Nothing is better than coming home after a long and hard day to find a warm bed, warm food, and something entertaining to watch on the TV to take your mind off of the distractions of the day.
But gone are the days when you would switch on your TV and flip the channels to see if something good was on. Instead, in the era of streaming services, you can choose the movie or TV show of your choice. You’re not even limited by region, as you could simply stream ITV in the US with VPN if you want to watch a British channel but don’t live in the region. It's all at your fingertips.
The sheer variety, on the other hand, is something that can confuse people at times. Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and many other streaming platforms dominate the market today. But is there one streaming service that stands tall above them all? Is there a streaming service that provides the best bang for your buck? Keep reading and find out in this blog.
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Streaming Services Showdown – Which Is The Best One?
Here we will compare the top 5 streaming services in the market right now and see which one performs the best according to a list of factors.
1. Amazon Prime Video
Do you prefer to do your shopping online? Are you someone who loves the comfort and convenience with which Amazon delivers the products that you order? Amazon Prime Video is pretty much an obvious buy at this point. At only $139/year (or $14.99/month, if you prefer) not only do you get free two-day shipping, but you also get a free Kindle book every month and both Amazon Prime Music and Amazon Prime Video.
Amazon Prime Video’s library isn’t as huge in size as Netflix’s nor does it have the base of content that HBO Max does. Still, it has built an impressive library of content that is more than capable of competing with the other streaming services in the VOD space. From “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” to “The Man In The High Castle” to the super-hit “The Boys, it has it all.
It also offers three (3) simultaneous streams.
2. Hulu
Hulu is an interesting option for people who are still transitioning off from the burden of cable TV. Hulu is, in a sense, a streaming service mixed with TV channels that you can browse, like traditional cable TV.
It is also quite affordable compared to other streaming services, as the starting package is only $8 per month. Though it does come with ads, and you would need to pay more to remove the ads.
Still, it does have a great selection of TV shows and movies, along with over 75 channels that provide high-quality coverage.
3. Netflix
You might be surprised to see that Netflix is 3rd on this list. There is a reason for that. Once, Netflix used to be the undoubted king of streaming services. But ever since the introduction of services like HBO Max and Disney+, Netflix has struggled to catch up. There is also the fact that Netflix has seen multiple price hikes, which has led to losses in its subscriber base.
Netflix is constantly adding movies and TV shows but it is also taking them away. Every other day, people hear about a movie or TV show being taken off of Netflix. It still has one of the best content libraries in the realm of streaming services but if you are looking for the best value for your money, then Netflix might not be at the top anymore (for now).
4. Disney+
Disney+ has quickly become one of the biggest competitors in the market. It launched quite recently but the power and popularity of the Disney name, along with attractions such as Marvel movies and TV shows, Star Wars movies and TV shows, along with other great original content, has made it one of the biggest names.
At one point, its combined subscriber base even surpassed Netflix according to a survey earlier this year. Disney+ is one of the best streaming services, especially for families looking to browse older Disney content. But it is not the best yet, as it still has some ways to go in terms of pricing and new original content.
5. HBO Max
The last item on this list is quite the contender to be the best on this list too. HBO Max has been around for a while, and it has also established itself as a serious competitor in the market. But what makes HBO Max arguably superior to the rest of the services in this list is that it has maintained quality in just about every aspect.
HBO Max has just about every TV show or movie on its service that it aired before the launch of the streaming service, such as The Sopranos, Veep, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Game of Thrones, and more. It also has a whole host of new and original content, such as Peacemaker, that makes it immensely popular in the streaming service space.
It also has a sleek and efficient app along with decent pricing tiers that make it more accessible than Netflix or Disney+. And it is constantly adding titles to its content library.
Wrapping It Up
Of course, it is hard to choose a winner, when it comes to streaming services as everyone has their own preference. Some might choose Disney+, as it is a more family-friendly option, while others might choose Netflix for its still huge content library and more familiar interface. Some might even go another route and use a VPN because they want that kind of content.
What you choose to be the best is up to your preference. HBO Max seems to be the best option for the bang for your buck. But if you don’t mind spending a bit more, Netflix is still quite an impressive option.