Choosing a video streaming service is no longer just a simple choice between Netflix or Hulu. It's much more complicated than choosing a TV channel, and choosing between subscriptions that all have subtle differences and cost significant monthly payments. So where do we get started?
With all the offers and variations, the obvious way is to have a few subscriptions that you can switch between. But if you enjoy most of them and have a tight entertainment budget, you'll want to know which subscription offers the best offers and appeals to your tastes.
There are a few things to consider when choosing a subscription service: price, offers, exclusives, users, devices, output quality, and other bonuses.
Netflix: For those who love Netflix originals
We start with the godfather of streaming platforms. It's certainly a difficult past for most of us, with a massive collection of over 4000 movies to navigate. It's not just quantity here, but quality as well; Netflix has the highest number of Rotten Tomatoes movies, if that matters to you.
In recent years, Netflix has made itself a household name not only with its impressive lineup of movies, but also with its Netflix Originals. Stranger Things, Orange is the New Black, Black Mirror, The Crown—many of the latest and greatest series are Netflix's own. And with recent projects like Netflix's Academy Award-winning Rome, they've made a name for themselves. We can only expect them to only get better from here.
Beyond the shows, Netflix offers some flexibility in terms of pricing and offerings as well. Its premium subscription will cost you $15.99 per month, but it gives you up to four simultaneous streams in 4K. The basic plan, at $8.99, lets you stream standard definition content on one device.
Netflix also lets you download most of its shows to your devices, so you can save some data on the go. While it's worth noting that many of its titles don't stay on its shelves forever, it's hard to beat.
Hulu: With TV die hardcore
Here's what you miss on Hulu: you don't get a wide selection of 4K movies, there are some ads despite paying for a subscription, and you can't download any content to watch offline.
But the good news for TV is that Hulu tends to have the latest episodes of current shows right after they air on TV, while Netflix and many others may have them just months after they air on TV. In addition to its colorful catalog of movies and shows, it also offers live TV streaming if you buy the $44.99-a-month package, with over 60 channels like ESPN, Disney, Fox, CNN, and more.
Packages like this are truly a complete replacement for the cable network that currently supplies your TV with channels. If that's beyond your TV budget, there are other streaming-only plans starting at $5.99, but with ads.
With the exception of The Handmaid's Tale, Hulu Originals hasn't had the cultural impact of a Netflix original series. But you're really into TV shows here.
Amazon Prime Video: Anyone with a Prime membership
Amazon's plan is very clever. With Amazon Prime, Jeff Bezos' company has managed to infiltrate its video streaming service into many devices and homes. People use Amazon all the time, so it makes sense that Prime would leverage all its advantages—and it happens to have a very efficient streaming system. Suddenly, people are asking: Do I still need a Netflix subscription?
If you're not on Prime, Amazon Video will cost you $8.99 per month. For this, you get a vast library of movies and shows, though it lacks the depth of Netflix.
The venture has garnered critical acclaim for its original content, with notable series like Homecoming, The Grand Tour, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, which may not match Netflix in quantity, but certainly in quality. Families are also likely to find content for their children here. The partnership with Viacom has given Prime Video access to shows from Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and other channels that kids will love.
On the technical side, most movies offer 4K and HDR viewing on up to three devices, with offline viewing to save data. Amazon Prime Video may not be the cheapest offering (that crown belongs to Hulu), but if you do a lot of online shopping and binge-watch a handful of shows, it might be the killer whale.
Rule
So there we have it: the big three players analyzed and understood. For most of us, Netflix seems to be the go-to. It has the largest library and the FOMO-inducing originals everyone is talking about, making it irresistible.
But Amazon has made a strong case for itself in recent years. With all the perks that come with a Prime membership—free Kindle books, two-day delivery, and Amazon Music Unlimited—you may find that you already have Prime Video readily available. And if Netflix's original content isn't your thing, it may be enough to satisfy your TV entertainment needs.
