the foremost streaming platform for video game content. Amazon owns Twitch, and being an Amazon Prime member gives you access to Twitch Prime.
Twitch Prime members can get free in-game items for a variety of games. Massively popular video games like Apex Legends, Fortnite, and Runescape have teamed up with Twitch and offer exclusive loot to Twitch Prime members. You can also gain access to free games, as well as exclusive emojis and a free channel subscription every month.
Amazon Prime Video Is the Best Value for College Students
We know college students aren’t exactly rolling in dough. For that reason, Amazon Prime should be every college student’s first option. Provided that you prove to Amazon that you are indeed a college student (by signing up with your .edu email account), you will get six months of Amazon Prime access for free! On top of that, once your 6-month free trial period is over, you will have the option of continuing your subscription for 50% off the normal price: a mere $69 a year.
If you are only interested in Prime Video and not the entire Amazon Prime package, then Netflix is probably your best option. But if you like Twitch, exclusive savings and deals, as well as free shipping options, then we highly recommend Amazon Prime.
Disadvantages of Amazon Prime Video
When It Comes to Content, It’s Quantity Over Quality
Amazon Prime Video is arguably the Steam of television and movie streaming services. Those of you who are familiar with the digital distribution platform Steam know that there are a ton of games available for purchase. However, any random Joe or Jane can put their video game on Steam, meaning there is a lot of junk to sift through before you can find something good.
Prime Video is very similar in that while it has a content count of over 26,000, you can bet your favorite fishing rod that there are going to be plenty of duds in the pile. In searching for a new show or movie to watch, you may get frustrated by how long it takes to find something that will hold your interest.
Rivals Netflix and Hulu don’t have as much content as Prime Video, but they also don’t have as many duds.
The User Interface Is Clunky and Requires You to Do More Work
Prime Video’s interface is nowhere near as good as the UI of Netflix and is somewhat cluttered. Unlike Netflix, the UI doesn’t offer personalized recommendations based on your search and watch history.
Their search function also needs improvement. Prime Video organizes its TV show seasons individually, which makes searching for a show confusing and frustrating as you have to search for each season. It also does not weed out TV shows and movies that you need to pay for. You might see something you like and get excited, only to be disappointed when you find out you will need to shell out some extra cash to watch.
Better for Watching Network TV Than Netflix, but Not as Good as Hulu
Prime Video lets users search by specific channels, which is a nice plus, but as a downside, you’re going to have to pay for network TV shows and movies. It offers up a ton of network content to view, and you can buy movies, episodes, or entire seasons of TV shows.
That being said, Prime Video’s network TV options are quite inferior to that of Hulu.
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Hulu
- Hulu with ads: $6.99/month or $69.99/year
- Hulu with no ads: $12.99/month
Add-ons:
- ESPN+: additional $6.99/month
- Disney+: additional $2.99/month
Hulu has come a long way over the years. Hulu isn’t the best overall yet, but it is better than both Netflix and Prime Video in a number of ways.
Advantages of Hulu
The Best Option for Network TV
Thanks to Hulu’s Streaming Library, subscribers will be able to watch the latest episodes of TV shows airing on ABC, NBC, The CW, Fox, and CBS right away. Hulu airs episodes of new shows from these networks the day after they air. This is infinitely better than Netflix, which takes ages to get new shows, or Prime Video’s expensive pay-per-episode/season system.
In addition, if you’re looking for a live TV replacement option, Hulu is your best bet here, too. For $69.99/month ($75.99/month if you want no ads), you gain access to their Live TV service, which offers access to around 70 channels, Disney+ and ESPN+.
Hulu also offers partner, premium, and individual Live TV add-ons for varying additional monthly fees
Great Blend of Original Content and Licensed Content
Hulu doesn’t have as much original content as Netflix, nor as much licensed content as Prime Video, but it’s a healthy mixture of both.
Hulu offers up some pretty good original TV shows like The Handmaid’s Tale, Nine Perfect Strangers, Only Murders in the Building, and The Girl from Plainsville. The streaming service has plenty of licensed goodies like How I Met Your Father, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Community.
