The Best Video Streaming Services for 2023 - EU-Vietnam Business Network (EVBN)

Entertainment and tech giants are not blind to the threat, however, and the media landscape is rapidly changing. Consolidation and curation (that is, owning the most media properties and serving the best content) seem to be the overarching goals of the players involved, even if it means creating a preservation crisis . Streaming services are only growing larger and more numerous, leaving you with an overwhelming number of options. If you’re looking to toss some money at a streaming video service, our top picks are a terrific starting point.

Before their meteoric rise, streaming services started as an add-on to DVD and digital download offerings, and featured a trickle of second-run movies and TV shows. They were supplements to the programs you watched on cable TV on their first (and second) runs. However, faster internet connections and an abundance of media streaming devices have accelerated the decline of traditional cable. An increasing number of people are cutting the cord in favor of dedicated streaming alternatives (even if there are still some good reasons to keep the cord ).

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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

Hulu

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Hulu

Best for Live and On-Demand Content

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

Hulu is one of the best, all-in-one options for cord cutters, given its diverse set of streaming options. In addition to a strong library of classic shows, and a good selection of movies, Hulu offers a robust live TV option (more than 70 channels of news, sports, and entertainment programming). Still, Hulu trails some top competitors, given its lackluster original content and limited selection of 4K content. After adding 14 Viacom channels to its lineup, including BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, Hulu recently announced that NFL Network and NFL RedZone will be available on the platform before the next NFL season begins. It is unclear, however, these NFL-centric channels will increase the subscription cost.

Who It’s For

Hulu works great for anyone seeking streaming convenience without abandoning traditional live TV. Hulu’s basic on-demand streaming plan currently costs $6.99 per month, while the ad-free version is $12.99 per month. College students can get Hulu’s ad-supported version for $1.99 per month. The Hulu + Live TV plan costs $64.99 per month, and combines Hulu’s live TV service with the ad-supported streaming plan. You can add Enhanced Cloud DVR (increases the available DVR storage to 200 hours from 50) or the Unlimited Screens package (allows an unlimited number of concurrent device streams in your home, and up to three outside of it) to your plan for $14.99 per month each or $19.99 for both. If you want even more options, you can add HBO or Showtime for $14.99 and $8.99 per month, respectively.

Hulu supports an impressive range of gadgets(Opens in a new window), and you stream on up two devices simultaneously. Note, however, that you can now stream Live TV on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 with Hulu (though not on PlayStation 3). Hulu’s support for 4K content is limited; only some of its originals can be streamed at that resolution and only on the Apple TV (5th gen or later) and Chromecast Ultra.

Hulu’s latest redesign brings the service into the modern age. Interfaces are now consistent across platforms and feature elegant navigation menus and a media-first aesthetic. None of the apps we tried suffered from performance issues. Recently, Hulu added the ability for premium subscribers to download content for offline viewing. Although it launched on iOS, this feature is now also rolling out to Android users. Eligible subscribers can download up to 25 titles across five devices; downloads are available for up to 30 days, or two days after you begin playback. Not all Hulu shows support this feature, but Hulu’s originals are among those that do.

PROS

Excellent selection of TV series
Extensive live TV channel lineup
Robust cloud DVR option
Available on nearly every media streaming device

CONS

Base on-demand plan includes ads
Offline downloads feature requires premium account
Fewer high-quality originals than competitors
Missing most SportsNet and all Bally Sports RSNs

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Peacock

Best for Affordable TV Shows and Movies

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

NBC’s Peacock offers two plans: a Premium tier with 20,000 hours, some live sports, and clips-based channels; and a Premium Plus option that builds upon the Premium tier by removing ads when you stream on-demand titles. Although you can’t stream some of NBC’s biggest hits on-demand (Friends, Seinfeld), you can watch other popular past and current entries from NBC, such as 30 Rock, Cheers, Chicago Fire, Friday Night Lights, The Office, Parks and Recreation, Saturday Night Live, Will and Grace, Law & Order: SVU, Superstore, and This is Us.

Who It’s For

Who doesn’t appreciate affordable quality content? Peacock is also slowly expanding its live sports content, and now lets paid users watch Sunday Night Football games. Other sports programming on Peacock includes Premier League soccer, IndyCar coverage, and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) content. Note, however, Peacock no longer offers a free tier for new subscribers. Existing free subscribers are unaffected for now.

