The number of available streaming services has exploded over the past five years. There are more than 200 streaming services available worldwide. The launch of options such as Max, Peacock, Disney+ and Apple TV+, joining older ones like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. Less than three dozen have at least 50 million subscribers, with Netflix the most popular at over 200 million subscribers.
All this streaming has made it a challenge to figure out what subscriptions to add, which ones to cancel, and which ones to pause. Determining the best TV streaming service means looking at things like pricing, live sports availability, movie and series selections, ads, and password-sharing restrictions.
Which ones are the best? Of course, that is determined by your preferences. But here is a general lowdown on the best streams….
Netflix
Netflix is the world’s most popular streaming service. You can stream originals, including TV shows like Squid Game and Stranger Things and movies like The Woman King, as well as acquisitions such as the TV show Suits. Subscriptions are all paid with an ad-supported option.
Following a recent password crackdown, Netflix allows extra member slots for people outside a household for a fee per month for standard and premium subscribers. Pros of the service include a vast content library and an outstanding app that works seamlessly. Cons include the inability to share passwords and a higher price for the premium (ultra-HD) tier. It’s best for people who stream a lot of content, love watching the latest hit series, and don’t mind spending a bit more for high-quality video. It also has a decent recommendation algorithm. You can view price breakdowns before subscribing to Netflix.
Hulu
Hulu started as a hub for content for the broadcast networks but now includes a mix of originals and acquisitions. Top shows include The Kardashians and The Handmaid’s Tale, and movies range from Night at the Museum to Quiz Lady. A paid subscription is required, but you can do a seven-day free trial.
Hulu offers both ads-free and ads plans. It also offers four live cable plans; Hulu + Live TV is an excellent live streaming option with many channels. The app works well, and customer support is solid. The recommendations are more basic than Netflix, and finding new content on the app can be harder than with some other services. Pros of Hulu include the low price with ads, the breadth of content and some excellent documentaries. Cons include a smaller content selection than other major streaming services and less user-friendly presentation. You can view price breakdowns before subscribing to Hulu.
Amazon Prime Video
The final of the “big three” streamers, Amazon has an extensive library of movies (both original and acquired), many original series, and a few well-acquired TV series, though it’s best known for films. Popular originals include Red, White & Royal Blue, The Summer I Turned Pretty, and Manchester by the Sea.
Pros of Amazon Prime Video include access to popular older hits like The Fast & the Furious and decent pricing. You can get a subscription to just video and you can also subscribe to video plus Amazon Prime membership, which includes free shipping on many Amazon buys. Cons of Amazon Prime Video include a less user-friendly app and fewer high-profile TV shows than Netflix. Ads are now part of the service.
Max
Max, formerly HBO Max, contains content from all of Warner Bros. Discovery’s channels—which is a lot! That includes HBO, all the Discovery channels, Warner Bros. Movies (including DC Comics and Barbie) and more. Top shows and movies include Friends, the Justice League series, And Just Like That, Succession, Fixer Upper, and more.
Max has great content, but finding new shows and movies can be challenging. There’s no free version of the service, which requires a subscription and offers a version with ads. Max includes access to popular HBO shows, but the cons are considerable—it’s among the most expensive services, the app can be glitchy, especially when trying to watch a very popular show, and the original-to-Max programming isn’t broadly appealing. You can view price breakdowns before subscribing to Max.
Peacock
Peacock, the service from Comcast (CMCSA), has ramped up production of originals, though it still offers fewer than most other services. It hosts Universal Pictures’ considerable movie library, and it’s more inexpensive than some of the others. It’s not one of the best streaming services for sports, with the only big draw being Sunday Night Football.
The service is best for movie lovers. In addition to limited sports programming, it doesn’t have a great kids’ selection either. Other pros include the cheap ad-supported subscription rate and the availability of classic TV content, like House, Modern Family, 30 Rock, 21 Jump Street, and more. Though Peacock originally had a free version, that is no longer offered. You can view price breakdowns before subscribing to Peacock.
