With Smart TVs becoming cheaper by the minute and many streaming services becoming more and more accessible to the average user, the downfall of cable TV is not just a probability but a fact that cable TV service providers have come to terms with.
So if you’re one of the many users who has been finding a way to cut the cord but has not devoted yourself to the ‘Netflix and Chill’ life just yet, then you should consider switching to an online streaming service which will give you the freedom to choose whatever you want to watch.
Well, there are tonnes of streaming services which are available online, each with its own different set of features that separate them from the opposition.
With that in mind, it’s safe to say that there isn’t a single best streaming service found on the internet; but instead, there are multiple that can cater to different audiences with varying tastes.
However, if you are looking to find one that accommodates your needs, so go ahead and check out our list of the best streaming services to help you cut the cord:
Note: Pricing and content may vary depending on your region.
Best Streaming Service for Movies and TV
1. Netflix
Let’s start the list with Netflix, one of the most famous movie and TV streaming services today which already has up to 137 million subscribers all over the world and for good reasons too.
The streaming service has a diverse collection of content that we can watch, including movies, TV shows, documentaries, anime and so much more and it even has some top-notch original contents that you won’t find elsewhere.
Netflix allows its users to watch unlimited content for a fixed monthly fee, with different plans which allow for simultaneous viewing on one to four screens.
You can also create up to five different profiles for a single account, which means that your preferred content does not mess up the recommendations for everyone else using the same account.
Pros:
- Great content selection
- Clean and functional interface
- Accurate recommendation system
- Supports downloads for offline viewing
- Simultaneous streaming on multiple devices
- No ads
Cons:
- Expensive, compared to other services
- Content selection depends on your region
- Doesn’t feature any cable TV channels
Pricing: Starts at $8/month
Availability: Available worldwide except for North Korea, Mainland China, Crimea and Syria
Supported platforms: Web, Windows 10, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Google Chromecast, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Roku, TiVo, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii U. Visit the official site
2. Hulu
In case you are not all that willing to give up cable TV and still want to keep watching some of your favourite shows then you should consider getting a Hulu subscription.
Compared to Netflix, Hulu has a great selection of current cable TV shows from the most significant networks around the world.
The online streaming service allows its users to gain access to the current season of a TV show that is airing on cable TV and it sometimes has all of the show’s previous seasons.
I addition, Hulu also has a neat selection of original content, offbeat movies and a few classic anime series. Unlike Netflix, Hulu also comes in a bit cheaper but be prepared to watch some ads while on a paid service.
Pros:
- Awesome selection of cable TV and original content
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Contain ads
- Dated Interface
- Supports only one stream at a time
- Not available widely
Pricing: Starts at $7.99/month
Availability: Only available within the U.S.A and on specific U.S. overseas military installations
Supported platforms: Web, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Echo Show, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, TiVo. Visit the official site
3. Amazon Prime Video
eCommerce giant Amazon’s video streaming service, Amazon Prime Video is also a great option you can consider if you are planning on cutting the cord.
Just like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video also has a great selection of TV shows, movies and original content, but what sets it apart for the others are the Prime benefits what you get bundled with the subscription.
Not only will you be able to stream videos, but you can also get priority shipping on Amazon orders, stream music with Amazon Music, along with a few other additions that vary depending on your location.
All these for a relatively low price make Amazon Prime Video one of the leading streaming platform to help you transition from cable TV.
Pros:
- Good selection of content
- Additional Prime benefits
- Inexpensive
- Supports downloads for offline viewing
- Ads free
Cons:
- Not supported on some platforms
- Search and recommendations are not entirely accurate
Pricing: $12.99 per month or $119/year
Availability: Worldwide except for Mainland China, North Korea, Syria, Cuba and Iran
Supported platforms: Web, Android, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, TiVo, Nvidia Shield, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One. Visit the official site
4. HBO Now
Cable TV giant HBO also has its streaming service called HBO Now which brings all of the network’s programs to people who have given up on them through cable TV.
If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, HBO Now is a must-have as it’s the only streaming platform that streams the show alongside the cable TV premiere.
It also has other shows like Vice News Tonight, West World and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. However, the platform’s content is not as extensive as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, which is a bummer as the service is not able to fully justify its cost.
Pros:
- Amazing original content
- No ads
- Supports simultaneous streaming on multiple devices
Cons:
- Expensive
- Content library is not as extensive as Amazon Prime Video or Netflix
Pricing: $14.99/month
Availability: Only available within the U.S.A and certain U.S.A territories
Supported platforms: Web, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, iOS, Roku, Xbox One, Xbox 360. Visit the official site
Best Streaming Service for Anime
5. Crunchyroll
While some of the services mentioned above have a decent library of anime, if you are an anime fan and have been searching for a one-stop-shop for all your anime needs then you should check out Crunchyroll.
The platform has a various selection of anime titles which are available on any streaming service, and it offers shows ranging from almost all genres at quite a fantastic price.
It’s also the best anime platform for you if you are a fan of anime with the Japanese audio, but in case you prefer the English dubs then you might not find enough content to quench your anime needs.
Pros:
- Great selection of content
- Supports simulcasts a few hours after the episodes are aired in Japan
- Free streaming with ads one week after the episodes air in Japan
- Focus on original content
Cons:
- Very few dubbed titles
- Limited selection outside of the U.S.