Peacock doesn’t support 4K streams, which is disappointing, but it lets you stream on up to three devices per account. Only Premium Plus users can download shows for offline viewing on mobile devices. You can download the Peacock app on mobile platforms (Android and iOS), media streaming devices (Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), and gaming consoles (last-and-current-generation PlayStation and Xbox systems).

PROS

Affordable base tier has no major limitations
Popular movies and network shows
Flexible plan pricing
Live sports
Supports multiple account profiles

CONS

New users can’t create a free account
Constantly changing movie library

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Prime Video logo

Amazon Prime Video

Best for On-Demand Shows and Movies

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

Amazon offers access to its video content in one of two ways: a standalone Amazon Video subscription or an Amazon Prime subscription. An Amazon Video subscription costs $8.99 per month and only includes access to Amazon’s streaming video library. An Amazon Prime account, which includes Prime Video content and many other shipping and shopping perks, costs $14.99 per month (or $139 per year). Amazon refers to its video streaming service as Amazon Prime Video in most of its support documentation.

In recent years, Amazon has focused on curating high-quality original shows, such as Bosch, The Boys, Catastrophe, Fleabag, Hanna, Hunters, Tales From The Loop, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Patriot, Undone, and Upload. The long-rumored, $416 million Lord of the Rings series is still on track, too. Many of these shows are excellent and on par with Netflix’s offerings, though the latter has a much deeper content library. One advantage that Prime Video has over Netflix, however, is that it broadcasts Thursday Night Football games, select MLB matchups, and most recently, WNBA games.

Who It’s For

Although it has a subscription option, Prime Video is also for people who want to buy or rent shows or movies a la carte. Amazon’s video library also includes tons of popular and classic movies available for streaming at no additional cost. Amazon’s purchase of MGM for $8.45 billion should considerably improve the movie selection.

Prime Video is notable in that it supports 4K and HDR streaming, as well as downloads for offline viewing. Amazon’s video service works on a web browser, plus Android and iOS devices, game consoles (PlayStation, Xbox), Smart TVs, and media streaming devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Nvidia Shield, TiVo). With Prime Video, you can stream up to three titles at the same time from the same account, but it limits you to streaming the same title to two devices simultaneously. Prime Video also lets you create multiple viewing profiles per account, a fairly recent addition.

PROS

Excellent original content
4K and HDR streaming
Live Thursday Night Football and WNBA games
Supports offline downloads, multiple viewer profiles, and audio descriptions
Lets you rent or buy movies and TV shows

CONS

Continues to lose third-party content to other services
Not as many high-quality TV shows as competitors

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HBO Max

Best for HBO Shows and Popular Movies

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

HBO Max’s greatest strength is its catalog of prestige original shows, including Barry, Big Little Lies, Chernobyl, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Sex and the City, Silicon Valley, Six Feet Under, Succession, The Sopranos, The Wire, and Westworld. Recently, HBO Max made pilot episodes of 13 original shows available to stream for free via the HBO Max mobile apps.

The service acquired the streaming rights to several other popular shows, such as Friends (including a reunion show), Rick and Morty, and South Park. Babylon 5 Remastered is also now available for streaming. HBO Max includes select content from other sources within the greater WarnerMedia universe, including CNN, Crunchyroll, DC Comics, and Looney Tunes. Read our feature on everything coming to HBO Max this month to find out what you can watch.

In addition to all those TV shows, HBO Max bundles an impressive collection of popular movies from other WarnerMedia properties (Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema ) and other sources (such as The Criterion Collection and Studio Ghibli). Multiple Warner Bros. movies, including Dune, Godzilla vs. Kong, The Matrix Resurrections, and The Suicide Squad launched on HBO Max the same day as they debuted in theaters. However, Warner Bros. returned to the standard theatrical release model in 2022, albeit with a shorter exclusivity window.

Note that the Warner/Discovery merger will lead to even more dramatic changes for HBO Max than just losing some shows. The service is set to merge with sibling streaming service Discovery+ some time in 2023.

