As people abandon the cable box to the curb, they are replacing it with smart TVs and streaming devices like Roku and Chromecast. But due to the constant price hikes and appearance of ads, the ultimate question remains: ‘Which streaming service should I choose?’
The simple answer is to opt for the platform that falls under your budget and matches your needs. But, for a cinephile with diverse needs, the answer might be more complex.
Thus, considering these varying needs, I’ve listed the top 10 streaming services that host hundreds and thousands of hours worth of content and will certainly meet your expectations. So, without any further delay, let’s jump in!
| Mediaglaze’s PickThe best streaming service overall: Max |
| Starting Price | $9.99 per month (with ads) $16.99 (without ads) |
| Simultaneous Streams | 2 (4 with Ultimate Tier) |
| Live TV | No |
| Supported Platforms and Devices | Amazon Fire, Roku, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, PlayStation 4, Macs and PCs, Samsung Smart TV, Xbox One, TiVo |
| Ads | Yes |
| Free Trial | No |
| Profile per Account | 5 |
When it comes to both quality and quantity, HBO Max surely leads the game. It has everything you desire, from HBO’s classic dramas to light movies and intriguing reality shows. It also includes content from reputable sources, such as the Warner Discovery Universe, CNN, Crunchyroll, DC Comics, and Looney Tunes.
Recently, it has also added live sports in its Bleacher Report section, such as soccer, hockey, and cycling. Reports also say that a live news section is in beta that will offer programming from CNN and other WBD networks.
However, these features’ availability might vary depending on the plan and your location, as it is only available in the US.
| Starting Price | $11.99 per month (Basic) $6.99 per month (Standard with ads) |
| Simultaneous Streams | 1-4 |
| Live TV | No |
| Supported Platforms and Devices | Android, iOS, web browsers, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Nvidia Shield, Roku, Smart TVs, PS4, Xbox, set-top boxes |
| Ads | Yes |
| Free Trial | No |
| Profile per Account | 5 |
Needless to say, Netflix is the best video streaming platform when it comes to variety. It provides an impressive collection of content that changes every month. The extensive library at Netflix offers TV shows, movies, comedy specials, and original TV series for unlimited streaming.
Its popular catalog includes Altered Carbon, Black Mirror, BoJack Horseman, Dead to Me, Mindhunters, Orange Is the New Black, Russian Doll, Stranger Things, The Umbrella Academy, The Witcher, etc.
Netflix constantly adds and takes away movies; you might find yourself in a rush to watch movies before they’re gone.
| Starting Price | $40 per month (half-off for your first month – $20) |
| Simultaneous Streams | 1-4 |
| Live TV | Yes |
| Supported Platforms and Devices | Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, iPhone and iPad, web browsers, Android, Android TV, Xbox, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and VIZIO Smart TVs |
| Ads | Yes |
| Free Trial | No |
| Profile per Account | 4 |
Unlike the one on this list that especially caters to on-demand, Sling TV has the power to replace cable, one of the best TV streaming services.
It offers the most popular live TV channels, including sports, ESPN, NBC, BBC America, CNN, Cartoon Network, TBS, and the Food Network.
Moreover, the decent assortment of channels on Sling TV justifies the membership charges. Ultimately, it is a good choice for sports fans and users who enjoy live TV experiences within reasonable channel packs.
Although there was a slight price hike in Sling TV, which increased the prices by $5, fortunately, it’s still cheaper than YouTube and Hulu’s $73.
| Starting Price | $8 per month (with ads) |
| Simultaneous Streams | 4 |
| Live TV | No |
| Supported Platforms and Devices | Amazon Fire TV and Fire tablets, Roku, Chromecast, iOS, iPad, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Xbox, PlayStation 4, Android-based Sony Smart TVs, Chromebooks, Samsung, and LG devices |
| Ads | Yes |
| Free Trial | No |
| Profile per Account | 7 |
Unsurprisingly, Disney+ is the dominant player in the video streaming industry that caters to kids and adults alike. Disney Plus hosts a frightening amount of content from various sources, including Marvel, Pixar libraries, National Geographic content, Star Wars, and Disney’s original canon.
Moreover, you can easily stream popularized content, such as The Mandalorian, Loki, Andor, She-Hulk, Avatar 2, The Simpsons, and Encanto. In recent years, Disney has also added TV-MA content in the U.S., bringing mature shows from Netflix and Marvel to cater to a wide range of audiences.
| Starting Price | $8 per month |
| Simultaneous Streams | 2 |
| Live TV | Live TV upgrade costs $70 per month |
| Supported Platforms and Devices | Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Echo Show, Fire Tablets, Fire TV, iPhones and iPads, LG TV (select models), Nintendo Switch, Mac and PC, PlayStation 3 (no live programming), PlayStation 4, Roku, Samsung TV (select models), VIZIO SmartCast TVs, Xbox, Xfinity Flex & X1 |
| Ads | Yes |
| Free Trial | Yes |
| Profile per Account | 7 |
Hulu is one of the streaming services that boasts a big collection of the latest TV shows and movies at reasonable prices. Although it might falter in comparison to Netflix offerings, it has a balanced quality-to-quantity ratio.
