There are many great TV shows to watch, but deciding which streaming subscriptions are worth your time and money can be difficult. Your choice probably depends on your preferences for original shows and movies, your preferences for back catalogs of older streaming shows, and your budget. Several of these services offer cheaper options, while others are free as part of a bundle. With Netflix’s price hike in effect, options such as Amazon Prime Video are worth considering.
With the assistance of the StreaMaestro research team, we have tested and reviewed many streaming services and come up with an updated list of the five best streaming services for 2022.
Netflix
It’s the best streaming service overall.
Netflix, which launched its DVD-by-mail rentals in 1998, has evolved into the top-tier streaming service that’s a must-have in 2022. The biggest originals such as Don’t Look Up, Cobra Kai, or Stranger Things capture millions of viewers along with critical acclaim and awards, giving us the closest thing to watercooler conversations today.
Even though Netflix has lost a few of its major back catalogue channels to competitors, it still offers more original series, films, documentaries, and specials. Netflix alone released 70 new original movies in 2021, with new shows and movies arriving every week. At $10 a month, its price is in the middle of the TV service pack, and its standard plan is $15.50 a month, which includes HD and two simultaneous streams. But for the variety (and no commercials).
Hulu
It offers value for its low price. For $7 a month (with ads), Hulu complements and counters Netflix perfectly. Unlike Netflix, this channel carries popular series from networks like ABC, Fox, and NBC. It also has its own critically acclaimed original series, such as The Handmaid’s Tale. For only $7 per month and not minding a few ads, Hulu is a no-brainer. Additionally, you can add on live TV streaming for $70 a month for a full cable replacement or upgrade to a plan with no ads for $13.
Disney Plus
Children and kids at heart alike will love it. It’s no accident that Disney Plus is Netflix’s closest competitor. It was launched in late 2019 and has garnered nearly 130 million subscribers. There is no better place to stream all Disney and Pixar’s films, Star Wars movies, Marvel movies, and new original TV shows. It also offers 31 seasons of The Simpsons. Despite The Mandalorian being its first breakout series, several Marvel movies, including The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Loki, have since attracted millions of viewers. In addition, there will be more Star Wars and Marvel original programming available in the next few years, including Luca, Encanto, and Peter Jackson’s The Beatles: Get Back.
Despite the recently increased price to $8 a month, Disney Plus is still an excellent value and one of the least expensive ad-free streaming TV options. We believe it’s a must-have if you have kids or if you like any of their other titles (and who doesn’t love Baby Yoda?).
HBO Max
An extensive library of premium content HBO Max is an app full of popular TV shows and movies. HBO has its entire catalogue on the app, along with DC Universe titles, as well as TV shows and movies such as Friends, Rick and Morty, Sesame Street, Lord of the Rings and most Studio Ghibli films. In 2021, it was the only streaming service that launched movies at no extra cost on the same day as theaters, including The Many Saints of Newark, The Matrix Resurrections, and King Richard. HBO Max also offers a good streaming collection for kids, with better control over ratings than most other services.
However, the service’s price tag is a snag: At $15 a month, it’s at the higher end of the streaming spectrum. A cheaper, ad-supported plan is available for only $5 a month, but you can’t watch the newest movies. Nevertheless, we expect that HBO Max will continue to add new originals, such as Hacks, DC Comics’ Peacemaker, and Station Eleven.
Amazon Prime TV
Bundling with other services offers the best value. With Prime Video, you can watch many ad-free, high-quality original shows and movies, as well as older favorites (and B-movies you haven’t heard of) and the NFL on Thursdays. On the other hand, it lacks the catalogs of Netflix and Hulu and the star power of Disney’s streaming platform, and the menus are a little confusing because some of the content is free and some are paid. However, millions of Prime subscribers already have access to Prime Video without additional cost.
Depending on your interest in original shows such as The Wheel of Time, The Boys (or the upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel), and its extensive movie selection, it might even be worth paying the $9 per month TV fee (if you don’t already have Amazon Prime).
Conclusion
There is a possibility that streaming services will replace cinema halls and cable networks since they have made content accessible like never before. With that in mind, utilizing at least one or more streaming services makes perfect sense.
We recommend Netflix, the most powerful competitor, with a constantly expanding content library. However, if you want an alternative to cable, Hulu, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video will satisfy your needs.
