Netflix this, Netflix that. Netflix and chill. It feels like every time someone talks about video streaming services, Netflix is the main topic. It’s like nothing else exists.
I’ve been using Amazon Prime Video for a while now and can tell you it’s vastly underrated. It’s just as good as Netflix, if not better in some ways. However, people still don’t talk about it much, and some even think of it as a low-grade streaming service. I want to try and change that.
The content is top-notch
The Man in the High Castle
So, what exactly makes Prime Video so special? Let’s start with its original content, which is the bread and butter of any streaming service. While some of it isn’t anything to write home about, there are a lot of critically acclaimed and award-winning titles to watch from various genres.
For example, if you’re into comedy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a must-watch. It’s a very unique show that tells the story of a housewife in the 1960s who decides to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian. Everything from the storyline, the acting, and the production is top-notch.
If you’re into drama and sci-fi, you should check out The Man in the High Castle. It shows a parallel universe in which the Allied Powers lost the second World War and Germany and Japan rule the US. I generally don’t like historic or science fiction shows, but I love this one, which just goes to show how good it really is.
In addition to award-winning titles, there are some lesser-known shows available for streaming that are worth your attention. These include The Widow, which follows Georgia Wells (played by Kate Beckinsale) who believes her husband was killed in a plane crash years ago, but then discovers that he is still alive in Congo. Then there’s Absentia, a show that revolves around FBI agent Emily Byrne (Stana Katic) who disappears while on the job and is proclaimed dead but is then found alive six years later in a cabin in the woods with no memory of what happened to her.
You’ll find a bunch of other popular non-original movies and TV shows on Prime Video. Some of the best ones, in my opinion, include the hilarious Curb Your Enthusiasm, the action-packed The Night Manager, and the thrilling Mr. Robot. There are great foreign-language shows available as well, with one of the best ones being the German gangster series called 4 Blocks. If you enjoy shows like The Sopranos, you’ll love this one.
I can’t highlight all the great Prime Video content in this post, as that would make it too long. Just know this: whether you’re into comedy, action, drama, shows, movies or documentaries, you’ll always find something great to watch on Prime Video. While not all content will blow your mind, a lot of shows and movies are grade-A quality. You can check out some of it in the posts linked below:
It’s cheaper than Netflix
In addition to offering great content, Prime Video is also affordable. In the US, the standalone service goes for $8.99 per month, allows for three simultaneous streams, and supports 4K resolution. Netflix’s standard plan, on the other hand, goes for $12.99 and allows you to watch content in HD quality on two screens at the same time. The premium plans bump the number of screens to four, the streaming resolution to 4K, and the price to $15.99 — making it much more expensive than Prime Video. The price differences are even bigger in Europe, especially considering you can get Amazon Prime for 50% off for the first six months.
Prime Video is part of Amazon’s Prime subscription.
If you’re willing to pay a few bucks more, you can opt for Amazon’s Prime subscription that includes Prime Video along with free shipping, access to Amazon’s music streaming service, unlimited photo storage, and much more. The subscription costs $119 per year if you pay upfront, which comes out to $9.92 per month. If you opt to pay monthly, the price jumps to $12.99, which is still a great deal all things considered.
So, is Amazon Prime Video better than Netflix?
I’m not trying to bash Netflix. I’ve used it a lot and have enjoyed watching the many movies and shows it offers. I’m also not saying that Prime Video is better overall than Netflix. What I am saying is that Prime Video just doesn’t get the credit it deserves, mainly because it’s overshadowed by Netflix. A lot of people still believe that Prime Video offers lower-grade content than Netflix — partly due to the fact you can get it for free with a Prime subscription — but that’s not the case. Prime Video is a worthy competitor to Netflix, offering loads of great content as well as a cheaper subscription.
If you haven’t tried it out yet, my advice is to give it a go. Take advantage of the free trial Amazon offers and check out a few shows mentioned in this post. You can always switch back to Netflix or any other streaming services you’re using if you don’t like what you see.
What are your thoughts on Amazon Prime Video? Let us know in the comments!