The channel lineup on Hulu includes content from networks like ABC, Fox, and FX. It also hosts various hits, such as “Only Murders in the Building” season 2, “Fire Island,” and “The Dropout.” It also offers Hulu + Live TV, which gives you more reasons to cut the cable cord.
Check out the best horror movies on Hulu to explore the amazing catalog!
| Starting Price | $7.99 per month |
| Simultaneous Streams | 3 |
| Live TV | Sports and WWE |
| Supported Platforms and Devices | Fire TV, Fire tablet, iPhone, iPad, Chromecast, Xbox, PlayStation 4 & 5, Smart TVs, Apple TV, Roku, Xfinity |
| Ads | Yes |
| Free Trial | No |
| Profile per Account | 6 |
Peacock streaming service has been gaining a lot of attention for its value for price. It offers over 80,000 hours worth of content, ranging from your NBC shows and current Bravo hits to new movies with the addition of live sports. Its original hits include “The Traitors” and “Poker Face,” which is yet another reason why users are subscribed.
It offers all this for just $8, a deal-breaker for people looking for NBC programming within their budget. However, if you want to remove ads, you can buy the Premium Plus plan for an additional $6.
| Starting Price | $14.99 a month |
| Simultaneous Streams | 3 |
| Live TV | No |
| Supported Platforms and Devices | Fire TV, Fire tablet, iPhone, iPad, Chromecast, Xbox, PlayStation 4, Smart TVs, Blu-ray players, Apple TV, Roku, Xfinity X1 |
| Ads | Yes |
| Free Trial | Yes |
| Profile per Account | 6 |
If you are a frequent user of online shopping, you would know about Amazon Prime. In the past few years, Prime Video has gained fame for hosting a wide library that includes many popular movies and classic shows, including The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Man in the High Castle, Reacher, and The Boys.
Although the new shows on the platform are few compared to Netflix and HBO Max, you can find numerous films with other added benefits.
The interesting part about this platform is that it allows users to rent and buy movies. So, if you already have a Prime membership for your shopping leisure, why not use it for entertainment too?
| Starting Price | $6.99 |
| Simultaneous Streams | 6 |
| Live TV | No |
| Supported Platforms and Devices | Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, iPhones, iPads, Android TV, Chromecast with Google TV, LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, Vizio smart TVs, web browsers, Xbox One/Series consoles, Android |
| Ads | Yes |
| Free Trial | Yes |
| Profile per Account | NA |
Apple TV+ is unparalleled when it comes to offering high-quality shows and movies. It has been on a hot streak for a while after it received the Best Picture Oscar for CODA. It hosts more than 50 exclusive, big-budget, high-quality originals, leaving Netflix behind in the race.
Apart from that, it comes with high-end features like 4K resolution, HDR, and mobile downloads—a perfect choice for movie maniacs.
Although Apple TV+ plans to get into live sports with the addition of MLB and MLS, the current library is far smaller than its rivals.
| Starting Price | $75 per month |
| Simultaneous Streams | 2-3 |
| Live TV | Yes |
| Supported Platforms and Devices | Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Mac and PC web browsers, Chromecast, iPhone, iPad, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs |
| Ads | Yes |
| Free Trial | Yes |
| Profile per Account | 6 |
Fubo TV is certainly the best streaming service for sports lovers. It allows access to live sports and an actual cable subscription, with over 120 channels covering the major broadcasts. It also offers 4K streaming for the on-demand content and certain live events. Recently, it has also added regional sports networks, though they will cost an additional $13.99.
Apart from that, Fubo’s channel lineup is no joke. It includes ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, NBC, MLB, NBA, Food Network, MTV, Syfy, etc. Moreover, after the addition of ESPN, Fubo has already become the top choice for NFL lovers.
| Starting Price | $7.99 per month |
| Simultaneous Streams | 3 |
| Live TV | Yes |
| Supported Platforms and Devices | Desktop, iOS 14.0+, Apple TV 4, Apple Vision Pro, Android app, Android TV devices, FireTV devices, Roku, Samsung TV, LG TV, PS5, and Xbox |
| Ads | Yes |
| Free Trial | Yes |
| Profile per Account | 6 |
With powerful corporate backing, Paramount Plus can be a major streaming service for CBS and cable connections.
It offers the latest and classic original content from brands including CBS, BET, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV, and Star Trek. Paramount+ hosts a broad library of on-demand content across various genres, such as live sports, documentaries, showtime, etc.
Similar to other services, it offers two plans: Essential and Premium. The essential plan includes ads but doesn’t give access to the local CBS stations, while the premium plan doesn’t include ads and gives access to those local stations.
This was all for the best streaming platforms with the best ratings. To access these almighty platforms, visit their official site and compare the plans that best suit your preferences!
However, do not limit yourself to one service, and feel free to check out other paid and free streaming services, such as Soap2Day, YouTube, etc.
The best streaming services are Max, Netflix, Sling TV, Disney Plus, Hulu, Peacock, etc.
The best free services for movie streaming are Freevee, Roku channel, Pluto TV, Tubi, Plex, Crackle, Vudu, etc.
Fubo and Sling TV are the best streaming services for sports content.
Max, Sling TV, and Peacock are the video streaming platforms limited to US users.