Who It’s For

HBO is arguably the biggest name in quality TV, and you can only stream it with HBO Max. If HBO Max’s $14.99-per-month plan is too expensive for you, a cheaper, ad-supported version is now available for $9.99 per month. This tier does not include access to the aforementioned Warner Bros. same-day releases, nor does it let you stream in 4K or download titles for offline viewing. The ad-experience is reasonable, however; HBO Max says the total play time of ads will not exceed four minutes per hour, and that ads will not play during its own content.

HBO Max has all the top features found in other video streaming services, including offline downloads on mobile devices, support for multiple viewing profiles (up to five), simultaneous streams (up to three), audio descriptions, and modern apps. However, only a few titles currently support 4K streaming. Check out our tips for HBO Max story to get the most from your subscription. The service is available on mobile devices (Android and iOS), TVs (Apple, Android, and Samsung), and current-and-last-gen gaming consoles (PlayStation, Xbox). It now supports Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku media streaming platforms, too.

PROS

Huge catalog of popular shows and movies from many sources
Attractive apps
Ad-free tier lets subscribers download content for offline viewing
User profiles and parental control tools

CONS

Relatively expensive
Ad-supported tier doesn’t support offline downloads
Limited number of 4K titles
Dramatic potential library changes

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Disney+

Best for Family-Friendly Content

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

Disney+ packages a ton of Disney’s media properties, including content from Marvel, National Geographic, Pixar, and Star Wars, into a full-featured streaming service. In addition to classic Disney content, you can also watch originals such as Encore!, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Marvel’s Hero Project, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Loki, The Mandalorian, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, WandaVision, and What If…? Note that most of the content Disney acquired from its 21st Century Fox takeover is missing from the service, though a lot of those shows are on Hulu.

Who It’s For

If you have even a passing interest in just one of the many beloved properties under the Disney corporate umbrella, Disney+ is for you. Aside from all the Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars movies already on Disney+ (although not all Marvel movies are available here), Disney continues to debut its latest films on this service too, including Cruella and Raya and The Last Dragon. However, for early streaming access to many releases, you need to pay for Premier Access (a one-time fee on top of your subscription rate that’s typically between $29.99 and $34.99).

Disney+’s monthly price is reasonable relative to the rewatch value of its content, but its basic tier now comes with ads. To remove adds and download videos for offline viewing, you must pay for a more expansive tier. You can save money by opting for an annual plan. Disney also offers various plans that bundle Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu.

Disney+ supports top capabilities, such as 4K streaming and offline downloads (on mobile). The service’s support for four simultaneous streams and seven customizable profiles features makes it a compelling option for families, though we wish its parental control options allowed for more flexibility. Our Disney+ tips and tricks feature helps you leverage all that the service offers. The streaming channel is available on the web; Android and iOS devices; media streaming platforms such as the Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku; and gaming consoles.

PROS

Lots of Disney-owned content all in one place
Offline downloads in premium tier
4K streaming
Good performance

CONS

Mostly relies on existing franchises
Premier Access is expensive
Some content from Fox acquisition is split with Hulu

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YouTube TV Logo

YouTube TV

Best for Replacing Cable

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

YouTube TV offers an excellent selection of live sports and news channels, as well as many popular entertainment options. A few of the top networks available include ABC, AMC, CBS, CNN, ESPN, Fox, FX, and NBC. It now features channels from the Discovery network and ViacomCBS, plus local PBS channels. Of course, this channel variety doesn’t come cheap; YouTube TV’s latest price hike raised the monthly subscription cost by $15.

Who It’s For

YouTube TV is your best option for replacing cable. If YouTube TV’s library still doesn’t meet your needs, you can add other packages, such as Acorn TV, CuriosityStream, and NBA League Pass to your subscription. The Entertainment Plus package bundles HBO Max, Showtime, and Starz for $30 per month. YouTube TV’s most recent 4K Plus add-on ($19.99 per month) unlocks 4K streaming, support for an unlimited number of simultaneous streams, and offline viewing of DVR content.

With YouTube TV, you get unlimited cloud DVR storage. The service will keep your recordings for nine months and you can stream your content from anywhere in the US. One YouTube TV membership supports up to six accounts, so you can share with family or roommates, though you can only simultaneously stream from three accounts. YouTube TV’s apps look and work great across a variety of platform, including Fire TV devices and the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X consoles.

