Streaming subscriptions are great, but it seems like every major network and media company has launched a new one. There’s more great TV to watch than ever, but deciding which streaming services are worth your time and money can be daunting. Your choices likely depend on which original shows and movies you want, how important a back catalog of older streaming TV shows is to you, whether you need to consider kids, roommates or sports fans, and of course your budget.
Netflix – Best streaming service overall:
There’s a reason why Netflix has become shorthand for streaming in general. The veteran service, which launched its DVD-by-mail rentals in 1998, evolved into the top-tier streaming service that’s a must-have in 2022. When big originals like Don’t Look Up, Cobra Kai, or Stranger Things drop, they grab the attention of millions of viewers along with critical praise and awards, giving us the closest thing to watercooler conversations we have nowadays.
Disney Plus – Best for kids and kids at heart:
Disney Plus is Netflix’s closest competitor — for good reason. The streaming platform launched in late 2019 and has amassed nearly 130 million subscribers. 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 and new original TV shows, National Geographic content and 31 seasons of The Simpsons. While The Mandalorian was its first breakout series, its slate of Marvel shows including WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Loki have since drawn millions of viewers. Features such as Luca, Encanto and Peter Jackson’s The Beatles: Get Back won rave reviews. Plus, there’s lots more Star Wars and Marvel original programming coming in the next few years.
Hulu – Offers value for its low price:
For $7 a month (with ads), Hulu is a perfect complement and counterpoint to Netflix. This channel lineup has a huge variety of familiar shows from networks like ABC, Fox and NBC 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 PEN15. If you have $7 per month to spare and don’t mind trading a few ads for a wealth of TV options, Hulu is a no-brainer. You’ve also got the option to upgrade to a no-ads plan for $13 a month, or add on live TV streaming for $70 a month for a full cable replacement.
Prime Video – Best value bundled with other services:
Prime Video features lots of ad-free, high-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. But 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 The Wheel of Time, The Boys (or the upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel), or its large movie selection, it may even be worth paying the stand-alone $9 a month TV service fee (if you don’t have Amazon Prime).
HBO Max – Massive library of premium content:
HBO Max is a well-designed app full of popular TV shows and movies. It has HBO’s entire catalog, DC Universe titles, along with favorites such as Friends, Rick and Morty, Sesame Street, the Lord of the Rings movies and almost every Studio Ghibli film. In 2021, it was the only streaming service to debut movies on the same day as theaters at no extra cost, including The Many Saints of Newark, The Matrix Resurrections, and King Richard. That won’t be the case moving forward, but it’s still the primary destination for new Warner Brothers-owned feature films. It’s not Disney Plus, but HBO Max has a solid streaming collection for kids too, with the ability to control ratings on kids’ profiles better than most other services.
Starz – Early access to originals like Power Book IV
Priced below Netflix at $9 per month, 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 like Spider-Man: No Way Home, the streamer houses every genre in its catalog. But 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, The White Queen, and P-Valley, and the network stands apart by promoting diversity and representation in its originals, elevating the voices of women and people of color. As a Lionsgate-owned company, Starz also airs the studio’s movies and shows — like John Wick and Saw. While you can’t stream feature films as day-and-date releases, Starz recently inked a deal with Universal to broadcast its 2022 and beyond lineup. That includes upcoming flicks such as Jurassic World: Dominion, Halloween Ends, Minions: The Rise of Gru, and Oppenheimer. For $9 a month, the Starz app gives you unlimited downloads, early access to new TV show episodes, and four simultaneous streams, all with no ads disrupting your viewing experience. Whether you want to stream blockbuster movies, documentaries, original series, or something for kids, Starz is worth the cost.
ESPN Plus – For die-hard sports fans:
ESPN Plus is a great streaming service for the 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).
