Video Streaming Services: Buying Advice, Tips, and News
-
Readers' Choice: Your Favorite TV and Home Entertainment Brands RankedIf you're in the market for a new television, our readers have some clear recommendations. And to round out the package, we've also asked them to rate the audio and streaming devices and services they like best.
By Eric Griffith
Our Current Top Tested Picks
Netflix
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
While pricey, Netflix remains one of the best video streaming services, thanks to its huge catalog of TV shows, movies, and critically acclaimed originals.
Full Netflix ReviewPros
- High-quality original programming
- A greater live sports push
- Excellent apps and features
- Offline downloads on mobile
- Cool mobile games
Cons
- The ad-based tier doesn't include the full library
- Growing increasingly expensive
Pros
- High-quality original programming
- A greater live sports push
- Excellent apps and features
- Offline downloads on mobile
- Cool mobile games
Cons
- The ad-based tier doesn't include the full library
- Growing increasingly expensive
Hulu
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Hulu is a dependable option for streaming new and classic shows, as well as live TV on nearly every platform. It's a top choice among video streaming services
Full Hulu ReviewPros
- Excellent TV series selection
- Extensive live TV channel lineup
- Robust unlimited cloud DVR option
- Available on nearly every media streaming device
- Appealing bundle deals
Cons
- Base plan includes ads
- Offline downloads require a premium account
- Missing all Bally Sports and most SportsNet RSNs
Pros
- Excellent TV series selection
- Extensive live TV channel lineup
- Robust unlimited cloud DVR option
- Available on nearly every media streaming device
- Appealing bundle deals
Cons
- Base plan includes ads
- Offline downloads require a premium account
- Missing all Bally Sports and most SportsNet RSNs
Peacock
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Peacock lets you stream popular NBC TV shows, many notable movies, and live sports with its robust paid tiers that won't break the bank.
Full Peacock ReviewPros
- Many popular movies and network shows
- Live sports
- Flexible plan pricing
- Supports multiple account profiles
Cons
- Constantly changing movie library
- New users can't create a free account
Pros
- Many popular movies and network shows
- Live sports
- Flexible plan pricing
- Supports multiple account profiles
Cons
- Constantly changing movie library
- New users can't create a free account
Tubi
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Tubi's free, ad-supported library is delightfully large and frequently updated, offering movies and shows that may serve you well as a replacement for paid video streaming services.
Full Tubi ReviewPros
- Free
- Extensive library of movies and shows
- Live TV
- Modern apps and interfaces
- Supports watchlists
- Parental control features
Cons
- 720p streaming resolution cap
- Lacks an ad-free option
Pros
- Free
- Extensive library of movies and shows
- Live TV
- Modern apps and interfaces
- Supports watchlists
- Parental control features
Cons
- 720p streaming resolution cap
- Lacks an ad-free option
YouTube TV
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Even as its price continues to rise, YouTube TV remains a top option for cord-cutters thanks to its live TV streams, excellent DVR tools, and terrific sports features.
Full YouTube TV ReviewPros
- Excellent lineup of sports, news, and entertainment channels
- Lower-cost, genre-based packages
- Impressive viewing features for sports fans
- Robust and easy-to-use DVR tools
- Intuitive interface
- Excellent add-ons
Cons
- Expensive
- Lacks most SportsNet and all Bally Sports RSNs
Pros
- Excellent lineup of sports, news, and entertainment channels
- Lower-cost, genre-based packages
- Impressive viewing features for sports fans
- Robust and easy-to-use DVR tools
- Intuitive interface
- Excellent add-ons
Cons
- Expensive
- Lacks most SportsNet and all Bally Sports RSNs
Amazon Prime Video
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Amazon Prime Video features many prestige movies and TV shows, live sports, and the cool ability to buy or rent programs.
Full Amazon Prime Video ReviewPros
- Excellent original content
- 4K and HDR streaming
- Select live sports
- Supports offline downloads, multiple viewer profiles, and audio descriptions
- Lets you rent or buy movies and TV shows
- Streams select movies currently in theaters
Cons
- Not as many high-quality original TV shows as competitors
- 4K content is locked to the Video Ultra tier
Pros
- Excellent original content
- 4K and HDR streaming
- Select live sports
- Supports offline downloads, multiple viewer profiles, and audio descriptions
- Lets you rent or buy movies and TV shows
- Streams select movies currently in theaters
Cons
- Not as many high-quality original TV shows as competitors
- 4K content is locked to the Video Ultra tier
Disney+
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Disney+ offers an impressive entertainment library featuring high-quality family shows and movies from properties I love, and you probably love, too.