Disney+
Disney+ has some of the most buzzworthy streaming content, including Marvel and Star Wars movies, original shows, Pixar movies, and classic Disney animation. Disney offers the service with ads and without. You can also bundle it with Hulu and ESPN+, two other Disney-owned offerings.
Disney+ has tons of content, and it’s well organized. You can browse by content category or channel, and it promotes new shows and movies prominently. The app doesn’t suffer the glitches of other newer streamers, either. Other pros include affordability. The cons include no free trial and no streaming sports option in the app, though you can get the ESPN+ add-on. The service is best for people with children and those who love the MCU or Star Wars. You can view price breakdowns before subscribing to Disney+.
Apple TV+
Apple TV+ has one of the most limited content libraries of the major streamers, as well as one of the lowest subscriber rates. But it also has one of the highest-buzz originals in comedy Ted Lasso and some prestige movies, such as Killers of the Flower Moon.
Since it lacks the vast content of other streamers, Apple TV+ is best suited to those who want to watch a specific show or movie. The streamer’s original shows are quite good, though the app can be glitchy at times, timing out or not loading. Other cons include the challenge of finding older content because of the way its app is organized. It also has limited live sports options, though MLB and MLS are subscription add-on options. There’s no free version of Apple TV+, but you can do a free trial. You can view price breakdowns before subscribing to Apple TV+.
Paramount +
Paramount+ has seen a big increase in subscribers, due in part to the popularity of Yellowstone, its standout original that’s also spawned several spinoffs. The service also streams Paramount’s movie library, such as Top Gun: Maverick. It’s affordable with ads and there is an option to have Showtime thrown in.
The service is best for those who love Taylor Sheridan or want early access to blockbuster films. It’s not great for sports fans—aside from Sunday NFL games on CBS, the sports lineup is mostly European soccer. The app is fine, neither greatly organized nor glitchy. There is no free version, and even the higher-priced option has a few ads. You can view price breakdowns before subscribing to Paramount +.
MHZ
MHZ is a newcomer on the block and offers almost exclusively European content. Its French, Italian, Nordic Noir, German, and Spanish television series are expansive. Most of the programming is television shows, but they also offer movies as well.
This service is best for Europhiles who want to keep up with current programming or enjoy the old greats such as Lupin and Inspector Montalbano. The app works well, and the listing of content is easy to follow. MHZ offers a free 7-day trial and price breakdowns are available on their site. It’s ad-free.
Acorn
For Anglophiles, Acorn remains tops. While BritBox has dried up, except for new Shetland and Vera seasons, Acorn has become the most popular British programming streaming service.
Acorn offers timeless classics from the U.K., Ireland, and Australia. A paid no-ad subscription is available, and a 7-day trial can be used before committing to the service.
The bests…
The best live streaming service at an affordable price is considered to be Hulu + Live TV. It has more channels (over 90) than Sling’s lower-priced options, including popular ones like ESPN, FX, TNT, A&E, Food Network, and all the broadcast networks, like ABC and CBS.
However, the best cable streaming service is ranked as Max. Cord-cutters love it because it includes access to loads of cable shows in one location, including the hugely popular HBO programs, which rank among the top shows on cable.
For sports, it goes to ESPN+, which you can get in a bundle with Hulu. It includes access to hundreds of college sporting events, such as football, baseball, soccer, field hockey and more, as well as professional soccer, baseball, boxing, tennis, and others.
And for families, and it’s not a big surprise, Disney+ ranks first. Its huge library of classic animated content, including all the princess movies, plus fun originals like the newly released Percy Jackson reboot, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, make Disney+ stand head and shoulders above other streaming options for children.
What is best for you? Again, it’s determined by your particular tastes. But with so many streamers out there, you may find yourself binge-watching all weekend long!
