Updated December 23, 2019 – There’s a lot going on in the streaming world. Everything is in flux (see article). Below is some help. The key to streaming services: Sign up, watch all you want to watch, and then cancel the service. Restart the service again if you want to come back and watch more. For example, I subscribe to DC Universe when a new season of Titans comes out. I watch the season, then cancel DC Universe.
The big three original companies are like the ABC, CBS, and NBC of streaming companies…
Notes: Better-than-average TV shows, including Amazon Originals, but a lousy movie selection. Through Amazon Prime, you can also purchase subscriptions for other streaming services like Showtime, Starz, and Acorn TV. Prime also combines its streaming options with its pay options, so you can buy or rent something not offered for free in Prime. Thus, Prime is sort of like a combo of Netflix and iTunes.
Monthly: $12.99
Notes: Hulu plays usually-next-day reruns of major network and cable network TV shows. Has some decent original shows (The Handmaid’s Tale), and a decent-sized movie catalog.
Monthly: $5.99, $11.99
Notes: Has many great TV shows, including award-winning originals, but only average movies. Their movie catalog seems to be better than Amazon Prime’s, but that isn’t saying much.
Monthly: $8.99, $12.99
Some major players entered the streaming race in recent years, competing against the original three mentioned above…
Notes: Has some decent original shows, with plans to add more (they’re spending a lot of money on original programming). This app works on Apple devices, and in conjunction with iTunes purchasing.
Monthly: $5
Notes: Disney+ offers a lot of past Disney movies and shows, plus some new original programs. It also has some Marvel movies, since Disney purchased Marvel Entertainment.
Monthly: $6.99
Notes: Has some popular YouTube Originals, such as Cobra Kai. I liked Impulse (then cancelled my subscription). This service removes ads while watching videos, and you can download videos for offline use.
Monthly: $11.99
Notes: Some critically acclaimed original shows. Their own description of the service: “Original shows and popular videos in different categories from producers and creators you love.”
Monthly: free with Facebook account
These streaming services are spin-offs of cable TV networks.
In addition to the great AMC shows, AMC+ includes shows/movies from IFC Films Unlimited, Shudder and Sundance Now. (So I cancelled my Sundance Now subscription and signed up for this app instead.) It also has British shows not available elsewhere in the U.S. Sign up through Apple TV or Amazon Prime, or through Comcast Xfinity, Dish, or Sling.
Monthly: from $4.99 to $8.99 depending on the provider
Notes: HBO Max is a brand-new streaming platform from HBO that’s designed to compete with Neflix, Disney+, and the like. It will have all of the HBO content, some Max originals (I think this means Cinemax originals), and a huge catalog of other acquired movies and shows.
Monthly: no charge for people subscribed to HBO through cable or satellite TV provider; $14.99 for those who don’t
Notes: HBO has arguably the best shows on TV. Regarding movies, they come and go on HBO (removed from their catalog after a time). HBO Go is for people who already have HBO through their cable provider. HBO Now is a stand-alone service. Some HBO shows can also be watched through Amazon Prime.
Monthly HBO Go: comes with cable/satellite provider subscription
Monthly HBO Now: $14.99
Notes: Like HBO, Showtime is mainly known for its award-winning TV series. Showtime has many movies, but not many great ones. Showtime Anytime is for people who already have Showtime through their cable provider. “Showtime” is what they call their stand-alone service (confusing). Also, some Showtime shows can be watched through Hulu Plus.
Monthly Showtime Anytime: comes with cable/satellite provider subscription
Monthly Showtime: $11
Notes: Has many decent movies and some great original shows. For drama: The Knick. For action: Banshee, Strike Back, and Warrior. Streaming Cinemax is very confusing right now. Their MaxGo app is no longer available. But if you have a subscription to Cinemax through your cable provider, you can stream Cinemax from your computer. Or, separately, you can sign up and stream via Hulu, Amazon Prime, or HBO Max. See Help Center for more information.
Monthly cable/satellite version: comes with subscription
Monthly stand-alone version: $9.99 – via Amazon Prime, Hulu, or HBO Max
Notes: Starz has some popular original programs. For movies, they have hundreds. You can find great classics, martial arts movies, and suspense dramas. Like HBO and Showtime, they have a stand-alone app if you don’t have Starz through your cable or satellite provider.
Monthly cable/satellite version: comes with subscription
Monthly stand-alone version: $8.99
Notes: EPIX has some good original programs, and has many, many decent-to-good recent movies (mostly action movies). It’s a better collection overall than others in this category.
Monthly cable/satellite version: comes with subscription
Monthly stand-alone version: $5.99
Notes: Has some quality original shows,such as The Bureau. Its many movies are independent films, documentaries, and foreign language (mostly French).
Monthly: $6.99
Just as cable and satellite TV have many smaller channels, here are some smaller and/or specialized streaming services…
Notes: Like BritBox, this is for people who love British television. Acorn TV has many good dramas, but their real strength is crime dramas and murder mysteries. I like this more than BritBox. Their Line of Duty is a great show.
Monthly: $5.99
Notes: BritBox claims to be “the biggest streaming collection of British TV…ever.” It has many popular-but-older British shows, some top British classics. There aren’t many newer shows. I prefer Acorn TV.
Monthly: $6.99
Notes: Formerly CBS All Access. CBS saw the writing on the wall and tried early to get into the streaming game. Now their parent company is taking over. Access to Paramount’s/CBS’s huge catalog of network movies and shows. Has some original programs (Star Trek Discovery, The Stand).
Monthly: $5.99, $9.99
Notes: NBC’s streaming service; debut July 2020. Has three different membership levels, related to amount of content and ads. Xfinity and Cox customers might already have this service. Has British football, plus some British shows that can’t be seen elsewhere in the U.S.
Monthly: Free, $4.99, or $9.99
Notes: The price seems steep, but not if you love award-winning classic movies. Also has many foreign-language movies, some you may recognize but most you probably won’t. For film lovers.
Monthly: $10.99
Notes: No original shows. A decent amount of movies, mostly independent films. Could easily spend a month bingeing here. A curated collection of films and television series.
Monthly: $4.99
Notes: Shudder seems to be mostly horror films. I’m not a big fan of the horror genre, but did find quality movies that are suspenseful and not too horror-ish.
Monthly: $4.99
Notes: If you’re a DC Comics fan, this is for you. Has new original shows, older DC Comics shows, and even comic books.
Monthly: $7.99
Notes: If you scour the Internet, you can find ways to stream movies and shows for free. I’ve included Hoopla here because they actually have decent shows – if you’re into British dramas and detective series. Kanopy is another library streaming service, but it’s movies only.
Cost: Free with Public Library membership