July 22, 2021
For just a simple subscription fee every month, these streaming services do everything that cable TV can’t do; brings its users access to thousands if not millions of titles on-demand wherever they go from any device they want. It’s caused such a huge impact to the TV and film industry that cable TV usage has plummeted for the sixth straight year since 2015, with now a mere 56% of Americans who say they’ve watched cable TV. One of the biggest factors involved is no doubt the pandemic, which forced everyone to remain at home. This meant the shutdown of theaters nation-wide, which prompted these streaming platforms to unveil their newest and latest shows via their platforms. What consequently followed was an outpour of revenue. The money they earn from their business models has transformed them not purely into streaming giants, but also major production companies in their own right. Ever heard of shows such as “Queen’s Gambit” or “Stranger Things”? Netflix was the mastermind behind it all. Though streaming services are widely available, that also means that competition is just as intense. However, a few platforms have managed to stand out from the rest of the crowd in securing their places in the top 5 best streaming services you can purchase in 2021. 1. Netflix Netflix Basic: $9/month for standard definition Netflix Standard: $14/month for high-definition streaming on up to two devices Netflix Premium: $18/month for up to 4K HDR streaming with Dolby Atmos on up to four devices Netflix is the king of all streaming platforms with almost 209 million global users. It features many of its own shows which dominate the pop culture industry and continues to produce its own content. It also comes with its own separate library for kid accounts and provides a great selection for all members of a family. Pros: A great collection of original content, fantastic video quality, great customer support, no commercial interruption Cons: A lackluster movie collection to other platforms, more expensive package plans 2. Hulu Hulu Basic: $6/month streaming with ads Hulu Premium: $12/month ad-free streaming Hulu Basic + Live TV: $65/month ad-supported streaming and live TV streaming Hulu Premium + Live TV: $71/month ad-free streaming and ad-supported live TV streaming Hulu is one of the most affordable platforms out there that also features a great line of original content and TV shows. In addition to on-demand content, they also provide packages with live TV streaming from your favorite networks such as ABC and Fox. Pros: Large on-demand TV show library with live TV access Cons: Harder to share between devices 3. Amazon Prime Amazon Prime w/ Prime Video: $119/year or $13/month with Amazon Prime membership included Prime Video: $9/month Nearly 110 million Amazon Prime members have access to the benefits that Prime Video offers, which includes a wide variety of TV shows and movies. It also features its own collection or original content with notable titles such as “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “The Man in the High Castle.” Pros: Includes Amazon Prime, lets any user rent or purchase any movie title, includes high quality video in every plan Cons: Not as big of a library as other platforms 4. Disney+ Disney Plus: $8/month or $80/year Disney Plus w/ ESPN+ and Hulu: $14/month Although Disney+ is one of the newest platforms to enter the streaming services world, it’s quickly risen to the top in terms of dominance. One of the biggest reasons is the fact that the platform provides access to all the beloved content that Disney has ever produced, including what its franchises such as Marvel and Pixar offer. Pros: All the content that Disney has ever produced, as well as a bundle option with ESPN and Hulu Cons: A smaller overall library than other platforms 5. HBO Max HBO Max (no ads): $15/month ad-free streaming HBO Max (ads): $10/month ad-supported streaming with exception to Warner Bros in-theater releases HBO Max provides a collection of the best that Warner Bros and all of HBO’s cable networks has to offer, with channels like Adult Swim, the DC Universe, Crunchyroll, and more. Warner Bros movies that are shown in theatres are released the very same day to its HBO Max platform which viewers can always look forward to. Pros: A large selection of shows and films from its popular cable networks, same-day theatrical release to its platform Cons: A higher cost than competitors, lack of support for high quality video across the board Some other notable tv and film streaming services include Apple TV, Peacock, BET+, Sling, Youtube TV, and Tubi.