There are only so many hours in a day, so there's no point in signing up to every video library under the sun. No; to save money, you need to find the best streaming service for you, and that's where we at What to Watch come in.
Our team is full of movie, TV and documentary buffs, and we use every streaming service uner the sun to keep on top of our video habits. Not only do we know what's on each platform's library, but we know what they're like to use and whether they offer value for money or not.
Because the streaming service landscape is constantly changing, this guide is too, with price changes, content removals or uploads and mergers causing us to tweak the order every month or so. A popular way to test streaming services is to sign up for a month at a time, so if you sign up for a service now, check back in a month or so to see what else is worth signing up to; our guide to the best streaming deals will help.
Oh, and if you're after a way to stream cable channels online, that's actually a separate thing, and our guide to the best live TV streaming services is what you're after.
It's worth pointing out that there's not really one best streaming service — different people have different tastes and so the most interesting platform for one person might be joyless for another. To cater to all tastes, we've highlighted who might enjoy each service and who might want to skip it. There will also be some more niche options below. So read on for the best streaming services right now:
Best streaming services
Netflix is the biggest name in the streaming game, which makes it a no-brainer for the top spot. The size of its library dwarfs its rivals, with new movies, shows and specials arriving on the platform at a breakneck pace of (usually) more than one per day. Plus, it's not all that expensive if you opt for the cheaper ad-enabled plans.
If you're a fan of TV shows, you probably already use Netflix. It pumps out spectacular originals like Stranger Things, Squid Game, Bridgerton, The Witcher, The Crown, Sex Education, the list goes on. The number of easily-recommendable Netflix series is constantly growing too, and our list of the best TV shows streaming each week is always dominated by the sheer number of new Netflix additions.
Netflix is also great for documentaries, particularly true crime ones. You can't have missed the talk around Tiger King, but it's not alone with Tinder Swindler, Fyre, Wild Wild Country, My Octopus Teacher and more all gripping fans. It seems like every other week that there's another Netflix doc doing the rounds.
Netflix has been hit or miss with film buffs. For every The Irishman, Roma or Glass Onion, numerous Netflix originals fail to make a dent as often as the shows. The selection of other movies is still solid, but with many studios making their own streaming services, gone are the days when Netflix has the best selection of films of all the platforms.
Netflix is one of the more affordable streaming services, but that's for the basic plan with ads, 480p video streaming and only a single stream at once. The Ad-free Basic, plan costs a little more, the Standard tier is even pricier and offers two screens and 1080p playback, and you'll have to buy the Premium tier for 4K HDR video and four screens of playing at once.
Here's all you need to know about Netflix
Some of you won't even need to pay for Prime Video — the service is included in the price of Amazon Prime, so if you already pay for that, whether it's for next-day shopping, free audio or ebooks, free video games, free music or any of the other perks of Prime, then Prime Video is free too.
Though not as prolific as Netflix for Origianls, what Prime Video lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality: 2023 has already brought us movies like Shotgun Wedding and Somebody I Used to Know, and shows Carnival Row's second (and final) season, The Consultant and Citadel.
If you've ever seen a movie or TV show and wondered "where do I know that actor from?" then Prime Video has a feature which is unrivaled by its competitors, and that's X-Ray. Simply tap the screen or pause your video and you'll see a list of who's in each scene, which is a tool so handy you'll find every other streaming service without it frustrating. Sometimes it'll also tell you trivia and facts about the scene you're watching.
Prime Video's strong suit is movies, with a fantastic selection of blockbusters to B-movies, English-language and international pictures, romances to horrors and everything in between. That's not to say Prime Video is bad for TV, with a few stand-out originals including The Boys, Carnival Row, The Rings of Power, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Good Omens — you'll also find plenty of box sets of classic shows too. Plus, Prime Video isn't as dependent on Originals as most other streaming services, with plenty of classics too.
Not to mention, Prime Video has gotten into the sports arena, as the exclusive home for the NFL's Thursday Night Football games.
There are also Prime Video channels, extra subscriptions on top of the core one that lets you stream even more content. Channels include Shudder for horror, Daily Burn for fitness, Coda Collection for music shows and over 100 more. As these cost extra, you could find your monthly bill skyrocketing if you go for lots of these though.
