If you enjoy movies and/or television, there is just one must-have player in town: Netflix. Despite not constantly stocking its digital shelves with must-have new movies and TV, it is without a doubt the biggest and greatest streaming service. That said, if you ever plan on cutting the cord and surviving without it, this is the streamer you'll need.

Most smart TVs now have Netflix apps, and finding a streaming box without one is like looking for a needle in a haystack. On both TV and tablets, the quality of the movies and TV we saw — most of which were streamed in Ultra HD – was superb.

Since launching its own original content in 2013, Netflix's library has grown to include dozens of award-winning shows such as Stranger Things, Orange Is the New Black, The Crown, Master of None, House of Cards, and later The Witcher and Top Boy – check out our list of the best Netflix series in the US.

The most serious threat to Netflix is the loss of its licensed programming to newer, rival networks. Both Friends and The Office, for example, have already ended their run. In the United States, both shows attracted large audiences on Netflix. Netflix will have to put in a lot of effort to make up for its losses.

As of 2021, subscription fees have increased by $1-2 per month, with the base plan now costing $9, the HD plan costing $14, and the 4K Premium plan costing $18. But don't forget that you may try Netflix for free for a month (at least in the United States) to determine if it's worth your money.

Pros

• Excellent selection
• Optimized interface
• Good recommendation system

Cons

• Expensive in comparison to other services
• Titles come and go on a regular basis

Free trial: 1 month
Starting price: $9/month
Netflix Standard: $13.99/month
Simultaneous streams: 1-4
Live TV: No
Exclusive originals: Yes
Compatible devices: Android, iOS, web browsers, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Nvidia Shield, Roku, Smart TVs, PS4, Xbox, set-top boxes.

Website: https://www.netflix.com

The two sides of the same coin are Amazon and Netflix. That's not to suggest they're identical – far from it – but the variations are minor, and Prime comes in second place in the best streaming service competition.

Amazon Prime Video, like Netflix, has its own original programs — The Expanse, Hunters, and The Boys, to name a few – but they don't get nearly as much attention as their Netflix-bred counterparts.

The fact that access to Amazon's streaming service comes standard with an Amazon Prime subscription – which also includes access to Amazon Music and premium delivery services – is one of the biggest differences between the two services.

Amazon Prime costs $12.99 per month, which is a dollar less than Netflix but a terrific deal when you consider the other features of the service.

Prime Video is available on PC and Mac, as well as the Kindle Fire HD, iPad, Xbox, PlayStation, internet-enabled TVs, and Blu-ray players, Sony's Home Cinema system, Sony's Network Media Player, and a slew of other lesser-known devices.

Pros

• A wide range of content
• Combined with additional Prime perks
• Excellent original programming

Cons

• On some platforms, it is not available
• Additional charges apply to a la carte material

Free trials: 1 month
Starting price: $119/year
Amazon Prime - Monthly: $12.99/mth
Simultaneous streams: 3
Live TV: No
Exclusive originals: Yes
Compatible devices: Fire TV, Fire tablet, iPhone, iPad, Chromecast, Xbox, PlayStation 4, Smart TVs, Blu-ray players, Apple TV, Roku, Xfinity X1

Website: https://www.amazon.com

Hulu is the finest streaming service for keeping up with the latest TV shows if you don't want to spend money on a cable subscription or an HD antenna. This service allows you to see most major network shows (excluding CBS episodes) and a few cable shows the day after they air. Subscribers can also watch a show's current season — or, in many cases, all of the show's seasons. While it's still reasonable, the fact that it's getting its first price increase in years (from $1 to $7 per month on Oct. 8) isn't exactly good news.

In addition, the service offers a variety of original programming (including joint projects with the BBC, such as The Wrong Mans and season 4 of The Thick of It), as well as a surprising number of classic anime series. Vacation Friends, an adult comedy starring John Cena and Lil Rel Howery, is a recent Hulu smash. Even if you pay for a membership, you'll have to endure ads, but they'll be significantly less than if you watched the same episodes on cable. Hulu's live TV streaming option is another strong feature of the service, and it will allow you to watch CBS as well.

