Streaming services have transformed the way we watch TV shows and movies. We no longer delay to a certain date and time to watch something that tickles our muse; there’s an affluent selection available on multiple devices on demand. If you’re looking for the best streaming service in the UK right now, the obvious answer is the streaming giant, Netflix. Nevertheless, the problem occurs here that Netflix only covers a section of the best entertainment you can find in the UK right now. To access the full array of fantastic TV and movies, you’ll require multiple subscriptions. That’s where services such as Amazon Prime Video, Now, Disney Plus and BBC iPlayer come into play. Let’s have a look at the comparisons between the UK’s biggest streaming services, to help you choose a subscription to ensure you get the best buck for your bank.

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4.5/5

As of 2021, Netflix is streaming in over 190 countries, not including China, Crimea, North Korea, or Syria.

Netflix remains the streaming giant for TV and movies thanks to its ease of use, lack of commericals and original content. It includes a wide variety of familiar network shows and more original series, films, documentaries and specials than any of its myriad competitors.

Laptop, Smart Phone (Apple/Android), Tablet, PlayStation, Nintendo and Xbox consoles Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV Selected smart TVs and Blu-ray players.

£5.99 per month for one stream in standard definition. £9.99 per month for up to two screens simultaneously in HD. £13.99 per month for up to four screens simultaneously in 4K HDR/Dolby Vision

Netflix does not offer free trials, but you have the freedom to change the plan or cancel at any time if you decide Netflix isn’t for you. There are no contracts, no canellation fees, and no commitments.

The Queen’s Gambit, The Crown, Stranger Things, Breaking Bad, Tiger King

4.5/5

Hulu is exclusively available to residents of the USA

Hulu You can now sign up to Hulu for only $5.99 per month, which is a good step below Netflix’s $8.99 Basic Plan. Netflix’s lowest-level plan also doesn’t include HD video support, while Hulu offers plenty of HD content as well as some Ultra HD 4K programming via its Hulu Originals.

Android, Apple, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Smart TVs, YouView, BT TV Box, Now TV, Sky Q, web browsers

Ad-supported plan costs just $7.99/month (or $79.99/year) and gives you access to the streaming library with ads. Students get Hulu (ad-supported) for just$1.99/month! Hulu (No Ads): For $14.99/month, Hulu (No Ads) excludes a few shows that play with ads before and after the video.

1 month FREE trial available upon new customer signup

Reasonable Doubt, Reboot, Tell Me Lies, The Patient, Little Fires Everywhere, The Americans

4.5/5

HBO MAX

HBO Max’s main plan costs $14.99 per month, which is about the same as Netflix’s most popular plan. HBO Max also has an ad-supported plan that costs $9.99 but inserts advertisements into your content. HBO Max can also be added to cable packages and other streaming services

Android, Apple, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Smart TVs, YouView, BT TV Box, Now TV, web browsers

$14.99 per month, which is about the same as Netflix’s most popular plan. HBO Max also has an ad-supported plan that costs $9.99 but inserts advertisements into your content. HBO Max can also be added to cable packages and other streaming services

1 month FREE Trial

In terms of back catalog, HBO Max wins for familiarity and big names: It leans heavily on shows like Friends, South Park and Doctor Who, as well as HBO favorites including Games of Thrones, Sesame Street and The Sopranos. Its movie list is deeper than Netflix too, thanks to being part of the Warner Bros. family.

3/5

Prime Video is available worldwide – available in over 200 countries and territories (except for Mainland China, Iran, North Korea, and Syria). Initially it was available only to residents of the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and Austria.

Amazon Prime Video hosts lots of quality content for streaming. It too makes a range of TV shows that are exclusive to the platform and has content deals for shows made abroad.

Roku, Nvidia Shield TV, PS4 and PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, Smart TVs, Blu-ray players from Samsung, LG and Sony, some Sony home cinema systems and Sony’s Network Media Player, PCs and Macs, iOS and Android devices, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick and Fire tablets.

After your free trial, Amazon Prime is just £7.99/month. Amazon Prime Video also comes as a default extra for Amazon Prime subscribers. Amazon Prime, UK wide, costs £79 a year and offers one-day delivery, music and instant video streaming and more.

30 day free trial.

5/5

Disney Plus is currently available in 36 countries around the world.

Disney Plus A marvellous and happy place in TV world for Disney fans, Disney Plus has an excellent library of titles in an easy-to-manage interface for an affordable price. Disney brands include Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and National Geographic, as well as the company’s namesake family-friendly fare.

Android, Apple, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Smart TVs, Now TV, Sky Q, web browsers

Disney+ costs £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year. Stream on up to four devices at the same time.

N/A

Big Shot, Loki, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, The Mandalorian, Gravity Falls, The Simpsons

3.5/5

Apple TV Plus is available in 107 countries around the world.

Apple TV Plus A streaming service focused solely on original content, which means you won’t find a large library of older shows with hundreds of episodes to binge. Instead, Apple endeavours to create its own collection of high-quality scripted dramas and comedies.

Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Airplay, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, Smart TVs, PlayStation, Xbox

£4.99 a month or first 3 months free when you buy an Apple device. Apple TV+ lets you share your subscription with up to five family members.

7 day free trial

This Morning Show, Dickinson, Little America, Amazing Stories, Servant, The Banker.

3.5/5

YouTube TV

YouTube TV While some video streaming services primarily feature on-demand or original content, others are designed to completely replace your cable subscription. YouTube TV takes the latter approach, offering more than 85 channels of news, sports, and entertainment in one package. 4K streaming is enabled & the ability to download DVR recordings for offline viewing, and support for an unlimited number of simultaneous streams.

Any device with access to the internet.

YouTube TV’s Base Plan costs $64.99/month with TV from 100+ channels across live sports, news, and entertainment in English and Spanish. The Spanish Plan costs $34.99/mo with TV from 28+ channels in Spanish.

1 month FREE Trial

YouTube TV features a collection of over 90 channels, which stacks up well against the competition. In fact, it offers one of the most complete channel lineups of all the video streaming services I’ve reviewed. Starting with the locals, you get all the major networks such as ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC.

3.5/5

Available to watch worldwide.

National Theatre at Home The National Theatre has faced an existential threat through covid, with live venues taking a huge hit with closures. With the unlikely return of theatre audiences anytime soon the National Theatre at Home now offers a streaming platform. This allows theatre fans to watch live recordings of a selection of stand-out plays from a handful of associated London theatres.

Internet browser or through the National Theatre at Home app, available on iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV and Roku TV.

National Theatre at Home costs £9.99 per month or £99.99 per year. Single plays can be rented for three days for £7.99.

There’s no free trial, but the National Theatre regularly streams plays for free on its YouTube channel.

Streaming Insights

Netflix
Hulu
Disney+
HBO Max
Paramount
Stars
Showtime
Discovery
Peacock
Appletv