Have you been contemplating which movie streaming platform to go for, in this article we will be reviewing the top 10 streaming platforms you can use
#10
CuriosityStream: Starting our countdown at number 10 is CuriosityStream. It was launched in 2015 by the founder of the Discovery Channel and includes a massive library with thousands of documentary films and TV shows in various categories. These categories include science, technology, society, lifestyle, kids, nature, and history, with a wide range of hosts and narrators, including Sigourney Weaver, David Attenborough, Mike Rowe, and Nick Offerman. When you first sign up for the service, if you have no idea what you want to watch, their Staff Picks collection is a great place to start. CuriosityStream is an excellent value for those of you who enjoy learning, with plans that start at only $2.99 per month.
#09
Peacock: Coming in at number 9 from the folks at NBCUniversal is Peacock. It launched in July 2020 and features more than 20,000 hours of content from NBCUniversal Studios and other third-party content providers. While the quantity of original content is lacking at this time, you’ll find a good selection of current and past hits, including The Office, Parks and Recreation, Yellowstone, Cheers, This Is Us, Downton Abbey, and a whole lot more. Peacock offers three tiers of service. The free basic plan is ad-supported with limited content. For around $5 per month, Premium unlocks additional content but is still ad-supported, and Premium Plus for around $10 each month is mostly ad-free and allows you to watch selected titles offline on mobile.
In at number 8, it’s a tie between two services that are very similar, the first of which is BritBox.
#08
Britbox: This joint venture of the BBC and ITV launched in 2017 and is focused on British television series and films. Popular shows include Doctor Who, Shetland, Midsummer Murders, and the UK version of The Office. After a 7-day free trial, the cost is $6.99 per month.
#07
Acorn TV: The other service coming in at number 8 is Acorn TV.
Launching in 2013, it offers programming from various countries including the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, and Italy. Pricing is $5.99 per month after a 7-day free trial. Other shows on Acorn TV include Line of Duty, Doc Martin, and George Gently, along with Acorn Originals, London Kills, Blood, and Dead water Fell, starring David Tennant.
#06
Discovery+: Taking the number 7 spot is Discovery+. This first launched in India in March of 2020 and wasn’t available here in the States and Europe until January of 2021. It includes content that’s already been broadcast, along with never-before-seen originals from HGTV, The Food Network, The Travel Channel, DIY Network, Animal Planet, History Channel, and many others. For a 7-day free trial, Discovery Plus is $4.99 per month with ads, and for an ad-free experience that will cost you $6.99 per month.
#05
Hulu: Sixth is Hulu. It’s one of the oldies but goodies. It launched way back in 2007 as a joint venture between News Corporation, NBCUniversal, and others, with the Walt Disney Company taking full control in 2019. If you’re a cord cutter, Hulu is a great way to keep up with the latest episodes from dozens of shows, including The Good Doctor, Family Guy, The Rookie, Shark Tank, and This Is Us. Hulu also includes several original TV shows, including Reprisal, The Handmaid’s Tale, Harlots, and Castle Rock.
For the on-demand content, Hulu offers a generous 30-day free trial with ads. The price is $5.99 per month, and without the ads, it’ll set you back around $12 per month. But perhaps their best deal is their bundle, where you get Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+, with plans starting at $12.99 per month.
#04
Apple TV: Now entering the top half of our countdown, Apple TV Plus takes the number five spot. Since its launch in 2019, it’s improved quite a bit with a better selection of new original content. Some of their best TV shows include Servant, The Morning Show, For All Mankind, and Ted Lasso’s A Must Watch. It’s one of the best comedies to be released in years. In addition, the film Greyhound, starring Tom Hanks, is a nice addition to the service that most people seem to enjoy. When you buy a new Apple device, like an iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer, you get Apple TV Plus free for a year. Otherwise, it’s $4.99 per month after a seven-day free trial.
#03
Disney+: Coming at number Number four, also launching in 2019, is Disney+. In addition to the Disney-branded content, this is where you’ll find dedicated hubs for Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and National Geographic. They have a large collection of movies in their library from various properties, including Toy Story, Frozen, Star Wars, The Lion King, and just about every film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Original content has also been slowly rolling out. Two shows worth checking out include The Mandalorian and WandaVision.
At this time, Disney Plus is $6.99 per month. In a couple of weeks, the price will be increasing to $7.99. And that bundle I mentioned earlier, its price will be increasing as well from $12.99 to $13.99 per month, which is still a good value to use all three services.
It’s time for our top three, and coming in at number three is
Amazon Prime Video: This is included at no additional charge if you have an Amazon Prime membership. Otherwise, as a standalone service, it’s $8.99 per month. One of the early players, Amazon launched its streaming service way back in 2006. With Prime Video, you get access to a massive library of TV shows and movies, both new and old, along with original movies and high-quality original shows. A few of our favorites include the sci-fi drama The Expanse, the spy thriller Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and the satirical superhero action thriller The Boys.
#02
Netflix: In the runner-up spot, coming in at number two is Netflix. Founded in 1997 as a DVD sales and rent-by-mail company, they didn’t begin streaming content until 2007 and have been the most popular streaming service since then. While the quantity of shows to watch on Netflix is quite impressive, the quality has been taking a hit over the last couple of years. Some of our favorite original series include Ozark, The Crown, both Narcos and Narcos Mexico, along with the newly acquired Cobra Kai. Netflix offers three streaming plans, Basic is only $8.99 per month but limits the resolution to standard definition for $13.99 per month, their standard plan ups the quality to 1080p HD, and premium unlocks 4K content for $17.99 per month.
#01
HBO Max: Number one, the absolute best streaming service is HBO Max. Since its launch in May of 2020, this is the service we watch the most, with the highest quality content when compared with the competition. Included with HBO Max are TV shows that many would consider to be some of the greatest of all time, including The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, and The Wire, to name a few, along with newer shows like Westworld and Succession. If you already get HBO through a cable or satellite company, you may be able to get HBO Max for free. Otherwise, the service will cost you about $15 per month.
