There are so many streaming services out there, and all of them have slightly different content. For most of us, it’s just not practical to get them all. So how to choose?
The best way to find your favourite is to try a free trial period. But to give you a head start, we’ll be looking at the major streaming services here in the UK…
Netflix: the trusty all-rounder
Price: From £5.99 a month
Netflix has some excellent series you can’t get anywhere else. That includes some serious heavy hitters, like the multiple award-winning House of Cards.
In a ‘no idea what to watch’ mood? Netflix is good at throwing up suggestions based on genres. There’s also a Kids selection that makes it easy to find something for little ones.
Series to try: Tiger King, Stranger Things, Black Mirror
Films to try: Roma, Tell Me Who I Am, Dunkirk
Amazon Prime Video: for blockbuster junkies
Price: Free for Amazon Prime subscribers, £5.99 a month for Prime Video only
The fact that Prime Video is bundled in with a Prime subscription makes it a no-brainer if you regularly order from Amazon. Amazon has its fair share of original content too, including Top Gear spin off The Grand Tour.
The main bonus of Prime Video is its extensive movie catalogue. There’s a good amount of recent releases and plenty of classics. And you can rent movies for a small fee too.
Series to try: Transparent, Sneaky Pete, Mr Robot
Films to try: Beautiful Boy, Brittany Runs a Marathon, Silver Linings Playbook
Disney + : great for families
Price: £5.99 a month or £59.99 a year
Yup, you guessed it – all of Disney’s content in one place. If you’re a Disney fanatic, then this is the streaming service for you.
With Disney + you can watch all the Star Wars films, any Marvel titles and every Pixar film… And, oddly enough, National Geographic titles too. So, what might seem a limiting choice, has lots of stuff to sink your teeth into.
Of course, some of these films are available on other platforms too. But if you’re stuck inside with the kids, it’s good to know there’s one place you’re guaranteed to find something for them.
Series to try: The World According to Jeff Goldblum, Boy Meets World, The Simpsons
Films to try: The Avengers, Toy Story 4, Aladdin
BritBox: for all things British
Price: £5.99 a month
This collab between the BBC and ITV features shows from all your favourite UK film and TV creators completely ad free. That includes Channels 4 and 5 too.
It can be a faff to switch between different channels’ VoD services all the time. If you’re really into British TV, the extra convenience might be worth the price. And you don’t have to worry about shows expiring before you’ve had the chance to watch them.
Series to try: Broadchurch, Life on Mars, QI
Films to try: Educating Rita, My Boy Jack, The Carry On films
Now TV: for Sky and HBO lovers
Price: £8.99 a month for an Entertainment Pass, £11.99 for a Sky Cinema Month Pass (plus more passes available)
Depending on what pass you get, you can watch loads of content from Sky Movies, Sky Atlantic, Sky Sports. Sky has some excellent exclusives too, like Sharp Objects. And perhaps the biggest draw: HBO series.
It’s convenient to mix and match your passes when you feel like it too. But if you’re looking for the full package, multiple passes can get very expensive very quickly.
Series to try: The Sopranos, Chernobyl, Game of Thrones
Films to try: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Men in Black, Rocketman
Apple TV+ : for Apple exclusives
Apple TV only has original content so its library is very small. But the quality of stuff on there is good – a good idea if you’re looking for something new.
There’s also a lot of behind the scenes info available too. And it streams in HD and 4K for incredible picture quality. So if you want to really indulge in a series, you can.
Series to try: Defending Jacob, The Morning Show, Mythic Quest
Films to try: Beastie Boys Story, The Banker, The Elephant Queen
If you liked our streaming services guide, you might also want to check out our article about streaming devices, too.