Pros

• Great selection of current TV
• Inexpensive
• Quality original programming

Cons

• Frequent commercials
• Inconsistent selections from older TV seasons
  
  

Free trials: 1 month

Starting price: $7 per month starting Oct. 8
Simultaneous streams: 2
Live TV: Requires $65 per month Live TV package
Exclusive originals: Yes
Compatible devices: Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Echo Show, Fire Tablets, Fire TV, iPhones and iPads, LG TV (select models), Nintendo Switch, Mac and PC, PlayStation 3 (no live programming), PlayStation 4, Roku, Samsung TV (select models), VIZIO SmartCast TVs, Xbox, Xfinity Flex & X1

Website: https://www.hulu.com

Disney Plus is the category's dominant player, and why shouldn't it be? Disney has a terrifying number of franchises, including Marvel, Star Wars, Disney's own animation universe, and The Simpsons (all 30 seasons, and counting). It's one of the cheapest of the greatest streaming services out now at $8 per month, and a lot of the programming is available in 4K resolution with HDR color palettes.

Oh, and in other huge news, Disney Plus is being turned into a pay-per-view service, or at the very least, the business is experimenting with it. From September 4 through December 2020, Disney's live-action Mulan cost $30, and happily, they're doing the same with Black Widow. Season 2 of The Mandalorian and WandaVision received amazing reviews, and Loki is the service's biggest hit yet. Disney Plus is one of the greatest streaming services since fans of Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and/or Star Wars have no choice but to subscribe.

Pros

• Reasonable price
• Lots of beloved content
• UHD resolution options

Cons

• Odd gaps in the content lineup

Free trials: 7 days

Starting price: $8 per month
Simultaneous streams: 4
Live TV: No
Exclusive originals: Yes
Compatible devices: Amazon Fire TV and Fire tablets, Roku, Chromecast, iOS, iPad, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Xbox, PlayStation 4, Android-based Sony Smart TVs, Chromebooks, Samsung and LG devices

Website: https://www.preview.disneyplus.com

HBO Max is a new streaming service based on an existing one. The next step in the growth of HBO Go and HBO Now, it takes the foundation of HBO's programming – which includes many fantastic shows like The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, Barry, The Leftovers, and Succession - and adds a ton more to make it more of a Netflix competitor.

That's why a lot of the original content we've seen on the service so far is aimed at a broader audience, with Anna Kendrick's Love Life kicking things off, and Kaoco's dark comedy The Flight Attendant also seems different from the usual heavy HBO dramas. Original movies, as well as programs formerly available on the DC Universe app, such as Titans and Harley Quinn, are available on the service.

There's also a large archive of existing shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, South Park, and Rick and Morty to watch. Studio Ghibli, Adult Swim, and Cartoon Network are just a few of the fantastic content channels available on HBO Max.

Warner Bros. blockbusters will be released on HBO Max on the same day they are released in theaters as part of HBO Max's huge 2021 plan. From Godzilla vs. Kong to The Suicide Squad and The Matrix Resurrections, there's something for everyone. These premieres, rather than being permanent additions, are pulled from the service after a month. However, they provide something that you won't find on other services, although at a significant cost to Warner Bros.

HBO Max's ad-free tier costs $14.99 per month, while the new ad-supported price for 2021 is $9.99. Although this is a significant investment, HBO's success rate remains quite high, and the investment in original programming should pay off handsomely in the long run.

Selected titles, including the film premieres, are available in 4K on supported devices (more information here), with additional 4K content coming in the future.