PROS

Excellent lineup of sports, news, and entertainment channels
Robust and easy-to-use DVR features
Intuitive interface
Supports three simultaneous streams per account by default
Excellent add-ons
Select a la carte channel options

CONS

Lacks most SportsNet and all Bally Sports RSNs
Basic parental control options

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Price

YouTube TV

$54.99

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Tubi

Tubi

Best for Free Movies

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

Tubi is a free video streaming service with a claimed collection of 20,000 movies and TV shows, (though we aren’t sure if it counts episodes individually as part of that number). Regardless, its catalog includes popular films such as A.I. Artificial Intelligence; Black Hawk Down; Donnie Darko; Legally Blonde; Memento; Minority Report; Planes, Trains, and Automobiles; Rain Man; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; and We Need to Talk About Kevin. Its TV library is less impressive, but some notable entries include 3rd Rock From the Sun (season 1-5), Degrassi: The Next Generation (seasons 1-14); Hell’s Kitchen (seasons 1-14), Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures (seasons 1-4), Naruto (seasons 1-4), and V (seasons 1-2). Note that Tubi’s library regularly changes. Tubi may soon produce its own original shows and movies.

Who It’s For

Tubi is for people who want a free service that doesn’t feel cheap. Tubi’s web interface and mobile apps have clean designs, and organize everything neatly into descriptive categories. One limitation with Tubi is that the streaming resolution is capped at 720p. That wouldn’t be a major problem, except for the fact that many movies are only available in 540p. As expected, Tubi does not support offline downloads for mobile devices either. However, the service keeps track of the content you’ve watched, and lets you manage a watchlist. The parental control tools are a bit limited, but at least they’re an option.

Tubi is available on the web, as well as for mobile devices (Android and iOS). Supported media streaming devices include Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, and TiVo. Tubi also supports gaming consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), as well as select smart TVs from Samsung, Sony, and Vizio.

PROS

Free
Extensive library of movies and shows
Modern apps and interfaces
Supports watchlists and parental control features

CONS

Streaming resolution capped at 720p
No ad-free option

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fuboTV

Best for Sports

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

FuboTV is a great option for any cord-cutting sports fans. Its base subscription plan, called fubo Starter, costs $64.99 per month and grants you access to about 120 channels, with the exact number depending on your location. For the national sports events, there’s CBS, FOX, NBA TV, NBC, and NFL Network. For international sports, you get channels from the beIN network and Univision. Fubo has added Disney-owned channels (including ESPN), but it will no longer carry CNN and other WarnerMedia channels. Most recently, fuboTV dropped six A&E-owned channels: A&E, History Channel, FYI Channel, Lifetime, Lifetime Movie Network, and Vice TV.

If you’re ever not in the mood for sports, fuboTV offers a wide variety of entertainment channels, such as AMC, The Food Network, FX, National Geographic, SYFY, and USA. After adding Viacom channels a few months back to the Standard plan, fubo now bundles channels form the Discovery network, such as Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, and TLC, too. You not only get to watch live events and programs from the included channels, but there’s also a ton of on-demand shows and movies.

Who It’s For

Sports are massively popular but also deeply personal, so sports fan need customization options to follow exactly which teams and games they want to see. Fortunately, you can supplement the base fubo Standard plan with add-ons, including the Sports Plus with NFL RedZone ($11.99 per month) and fubo Extra ($4.99 per month) options. The latter adds 35 channels to the lineup.

To top it all off, fuboTV offers excellent DVR capabilities (250 hours of storage by default that can be increased to 1,000 hours) and supports three simultaneous streams (this limit expands to 10 via an add-on). The Lookback feature lets you watch anything you may have missed up to 72 hours after it first aired, while the Startover capability enables you to watch currently airing events from the beginning no matter when you tuned into the program. Aside from watching fuboTV on the web, you can download apps for Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, iOS, Roku devices, and smart TVs. The service is available on Xbox consoles, but not PlayStation ones.

