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Guide to streaming: from Disney Plus and HBO Max to NBA League Pass and Crunchyroll

The best streaming services for your buck

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An illustration with logos of Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, YouTube, Plex, and HBO. The logo colors bleed into the dark background for a more colorful effect.
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

There is a plethora of streaming services available for anyone with a credit card handy. Hulu and Netflix are general entertainment providers offering licensed content and originals for subscribers. Others, like anime provider Crunchyroll and NFL Sunday Ticket, are targeted at specific interests. Streaming services like Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus are flashy newcomers that are trying to find their place in an overly crowded space.

It’s getting trickier to figure out where to spend your money every month. Netflix and Hulu used to be sufficient; subscribers could watch their favorite shows and popular originals like Stranger Things or The Handmaid’s Tale. Now, between live sports, movies, original TV shows, and even nightly news, no single service offers everything.

It’s getting more complicated than ever to figure out where to spend your money

Take a look at the most popular shows streaming today: Friends and The Office were two of the most-watched shows on Netflix, but Friends has returned to its proper WarnerMedia home now that HBO Max has launched, and The Office will leave Netflix in 2021 and be a staple of NBCUniversal’s new streaming service, Peacock. New CW shows, which would normally arrive on Netflix after their seasons aired on TV, are now destined for either HBO Max or CBS All Access. ER and other NBC favorites are on Hulu now, but they will eventually wind up on Peacock. Having trouble following along? So are we.

Some streaming services are better suited for your personal needs. Instead of listing every platform under the sun, we’ve listed a few key categories and the best streaming option in those sections. Note: some services may be duplicated depending on the category.

US-ENTERTAINMENT-CINEMA-DISNEY-D23
Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP via Getty Images

Top eight breakdown

Amazon Prime Video

  • Pros: Different types of streaming options, incorporation of retail shopping, original series and popular licensed content
  • Who it’s for: People who use Amazon to shop regularly
  • Cost: $8.99 a month for Prime Video only / $12.99 a month or $120 a year for full Amazon Prime
  • Top original shows: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Transparent, Good Omens, Bosch
  • Compatible devices: Smart TVs, Blu-ray players, Roku, Google TV, TiVo, Nvidia Shield, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Android devices, iOS devices, Fire Phone, Fire tablets

Amazon Prime Video /

$8.99 per month (video only); $12.99 per month or $120 annually (full Prime)

Subscribe

Apple TV Plus

  • Pros: Free for anyone who purchased a new Apple product, low cost for standalone subscribers, star-studded shows
  • Who it’s for: People looking to stay up to date on the conversation
  • Cost: $4.99 a month, or free for one year for anyone who’s purchased a new or refurbished Apple product recently
  • Top original shows: Dickinson, The Elephant Queen, For All Mankind
  • Compatible devices: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Browser, iOS, Roku

Apple TV Plus /

$4.99 per month

Subscribe

CBS All Access

  • Pros: Low cost, popular original series, big library of content
  • Who it’s for: Star Trek fans and people looking to binge past classics. CBS All Access is a general entertainment streaming service.
  • Cost: $5.99 a month for ad-supported and $9.99 a month for ad-free
  • Top original shows: The Good Fight, Star Trek: Discovery, Strange Angel
  • Compatible devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Browser, Chromecast, iOS, Xbox, Roku, PlayStation

CBS All Access /

$5.99 per month (ad-supported) or $9.99 per month (ad-free)

Subscribe

Disney Plus

  • Pros: Exclusive home for Disney TV shows and movies, low cost, entirely family-friendly, large library of shows and movies
  • Who it’s for: Families and Disney aficionados
  • Cost: $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year. It can also be bundled with ad-supported Hulu and sports streaming service ESPN Plus for $12.99 a month (see below).
  • Top original shows: The Mandalorian, Imagineering Story, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
  • Compatible devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Browser, Chromecast, iOS, Xbox, Roku, PlayStation

