Streaming Services

A broad on-demand service with movies, series, documentaries, animation and a large collection of Netflix Originals.

Best for

A large variety of mainstream movies and series in one place.

Cost

Paid subscription with multiple plan options.

Home to Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic, with access to broader Disney entertainment through available bundles and integrations.

Best for

Families, franchise fans and viewers interested in Disney's larger streaming ecosystem.

Cost

Paid subscription; bundles may also be available.

A strong destination for television series, Hulu Originals, movies and recent programming from major networks.

Best for

Viewers who watch a lot of current and library television.

Cost

Paid subscription with ad-supported and ad-free choices.

Combines HBO programming with Warner Bros. films, original series and a broader premium entertainment catalog.

Best for

Prestige television, HBO series, Warner Bros. movies and premium entertainment.

Cost

Paid subscription with several plan levels.

Amazon's streaming service combines included subscription programming with originals, rentals, purchases and optional add-on channels.

Best for

Amazon users who want streaming, rentals and optional channels in one service.

Cost

Available through a paid Prime Video or Amazon Prime subscription.

Apple's subscription service features Apple Original series and films along with selected live sports programming.

Best for

Curated original series and films, plus viewers interested in Apple's live sports offerings.

Cost

Paid subscription; Apple bundles and promotional offers may be available.

NBCUniversal's service offers NBC and Bravo programming, films, Peacock Originals and a growing selection of live sports and events.

Best for

NBCUniversal programming, live sports and viewers who follow current television.

Cost

Paid subscription with multiple plan levels.

A major audio streaming service for music, playlists, podcasts and audiobooks, with personalized recommendations and discovery tools.

Best for

Daily music listening, discovery, podcasts and other audio entertainment.

Cost

Paid Premium plans are available; Spotify also offers a free ad-supported tier.

Adds an ad-free experience to much of YouTube, along with background playback, downloads and access to YouTube Music Premium.

Best for

People who watch YouTube frequently and want fewer interruptions and extra playback features.

Cost

Paid subscription; regular YouTube remains available for free with ads.

A large free on-demand library of movies and TV shows, plus original programming and selected live channels.

Best for

People who want a Netflix-style browsing experience without a monthly subscription.

Cost

Free; supported by advertising.

Combines hundreds of live, scheduled streaming channels with free on-demand movies and television.

Best for

Viewers who like channel surfing, live-style television and a mix of on-demand choices.

Cost

Free; supported by advertising.

Offers free movies, TV series, Roku Originals and hundreds of live streaming channels, including access on the web.

Best for

A broad mix of free on-demand programming and live channels, especially for Roku users.

Cost

Much of the service is free with ads; optional premium subscriptions are also offered.

Provides free on-demand movies and TV plus hundreds of live channels, while also offering tools for organizing personal media collections.

Best for

Free streaming combined with personal-media organization and discovery features.

Cost

Free streaming is available with ads; optional paid Plex features also exist.

A free service with live and on-demand channels covering movies, TV, news, sports, music, lifestyle programming and more.

Best for

Casual channel surfing and viewers who want free live-style programming.

Cost

Free; supported by advertising.