PROS

Tons of live sports and on-demand entertainment content
Reliable streaming
Excellent web interface
Capable DVR functionality
Some 4K content

CONS

Costly add-ons and packages
No A&E, Bally Sports, or Turner channels
Most live streams limited to 720p

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Crunchyroll Logo

Crunchyroll

Best for Anime

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

Crunchyroll is one of the most complete anime streaming services, with more than 1,300 titles in its library. Popular shows on the service include Attack on Titan, Death Note, FLCL, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Hunter X Hunter, One-Punch Man, several Naruto series, and Yuri!!! on Ice. Crunchyroll also has some original series, such as A Place Further Than the Universe, In/Spectre, and The Rising of the Shield Hero. Upcoming titles include Onyx Equinox, which is set in Meso-America, and Meiji Gekken: Sword & Gun, which takes place in Japan during the 1870s. It also maintains a respectable lineup of about 40 simulcast shows. You can even purchase relevant merchandise, manga, and more from the Crunchyroll shop.

Who It’s For

Crunchyroll gives anime fans a convenient (and legal) way to watch shows that years ago would never have come to the West. Crunchyroll supports HD streams for both free and paid accounts, but you must opt for the premium tier to get rid of ads. We would like to see Crunchyroll clean up some of its interfaces. Most of Crunchyroll’s content supports subtitles, but after absorbing Funimation (along with VRV) its dubbed library is also now much stronger.

You can download the Crunchyroll apps on media streaming devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), mobile phones (Android and iOS), and several gaming consoles (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X). Crunchyroll supports as many as six simultaneous streams, depending on your price tier, as well as offline downloads.

PROS

Expansive anime library, now including Funimation dubs
All tiers support HD streaming
Many simulcast shows
Some original series
Manga and apparel store
Offline downloads

CONS

Some interface clutter
Few subtitle options

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CuriosityStream

Best for HD & 4K Documentaries

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

CuriosityStream offers a massive collection of informational and entertaining documentary features in numerous categories, including History, Kids, Lifestyle, Nature, Science, Society, and Technology. David Attenborough and Sigourney Weaver are among the hosts of the top-notch titles on CuriosityStream. There’s also a kid-specific section on the platform. Make sure to check out our roundup of the best online learning sites if you are interested in expanding your knowledge potential.

The service offers two pricing tiers that offer the same documentaries. The only difference is that the more expensive plan ($9.99 per month) unlocks 4K streaming. CuriosityStream supports offline downloads on mobile, and doesn’t display ads. You can download the app on mobile devices (Android and iOS), gaming platforms (PlayStation 4, Xbox One), streaming media devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), and smart TVs.

Who It’s For

Many streaming services offer the mindless comfort of watching reruns of your favorite shows. That gets tiring, eventually. CuriosityStream is for people who want to learn about a topic whether they’re on the couch or on the go.

PROS

Thousands of titles
Impressive exclusive originals
Offers apps for most major streaming platforms
Very affordable
Entries are either in HD or 4K quality
Available worldwide

CONS

Limited language options beyond English
Somewhat narrow focus

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Kanopy

Best for Educational and Family Content

4.5 Outstanding

Why We Picked It

This streaming service offers a huge collection of high-quality films and documentaries from distribution giants, such as A24, Bleecker Street, HBO Documentary Films, Paramount, PBS, and Samuel Goldwyn Films. Kanopy also has a dedicated section for kids ages two and older. The one main drawback to Kanopy is that it limits the number of titles you can watch each month. This restriction doesn’t apply to the content in the Kanopy Kids section.

Who It’s For

Kanopy is especially useful for students and library visitors. If you have a library card or a current university email address, you can access Kanopy for free. Kanopy also supports an unlimited number of simultaneous streams per account and does not show ads, but it does not support offline downloads on mobile devices. In a nice touch, Kanopy lets you record content clips for sharing on social platforms. Kanopy is available on the web, mobile platforms (Android, Fire OS, iOS), and media streaming devices (Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), but not game consoles.

