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Giulia Satmary

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Aug 2, 2024, 12:48:54 PM8/2/24

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There are tons of streaming options out there, but subscribing to every service available will quickly drain your wallet. To help you decide what to sign up for, we've rounded up the best streaming services of 2024 and explained what makes each unique.

For instance, Disney Plus is an ideal service for families and big fans of Marvel and "Star Wars," while Hulu is the best fit for cord-cutters thanks to its large selection of network shows. Viewers interested in prestige TV and unscripted favorites will want to check out Max, and Apple TV Plus is notable for offering one of the most affordable ad-free plans on the market.

Hulu offers two on-demand streaming plans: a basic option with commercials and a premium tier without ads. Both plans feature access to the platform's full library of content, which boasts an impressive library of movies and TV series with a wide range of new and classic shows.

This includes next-day streaming access to ABC, FX, and Fox broadcast series, which makes Hulu an excellent pick for cord-cutters who want access to popular network shows. You can also find many licensed movies from various studios, including Oscar winners like "Poor Things" and "Anatomy of a Fall."

Hulu also offers a solid selection of original shows, like "The Bear," "Only Murders in the Building," "The Handmaid's Tale," and "The Kardashians," but its slate of exclusives isn't as notable as those of some competitors. Likewise, though Hulu does support 4K HDR on some devices, its selection is limited compared to Netflix, Amazon, and Disney Plus.

Hulu has a nice assortment of add-ons and bundle options, too. Subscribers can add other services to their memberships, like Max and Starz, for an extra monthly fee so they can consolidate bills. And you can get the Disney Plus Bundle, which packages Hulu with Disney Plus and ESPN Plus for a discounted price. Subscribers to the bundle can now access Hulu within the Disney Plus app, so you no longer need to switch between them. Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery also plan to launch a new bundle this summer that includes Hulu, Disney Plus, and Max.

And for the ultimate cord-cutting experience, Hulu even offers a full-fledged live TV tier starting at $77/month. This option includes Hulu's full on-demand library, the Disney Bundle, and over 95 popular channels. Hulu is the only on-demand streaming platform that has its own live TV plan, so this tier gives cord-cutters a convenient all-in-one solution that's packed with entertainment options.

Disney Plus is the subscription streaming home of the studio's many classic animated films and blockbuster franchises. With that in mind, its main draw is its wide catalog of Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, and 20th Century Studios content. This makes it one of the best streaming services for families since it's packed with entertainment geared toward younger audiences.

There are some new original films, series, and concert specials as well, but the lineup isn't as large as what you'll find on Netflix or Amazon. Still, the service has a healthy pipeline of exclusives for members to enjoy, including a new Star Wars series called "The Acolyte." Disney Plus is also the exclusive US streaming destination for new episodes of "Doctor Who."

And even though its catalog is geared toward families, there's still a healthy assortment of PG-13 movies and shows produced for young adults. However, Disney Plus' selection of R-rated movies and TV-MA shows is vastly limited compared to services like Netflix and Max. Right now, the only notable programs for mature audiences are a handful of Marvel titles like "Deadpool" and "Echo."

As a result, adults may want to supplement Disney Plus with a second streaming service to fill their palette with more mature shows. If you fall into that boat, we recommend paying a bit more to get the Disney Plus Bundle with Hulu and ESPN Plus. Bundle members can now access Hulu within the Disney Plus interface, so you can unlock all of Hulu's mature offerings without switching apps.

Paramount Plus is a subscription streaming service from ViacomCBS. The platform gives viewers access to a large collection of on-demand shows and movies, and the premium plan also includes live CBS streaming so you can watch your local CBS network without cable or a digital antenna.

In addition to CBS, Paramount Plus draws programming from Viacom cable channels like MTV, BET, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon. Paramount Plus is also home to exclusive series like "Star Trek: Discovery," "Halo," and "Yellowstone" spinoffs like "1883" and "1923."

Sports fans can also tune into local NFL games broadcast on CBS, as well as UEFA soccer matches when each season is in session. Unlike live CBS access, NFL and soccer games are available to all members, even those subscribed to the cheaper ad-supported plan.

If the base Paramount Plus library isn't enough for you, you can get Paramount Plus with Showtime to stream even more movies and shows. The two services merged in June 2023, and Showtime now comes with the ad-free tier of Paramount Plus by default. Once subscribed, you unlock Showtime movies and shows directly in the Paramount Plus app.

