I have a confession to make — I paid for an expensive monthly Netflix subscription for way longer than I probably should have. Netflix is the streaming service that started it all, and it’s known for outstanding originals and a standout content library. It’s a streaming giant, and if you’re only subscribing to one platform, it feels like it should be Netflix, right? I’m not so sure that’s true anymore.
For a while, I was paying for Netflix out of obligation rather than value. After all, the streaming wars are well underway, and Netflix’s library of content has been thinned as a result. Content rights holders have pulled back their licenses for use on their own streaming services, rather than giving them all to Netflix. The shows and movies I paid a monthly fee to Netflix for aren’t even on the platform anymore, and recent Netflix originals underwhelmed me.
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Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus is my favorite subscription service, and for as little as $9 per month for the Essential plan, you can watch loads of content. I subscribe to the Premium plan for only $13 per month, which eliminates ads and supports Showtime originals, video downloads, and live streaming of CBS and live sports. You can stream on three devices simultaneously, and Paramount Plus won’t try to lock you out if you travel or share your password.
The content library is what sells Paramount Plus for me. The service includes the best dramas airing on CBS, including long-running series like “NCIS,” “Criminal Minds,” and “Blue Bloods.” It also includes incredible originals, namely the Taylor Sheridan collection, which features the “Yellowstone” universe, “Mayor of Kingstown,” “Tulsa King,” and “Landman.” Finally, you get Paramount movies like the “Transformers” franchise.
I don’t think you’ll find a better combination of TV series and movies available on one platform than Paramount Plus offers.
To round out the experience, live CBS streaming is a great perk, especially during sports season. You can stream the NFL on CBS, the UEFA Champions League, live UFC fights, and college basketball games — including March Madness.
An incredible value
Paramount Plus is one of the best deals in streaming. For $13 per month, you get access to the rich CBS catalog, enticing Paramount originals, and live sports including NFL on CBS, UFC, and the UEFA Champions League. There’s also a cheaper $9 monthly plan if you are willing to watch ads and deal with a few missing features.
Hulu
For similar reasons to Paramount Plus, I subscribe to Hulu. I find that streaming services anchored by legacy cable TV channels offer a better experience than new-age streamers, such as CBS for Paramount Plus, NBC for Peacock, and ABC for Hulu. The streaming service starts at $12 per month with ads or $19 monthly without them. The higher-priced Hulu Premium plan enables video downloads, too.
Again, I love Hulu’s content library, with ABC series like “The Rookie,” “9-1-1,” and “Grey’s Anatomy” being available on the streamer. The best part about using Hulu to follow ABC originals is that episodes appear on the streaming service right after they air, so you can watch week to week rather than waiting for an entire season to drop. There are also Hulu original shows and movies to fill out the catalog.
Hulu is great for people who want to replace cable TV with one service. You can get Hulu with Live TV, or bundle Hulu with Disney Plus and ESPN Unlimited. There are also third-party bundles outside the Disney family that let you add HBO Max, Paramount Plus, Cinemax, and Starz to your subscription. Be warned, though, these bundles get pricey fast.
I do think the price of Hulu could be better, but the $19 Hulu Premium plan is still $8 cheaper per month than Netflix’s highest tier, so it’s hard to complain.
Best cable TV replacement
Hulu starts at just $13 per month with ads, and it’s a great cable TV alternative. Hulu is under the Disney umbrella now, which means it offers access to ABC content and Hulu originals. Plus, it can be bundled with Disney Plus and ESPN Unlimited.
Prime Video
Finally, there’s Amazon Prime Video. This streaming service is a bit underrated, partly because Prime Video has a smaller content library. It’s a fair criticism, but I love it because most of us already pay for Amazon Prime. If you do, it’s free, or you can subscribe to Prime Video separately for $9 per month. Some users don’t like that ads are now included unless you pay $5 per month, but again, I don’t mind it since I pay for Prime anyway.
Prime is surprisingly valuable, especially for football fans. The NFL’s “Thursday Night Football” games stream exclusively on Prime Video, so you’ll need to keep track of your favorite teams. The same goes for basketball lovers, as select NBA games are streamed on Prime Video. Amazon seems to be going all-in on live sports lately, so Prime Video is a good subscription to have.
Prime Video originals can be exciting too, like “Reacher” and “Cross,” for instance. If you have a Prime subscription already, it’s worth seeing what Amazon has to offer rather than paying for Netflix separately.
A hidden gem
Most of us already pay for Amazon Prime, and the Prime Video subscription service is an added perk. It doesn’t have the largest catalog, but Prime Video offers incredible originals, like Reacher, Fallout, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Cross, and The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Maybe it’s time for you to ditch Netflix, too
To find out which streaming service is actually worth the money, consider the content you watch and the platform that has the most of it. Don’t subscribe to streaming services just because they’re popular and you feel like they’re necessary, like I did with Netflix for too long. After switching to Paramount Plus, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video, I’m spending money on streaming services that provide value at a reasonable cost.