Disney Plus /

$6.99 per month or $69.99 if you pay annually

Subscribe

HBO Max

  • Pros: Includes HBO content, heavy focus on human curation, incredibly large movie and TV show library
  • Who it’s for: HBO Max is a general entertainment streaming service. It’s also a great option for anyone looking to upgrade their HBO Now accounts.
  • Cost: $14.99 a month. People with HBO Now, AT&T TV Now, or standard HBO cable subscriptions can get it for free.
  • Top original shows: The Wire, Succession, Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, Love Life
  • Compatible devices: Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Browser, Chromecast, iOS, Xbox, PlayStation

HBO Max /

$14.99 per month

Subscribe

Hulu

  • Pros: Next-day programming for certain shows, large quantity of shows and movies, reality TV programming, variety of genres to choose from
  • Who it’s for: Everyone. Hulu is a general entertainment streaming service.
  • Cost: Ranges from $5.99 for an ad-supported plan to $60.99 a month for a subscription that includes live TV
  • Top original shows: The Handmaid’s Tale, Castle Rock
  • Compatible devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Browser, Chromecast, iOS, Xbox, Roku, PlayStation

Hulu /

Starting at $5.99 per month ad-supported, up to $60.99 a month with live TV

Subscribe

Netflix

  • Pros: Large quantity of movies and TV shows, easy-to-use interface, variety of genres to choose from, interactive programming
  • Who it’s for: Everyone. Netflix is a general entertainment streaming service.
  • Cost: Ranges from $8.99 for a basic plan to $15.99 for top-tier
  • Top original shows: Stranger Things, The Umbrella Academy, You, When They See Us
  • Compatible devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Browser, Chromecast, iOS, Xbox, Roku, PlayStation

Netflix /

Starting at $8.99 per month and up to $15.99

Subscribe

Peacock

  • Pros: Live news, some live sports, ad-supported cheaper tier, next-day programming
  • Who it’s for: Peacock is a general entertainment streaming service
  • Cost: A free ad-supported tier comes with a smaller portion of 7,500 hours of television and film content. Peacock Premium (the full 15,000-plus hours of content and access to everything) with ads will cost $4.99 a month, but it will be free to Comcast subscribers. Peacock Premium Ad-Free will be $9.99 a month or $4.99 a month for Comcast subscribers.
  • Top original shows: Brave New WorldIntelligence
  • Compatible devices: Xfinity One, Xfinity Flex, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, iPhone, iPad, browsers, Android phone and tablet

Peacock /

Starting free and up to $9.99 per month

Subscribe
Disney Streaming Services
Image: Disney

Bundle options

Disney Streaming Bundle (Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plus)

  • Pros: Low cost, different types of streaming services, something for everyone
  • Who it’s for: With a sports streaming service, general entertainment platform, and family-friendly option, the Disney Streaming Bundle is made for a wide array of people
  • Cost: $12.99 a month
  • Compatible devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Browser, Chromecast, iOS, Xbox, Roku, PlayStation

Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus bundle /

$12.99 per month

Subscribe
Spongebob Squarepants

Family content

Disney Plus

  • Pros: Exclusive home for Disney TV shows and movies, low cost, entirely family-friendly, large library of shows and movies
  • Who it’s for: Families and Disney aficionados
  • Cost: $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year. It can also be bundled with ad-supported Hulu and sports streaming service ESPN Plus for $12.99 a year.
  • Top original shows: The Mandalorian, Imagineering Story, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
  • Compatible devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Browser, Chromecast, iOS, Xbox, Roku, PlayStation

Disney Plus /

$6.99 per month or $69.99 if you pay annually

Subscribe

Nick Hits

  • Pros: Catalog of classic Nickelodeon shows, full seasons available to stream, low cost
  • Cost: $7.99 a month or free with Amazon Prime Video Channels subscription
  • Top original shows: SpongeBob SquarePants, Hey Arnold!, iCarly
  • Compatible devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Browser, Chromecast, iOS, Xbox, Roku, PlayStation