Apple TV Plus is one of the most affordable ad-free streaming services you can subscribe to. It costs $10 a month to access its entire lineup of on-demand movies and shows. That's less than commercial-free plans cost from Disney Plus, Netflix, Hulu, Max, Peacock, or Paramount Plus.

But while that's an attractive price, the Apple TV Plus content library is relatively small. The service does offer a rotating selection of about 40 licensed movies from various studios, but this assortment pales in comparison to what you get from competitors like Max and Paramount Plus. That said, there are some standout exclusive shows like "Ted Lasso," "Severance," and "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters," as well as award-winning films like "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "CODA." Live Friday Night Baseball games are also included for subscribers to watch.

Like Prime Video, the Apple TV Plus app also has a huge digital store with additional movies and shows that you can pay extra to rent or purchase. Though it would be great to have more programs included as part of your subscription, being able to order more titles within the same app is convenient. You can also add channels to your subscription, like Starz, for an extra fee.

If you plan to use other Apple services, we recommend considering the Apple One bundle to save some money. The base package includes Apple TV Plus, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and 50GB of iCloud storage for $20 monthly, a $9 discount off the regular combined price of those services. And starting May 29, Xfinity internet customers can get Apple TV Plus as part of a bundle with Peacock and Netflix for only $15 a month.

The Max streaming service, formerly known as HBO Max, combines critically acclaimed shows and movies from HBO's cable network with new originals, programs from Discovery Plus, WarnerMedia films, classic shows like "Friends," and collections from other brands like CNN, Studio Ghibli, Adult Swim, TCM, and DC.

HBO shows like "House of the Dragon" and "The Last of Us" continue to define prestige television, and Max has several critically acclaimed originals of its own, like "Hacks." The service also streams brand-new Warner Bros. movies after they play in theaters, including "Dune: Part 2" and "Wonka."

Max is also a great option for fans of unscripted television, as it now includes a large selection of programs from the Discovery Plus streaming service, including popular shows from TLC, Food Network, and HGTV. Discovery Plus remains a cheaper option for people who only want unscripted titles, but Max is a good value for viewers who also crave prestige TV.

With that said, Max has become known for removing programs with little warning. Even big releases, like "Westworld," have been pulled from the service as part of the studio's cost-cutting measures. This uncertainty surrounding some titles isn't ideal for subscribers. The service is also pricey, especially if you want 4K streaming, which is something that most competitors don't charge extra for.

Peacock is the streaming home of current and classic NBCUniversal shows like "The Voice," "SNL," "30 Rock," and "The Office," as well as original titles like "Poker Face" and "Twisted Metal." The service also offers a rotating slate of hit movies, including recent Universal titles straight from theaters, like "Oppenheimer" and "Night Swim."

Peacock used to offer a free plan with a limited content selection, but this is no longer available for new members. Instead, the current entry-level option is Peacock Premium, which offers ad-supported access to everything on the service for $6 a month. To unlock ad-free playback, you can pay $12 a month for Peacock Premium Plus. The top tier also adds livestreaming access to NBC so you can watch your local station without an antenna or cable.

Peacock also has some live news and sports broadcasts. Most notably, the service is home to WWE events and Sunday Night Football when the NFL season is active. Like NBC livestreaming, sporting events are typically restricted to Premium Plus members. However, live coverage of the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics will be available to all Peacock members.

Subscribers can stream some titles in 4K with HDR, but the catalog is mostly limited to a few new movies. Compared to other services, Peacock has one of the smallest 4K collections, but it has been adding more 4K titles in recent months.

Current and new members should note that Peacock is raising its subscription costs in July. Starting July 18, new members will pay $8 a month for Peacock Premium and $14 a month for Peacock Premium Plus. The new pricing will go into effect for existing subscribers starting August 17. With this price hike, Peacock will match what Disney Plus charges for its comparable plans.

ESPN Plus is one of the best streaming services for sports, offering a dedicated platform to watch live games and analyses. Designed as a streaming complement to ESPN's cable networks, ESPN Plus gives members access to many MLB and NHL games during their respective seasons, as well as select NFL games, golf, tennis, soccer, and college league matches.