Speaking from personal experience, I can also say that Hulu is the best streaming service on this list for all the Asian drama addicts out there. With classics like Boys over Flowers, Descendants of the Sun, Oh My Venus, Heartstrings, The Heirs, and more, you’ll be sure to get your Asian drama fix on Hulu.
And don’t worry, Hulu has a great selection of movies as well.
Hulu’s Accessibility and Convenience Is Almost as Good as Netflix
Just like Netflix, Hulu is available on pretty much every modern device you can think of: smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and current-gen gaming systems. Hulu’s UI isn’t as clean as Netflix’s, but it’s improving and is better than Prime Video’s UI.
Offers the Cheapest Single-Price Option of the Big Three
Hulu’s cheapest subscription option is $6.99 a month. It comes with ads, of course, but if you’re used to traditional TV, it might not bother you too much.
Disadvantages of Hulu
The Ads Are Absolutely Terrible
Yes, Hulu has the cheapest subscription option here, but it also has the worst ads.
I don’t think words can describe just how awful the ads are on Hulu. There’s nothing worse than when the action gets good in a TV show, and suddenly you get hit with a 90-second ad about BBQ grill lighter fluid or eye drops.
Making it worse is the fact that some shows have advertisers that are linked to their content, so you will have to see the same commercials over and over again. When you’re binge-watching, this can get really annoying, really quickly.
Six dollars a month might seem like a great deal, but in all honesty, I wouldn't recommend Hulu with ads to anyone.
Only Available in the United States and Japan
One of Hulu’s biggest flaws is its extremely limited reach. As of now, Hulu is only officially available in the United States and Japan.
There are workarounds using VPNs if you are in any other territory, but the hassle isn’t really worth it when there are other great streaming service options available.
Disney+
- $7.99/month or $79.00/year
- The Disney Bundle: Stream Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+: $69.00/month with ads
- The Disney Bundle: Stream Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+: $75.99/month without ads
Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu were unarguably the Big Three among streaming services until Disney+ came along. Currently, Disney+ is sitting at number three for the best on-demand streaming services, just below Amazon Prime Video.
Why should you get Disney+? Well, it's Disney! The name speaks for itself. But in case you need a little more convincing, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Advantages for Disney+
Exclusive Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars Content
Disney started ripping its content off Netflix back in 2017, and now that Disney+ is officially off the ground, it’s the only place you can find (most of) Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars movies and shows.
You’ll have access to hundreds of Disney movies and thousands of TV shows, including classics such as Hannah Montanna, Duck Tales, The Muppets, Boy Meets World, and many, many more. With Disney owning Fox, you can find all 30+ seasons of The Simpsons, the X-Men movies, Home Alone, Ice Age, and more.
Disney+ also features National Geographic.
Most Family-Friendly Streaming Service
Disney made its name off its beloved, family-friendly animated children’s films. Despite its many acquisitions over the years, family-friendly is still what it's known for. Some recent family-friendly releases include Encanto, Soul, and both live-action movies Mulan and Lady and the Tramp. Skipping the box office and going straight to the streaming service, Turning Red made a huge impact worldwide for its opening weekend on Disney+.
In 2021, Disney launched their ‘Star’ brand for viewers outside of the US, which contains its mature content Fox movies and FXX shows. This same content can be found in the US on Hulu.
Streaming on Four Screens at Once
Like Netflix, Disney+ allows you to stream from four different devices at once. The big difference is you need Netflix's premium subscription to use four devices.
Disadvantages of Disney+
Buffering Issues
While it’s been out for two years now, Disney+ still has issues with constant buffering from their service getting overloaded. While it has improved since its first release, many users still report experiencing it.
Premiere Access Adds Up
If you were hoping to watch the latest Disney movie at home instead of in theaters, expect to pay an additional $29.99 for early access in addition to your $7.99 monthly fee. While these movies will be free after usually three months, you may find it frustrating to have to pay an additional fee after you’re already paying monthly.
