These days, it seems like every major media outlet is putting out their own digital streaming service. Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and Amazon have become well-established in this space over the past few years, while Disney, CBS, and NBCUniversal (among others) are all gearing up to launch their own services within the next few years. Here’s my personal guide to which streaming services are worth a monthly subscription or if the service should be ignored altogether (although the economical choice is to bum a login for each service off of one of your friends).
Netflix
Price: $8.99/month for basic plan; $12.99/month for Standard plan with HD; $15.99/month for Premium plan
Content Highlights: Original movies like Roma, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, and the upcoming Breaking Bad movie El Camino; original series like Stranger Things, Orange is the New Black, and I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson; a wide array of movies and TV shows from other networks; a ton of stand-up comedy specials
The Verdict: Netflix is the OG when it comes to streaming services. They had a head start when it comes to creating content specifically for their service, and while some of it falters, it’s definitely worth a subscription.
Hulu
Price: $5.99/month for ad-supported Basic plan; $11.99/month for ad-free Premium plan; $44.99/month for Basic + Live TV plan; $50.99/month for Premium + Live TV plan
Content Highlights: Original series like The Handmaid’s Tale, Future Man, and The Path; TV shows from other networks like Seinfeld, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine; movies such as Ocean’s Eleven, Airplane!, and 50 First Dates
The Verdict: Hulu has a great selection of TV shows available. If you’re subscribing strictly for movies I would stay away, but at $5.99 a month, I would certainly say it’s worth a subscription. Also, if you’re a student paying for Spotify with a student discount, a Hulu subscription is included for free!
Disney+ (Launches November 12)
Price: $6.99/month or $70/year, per Disney
Content Highlights: Disney+ is going to be packed. It will feature Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and original TV shows, Star Wars movies and TV shows, Pixar movies, plus National Geographic programming. It will also integrate Fox properties over time as their acquisition goes through.
The Verdict: Once Disney+ launches, it will be the king of the hill for streaming services in my book. At only $70 for a year-long subscription (basically $5.83/month), it’s most certainly worth a subscription.
HBO NOW
Price: $14.99/month
Content Highlights: HBO series like The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, Succession, Barry, and Curb Your Enthusiasm; movies like Bohemian Rhapsody, First Man, and Can You Ever Forgive Me?; a ton of HBO comedy specials
The Verdict: HBO has made the most compelling shows on TV for years now and it constantly rotates in a wide selection of decent-to-good movies. Most people can bum a login from their friends or parents, but if you’re a friendless orphan, HBO is worth a subscription.
Amazon Prime Video
Price: $12.99/month or $119/year; included with Amazon Prime Subscription
Content Highlights: Original series like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and The Boys; movies like Eighth Grade, A Quiet Place, Lady Bird, and The Big Sick
The Verdict: Most people have Amazon Prime accounts (or at least use someone else’s). This is worth the subscription if for no reason other than to get anything you would ever need delivered to your house in two days with free shipping.
CBS All Access
Price: $5.99/month with limited commercials; $9.99/month commercial-free
Content Highlights: CBS series like NCIS, Young Sheldon, and Survivor; All Access Originals like The Twilight Zone, Why Women Kill, and Star Trek: Picard; CBS live streaming for sports, local news, and more
The Verdict: The last time I watched/enjoyed any CBS series, it was the early seasons of How I Met Your Mother. Other than that and live sports coverage, I could go the rest of my life without ever watching anything from CBS. If Young Sheldon and The Young and the Restless tickle your fancy then go for it, but to me this is not worth the subscription.
Peacock (NBCUniversal)
Price: NBCUniversal hasn’t specifically said how much Peacock will cost, but have said that the service will be ad-supported (the price listed in the graphic at the top has not been confirmed). There is also speculation that cable subscribers with access to NBC will be able to use the service for free.
Content Highlights: NBC original series like The Office, Cheers, Parks and Rec, Friday Night Lights, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine; series from other networks including Downton Abbey and Everybody Loves Raymond; reboots of shows like Saved by the Bell, Punky Brewster, and Battlestar Gallactica; Universal Pictures movies like Bridesmaids, Casino, Back to the Future, E.T., and the Bourne and Fast and Furious franchises
The Verdict: Peacock’s price will play a big factor into whether or not I think it’s worth a subscription. If they keep it under $10 a month, I would definitely consider this worth the price. Anything higher than that and I’ll stay away. Undecided, but leaning toward yes.
AppleTV+
Price: Apple’s yet-to-be-launched service will cost $5/month. Also, anyone who buys an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, or Mac will get a free one-year subscription.
Content Highlights: Original series including The Morning Show, See, Dickinson, and Snoopy in Space; Original movies like On the Rocks and Wolfwalkers
The Verdict: Nothing here jumps at me. Maybe if I get a yearlong subscription with a new phone or computer I’ll be drawn in, but for now this is not worth the subscription.
Showtime Anytime
Price: $10.99/month or $109.90/year; free if Showtime is part of your cable package
Content Highlights: Showtime series including Shameless, Billions, and Ray Donovan; movies like When Harry Met Sally, Evan Almighty, and Hotel Artemis
The Verdict: Showtime has to do a lot of work to change my mind that it’s not just a bootleg version of HBO. The series aren’t as strong and the movie selection is significantly weaker. Not worth the subscription.
STARZ
Price: Direct subscription to STARZ is $8.99/month; streaming is free when included in your cable package
Content Highlights: Original series like Power, Black Sails, and Party Down; movies like Toy Story 3, Moneyball, Venom, and The Other Guys
The Verdict: Eh. Better than Showtime, I think, but still not enough to do it for me. Not worth the subscription.
ReJoyce 