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Originals, kids' titles and back catalogs all make a difference when deciding which streaming service is worth your money, along with the availability of new releases and blockbuster movies. Examine the library offerings of each streamer to determine whether they carry all episodes of shows you enjoy, movies, older titles or a selection of foreign content.
Now that most streaming platforms offer ad-based options, you can choose whether you want to pay to watch without commercials, or if tolerating ads is better for your budget. Monthly prices start around $6-$7 and go up to $23, but you can also consider rotating your services to pay less overall for streaming TV in a year.
With any streaming service, you'll want to know how many screens you can watch at a time. For example, Netflix's ad-based plan allows two simultaneous streams, but you have to upgrade to the premium version if your family needs four screens. Look for platform offerings that let your household stream on multiple devices at once if that's what you need.
There's a reason why Netflix has become shorthand for streaming in general. The former movie rental service evolved into the top-tier streaming app that's a must-have in 2024, even if you're paying extra to share your password. When big originals like The Witcher or Stranger Things drop, they grab the attention of millions of viewers, along with critical praise and awards, giving us the closest thing we have to watercooler conversations these days.
The streamer offers a wide variety of familiar network shows and more original series, films, documentaries and specials than any of its competitors. New shows and movies arrive each week. The company doesn't mind catering to different tastes with gaming options and categories for kids, and anime and foreign-language titles from all over the globe.
Starting at $7 a month for an ad-supported account and $15.50 monthly for the standard ad-free plan, its price is in the middle of the TV service pack. While the $23 premium option gives you 4K content and four screens, both standard plans -- with or without ads -- include HD and two simultaneous streams. For the variety you get, it's still a top pick.
Disney Plus is one of Netflix's closest competitors for good reason. It's the only place where you can stream the vast majority of the Disney and Pixar libraries, along with every Star Wars movie, Marvel films, new original TV shows, National Geographic content and 30-plus seasons of The Simpsons. Shows like The Mandalorian, Loki, Andor and She-Hulk, have drawn millions of viewers, while features such as Avatar 2 and Encanto won rave reviews. Plus, there's lots more Star Wars and Marvel original programming coming in the next few years.
At the current price of $8 per month for the ad-based plan, Disney Plus is still one of the least expensive streaming TV choices and a great value. We consider it a must-have if you have kids or are a fan of any of its other titles (and who isn't a fan of Baby Yoda?).
Max is an updated app full of popular TV shows and movies. It has HBO's entire library and DC Universe titles, along with favorites such as Friends, the Lord of the Rings movies and almost every Studio Ghibli film. It's the primary destination for new Warner Bros.-owned feature films. It's not Disney Plus, but Max has a solid streaming collection for kids too, with the ability to control ratings on kids' profiles better than most other services.
At $10 per month, it sits next to Netflix at the higher end of the streaming spectrum, and if you prefer the ad-free experience, the cost jumps up to $17 or $21 per month. Max is ramping up its new originals, and we expect that to increase over time. With the addition of Discovery Plus unscripted content, there's more to stream. Although its 8.0 rating is neck-and-neck with Prime Video, Max consistently drops new releases, possesses a large back catalog and offers smooth, user-friendly features. The platform also offers a live sports tier, B/R sports, as part of its current package, but the optional add-on is due to cost an additional $10 per month later this year.
For $8 per month (with ads), Hulu is a perfect complement and counterpoint to Netflix. Its channel lineup has a huge variety of familiar shows from networks like ABC, Fox and FX that you can watch soon after they air (unlike on Netflix), as well as a growing catalog of its own critically acclaimed original series like The Handmaid's Tale and Only Murders in the Building. If you have $8 a month to spare and don't mind trading a few ads for a wealth of TV options, Hulu is a no-brainer. You also have the option to upgrade to a no-ads plan for $18 a month or add on live TV streaming for $77 a month for a full cable replacement.
Prime Video now has ads in its default version of the streaming app, but you can pay a $3 fee to stream without them. However, the commercial breaks are relatively short compared with other streamers. The platform offers quality original shows and movies, an impressive back catalog of older favorites (and B-movies you haven't heard of) and NFL on Thursday nights.
It lacks the catalogs of Netflix and Hulu and the star power of Disney's streaming platform, and I found its menus more confusing since there's some paid content mixed in with free content. Prime Video's redesign aims to cut down on that confusion with clearer labeling and menu updates for its global customer base. For millions of Prime subscribers, the Prime Video channel is already included at no extra cost. If you're interested in checking out any of its originals like Fallout or its large movie selection, it may even be worth paying the standalone $9-per-month TV fee (if you don't have Amazon Prime).
Priced at $10 a month without ads, Starz provides a unique but expanding library of films and original shows. With more than 800 movies in its bank that range from '80s classics to Westerns to the hottest new Sony releases, the streamer houses every genre in its catalog. Starz has been inching its way into the prestige TV market with a quality lineup of original programming.
It's best known for the Power Universe, Outlander and The White Queen. Starz also airs Lionsgate movies and shows -- like John Wick and Saw. While you can't stream feature films as day-and-date releases, Starz has a deal with Universal to broadcast its lineup. That includes flicks such as Jurassic World Dominion, Minions: The Rise of Gru and Oppenheimer. For $10 a month, the Starz app gives you unlimited downloads, early access to new TV show episodes, and four simultaneous streams, all with no ads. Whether you want to stream blockbuster movies, documentaries, original series or something for kids, Starz is worth the cost.
ESPN Plus is a great streaming service for tried-and-true sports fans, especially those who follow the NHL, MLS and UFC. This is because ESPN Plus is the new home of all out-of-market National Hockey League games, while also offering out-of-market MLS soccer matches, along with those from other soccer leagues around the world. It hosts exclusive UFC matches and pay-per-view events, such as UFC Fight Night and championship bouts (for additional fees).
Hockey and MLS fans who root for teams that aren't based where they currently live need ESPN's streaming service to watch their team's action. The service won't be of much use to fans of the home teams. Local games are blacked out on ESPN Plus so you'll need access to your regional sports network through cable or a live TV streaming service to watch them. Golf fans can stream the PGA Tour live on the platform.
ESPN Plus doesn't show live NFL or NBA games, and while its vast library of original programming is impressive, it's difficult to navigate. While the year service is best suited for die-hard fans of the sports it covers well, more casual fans might find themselves with an ESPN Plus subscription anyway through the Disney Bundle, which also includes Hulu and Disney Plus starting at $15 a month. A standalone subscription for ESPN Plus costs $11, but some viewers may find it more cost-effective to pay for one of the Disney Bundles, which range from $15 to $25 monthly.
NBCUniversal's streaming service Peacock offers a premium ad-supported option for $6 a month, granting you access to more than 80,000 hours' worth of content. Upgrade to Premium Plus for $12 a month to watch without commercials. The service no longer offers its free, ad-supported tier to new subscribers, but existing Peacock customers can downgrade their accounts to watch about 10,000 hours of shows, movies, news and live sports. Fan favorites on the platform include the TV series The Office, and viewers can also watch Premier League soccer matches, WWE events and originals like Poker Face. Keep in mind you need a premium account to watch full seasons of most shows.
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