Pricing: Free with ads or $6.95/month
Availability: Worldwide except for Mainland China, North Korea, Syria, Cuba and Iran
Supported platforms: Web, Android, Android TV, iOS, Apple TV, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Wii U, Roku. Visit the official site
6. Funimation
In case you prefer dubbed versions of anime over distracting subtitle tracks, then you give Funimation a go. Much like Crunchyroll, Funimation has a vast selection of anime across a variety of genres, and the platform is transitioning to cater to its users who prefer dubs.
While you would think that because of the dubs the platform might not be able to deliver new episodes on time, you would be wrong.
Funimation also offers simulcast, thanks to its super-fast dubbing, along with support for multi-platform streaming. There is a free streaming option with ads, but if you don’t want to bother yourself with the annoying commercials, then there is also an option for an ad-free subscription which you can opt for.
Pros:
- Great selection of shows and movies
- Simulcast support with fast dubbing
- Decent English dubs
Cons:
- Dubs might not appeal to everyone
- Limited new and original content
- Availability is limited
Pricing: Free with ads or $5.99/month
Availability: Only in the U.S.
Supported platforms: Windows 10, Google Chromecast, Web, Android, Android TV, iOS, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Kindle, Roku, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4. Visit the official site
7. HiDive
HiDive is another great upcoming streaming service for anime, which features a great selection of classics from almost every genre.
The platform features anime all the way back to the ’80s, and it also has new releases from latest anime seasons, which is very sure to keep you hooked for a long while.
In addition to that, the platform is comparatively cheaper than the previously mentioned anime streaming service, but because it is relatively new, you might encounter few bugs while streaming on anything other than a laptop.
Pros:
- Good selection of classic anime
- Cheap
Cons:
- Connectivity and lag issues
- Limited platform support
Pricing: $4.99/month
Availability: Worldwide except for Mainland China, North Korea, Syria, Cuba and Iran
Supported platforms: Web, Android, iOS Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Android TV, Xbox One. Visit the official site
Best Streaming Service for Gaming
8. Twitch.tv
If you’re the kind of person that spend their free time watching games, rather than movies, TV shows or anime, then you should log on to Twitch.tv.
It’s the biggest and the most popular streaming service for games, and it’s a website i frequent most times, and I like the sheer variety of streams that one can tune into on the platform.
You can watch everything ranging from live eSports events to casual walk through of a single player game and in case the idea of streaming games for a living interest you; then you can start your stream.
Contrary to any of the previous streaming services, Twitch.tv also allows you to interact with the content creators directly, making watching videos online more interactive and entertaining experience.
Twitch is also making efforts to expand its content and bring more streams that are not related to gaming, which might be useful for some of you out there.
Pros:
- Free to watch or stream
- Wide selection of games and streamers
- Interactive
Cons:
- Might be a bit complex for newcomers
- Real-time interactions might turn sour
Pricing: Free
Availability: Worldwide except for Mainland China, North Korea, Syria, Cuba and Iran
Supported platforms: Windows 10, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Web. Visit the official site
9. YouTube Gaming
Google’s answer to Twitch, YouTube Gaming is a separate section on YouTube dedicated to gaming related videos and live streams.
Much like Twitch, you will find a wide selection of gaming content on YouTube Gaming; however, unlike Twitch, YouTube Gaming only has gaming-related content as it already has a regular YouTube for everything else.
Gaming related videos that are uploaded to YouTube are also featured on YouTube Gaming, which enables its users to separate the content that they watch on both the platforms.
The platform also accommodates interactive chat like Twitch but its not as popular as Twitch chat and it’s typically filled with trolls.
Pros:
- Free to watch or stream
- Wide section of games and streamer
- Interactive
- Integrates your YouTube subscriptions
- Familiar user interface
Cons:
- Content is not as diverse as Twitch
- Real-time interactions might not be pleasant
Pricing: Free
Availability: Worldwide except for Mainland China, North Korea, Syria, Cuba and Iran
Supported platforms: Android, iOS, Web. Visit the official site
10. Mixer
Mixer, the Microsoft owned game streaming platform is the newest addition among the best game streaming service and, as such, has a much smaller community than both YouTube Gaming and Twitch.
The service was designed to appeal to Xbox and Windows 10 users as it fully integrates the Microsoft’s cross-platform game play plans and it has a nice selection of dedicated streamers and content.
Mixer’s search is not as good as the other two platforms, making searching for older content a bit more stressful. Mixer’s interactive chat also is not interactive per se because there are not as many people yet on the platform.
Pros:
- Interactive features
- Integrated Xbox and PC streaming
- Low latency
Cons:
- Smaller audience
- Less content
Pricing: Free
Availability: Worldwide except for Mainland China, North Korea, Syria, Cuba and Iran
Supported platforms: Windows 10, Android, iOS, Xbox One, Web. Visit the official site
What is the Best Streaming Service to You?
You can choose from one of the above-mentioned streaming services and ditch your cable TV for good. Though, depending on the kind of content you are after, you can even sign up for several services and enjoy whatever you want to watch, whenever you want.
It has been quite a while since I left my cable TV connecting and now i frequently visit Netflix, Amazon Prime and Twitch, depending on what I want to watch.
Have you thought about trying a streaming service before? If so, which one is your favourite and why? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