PROS

Thousands of on-demand films and shows
Free with a library card or university email address
No ads
Unlimited access to Kanopy Kids content
Can create and share/embed clips and playlists
No limit on simultaneous streaming from a single account

CONS

Users can only stream up to 10 Play Credit titles a month
Does not support offline downloads on mobile devices

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PBS Documentaries

Best for Popular Documentaries

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

PBS Documentaries, as its name implies, is an excellent source for documentary film fans. It includes entries from numerous distributors, including American Experience, American Masters, Frontline, Independent Lens, Nature, Nova, POV, and other independent producers. PBS Documentaries is also home to Ken Burn’s entire collection of documentaries. Some examples of films you can watch on the service include Stanley Nelson’s The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, Academy Award-Nominated films such as For Sama and Last Days in Vietnam, and nature documentaries, such as Your Inner Fish.

Who It’s For

While PBS is for the public, only certain users can access PBS Documentaries. PBS Documentaries is only available as a Prime Video channel, but that’s not a huge strike against it, since Prime Video is available on nearly every platform that supports offline downloads on mobile devices. The service features the IMDb-powered X-Ray overlay, too. Despite its low price, it does not show any ads. One drawback of PBS Documentaries is that none of its titles currently support audio descriptions. Still, PBS Documentaries edges out fellow PBS streaming apps PBS Videos and PBS Passport.

PROS

Impressive selection of popular content
No ads
Supports offline downloads
Inexpensive

CONS

Only accessible through Amazon Prime Video
No Audio Descriptions available for content

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History Vault

Best for Military Documentaries

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

If you enjoy watching documentaries, particularly those about ancient civilizations or military history, then History Vault may be right up your alley. This affordable, on-demand streaming service boasts popular titles from the History Channel too, such as American Restoration, Ancient Aliens, Ice Road Truckers, Modern Marvels, and The Universe, plus biopics of famous historical figures. If you already get the History Channel via a cable or live TV subscription, you can also access many of that channel’s reality show offerings via the free History app.

Who It’s For

Either you are a history buff, or you’ll grow into one, so might as well embrace it now with History Vault. However, the service could use a few more modern touches. History Vault does not support 4K streaming, but most titles are available to watch in either 720p or 1080p. Unfortunately, History Vault’s other drawbacks are that it doesn’t let you download titles for offline viewing on Android devices, and it has limited accessibility options. You can get the app on mobile platforms (Android and iOS), media streaming devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku), and on the web, but not on game consoles.

PROS

Many high-quality historical documentaries
Available on many different platforms
Plenty of original series and shows
Affordable

CONS

Only available in the U.S.
Doesn’t let you download videos for offline viewing on Android devices
Inconsistent app styles and features
Few accessibility options
No parental controls

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Price

History Channel

$4.99 Per Month

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KweliTV

KweliTV

Best for International Programming

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

KweliTV is your destination for films and shows from Africa and beyond. The service features more than 600 total curated entries, including Africa United and Black Enuf, along with other documentaries and titles you might find at an indie film festival. You can check out the full list of KweliTV’s award-winning content(Opens in a new window), even without a subscription. There’s also a free, live streaming component (not available on the web) that plays KweliTV content, albeit with some ad breaks. You can rent individual films and shows from the service, too.

Apart from access to KweliTV’s streaming library, a subscription grants you discounts at more than 35 Black-owned brands, plus invites to members-only events. KweliTV also maintains a merchandise store, where you can purchase KweliTV-branded apparel and accessories.

Who It’s For

KweliTV is for anyone who celebrates the fact that incredible art exists outside their own borders. KweliTV supports streams up to 1080p resolution, though not every entry meets this standard. The service currently lacks any parental control tools, and is inconsistent in terms of subtitle support. However, it lets you download titles for offline viewing on mobile platforms. KweliTV offers apps on all major mobile and media streaming platforms, though console owners can only access it via the web.

PROS

Well-curated, independent, international library
Flexible pricing options
Offline downloads on mobile platforms
Merchandise shop and discounts for Black-owned businesses

CONS

Inconsistent subtitles
Community still growing

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Price

KweliTV

$5.99/Month

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Plex

Plex

Best for Media Server Setups

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

Although it may not be what you think of when looking for a video streaming service, Plex now has a decent amount of on-demand streaming content. The catalog includes Crackle’s entire library of movies and TV shows, as well as films from studios, such as MGM and Warner Bros. Much of this content is available to stream in 1080p resolution. Although you can’t claim this content for your own media server, you don’t need to allocate space for it either. Plex features preprogrammed live TV channels too, with channels from AMC, IFC, and Tastemade, among others.