Pros

• Award-winning original programming
• Top-tier movies

• Original news programming
  

Cons

• Pricey
• Content phases out frequently
  
  

Free trials: 7 days
Starting price: $9.99 per month with ads
Simultaneous streams: 3
Live TV: No
Exclusive originals: Yes
Compatible devices: Amazon Fire, Roku, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, PlayStation 4, Macs and PCs, Samsung Smart TV, Xbox One, TiVo

Website: https://www.hbomax.com

Sling TV is a sort of panacea for the cord-cutting generation, something we needed but no one was willing to make. It is, however, everything that cable is not. It is reasonably priced. It comes with no strings attached. And there are no salespeople attempting to persuade you to keep your contract. Most importantly, you won't have to forego some of the features that cable has offered in recent years, such as the ability to pause live TV or watch anything that aired up to 72 hours earlier.

Sling TV has two packages as of 2021: Sling Orange, which is more sports and family-oriented and includes access to ESPN, ESPN 2 and ESPN3, and Sling Blue, which is more news and entertainment-oriented and includes FX, SyFy, USA, and Discovery. If you're a new customer, they're $35 per month each ($25 for the first month), or you can get both for $50 per month.

If the bundled cable selections aren't enough, Sling TV offers a variety of Extras that allow you access to more channels for a monthly fee. These are divided into categories, such as Comedy Extra, Kids Extra, and Hollywood Extra, among others. You will be able to access more channels as a result of this.

Unlike most providers, Sling TV is completely free to use. It has over 5,000 series and films available at any given moment, and you don't need a credit card or a login to watch them. All you have to do is go to the website and start watching!

Sling TV is accessible on iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and Fire TV Stick, Xbox One, Oculus, Roku TV, and select LG and Samsung smart TVs, as well as via the online interface on PC and Mac.

Pros

• Much cheaper than cable
• Wide breadth of content
• No contract required

Cons

• Limited on-demand content
• Gets expensive very fast with optional packages
  
  

Free trials: 3 days
Starting price: $35/month ($30 for existing)
Simultaneous streams: 1-4
Live TV: Yes
Exclusive originals: No
Compatible devices: Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, iPhone and iPad, web browsers, Android, Android TV, Xbox, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and VIZIO Smart TVs

Website: https://www.sling.com

It's nice to have a streaming service that knows exactly what its customers want. Crunchyroll is the ideal streaming site for any anime, manga, or East-Asian cinema enthusiast in your life, and it has solidified itself as a major provider of the best anime.

Crunchyroll was founded by Berkeley grads in 2006 as a bootleg website where users could submit their favorite shows without the permission of the original owners. It wasn't the most humble of beginnings. But it's now a vital product for anime aficionados, even though a joint offering with fellow anime distributor Funimation is in the pipeline to change things up.

While genre classics like Dragon Ball Z, Digimon, and Pokémon aren't available, the majority of the site's 200-plus series are available to view for free in SD, usually after a 20-second advertisement. A $7.99 monthly subscription to the service is required to watch any content in full 1080p HD; however, you can start with a 14-day free trial.

Crunchyroll is available on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Wii U, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku, Google TV, and Samsung and Panasonic Smart TVs, in addition to the elegant web interface.

Pros

• Affordable
• A massive collection of anime

Cons

• Confusing interface
• Few feature-length options
  

Free trials: 14 days
Starting price: $7.99/month
Simultaneous streams: 3-4
Compatible devices: Apple, Android, Windows, Roku, Xbox, Google Chromecast, Apple TV, Android TV, Smart TVs

Website: https://www.crunchyroll.com

Apple's newest streaming service is backed by cash and skill. Apple is extending its muscles to obtain the greatest talent, launching The Morning Show, a pricey drama starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carrell, as well as See with Jason Momoa, in 2019.

Unfortunately, it lacks a substantial content library, which would be required for it to be the top streaming service in 2021. Some of the stuff here, especially Mythic Quest, a sitcom from the makers of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and TechRadar fave Ted Lasso, is certainly worth checking out at a very low $4.99 per month. That library has the potential to grow into something fantastic over time.