Nick Hits /

$7.99 per month or free with an Amazon Prime subscription

Subscribe

PBS Kids

  • Pros: Free, recognizable programming
  • Cost: Free
  • Top original shows: Sid’s Science Fair, CyberChase Shape Quest
  • Compatible devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android Phone, Android Tablet, Kindle Tablet, Leap Motion (OS X)

PBS Kids /

Available for free

Subscribe
Sling Television EMBARGO ONLY WELCH POSTS THIS

Live TV

AT&T TV Now

  • Pros: Includes HBO, cloud DVR capabilities, multiple prestige channels
  • Who it’s for: Cord-cutters looking for HBO in their TV package
  • Cost: $55 per month for 45-plus channels; $80 per month for 60-plus channels
  • Compatible devices: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Browsers, iPhone / iPad, Android Phone, Android Tablet, Samsung Smart TV, and Android TV

AT&T TV Now /

$55 per month for 45-plus channels; $80 per month for 60-plus channels

Subscribe

Hulu with Live TV

  • Pros: Comes with Hulu, on-demand playback, affordable pricing
  • Who it’s for: Cord-cutters looking to bundle a live service with streaming
  • Cost: $54.99 a month
  • Compatible devices: Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, iPhone, iPad, Browsers, Android Phone Android Tablet, Android TV, Xbox, LG Smart TV, Samsung Smart TV, Vizio Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV

Hulu with Live TV /

$54.99 per month

Subscribe

Sling TV

  • Pros: Cheaper than competitors, different package offerings, ability to rent new movie releases
  • Who it’s for: Cord-cutters not trying to break the bank
  • Cost: Sling’s three different packages come in at $30 a month (Sling Orange, 30-plus channels, or Sling Blue, 40-plus channels) and $45 a month (Sling Orange and Blue, 50-plus channels)
  • Compatible devices: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, iPhone, iPad, Browsers, Android Phone, Android Tablet, Android TV, Xbox, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, and Vizio Smart TV

Sling TV /

Package start at $30 per month and go up to $45 per month

Subscribe

YouTube TV

  • Pros: Easy-to-use interface, excellent DVR capabilities, local networks
  • Who it’s for: Cord-cutters looking for local broadcasts
  • Cost: $64.99 a month
  • Compatible devices: Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, iPhone, iPad, Browsers, Android Phone Android Tablet, Android TV, Xbox, LG Smart TV, Samsung Smart TV, Vizio Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV

YouTube TV /

$64.99 per month

Subscribe
An image of a orange and white banner on a booth saying Crunchyroll.
Photo by Stefan Etienne / The Verge

Niche

BritBox

  • Pros: Vast library of British television shows, top series like Doctor Who, classic British series
  • Who it’s for: Anyone looking to watch classic British television
  • Cost: $6.99 a month or $69.99 annually
  • Top original shows: Doctor Who, Absolutely Fabulous, Black Adder, Coronation Street
  • Compatible devices: Browsers, Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Android devices, and Samsung Smart TVs

BritBox /

$6.99 per month or $69.99 annually

Subscribe

Boomerang

  • Pros: Classic cartoons all in one spot, family-friendly, new shows, wide variety of content
  • Who it’s for: Adults looking for a nostalgic kick and families
  • Cost: $4.99 a month or $39.99 annually
  • Top original shows: The best part of Boomerang is the collection of classics, like Scooby-Doo, Bugs Bunny, The Jetsons, Johnny Quest, Yogi Bear, Paddington Bear, and Tom and Jerry
  • Compatible devices: Android, iOS, Apple TV, Roku, Kindle, Browser, Amazon FireTV or Fire Stick

Boomerang /

$4.99 per month or $39.99 annually

Subscribe

Crunchyroll

  • Pros: The biggest selection of anime titles, ability to read manga, streaming titles not long after airing in Japan
  • Who it’s for: Anime fans
  • Cost: $7.99 a month, $22.99 for three months, or $79.99 a year
  • Compatible devices: Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Chromecast, iOS, Android, Browsers

