How to Compare Streaming Services | Your Guide to Choosing the Right Streaming Service

Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Paramount+, and Prime Video have recently produced some of the most groundbreaking and popular content that can be enjoyed by everyone. At this point, these popular streaming services are making one banger content one after another. Naturally, you could find yourself in intense F.O.M.O if you don’t already have the right streaming service.

Needless to say, the options are overwhelmingly a lot in number. While streaming services offer great flexibility, quality of content, high resolutions, and on-the-go entertainment, it can get a little challenging to decide which service would suit you the best.

Other than how much each streaming service costs, there are so many more additional factors to consider – such as content library, device compatibility, and interface friendliness. To help you narrow down your options and pick the best streaming service for movies, shows, and a lot more, here is a list of things to consider and why they matter.

Evaluating Your Entertainment Needs and Preferences

It can be very easy to find yourself lost in the world of streaming services if you are not quite sure what you need. Before you pick and choose any streaming service, it’s important to evaluate and understand your own entertainment needs. You must explore what your expectations are from the service.

Understanding your preferences will allow you to subscribe to a streaming service that offers content in accordance with your taste. Once you are sorted on what are your entertainment preferences, then you can begin to compare streaming services and what each offers.

You can ask yourself various questions to explore your choice and taste. Some of these questions include:

The above-mentioned questions are just a few examples of how you can evaluate your entertainment needs. Finding the answers to these questions will help you grasp a rough overview of not only what you want, but also of what suits you the best.

Assessing the User Friendliness

Your entertainment and streaming experience should be as seamless as possible. To achieve that seamlessness, try looking into how user-friendly the streaming platform is.

As you compare streaming services, you will find out that not every one of the options offers a great user interface. This might filter out some options and narrow down the list of streaming services for you to choose from!

For example, Netflix is one of the most popular and trend-setting streaming platforms. It has a decluttered interface and divides its content into clear and crisp categories that are easy to navigate through. It has separate rows for a variety of content like “Recommended” and “Top 10”. This ensures user-friendliness, allowing you to find the right content for yourself without delay.

Some important features that make any video streaming services user-friendly are:

Comparing Content Libraries Offered by a Platform

Once you have compared the type of content you like to watch, it's time to see which video streaming service offers the most apt content library for you. The first thing to consider would be the number of titles offered by the service.

Other than the number of titles in the content library, you should also look into what kind of content is available the most. Look into the number of original content available, and whether it meets your taste. Netflix and Prime Video have some of the most popular original content that feels like a breath of fresh air. Meanwhile, YouTube TV has some of the most exclusive content and top-tier entertainment that you might not find elsewhere.

Another thing to consider is the genre and niche offered by the streaming service. Netflix’s content library is rich with psychological-thriller documentaries that would be great for a chilly Saturday night. Meanwhile, Disney is packed with some nostalgic classics that families and children can also enjoy.

Compare streaming services based on what genre of content you like the most and who will be watching more frequently.

Considering Extra Features and Perks

Other than the more obvious factors like variety of content and user-friendliness, most streaming services offer some value-adding features that elevate the whole experience. These features make the monthly cost worth it, while also ensuring that your streaming experience is glitch-free. Here are some important extra features and perks you might find useful:

Parental Controls

If your household consists of children and teenagers, parental cornels offered by a streaming service must be reliable, flexible, and easy to use. These controls will help you ensure age-appropriate content and manage the frequency of streaming.

Offline Streaming

Some streaming platforms allow users to download an episode from their favorite show or a movie while they still have an internet connection. These downloads can alter be accessed from the app without any internet connection, such as when you are in an airplane or a remote area with limited connectivity.

International Content

The best streaming service is all about entertainment from every corner of the world. If you are interested in exploring international content for more variety, make sure the service you are choosing offers that. For example, popular Netflix shows like Money Heist and Narcos fall in the category of International/Spanish content.

Viewer Profiles

Since you are most likely to share the streaming account with someone in your house, make sure that the service you choose lets you create multiple viewer profiles. These profiles can streamline your personal recommendations, help you start watching right where you left off, and make personal lists.

Multiple Subtitles

Check if the video streaming services offer content subtitles in more than one language. This feature will let you choose the language that you are most suited to. For example, if you are viewing any international content, you might need subtitles in English. If you are interested in streaming Spanish content, Spanish subtitles for English content might be a good add-on for you.

Last but Not Least – Price and Subscription Plans!

No matter how good a streaming service is, the one thing that matters the most is the price and subscription plans. You don’t want to be paying a monthly fee for any streaming service that leaves behind a dent in your pocket.

Different video streaming services have different prices and subscription plans to offer. The most important thing to note here is that the larger the variety of subscription plans, the more well-suited will the service be for you.

To compare streaming services thoroughly, other than the basic price, also look for additional features like trial periods. Prime Video offers a 30-day trial period for a first-time user. During this period, you can make up your mind about the subscription, and cancel anytime you want without having to pay any fee.

Here is a quick look at a streaming services price list:

Bottom Line

After all is said and done, it all boils down to what is more important and valuable for you. If you consider all the aforementioned factors as you compare streaming services, rest assured you will land the best streaming service for you and your family. The most important considerations consist of pricing and plans, content variety, additional features like offline viewing, and your personal entertainment preferences.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

How Do I Know Which Streaming Service Is Best for Me?

The best streaming service should be user-friendly, have a large content library with a variety of genres and niches, and fit well within your monthly budget. Additional features like multiple streams and viewer profiles are also great features to look for.

Is Peacock Better than Netflix?

Peacock is a streaming service by NBC, and it includes thousands of on-demand movie titles as well as 50+ live TV channels that are available 24/7. It’s a great streaming service for TV buffs as well as binge-streamers. Meanwhile, Netflix is a strictly on-demand service that offers thousands of original movies and TV shows as well as some great hits from all over the world.

Is Peacock Better than Other Streaming Services?

Well, Peacock is one of the best live TV + on-demand streaming services—thanks to its affordable pricing, offline viewing feature, and flexible billing options. It is a great pick for households where both on-demand and live TV are in demand.

What Is the #1 Best Streaming Service?

Netflix is one of the best streaming services with lots of important features, like multiple subtitles, multiple video quality, and offline viewing. It has been an industry leader in the world of OTT and video-on-demand. However, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and Peacock also bring their A-game and provide quality services.