The best streaming services to watch shows and movies

The way we watch TV shows and movies has changed so much in the last few years. Many of us no longer watch things live on TV, instead deciding to view content via one of the numerous streaming platforms now available online. The problem is, there are so many sites to watch things on these days that it’s hard to know which one to use. If you’re not sure which service to use to binge watch your new favorite show, these options are the way forward.

Amazon Prime

Is there anything that Amazon doesn’t provide these days? No longer just a store where you can buy your mom a last minute present, the site now offers a streaming service to rival the best of them. The platform comes free with the Amazon Prime membership, which is worth buying if you don’t already have it. Next day delivery is a godsend whenever you forget someone’s birthday.

The service offers one of the most diverse ranges of films and TV shows to watch, with one of the biggest collections too. You can watch shows like dystopian series The Man in the High Castle and drama Hand of God that aren’t available to view anywhere else, alongside tens of thousands of other titles. At $8.99 a month, Amazon Prime is more than worth your money.

Hulu

Hulu is often passed over for some of the big names in streaming, but it’s actually one of the better platforms out there. The service is incredibly affordable at $7.99, although the added benefit of unlimited screens does involve an upgraded cost of $14.99. However, while some of the add-ons may be pricey, Hulu does excel in its availability of new series. Many shows that air on TV have their episodes uploaded almost immediately to the site, which is useful for anyone needing the latest fix of their favorite series.

Hulu is also another streaming service that offers its own line of original shows, including the popular dystopian drama The Handmaid’s Tale and comedy-drama Casual. These days, if streaming platforms aren’t offering exclusive series and films, they can’t hope to beat out the competition.

HBO Now

Concerning price, HBO Now might be off-putting for some people. It costs $14.99 a month to use the service. However, the price is a sign of the quality content you can expect from the service. HBO Now offers some of the most highly regarded films and shows available, including the immensely popular fantasy drama Game of Thrones. If you’re looking for content that has both style and substance, this is the service you want to be giving your money to. You can even watch its shows and movies in virtual reality if you own a VR headset. Talk about a selling point!

Netflix

It’s one of the best-known streaming services out there and for a good reason. Netflix offers many great shows old and new for a great price. The basic subscription service is $7.99 a month, which is actually pretty cheap by streaming standards. If you have multiple people using the same account, the cost each between you is no more than a few dollars.

Not only is Netflix pretty affordable, but it also has some amazing original content that is added to the site fairly quickly. Since 2007, when the service began streaming media, it’s introduced a wealth of quality shows exclusive to the site, including sci-fi horror Stranger Things and black-comedy A Series of Unfortunate Events. For over 125 million people, this platform has become the number one place to watch films or binge on TV, and the viewer base will only continue to grow.

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to streaming, and you don’t have to break the bank either. Whichever site you choose, they’re sure to offer you whatever you need next time you’re looking to binge with friends, other halves or just by yourself.