While we've rated Prime Video as our best streaming service, it's not perfect, as on PC its interface is very confusing. Since it's baked into Amazon's website on computers, it can be incredibly hard to search for videos or channels or get your head around the service itself. Get your head around the layout though, and you'll find a streaming service that's fantastic.
Here's all you need to know about Prime Video.
If you like Disney, Marvel or Star Wars movies and TV... well, you probably already have a Disney Plus subscription. But if not, it probably should be your go-to streaming service.
Disney Plus is great for everything Disney — does the name give that away? — with the entire catalog of Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and other Disney content, both originals and older shows. There's also the content from Disney's sub-brands, including Fox (all of The Simpsons), National Geographic and Searchlight Pictures.
If you're not a fan of Disney stuff though, you might find this streaming service's offerings a little bland. There's not too many shows or movies outside of Disney's core beats, and most of the originals are Star Wars or Marvel ones.
Lots of those exclusives can be a little divisive though. While the first few (The Mandalorian or Wandavision) were well-received, more recent ones like The Book of Boba Fett or She-Hulk are struggling to receive the same accolades.
Don't take our word for it though — whether or not you think it's for you, Disney is pretty good at offering discounts for its streaming service. There are frequent price cuts, including on Black Friday and Disney Plus day, but it's also easy to get bundles for the service with other services, phone plans, TV purchases and more.
One last note, if you're in the UK, Disney Plus also is the home for many Hulu originals/exclusive series, like Only Murders in the Building and The Old Man. That means it's actually better in the UK, since you don't need a separate service to see those.
Here's all you need to buy about Disney Plus
We don't need to give you buying advice here; there are so many Apple TV Plus free trials that it's very easy for you to check out Apple's homemade and Original-only streaming service on your own.
While Apple TV Plus has perhaps the shallowest library of any streaming service, what it does have is great: Ted Lasso is its standout hit but Foundation, The Morning Show, Severance, For All Mankind, Slow Horses, Prehistoric Planet and more such shows have dedicated fans. There are a few popular movies too, like Oscar-winners CODA and Wolfwalkers, though Apple TV Plus just isn't as great for feature films.
The service is having a great 2023 too, hence it climbing the rankings on this list, with near-weekly new releases. And later in the year Martin Scorsese's upcoming Killers of the Flower Moon and Ridley Scott's Napoleon will certainly make the service a must-buy.
It's hard to discuss Apple TV Plus without mentioning the company's other products. That's because purchasing Apple devices frequently lands you membership to TV Plus, so iFans can easily trial the service for free. In fact, that's the best audience, because on some other platforms (like PCs or PlayStations), the Apple TV Plus app is surprisingly buggy.
Here's all you need to know about Apple TV Plus
Max — formerly HBO Max, now a little more confusing to Google — has seen a transformation recently. In May 2023 it had a little makeover which changed the name, added in Discovery Plus' library and rolled out a premium 4K streaming tier, giving fans more value for money. However this followed several months of HBO exclusives dropping like flies from the service, notably Westworld and Raised by Wolves.
Generally, though, Max has most of Warner Bros. Discovery's catalog, including shows and movies for adults and kids made by HBO, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. That includes many new movie releases and hit TV shows.
There are plenty of big-profile Max originals coming from those various channels. The Last of Us is a big one, but it's in good company, with House of the Dragon, Hacks, Our Flag Means Death and countless Scooby-Doo and DC Comics shows impressing various audiences. Max is also one of the better US streaming services for movies, so you likely won't be disappointed by the collection available.
Sadly, Max is only available in limited regions, though the company says it's working to expand that. In unsupported regions, you can find some of its originals and shows on other streaming services (on Sky TV in the UK, for example).
There are three tiers of Max: one is more affordable, but it comes with ads and doesn't let you download shows or movies to view offline. You'll have to pay more for that privilege and to avoid advertising, and even more for Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, four screens of simultaneous streaming and 4K on select titles.
Here's all you need to know about Max.