Crunchyroll /

$7.99 per month, $22.99 for three months, or $79.99 per year

Subscribe

DC Universe

  • Pros: Wide array of DC TV shows, exclusive animated series, classic animated DC films, and digital comic books
  • Who it’s for: DC comics fans
  • Cost: $7.99 a month or $74.99 annually
  • Top original shows: Titans, Harley Quinn, Doom Patrol
  • Compatible devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Browser, Chromecast, iOS, Xbox, Roku, PlayStation

DC Universe /

$7.99 per month or $74.99 annually

Subscribe

Funimation

  • Pros: Exclusive anime series, expansive library, offline viewing
  • Who it’s for: Anime fans looking for access to original and licensed shows as well as next-day offerings
  • Cost: There are three plans. The $5.99-a-month ($59.99 annually) Premium plan comes with ad-free streaming and two simultaneous streams. The $7.99-a-month ($79.99 annually) Premium Plus plan comes with ad-free streaming, offline viewing, and two simultaneous streams. The $99.99 annual Premium Plus Ultra plan comes with all of the above plus exclusive member perks.
  • Compatible devices: Apple TV, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Xbox, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Kindle, LG and Samsung smart TVs

Funimation /

Ranges from $5.99 per month to $99.99 annually

Subscribe

Plex

  • Pros: Ability to share content, good movie selection, host downloads
  • Who it’s for: If we’re being honest, people looking to share pirated content
  • Cost: A free tier includes playback of anything on your server, as well as podcasts, news, and web shows. There are also paid tiers at $4.99 a month, $39.99 a year, or $119.99 for a lifetime subscription, which gives people access to other subscription services and more apps.
  • Compatible devices: Browsers, iOS, Android, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Amazon Alexa, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Sonos, TiVo

Plex /

Ranges from free to $119.99 for a lifetime subscription

Subscribe

Shudder

  • Pros: Huge selection of titles, cost-effective, original movies and TV shows, podcasts, and live-streaming events
  • Who it’s for: Horror aficionados who want more than what’s on Netflix or Hulu
  • Cost: $5.99 a month or $56.99 annually
  • Top original shows: Creepshow, Deadwax
  • Compatible devices: Apple, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Browsers

Shudder /

$5.99 per month or $56.99 annually

Subscribe
Image: Criterion

Prestige Film

Criterion Channel

  • Pros: Thematically programmed with special features, a wide array of titles, more than 1,000 classic and contemporary movies
  • Who it’s for: Cinephiles looking for classic films and additional material on beloved titles
  • Cost: $10.99 a month or $99.99 annually
  • Compatible devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Browsers, Chromecast, Roku

Criterion Channel /

$10.99 per month or $99.99 annually

Subscribe

Kanopy

  • Pros: Free, large catalog of classic movies, wide array of independent titles
  • Who it’s for: University students and library users where Kanopy is available
  • Cost: Free
  • Compatible devices: Apple TV, Chromecast, browsers

Kanopy /

Available for free

Subscribe
HBO Max WarnerMedia Investor Day Presentation
Photo by Presley Ann / Getty Images for WarnerMedia

Prestige TV

HBO Max

  • Pros: Includes HBO content, heavy focus on human curation, incredibly large movie and TV show library
  • Who it’s for: HBO Max is a general entertainment streaming service. Also a great option for anyone looking to upgrade their HBO Now accounts.
  • Cost: $14.99 a month. People with HBO Now, AT&T TV Now, or standard HBO cable subscriptions can get it for free.
  • Top original shows: The Wire, Succession, Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, Love Life
  • Compatible devices: Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Browser, Chromecast, iOS, Xbox, PlayStation

