As we roll into the new year, we’re all still spending more time at home and that means we are still hungry for more streaming video content. Over the years, the choices for streaming have grown dramatically, to the point where you might need an app, just to keep you up to date on what services are available and what content is available on each one.
Netflix - The standard-setter
This is the original streaming service, that helped pave the way for every other service that followed. It has evolved over the years and is no longer THE source for all streaming content, but it still has a huge library of content, regularly adds new titles, and has arguably the easiest user interface of any streaming service.
Over the past few years, Netflix also grew from simply being a distributor of content for the various studios to creating its own films and series. Some of those releases have been extremely popular and critically acclaimed (see the recent Queen’s Gambit for example).
Pricing starts around $9/month and goes up based on various streaming options.
HBO Max - The place for HBO and Warner Bros. content
Not to be confused with HBO or HBO Now (although it easily can), HBO Max launched in 2020 and delivers all the content you’ll find on HBO, including theatrical release movies and HBO original series like Game of Thrones and Westworld.
While this was already a compelling content library, HBO Max went over the top when they announced that the entire 2021 release schedule of Warner Bros. movies would be streamed on the platform on the same day as the theatrical release, at no extra cost to subscribers. Plus, it kicks off with Wonder Woman 1984 on December 25, 2020. This extra content makes HBO Max a great addition to any streaming lineup.
Pricing for HBO Max starts at $15/month.
Disney Plus - Your home for Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars
Disney Plus came on strong in its second year, adding subscribers at a quick pace, even while scheduled original programming was delayed (particularly Marvel several series). Disney Plus offers a unique mix of great children and family content from Disney and Pixar, along with the full Marvel library as well as the Star Wars universe.
Early hits like The Mandalorian have made Disney Plus a must-have for Star Wars fans and 2021 promises multiple Marvel releases that will only add to the audience.
Disney Plus comes in as a cheaper alternative to the two top choices, with a starting price of just $7 per month.
Amazon Prime - Video plus free Prime shipping
Prime is an interesting hybrid, where an annual subscription is built around free 2-day shipping on a huge number of purchases on Amazon.com. Then, in addition you gain access to Prime Music, and Prime Video. As a package, it’s hard to beat the value.
From a pure video standpoint, Prime may lag just a bit behind some of the other services when it comes to their library of feature film content. However, it has been making up serious ground in the area of original content development, with a number of successful and popular series, like The Man in the High Castle, Bosch, Jack Ryan, The Boys, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, spanning a wide range of audience interests.
Prime costs $119 per year, and when you look at the entire value proposition, it’s a strong contender.
Hulu - A mix of cable content and movies
This is about the best current option for keeping up with recent TV shows across a number of major networks (generally not including CBS content) as well as plenty of more niche cable networks like History, Discovery, and FX.
Like the other players, Hulu has begun offering original content with series like High Fidelity to mix in with its cable content and various feature films. It is also the home to probably the largest library of true crime style documentaries of any of the platforms if that happens to be your thing.
Hulu has a number of streaming options that range from just standard streaming content to more of a cable replacement, with more live TV options. The basic Hulu subscription starts at $6/month.
Discover Plus - The new cable content kid on the block
Discovery Plus launches in early 2021 and promises some competition for Hulu when it comes to niche cable content. Discovery owns a number of cable networks, including Discovery Channel, Food Network, HGTV, and TLC, and content from all those channels will make its way to Discovery Plus.
Since it hasn’t launched yet, as of this article being published, we don’t know exactly how Discovery Plus will deliver, but at a low entry price and with some engaging niche content, it looks to be an intriguing add on to your streaming service lineup in 2021.
Discover Plus subscriptions start at $5/month with commercials or $7/month for commercial-free content.