Hulu is currently ranked lower on our list due to recent price increases, which added $1 and $2 to the price of ad-enabled and ad-free monthly prices respectively and $10 to the cost of the annual subscription. It used to be one of the cheapest streaming services and while it still costs less than some rivals, it's no longer the bargain it was.
Hulu is a great streaming service for TV shows — its library includes classics like Community, Schitt's Creek and Lost, as well as hit originals like The Handmaid's Tale, Under the Banner of Heaven, Only Murders in the Building and Normal People.
There's also an option for streaming live TV, which bumps up the price but replaces the need for a cable subscription.
Sure, Hulu isn't as great for movies, with a selection that's a little patchy, but a few popular originals in this area like Prey suggest that the streaming service could be bringing a bigger emphasis to this area soon.
Hulu has the same issue as HBO Max regarding its two tiers — the more affordable one means you still have ads in your shows and you also can't download anything to watch online. You'll be paying $14.99 per month for that feature and to avoid ads.
Here's all you need to know about Hulu and Hulu with Live TV
If you live in the UK, the best streaming service for you is ITVX, the service owned by broadcaster ITV, which replaced the ITV Hub in late 2022.
While 'standard' ITVX is useful, offering live TV and a decent library, it's ITVX Premium we're talking about. This is a £5.99-per-month expanded tier which is definitely worth the money, and not just for the fact it drops the ads from ITVX free.
ITVX doesn't just have a huge library of ITV-produced and international shows and movies, but it also includes every video from services Britbox and StudioCanal Presents, meaning you've got plenty of British and European content to enjoy too.
Sure, ITVX won't scratch your itch if you love Hollywood movies, or new international shows, with Prime Video and Netflix your best bets for that kind of content. It's great for British fare, with StudioCanal offering a little bit of Euro video too.
And sure, the interface isn't exactly fantastic, but you're not having to deal with NOW levels of inconvenience to stream shows.
Here's all you need to know about ITVX
As one of the newer streaming services, Paramount Plus enjoyed some glitz and glamor for a while, but it's struggled to find a huge audience. Several recent changes compound this issue: not only has it seen a price rise in the US (as long as a merger with Showtime) but it lost a few original shows, including one, Queen of the Universe, that debuted less than two weeks prior!
Still, there's a lot to like in Paramount Plus. If you like the Star Trek franchise, Mission Impossible (and its countless sequels) or South Park, you'll find that Paramount Plus has hours of content for you. There are also a select few originals like Halo, The Good Fight and The Offer. It also has offshots of Yellowstone, including 1883, 1923 and Tulsa King, all of which are part of the Taylor Sheridan universe.
But Paramount Plus' library is certainly smaller than its rivals, so it's probably not the kind of service you'll subscribe to for more than a couple of months at a time — at least not yet.
Balancing this out is the fact it's pretty cheap. It's one of the most affordable streaming services you can subscribe to right now, especially with many of its competitors bumping up their prices.
The low price gets you an ad-enabled experience though, wit the ad-free experience much pricier, something that'll may put you off from upgrading.
As a fledgling streaming service, Paramount Plus is one we're hoping to hear a lot more from in the future, especially with Paramount's own library of classics. So going forward, you may see it at a higher spot in this list.
Here's all you need to know about Paramount Plus
In theory Peacock, NBCUniversal's streaming service for its own content, is a great buy.
It's not too expensive, especially if you opt for the free tier (which is ad-enabled and has a limited library, but doesn't cost you). It's got a wide selection of new movies, with the Fast and Furious franchise, The Northman and Jurassic World: Dominion included. It also offers a nice big library of live sports, including English Premiere League soccer and Sunday Night Football.
However, there's not much about it that makes it the best choice for people. It doesn't have any must-watch originals, like Disney Plus or Netflix do, and while its price is low, it's also not significantly cheaper than its rivals, especially if you opt for the $9.99-per-month Premium Plus version that drops the ads.
So if you've tested lots of the streaming services ranked higher and want something new, it's definitely worth checking out. But it's not going to become your one-stop shop for entertainment.
In the UK, Peacock is a tricky one — it's only available to Sky TV subscribers and while it's free, it doesn't have quite the same library as in the US. So it's basically just a perk of another service, rather than one in itself.