Who It’s For

While on-demand movies and shows are appreciated, media server management remains a core Plex feature for good reason. The software makes it easy to set up a server, offers intuitive playback apps on many platforms, and wraps everything into an intuitive interface. It’s the only service on this list for users seeking that kind of functionality. Plex isn’t as customizable as Kodi, and no longer fully supports home theater PCs (HTPCs), but it is one of the best solutions for accessing your local media library from anywhere.

PROS

Capable free version
Intuitive apps on many platforms
Easy setup
Growing library of on-demand and preprogrammed video streaming content

CONS

HTPC support only through forums
Limited interface themes
Removed features like gaming and podcasts

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Buying Guide: The Best Video Streaming Services for 2023

New Channels and Consolidation

The competition between video streaming services has never been tougher, so some media companies are banding together. For instance, CBS and Viacom merged (again) to launch Paramount+, along with a Showtime bundle. Warner Bros. has merged with Discovery to form a new streaming giant, which has already killed CNN+, the Batgirl movie, and many cartoons. Considering how Discovery+ is leading the charge in streaming’s new trash TV golden age, we’re pretty stoked. Amazon bought MGM for $9 billion, too, which should considerably boost Prime Video’s library. Crunchyroll became the definitive anime streaming service by gobbling up rivals Funimation and VRV. Disney bundles Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ to cover all entertainment bases. Even AMC+ has a bundle packaging together AMC Premiere, Shudder, Sundance Now, IFC Films Unlimited, and BBC America.

The increasingly competitive streaming market is not without consequences. Consumers who may have originally been attracted to the flexibility that streaming services offer over cable, now must navigate a crowded and constantly shifting nightmare of streaming rights and new services, many of which continue to rise in cost. Live TV streaming services are also struggling to adjust to the rising costs of broadcast rights from cable channel owners. The price of just about every one of these services has increased considerably over time.

The Catalog Is Everything

As mentioned, a video streaming service’s success largely depends on what its library offers. That’s why so many services are investing heavily in developing high-quality original content. Consider, for example, Netflix’s Stranger Things, Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, all of which are Emmy-winning shows. Without these hooks, standalone video streaming services would likely be unable to compete with existing entertainment behemoths. Several platforms have also saved popular shows from the grave in an effort to build a compelling library. For instance, Roku brought back all the originals from the ill-fated Quibi.

Apart from on-demand video streaming services, complete cable-replacement services are now just as mainstream. Some of the best live TV services, for example, such as Hulu and YouTube TV, offer robust lineups of local, news, sports, and lifestyle channels. Others have specialties. For instance, DirecTV Stream is the best option for regional sports networks (RSNs) and Philo is custom-built for lifestyle and entertainment fans. Locast used to be an inexpensive option for watching local channels, but that service has since shut down.

PCMag Logo Video Streaming Services: What You Should Know

Video Streaming Services: What You Should Know

Can You Stream Sports Online?

Sports fans may worry that they won’t be able to watch live sports when they ditch cable. However, that’s simply not the case. Many of the video streaming options we reviewed are also among the best sports streaming services. Regardless of whether you want to watch regional, national, or international sports, there is a service that meets your needs. Although blackouts and cancellations may still apply, these streaming options offer distinct advantages over cable, including full-featured apps on many platforms and simultaneous streaming capabilities. Check out our roundup of the best NFL streaming services, best MLB streaming services, best NBA streaming services, and the best NHL streaming services for specific recommendations.

Watch More Video

Stay up to date with the latest streaming hits with our recurring feature on what to watch this weekend. Does your home’s Wi-Fi coverage not extend to your backyard oasis? We’ll show you how to download videos from every video streaming service for offline playback.

Even though you may not be able to be in the same physical place as your friends and family due to COVID-19, you can still watch the same shows together. HBO supports Scener, a remote co-watching tool, and you can use the Netflix Party Chrome extension to sync that service’s video playback across devices. Amazon Prime Video members, Disney+ users, Hulu ad-free subscribers, and Plex fans also enjoy co-watching features.