HBO Max /

$14.99 per month

Subscribe

Showtime

  • Pros: Budget-friendly, good selection of new and older series, easy-to-use interface
  • Who it’s for: People who want prestige series on a budget
  • Cost: $8.99 a month
  • Top original shows: Billions, Shameless, The Affair
  • Compatible devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, LG Smart TVs, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox One

Showtime /

$8.99 per month

Subscribe

Starz

  • Pros: Low cost, award-winning shows, exclusive programming
  • Who it’s for: Fans of specific Starz shows
  • Cost: $8.99 a month
  • Top original shows: Outlander, Girlfriend Experiment, Power, Black Sails
  • Compatible devices: Kindle Fire Tablet, Amazon Fire TV and Stick, Android Phone, Android Tablets, Android TV, Nexus Player, Nvidia Shield, Razer Forge, Apple TVs, Browsers, iPhone, iPad, Roku, Xbox One

Starz /

$8.99 per month

Subscribe

Sports

ESPN Plus

  • Pros: Carries big UFC fights, a number of other live sports options, low cost
  • Who it’s for: UFC fans and people looking for a cost-effective way to keep up with sports that air on ESPN
  • Cost: $4.99 a month or $49.99 annually
  • Compatible devices: Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Android TV, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, browsers

ESPN Plus /

$4.99 per month or $49.99 annually

Subscribe

MLB.TV

  • Pros: Plenty of games available to watch, different pricing tiers, single-team subscription, off-season plans
  • Who it’s for: Baseball fans trying to keep up with teams outside of their regional network
  • Cost: Currently, MLB.TV is not accepting new subscriptions. Previous prices were $24.99 a month (giving people the ability to cancel a little easier) or $116.99 a year for full-league coverage. A single team subscription was $89.99 a year.
  • Compatible devices: Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Android TV, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One

NBA League Pass

  • Pros: Subscription packages for individual teams, ability to watch every game, international
  • Who it’s for: Basketball fans trying to keep up with their team or the NBA at large
  • Cost: There are four different options: NBA TV (live games, $6.99 a month or $49.99 annually), One Team ($59.99 annually gets you access to every single game from one team), All Teams ($99.99 annually, every single game), and All Teams, No Commercials ($124.99 annually, gives you every single game without ads)
  • Compatible devices: iPhone, iPad, Android Phone, Android Tablet, Kindle Fire, Roku 3, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV and Fire Stick, Xbox One, PlayStation

NBA League Pass /

Plans start at $6.99 per month for live games, up to $124.99 annually for all games ad-free.

Subscribe

NFL Sunday Ticket

  • Pros: Every Sunday NFL game that’s not broadcasting in your city, Red Zone
  • Who it’s for: Football fans who don’t live in the same town as their favorite team and fantasy players who need to watch every single game
  • Cost: Currently, NFL Sunday Ticket is not accepting new subscriptions. Previous prices were $293.94 a season for the games, $395.94 a season for the games and Red Zone / Fantasy Zone channels
  • Compatible devices: Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices

NHL.TV

  • Pros: Three different subscription tiers, single team options
  • Who it’s for: Hockey fans looking to not miss out on a big game or favorite team
  • Cost: Currently, NHL.TV is not accepting new subscriptions. Previous prices started at $24.99 for one month of games, $119.99 a year for single team access, and $144.99 a year for the entire NHL season’s live games
  • Compatible devices: Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices

DAZN

  • Pros: Exclusive league games, available globally, fights are available to replay
  • Who it’s for: Boxing fans, MMA fans, people with interests in sports that aren’t the NFL, MLB, MLS, NHL, or NBA
  • Cost: $19.99 a month or $99.99 a year
  • Compatible devices: Android, Fire OS, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox, and browser

DAZN /

$19.99 per month or $99.99 a year

Subscribe

DAZN /

$19.99 per month or $99.99 a year

Subscribe

Update July 1st, 2020, 11:15AM ET: The monthly price for YouTube TV has been updated. Update July 16th, 2020, 11:40AM ET: Information about Peacock has been updated.