PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 19: In this photo illustration the Netflix logo is reflected in the eye of a woman on September 19, 2014 in Paris, France. Netflix September 15 launched service in France, the first of six European countries planned in the coming months. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) (2014 Getty Images)
When you’re picking a streaming video service, so many questions pop up: how much does it cost? What movies does it have? Can you find current episodes of your favorite TV show, or are they all from past seasons? Is there an app, and how well does it work? The list goes on and on.
Probably one of the most frequently asked questions I get on my national radio show is, “Which streaming service has A&E, FoxNews, HGTV, or fill-in-the-blank?” It’s complicated.
To simplify things, I created a streaming service chart. Using it, you can see which service has the channel or network you want to watch. Click or tap here now for an easy way to find a service based on specific shows you want to watch.
The three big players right now are Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. Unlike network and public television, which have a lot of free streaming content, these are paid services with vast catalogs, original programs, and curated lists and recommendations.
All of these services have earned their stripes. So which service is best for you? We’ll look at Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu along with Vudu, an alternative to renting or buying movies on iTunes or Amazon. Here are the pros and cons of each.
Netflix
Price: $10.99 per month for HD streaming
Netflix is the king of the hill when it comes to on-demand video subscription services. It has moved well past its origins as a DVD-mailing company and now churns out tons of buzzworthy original content alongside a big collection of television shows and movies. It’s also easy to access. You can watch it with all sorts of streaming devices, including most TVs, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon’s new Fire TV Cube, tablets, and smartphones.
Netflix also reneged on its promise never to allow downloaded films, and now you can quickly stack your tablet with an incredible range of movies and shows. Netflix has mastered its format, and with acclaimed original series like "Glow" and "Stranger Things," you can access a myriad of exclusive material.
Speaking of Netflix, if you are wondering if a movie is free on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Playstation, or available to buy or rent on iTunes, there’s a fantastic site to figure it out. You just enter the title of what you want to watch, and the site does the heavy lifting telling where it is streaming free or paid. Click or tap here is use this incredible money and time-saving resource.
Amazon Prime
Price: $119 per year
Amazon Prime Video is one big perk found in the larger Prime subscription package. Amazon has its share of original, exclusive shows, including "The Man in the High Castle" and "The Grand Tour," that sweeten the deal and make the yearly subscription cost (and its recent price hike) more palatable. Thanks to the film “Manchester by the Sea,” Amazon Studios also won an academy award. Who would have ever thought an internet commerce company would do that!
Prime Video is a formidable service, and it connects you to the broader universe of Amazon products, including Echo. You can also buy films and series or add entire networks, such as Showtime and HBO.
Video is just one Amazon Prime perk. Click or tap here for 8 might you might not be using and should.
Hulu
Price: $7.99 per month
Hulu has been making steady progress in attracting subscribers. It isn’t as big as Netflix, but has gotten a boost from a move into original television shows, including an upcoming Stephen King-based series called “Castle Rock” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Hulu also has the most economical basic plan, at $7.99 per month.
Like Prime Video and Netflix, Hulu has its app, and the streaming quality holds its own. Hulu is also trying to cash in on the "offline" viewing market, allowing subscribers to download their content.
Vudu
Price: Per rental/purchase
Vudu is a dark-horse candidate when it comes to streaming. It's owned by Walmart and operates more like iTunes: you pay for what you want to watch. Rentals start at under a buck. There's no monthly fee, and Vudu boasts that it gets access to movies even earlier than services like Netflix and Redbox.
Vudu also offers a selection of movies that are free with the inclusion of ads. It’s hard to beat the price, but for content with commercials, Vudu’s appeal depends on your tolerance for interruptions.
So which service wins?
Like most service comparisons, there is no definite winner, because the “best” service depends on your interests.
Amazon Prime makes sense if you don't mind a lump investment, and you plan to take advantage of the other features, such as shipping, photo storage, and music. The annual price isn’t as attractive if all you want to do is watch videos.
Related: Click or tap here to learn how to get Prime for less.
Netflix is insanely popular because it offers a broad mix of programming alongside an ever-growing slate of original shows and movies. If you want access to Marvel superheroes in TV shows, this is the place to go. If you're only looking to subscribe to one streaming service, then Netflix is probably your best bet.
Hulu doesn’t quite have the depth of Netflix, but it’s still the go-to place to catch up on recent network shows. If that’s important to you, then take a close look at Hulu. The $7.99 plan, while cheaper than Netflix, comes with commercials. To dump the ads, you’ll need to move up to the $11.99 plan.
Vudu won’t take the place of a service like Netflix, but it may appeal to viewers looking for an a-la-carte alternative. If you already buy or rent your entertainment through iTunes or Amazon, then you may not feel the need to try Vudu, though it can still be worth checking out Vudu’s movie collection. You can always pick and choose what you want to pay for.
Pick and choose
There's a reason why many people subscribe to more than one service. You may have Prime mainly for the shipping and other perks but also subscribe to Netflix for the wider range of programming. Alternatively, perhaps you're a fan of a particular hit show on Hulu, but get the rest of your streaming fix from another source.
Just be sure to reevaluate your streaming subscriptions from time to time. If you’re not getting much use out of it, then cancel it and save yourself the money.
What digital lifestyle questions do you have? Call my national radio show and click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to the Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet or computer. From buying advice to digital life issues, click here for my free podcasts.
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Learn about all the latest technology on the Kim Komando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com.
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