Here's everything you need to know about Peacock
If you like British shows, then Britbox is your one-stop shop for most of them worth talking about — at least if you live in the US. In the UK, you can no longer sign up to Britbox, with the website pointing you to ITVX Premium instead (as that includes the entire Britbox library).
From heritage costume dramas to police procedurals and zany comedies, Britbox has a huge selection of shows and movies from the British Isles. Well, it does in the US, but with ITV and BBC having their own services in the UK, not as many shows are on Britbox there.
For history buffs, this is a great streaming service, as not only does it have shows and movies about history, but it has quite a few historical and classic ones too. And, Britbox is slowly growing its collection of originals.
Compared to something like Netflix, Britbox could be considered quite a niche option, and that's why it's lower on this list, but it still does have a diverse enough collection of videos to appeal to lots of people.
Here's all you need to know about Britbox
Best sports streaming services
Alternative streaming services
As well as the big streaming services above, there are some alternative streaming services that might interest you.
These are more niche ones, offering specific content only, which is why we haven't listed them with the "big dogs" above — it wouldn't be fair to compare a generalist service to a bespoke one.
But if you're looking for something particular, these are all worth considering.
Best streaming service FAQs
What is a streaming service anyway?
Quite simply, a streaming service is any kind of platform that lets you enjoy entertainment online without having to download it first, or wait for that to happen.
You've already seen a list of them; other examples include Google Stadia for games or Spotify for music, but this site is called 'What to Watch', not 'What to Play' or 'What to Listen to', which is why those services weren't listed.
Streaming services often have large libraries that you can access at any time, without having to wait for them to air, but another key feature is algorithms which, subtly or overtly, help you find new things to watch that you might enjoy.
There are many streaming services to pick from, hence this article.
What devices do streaming services work on?
Almost everything!
A TV will, likely, be your go-to choice for watching movies, TV and sports. If you have a smart TV, you'll likely already have access to lots of services, but if you don't, a streaming stick is a great way to get onto them, as long as your TV has an HDMI port.
Gaming consoles can also access streaming services, so if you have one, you don't really need a streaming stick or device.
Laptops and PCs are also convenient for watching shows and movies, especially on the move. That's if you can resist the temptation to tab out and check your emails. A benefit, though, is the ability to quickly jump to IMDb to check where you know that actor from.
But more and more devices support streaming services — like smartphones and tablets — and these also let you download videos to watch when you're traveling or have no network service.
How many streaming services should you subscribe to?
Your number of streaming services obviously depends on your financial situation, with streaming deals making owning more feasible. So do streaming service free trials, for the few services that offer them.
While the number of streaming services is usually dictated by your financial situation, there's one other factor that we all share in common — the number of hours in a day.
There's no point in subscribing to all the services, because not only will that break the bank very quickly, but you simply won't have time to watch everything. A strategy to fix this and save money, which many streaming fans enjoy, is the practice of service-switching — signing up for select services at a time based on newly available content, they canceling them when you've watched what you wanted.
This also lets you make the most of the various free trials on offer by services. Of course, it's a lot of hassle changing frequently, so it's best to adapt your strategy to what you want to watch.
How do we choose the best streaming services?
There are a few different factors that we take into account when picking our order for the best streaming services.
An important one is price, as there's no point subscribing to an incredibly service if it costs too much to consider. Free trials and other deals can help mitigate this though, so they're taken into account.
Another factor we consider is the ease of use, which includes what platforms the service's app can run on, how good the interface is, and how easily you can use the service to find great new content.
But the most important thing is, of course, the actual quality and quantity of the movies, TV, documentaries and/or sport shown on the streaming service is. We take into account the diversity of videos, to judge whether the service will have niche or wide interest, as well as the quality of the shows and movies, and also the frequency that original or third-party content is added.
Of course, this is incredibly subjective, but the members of What to Watch have a diverse breadth of interests, so we're always having discussions and debates on what the best service is.
This final factor is also the key thing that causes rankings to change — if a must-watch show or movie is added to one service, we'll definitely rank it higher.
