This is the time when streaming is what watching television shows and movies is all about. Large networks have streaming services available so that you don’t miss your favorite show, and media companies want you to be able to watch the latest movies before they’re on DVD or Blu-Ray.
With so many streaming options available, and the ease of starting service (all you need is an internet provider like Verizon, HughesNet, or Charter Spectrum) you might be tempted to subscribe to all of them so that you no longer have to pay a cable bill and so that you can watch anything that you want by tapping your finger on a screen or remote. However, there are a few that are better than others and some that you want to avoid as they really aren’t worth the money that you would spend each month. Before choosing the service that you want, think about the types of shows that you and your family enjoy as other people in your home can watch shows and movies on their own devices after you subscribe.
Netflix
Possibly the most popular streaming service available, Netflix has made a few upgrades in 2021 to give viewers more options when it comes to what they watch. You can add other viewers to your subscription and even choose whether the other people are adults or children so that children don’t have access to some of the movies that are more in line for adults to watch. Netflix tends to have a good combination of older shows and movies as well as several new and original options. There are no commercials, and you can watch Netflix on a variety of platforms.
Disney Plus
This is a rather new streaming service that has gained in popularity. It has numerous older shows and movies for those who are still young at heart as well as the latest shows and movies for children and teens to enjoy. You’ll find Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and many others that are offered by Disney Plus as the service wants to reach as many people as possible. There are options to enjoy watching without commercials, and the price is affordable.
Hulu
If you’re looking for something that offers the best value, then consider Hulu. You can usually catch recent television shows a few days to about a week after they air. The service offers many older television shows that you can’t find on other services and tends to offer the entire series of a television show instead of only a few seasons. There are several networks that you can watch as well, such as Fox and NBC. The price is a bit lower than other services, but you do have to endure commercials. You can upgrade your subscription so that you don’t see commercials by paying a little extra each month.
Amazon Prime
You can enjoy a few different services all in one with Amazon Prime. You usually won’t see commercials with this streaming service and can usually see the latest shows and movies. One thing to keep in mind is that this service tends to have a lot of movies that are older or that have been pushed to the back burner and aren’t as popular. If you have a subscription to Amazon Prime, then you have access to the video content at no charge.
HBO Max
This is a service that offers a balance of older movies and those that are newer. You’ll also see a nice combination of the latest television shows and some that you forgot existed. There’s a mix of shows for adults and children to enjoy, such as “Sesame Street” and “Friends.” You can see movies the same day that they are released in theaters, which is something that you usually won’t find with other streaming services. A detail that you might not like is that the service is a little more expensive than others that are available. However, you do get the newest movies, so it tends to even out for the price that you pay.
Peacock
Free is always a good thing, and that’s a benefit of this service. There are thousands of hours of television shows and movies to choose from with the option to upgrade your service so that you don’t see any commercials. There is also a premium upgrade with no commercials and access to hidden content that includes the newest television shows so that you don’t miss any of your favorite episodes.
Paramount
If you enjoy the classics, then Paramount is a service that you want to try. There are Nickelodeon episodes as well as shows from Comedy Central. You can also watch recent shows that are seen on CBS, MTV, and many other networks. Upgrade this service to watch commercial-free.