Apple has made some significant attempts to get films for the platform, like securing Tom Hanks' WWII film Greyhound and funding the next Martin Scorsese film.

In order to get its software onto other devices, Apple will have to work a little harder. Almost every streaming service is available on games consoles, but this one isn't, which is a significant disadvantage.

Pros

• Expensive-looking shows
  
• Promising upcoming projects
• Free year's sub with Apple devices

Cons

• Limited library
  
• Not available on Android or games consoles
  
  

Free trials: 7 days
Starting price: $4.99/month
Simultaneous streams: 6
Compatible devices: Apple, Samsung Smart TVs, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Chromecast with Google TV

Website: https://www.apple.com

Fubo TV is one of the greatest streaming services for anyone who wants to watch live sports without having to pay for cable. The regular Fubo subscription costs $64.99 per month and includes 120+ channels, including nearly every major broadcast and cable network. Fubo also offers 4K streaming for select on-demand programming, unlike other live TV streaming competitors such as YouTube TV and Sling TV. Aside from the increased price, another disadvantage of Fubo is the restricted Cloud DVR storage.

While Fubo has the most channels of any of the higher-priced streaming services, they recently added ABC and ESPN to their list. With the addition of ESPN, Fubo becomes the #1 streaming service for NFL fans, with all of the major broadcast networks as well as the NFL Network. Popular networks such as NBC, Fox, AMC, Food Network, MTV, and Syfy, as well as a slew of specialized sports channels, are all represented in the roster. TNT, which is required for NBA playoffs, is the sole major problem.

Pros

• Huge number of channels
• Niche sports networks
• Some 4K content
  

Cons

• More expensive than competitors
  
• No ABC/ESPN
  
  

Free trials: 7 days
Starting price: $65 per month
Simultaneous streams: 2-3
Live TV: Yes
Exclusive originals: No
Compatible devices: Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Mac and PC web browsers, Chromecast, iPhone, iPad, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs

Website: https://www.fubo.tv

NBC Universal's foray into the streaming market is boosted by one major advantage: it's free to sign up and use, with an ad-supported tier allowing users to watch a large amount of its content for free. However, a lot of the finer content is behind a paywall - $4.99 per month if you want to watch everything with ads and $9.99 if you don't.

Peacock's originals haven't quite captivated us yet, but titles like AP Bio, Brave New World, and Intelligence are worth checking out. You can also watch new NBC shows like Mr. Mayor and Young Rock after they've aired, and the site is also home to Paramount's smash popular thriller Yellowstone.

You're essentially paying Peacock to have access to the network's several outstanding sitcoms on demand. This service is the only place in the United States where you can watch The Office, as well as Parks and Recreation. Everyone can watch the first two seasons of each for free, but anything after that requires a paid subscription.

Peacock also has a good selection of amazing movies to watch. Surprisingly, this is where all of the Harry Potter films are available in the United States, and while the first is free to see, the rest require a subscription. The rest of the movie catalog is split between free-to-stream and pay-to-view, but there's still plenty to see.

Peacock does not enable 4K streaming as of early 2021, but it does have some other interesting features. Within the app, you may view a variety of programs, including news and sports. This season, Peacock has unique access to 175 Premier League matches.

Pros

• Lots of classic TV shows
• Free for Xfinity customers
• Live WWE events

Cons

• Trending category is a bit weak
• Waiting for its must-see shows

Free trials: 7 days (Premium)
Starting price: Free with ads
Premium tier: $4.99/month - $9.99/month (ad-free)
Simultaneous streams: 3
Live TV: Sports and WWE
Exclusive originals: Yes
Compatible devices: Fire TV, Fire tablet, iPhone, iPad, Chromecast, Xbox, PlayStation 4 & 5, Smart TVs, Apple TV, Roku, Xfinity

Website: https://www.peacocktv.com