New Episodes Debut Weekly Just Like Regular TV
Unlike Netflix, which regularly drops whole binge-worthy seasons at once, you have to wait for weekly drops of each new episode for most of Disney's original shows. If you’re a big fan of sitting down and bingeing a whole new season in a day, you won’t have that luxury until the full season has aired. Until then, you’ll have to try your best to avoid any spoilers across social media!
Not A Lot of Original Content
While Disney+ is home to exclusive, high-quality classic animations previously locked away in the Disney vault, as well as Pixar movies and shorts and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as a Disney fan, you’ve likely seen them all before. And when Disney+ does get around to adding new original content, it’s few and far between.
If you’re not a huge fan of Disney, Star Wars, or Marvel, then there’s not much left for you on this streaming service. Disney+ has significantly less variety than the other three streaming giants. Also, not every Disney or Fox classic is available.
But, if you are a big fan of these brands, however, and you love watching them over and over, then a Disney+ subscription is definitely worth your money!
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HBO Max
- $9.99/month with ads
- $14.99/month without ads
HBO Max launched in 2020 as an amalgamation of HBO, Warner Bros. Entertainment, and their related brands. It will also feature Discovery+ content in the coming months now that Warner Bros. and Discovery have merged. If you are a big fan of watching HBO, here’s why you’ll fall in love with this streaming service.
Advantages of HBO Max
Watch Episodes As Soon As They Air on TV
HBO Max airs exclusives as soon as they premiere on TV, meaning you don’t have to wait a day like Hulu, or months like Netflix, to see the new episodes of your favorite HBO show. It also features all of HBO’s original shows, such as Game of Thrones, Sex in the City, The Sopranos, Succession, and Euphoria.
HBO Max Originals
In addition to hosting all of HBO’s original shows, this streaming service has its own original series, including The Flight Attendant, Our Flag Means Death, and DC Comic’s live-action Peacemaker.
DC Comics
Speaking of DC, Disney+ has Marvel, and HBO Max has DC Comics. DC has a ton of classic, old animated shows like Justice League, Superman: The Animated Series, and Static Shock. Newer entries, like Peacemaker and Young Justice, are also very popular.
Get New Movies on Your TV Sooner
You can find new movies such as The Batman and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore from Warner Bros. Entertainment on HBO Max as early as 45 days after their theatrical release. So, if you are unable to see these in the theater, you won’t have to wait too long!
Watch Friends and More
Even after all these years, the hit TV show Friends is still as popular as ever. After leaving Netflix in January 2022, it made its new home at HBO Max, where you can also find Friends: The Reunion. You can also find TV shows and movies from CNN, TNT, Cartoon Network, TBS, Adult Swim, Loonie Toons, Studio Ghibli, and more!
Disadvantages of HBO Max
The Price Does Not Match the Content
When you think about what you're paying for, HBO Max is one of the more expensive subscription services. If you want ad-free shows, it’s $14.99 a month. This price gives you access to little more than 2,500 movies and TV shows. Yet, in comparison, Netflix costs $9.99 a month for access to more than 5,000 titles, and while Amazon Prime Video also charges $14.99 a month, it gives you access to over 26,000 titles.
HBO Max Originals Are Not Doing So Well
Not including Game of Thrones, other HBO Max originals have not been too successful. Their shows, such as The Flight Attendant and Raised by Wolves, just did not manage to catch the world’s attention like Netflix’s Squid Game or Tiger King did. So if you’re looking for original new shows to watch, HBO Max may not be the best place for you to look.
New Episodes Debut Weekly Just Like Regular TV
Like with Disney+, you have to wait for weekly drops of each new episode on HBO Max. This is because it’s still catering to its HBO cable viewers.
The streaming wars have begun, and boy, oh boy, is the competition heating up. There are many advantages and disadvantages to subscribing to each TV streaming service, so be sure to pick and choose what works best for you carefully!