List of the best streaming services
Here is a list of the best video streaming services:
1. XtremeHD.
The best for an affordable IPTV service with over 20,000 live channels to stream.
If streaming shows from around the world in ultra-high definition is what you're looking for, then XtremeHD IPTV should be at the top of your list. All you need to do is sign up for its services to have access to over 20,000 live channels and video on demand. You have access to popular shows from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries around the world.
Each of its subscription plans comes with an EPG TV guide that helps you navigate the broadcast schedule so you know exactly when to watch your favorite shows or movies. You also have the privilege of watching videos in Full HD, HD, and SD resolution. Additionally, XtremeHD IPTV also has anti-freeze technology, which means you'll be able to enjoy content without interruption.
Features
- TV Guide (EPG)
- Antifreeze technology
- 99.9% operating time.
- Movies and TV series on demand
- Multiple device support
Verdict
With an uptime close to 99.9% and a huge gallery of quality international content, XtremeHD IPTV has what it takes to be a great IPTV and streaming service. It works across multiple devices and gives you access to a plethora of premium channels. As such, it's a service that we recommend you try out.
Rates
- 36-hour trial - $3/trial,
- Monthly plan - $15/month,
- 3-month plan - $45.99/month,
- 6 month plan - $74.99/month,
- 1-year plan - $140.99,
- Lifetime plan - $500 in one-time fees.
Visit the XtremeHD website
2) YouTube TV.
The best solution for streaming content from over 85 channels.
For a very long time, YouTube has been and still is one of the best and most requested free streaming services. It not only made it possible to buy a variety of good content for free on the mobile screens of many smartphone users, but it also allowed many talented people to become creators in their own right by producing and publishing their own video content, becoming celebrities overnight.
YouTube TV takes this concept and develops it by asking subscribers to pay an affordable price to get their content without the annoyance of ads. However, this option alone cannot be appealing, which is why YouTube has also launched its own original content programming to compete with Netflix and Prime.
YouTube TV can now boast of broadcasting over 85 channels on a single streaming platform, which includes sports, news, and entertainment content. It allows you to record your favorite shows with unlimited storage and offers you 6 accounts at a time.
Features
- Unlimited recording
- No annual contract
- Subscription to 6 accounts
- Rewind and fast-forward content
Verdict
YouTube TV is priced reasonably compared to other streaming platforms, thanks to the power it offers users in terms of what content to stream and what they can do with it.
Rates
30-day free trial, $64.99/month
Website: YouTube TV
3) Netflix.
The best for streaming original and old content online.
Netflix is the source of everything, so of course it had to be on this list. When Netflix started offering licensed content, no one imagined the revolution it would launch in online entertainment streaming. People were charmed by his services and became dependent on the service he provided.
Fast forward to 2021 and Netflix exposes the majority of content that is produced in the US alone. It is also a major player in the creation of original content by partnering with creators from all over the world. The House of Cards and Stranger Things series are already popular culture phenomena whose popularity has only grown.
Although Netflix faces fierce competition from new and old players, the platform still has the upper hand by pioneering the streaming services we know and consume today.
Features
- A huge gallery of old and original content
- Choose from subtitled and dubbed versions of the content.
- Sleek interface
- Pause, advance, and rewind content
Verdict
Netflix remains the preferred entertainment platform for many, thanks to its content gallery and its elegant and comprehensive interface. With a gallery of quality original content that is growing day by day, it's hard to imagine that a streaming platform could dethrone the king of streaming services.
Rates
- 30-day free trial,
- Basic - $8.99,
- Standard - $12.99,
- Premium $15.99.
Website: netflix
4) Sling TV.
The best solution for easy and affordable content streaming.
Sling TV is one of the oldest and still the cheapest live TV streaming services out there. It doesn't pack a lot of punch when it comes to its interface or the range of channels it offers. However, the fact that it offers popular content at some of the lowest rates has made this tool a market pillar.
The streaming service hosts channels that range from lifestyle to news, drama and sports, and allows users to stream them in 4k resolution. Features include access to channels like Showtime, Starz, and more.
Features
- 4K streaming access
- Free cloud DVR
- Access to 50+ CHANNEL
Verdict
While Sling doesn't have a lot of channels you'd like to have access to, it does offer quality content at a lower price than any other online service.