Full Disney+ ReviewPros
- Central hub for Disney-owned content
- Lets you watch Hulu programming within the app
- 4K streaming
- Good performance in testing
Cons
- Mostly relies on existing franchises
- Hulu and ESPN content costs extra
- Offline downloads locked to Premium tier
Pros
- Central hub for Disney-owned content
- Lets you watch Hulu programming within the app
- 4K streaming
- Good performance in testing
Cons
- Mostly relies on existing franchises
- Hulu and ESPN content costs extra
- Offline downloads locked to Premium tier
HBO Max
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
One of my streaming staples, HBO Max delivers a strong streaming library filled with original dramas, high-quality films, reality shows, live sports, and expanded 4K content.
Full HBO Max ReviewPros
- Huge catalog of popular shows and movies from many sources
- Attractive apps
- User profiles and parental control tools
- Ad-free tier lets you download content for offline viewing
- Live sports
- Ultimate tier includes far more 4K content than the other plans
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- Ad-supported tier doesn't support offline downloads
- Potentially dramatic library changes
Pros
- Huge catalog of popular shows and movies from many sources
- Attractive apps
- User profiles and parental control tools
- Ad-free tier lets you download content for offline viewing
- Live sports
- Ultimate tier includes far more 4K content than the other plans
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- Ad-supported tier doesn't support offline downloads
- Potentially dramatic library changes
Crunchyroll
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Featuring a huge library with simulcast support, a manga reader, and an online store, Crunchyroll is the one-stop shop for casual and hard-core anime fans.
Full Crunchyroll ReviewPros
- Expansive anime library
- All tiers support 1080p streaming
- Many simulcast shows
- Some original series
- Manga and apparel store
- Offline downloads
Cons
- Some interface clutter
- No free tier
- Few subtitle options
Pros
- Expansive anime library
- All tiers support 1080p streaming
- Many simulcast shows
- Some original series
- Manga and apparel store
- Offline downloads
Cons
- Some interface clutter
- No free tier
- Few subtitle options
Curiosity Stream
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Curiosity Stream is an affordably priced documentary-focused video streaming service with all the content you need to satisfy your hunger for knowledge.
Full Curiosity Stream ReviewPros
- Thousands of titles
- Impressive originals
- Some 4K content
- Affordably priced
Cons
- Limited language options beyond English
- Lacks broader, non-documentary entertainment
Pros
- Thousands of titles
- Impressive originals
- Some 4K content
- Affordably priced
Cons
- Limited language options beyond English
- Lacks broader, non-documentary entertainment
Latest Video Streaming Service Stories
Welcome August with the return of fan favorite Futurama, a new Star Wars anime series, and more cool stuff.
Kevin Hart's party comedy 72 Hours is the most popular flick on the streamer, so let's watch some other movies where things get out of hand.
Enjoy hit movies from the streamer's massive archives, from this year's The Drama to classics from the past and more this week.
End a month and begin another with tons of new Netflix to watch, including a classic horror franchise, a gritty Japanese dating show, and more.
Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Netflix aren't the only ways for you to enjoy online movies and TV shows. Expand your horizons with our favorite streaming services, ranked by price, catalog, features, and more.
Looking to revisit the MCU franchise now that Spidey is back in theaters? Whether you want to watch in order of release or chronological story order, we've got you covered.
Tons of movies join hit shows like 'Lioness' as Paramount+ takes us into the dog days of summer.
Summer continues to be a hot time to watch Hulu and Disney+, with a new Star Wars anime series, the return of the X-Files, and more.
DC's new mature-rated Green Lantern series debuts this month, along with tons of other movies and shows on HBO Max
The MLS All-Stars face the Liga MX All-Stars for the fifth time today. We'll see big stars like Thomas Müller, Son Heung-Min, and Petar Musa take the field. Here's how to watch it live.
The dog days of summer roll on with a new month of Netflix content, including the final season of Outer Banks and more.
Summer's coming to an end, and so are these movies and TV shows for Netflix subscribers.
The vertical feed uses your watch history to recommend shows you may like, while the AI tool helps you search for content using plain language.
We want to hear your thoughts on the tools you use to perfect your digital snapshots, create amazing influencer videos, and more. One lucky respondent will get a $250 Amazon gift card.
A bundle rolling out in early 2027 will bring ad-supported Peacock shows, movies, and sports events directly to the YouTube app.
This weekend marks the start of the fifth annual Tour de France Femmes. Here's how to watch live with the right streaming service, VPN, or free trial.
Kimi Antonelli is back and has a chance to extend his championship lead at Hungaroring before the summer break. Here's how to watch the race weekend live using a streaming subscription or VPN.
This comes after a judge found that the deal is 'likely to violate antitrust laws.'
Lots of people are streaming 'The Boss Baby' right now, and I can't figure out why. Whatever the reason, I'm highlighting it and three other movies with a similar vibe.
Catch a 'Rick and Morty' spin-off, a road trip to the heart of America, and more.
