With more people cutting the cord and relying on streaming services instead, it’s important to know which are worth signing up for.
Your choice of service will depend on which original shows and movies you want, how much of a back catalog you care about, whether or not kids, roommates or sports fans are a consideration, and your budget.
1. Netflix
Netflix is a popular streaming service that offers a huge library of TV shows and movies. It also produces its own ‘Netflix Originals’ content, which includes a range of high-quality films and TV series.
In fact, some of the most acclaimed series of all time are on Netflix, including House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black.
It’s great for keeping up with upcoming TV series and movies, but it has some restrictions. Many countries have different libraries to the US, which can mean you can’t access some of your favourite titles when you’re away from home.
2. Hulu
Hulu is a popular streaming service that offers both on-demand content and live TV. You can watch thousands of TV shows and movies on this service, plus a wide range of original programming. Though, Hulu can be watch outside US as well if you can change Hulu Location through a VPN.
You can sign up for a free trial of Hulu before signing up to a monthly plan. The streaming service is available on a variety of devices, including smart TVs, Roku sticks and even mobile devices.
You can also download content for offline viewing. However, you’ll need to be on the ad-supported plan or have a device compatible with Hulu’s Offline Mode.
3. Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video is one of the most popular streaming services in the world. The service is included in the US mega-retailer’s Prime subscription and offers unlimited streaming of tens of thousands of movies and TV shows for $8.99 per month.
Like Netflix and Hulu, Amazon Prime Video offers a growing stable of original series and movies. It doesn’t have as many hit titles as Netflix or Hulu, but it has a solid library of critically acclaimed content.
Amazon also has over 100 channel add-ons for an additional fee, ranging from premium cable channels to niche streaming services. Its sports offerings are also impressive, making it a great choice for fans of NFL games and MLB matchups.
4. Disney Plus
Disney Plus is a streaming service that offers a vast library of content from all over the Disney brand. This includes Disney movies, shows and shorts as well as Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar titles.
The service has over 1,300 movies and over 500 TV shows available to stream. It also supports 4K HDR video and up to Dolby Atmos audio.
The app is compatible with Roku, Apple TV and Android phones and tablets. There are also options to download and stream content for offline viewing. It supports four simultaneous streams and allows users to create user profiles for different members of the family.
5. Sling TV
Sling TV is a streaming service that lets you watch a variety of live TV channels without needing a cable box. It’s available on a variety of devices, including Android and iOS phones, computers, tablets and Xbox Ones.
Sling’s live TV channels include ESPN, TBS, TNT, Food Network and others. It also has a large library of on-demand movies and shows.
The service has been expanding its lineup recently, adding a handful of new channels to the mix. For example, it’s added the cooking/travel/design channel Tastemade.
6. BritBox
BritBox is a video-on-demand service that focuses on British television shows and movies. Its library includes popular programs from the BBC and ITV networks, as well as a few exclusives.
The service is available on a variety of devices, including iOS and Android phones, tablets, Chromecasts, Apple TV set-top boxes, and Roku and Amazon Fire TV sticks. It can also be accessed on PCs via the official website.
While the catalog doesn’t rival Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, it has some good selections. In fact, it has the largest collection of Downton Abbey content in North America, as well as new series like Trainspotting creator Irvine Welsh’s Crime.
7. 7plus
7plus, a free video on demand and catch up streaming service from the Seven Network, is one of the most popular streaming services in Australia. Providing a vast array of TV shows, movies and live events from the Seven network, it allows viewers to watch the latest episodes and even complete seasons of their favourite shows at the touch of a button.
Sadly, however, it is not possible to stream 7plus content outside of Australia, due to regional restrictions. This means that if you’re looking to watch Channel 7 or any other Australian content online, you need to use a VPN.
