Binge watching has been the thing to do for the past few years now. As the “cutting the cable” trend continues on the rise, picking an alternative option is important. Especially when your formal cable service provided endless content. Subscription-based models are taking over media. It’s a much more tailored approach to allowing the user to pick the content they want.
When it comes to picking a new streaming service, the three top competitors are Amazon, Hulu and Netflix. There are pros and cons to each platform but they’re variants that make them unique to their market.
NETFLIX
Personally, I’ve had my Netflix subscription the longest and love it. It’s very easy to navigate, accessible (website, phone app, streaming device, smart TV etc), and cheap. For $10.99 a month (at its most basic plan), you can make 5 individual user profiles. A great option for a family, or a group of friends who want to chip in a few dollars a month for the subscription.
Why it works: SO MUCH CONTENT. It’s endless. They have a bunch of super binge-worthy TV shows. Lately, Netflix has been killing it in the stand-up comedy department, a title formally held by HBO. Overall, their selection is eclectic and versatile.
Why it doesn’t: No live TV. This may not be a deal breaker for everyone. But if you’re looking to cut cable and follow prime time shows, you may have to wait a few months until they’re on Netflix.
HULU
Hulu is great if you have cable, but occasionally miss some of your favorite shows when they air. It’s a great alternative to TiVo. It’s good for immediate catch up, but sometimes if you’re looking to binge half a season of a show, not all aired episodes may be ready to watch. I’ve had this happen when I wanted to watch Scandal from the first episode of the current season airing, but they’d be 5 weeks into the season and only have episodes 3, 4 and 5.
Hulu is probably the cheapest per month option, with add-on features for network subscriptions as well as live television. If you don’t have cable, it’s the closest thing to having cable without completely committing to it.
Why it works: It’s cheap, it’s a great option if you’re looking to catch up on shows you miss as they air. They have been significantly improving the variety of shows to pick from.
Why it doesn’t: sometimes the movie selections can be incredibly limiting or bizarre. Not all episodes are available if you want to binge something (this is just in my own experience, it’s quite possible the show you want to watch is available)
AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
Amazon is one of the sacred corners of the Internet. I am obsessed with Amazon and its convenience. If you are already an Amazon Prime Member, an annual $99 fee then you have access to Prime Video. Prime Video is a great add-on option for your Prime Membership. It’s the most expensive alternative and in my opinion, it also has the most limiting in terms of selection.
While it’s nice to have access to Showtime and HBO, you have to pay an additional fee to access that content. Personally, aside from Marvelous Miss Maisel, I haven’t gone out of my way to watch any of their original programming. Although, I find navigating their Prime Video section a little overly complicated.
Why it works: Like I said, great add-on option for your Prime Membership with a growing selection.
Why it doesn’t work: Not all programs are offered via Prime video, therefore, Amazon will suggest that you buy the episode or movie, and if you’re trying to do some guilt-free binge watching paying per-episode defeats the purpose entirely.
FINAL THOUGHTS
In terms of streaming platform, it’s important to decide what kind of programming you’re looking to watch. Movies? Binge watching? Casual background noise? Keep up with current TV? That will play into your decision. If you can afford it, I would do both Netflix and Hulu.
Netflix has been growing tremendously in terms of content. The comedy section is literally exploding. Netflix has a great selection of TV and movies. Hulu is better if your TV based but you can’t escape the commercials unless you pay an added fee.
If you actively watch television as it airs and occasionally find yourself missing an episode for a night out then Hulu might be a better option. In my opinion, don’t subscribe to Amazon Prime because of the Prime Video section, it’s not worth the price tag when you can find practically the same content for significantly less in cost. I rarely use Amazon Prime Video, and if I do, it’s just to make myself feel better about spending $99 a year for my membership.
Netflix and Hulu are the best options. Amazon Prime Video seem to get lost in the shuffle. If you’re a college student spending $20/month (between both services) is just enough to pay for streaming.
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