Rates
Free 3-day trial, $20 for the first month then $30 per month for Sling Blue - 3 devices.
Website: Sling TV
5) Apple TV+
The best solution for streaming original content to Apple devices, Roku, Fire TV, and more.
Apple had already excelled in the field of computer hardware. So it was only time for her to get started in the field of content streaming. So far, the response to his adventure in this strange valley has been decent. Apple TV+ is an impeccable streaming service that comes at a very attractive price.
The streaming service allows you to share a subscription between 5 members and also allows you to download your favorite shows to watch offline. For that alone, Apple TV+ is worth the price.
However, it is at the level of content that she still has to work on. Although the platform has recruited major stars and produced a few quality shows, none has garnered the attention that the competing platform's shows have managed to get.
Features
- Watch offline
- Share with 5 members
- Without advertising
- Effective account management
Verdict
Although Apple TV still needs a lot of improvements in the area of content, the service is technically flawless. With more new content promised in the future, Apple TV+ could get closer to its rivals in terms of performance.
Rates
7-day free trial, $4.99/WORLD
Website: Apple TV+
6) Hulu Plus Live TV.
The best for 65+ channels with the Hulu streaming library.
Hulu has done quite well in the streaming service war, competing with giants like Prime and Netflix, while carving out a niche audience, thanks to its offering of award-winning original content. Hulu Plus is undoubtedly one of the best TV streaming services out there.
Hulu Plus goes even further by offering over 65 channels in combination with Hulu's content library. What can't we like? The service allows broadcasts to be streamed to multiple devices at the same time, while offering users the option of recording their shows thanks to a 50-hour storage capacity.
Features
- Access to channels for people aged 65 and over
- Recording with a storage capacity of 50 hours
- Broadcast on multiple devices at once
- Personalize with add-ons
Verdict
With a gallery of over 65 diverse channels ranging from sports to news, Hulu+ is a great addition to your streaming subscription. You get access to the full seasons of a number of major shows at an unrivaled price.
Rates
7-day free trial, $54.99/month
Website: Hulu+ Live TV
7) HBO Max.
The best for award-winning and exclusive HBO original content.
HBO was the definition of quality mature entertainment before streaming services took over. The chain that gave us classics like The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, and True Detective has now ventured into the streaming world.
With HBO Max, you not only get access to original HBO content, but also exclusive content from Warner Bros Studios and DC Comics. The year 2021 is particularly promising for the platform. With the highly anticipated Justice League by Zack Snyder expected to be released at the beginning of the year, we can expect to see the number of subscribers to the service increase by a long way.
Features
- A huge catalog of movies and television programs
- Attractive applications
- Parental control
- Offline viewing on mobile
Verdict
HBO Max brings everything that made HBO so successful with fans to the online world, with incredible panache. The streaming service is packed with hours of quality content for viewers to feast on. The lack of 4K viewing might put some off, but the content is just too good to ignore.
Rates
7-day free trial, $14.99/month
Website: HBO Max
8) Acorn TV.
The best for streaming British TV.
The United States isn't the only place in the world that has great content to offer, and Acorn TV proves it. Acorn TV brings viewers around the world the best British fiction, mystery, and comedy programs. The shows are very popular and perfect for binge-watching.
However, Acorn suffers from a lazy interface that is both disturbing to look at and often frustrating to navigate. However, it's just too hard to resist the quality of the content on offer. So once you get past the poor quality interface, it's always a pleasure to stream content.
Features
- Access to original and classic British content
- Broadcast on multiple devices at once
- Streaming on Apple TV, Roku, Android, and the web
- Easy registration
Verdict
Acorn TV is fairly basic, which can be both its advantage and disadvantage depending on who you ask. However, if you can ignore its disturbing interface, it offers a large amount of quality content.
Rates
7-day free trial, $5.99/month
Website: Acorn TV
9) CBS All Access.
The best solution for streaming original/classic family and mature content.
At the time when HBO presented itself as the go-to channel for lovers of adult content, CBS offered more discreet family content. So when HBO decided to go online, it was obvious that CBS would do the same, and that's how CBS Access was born.
CBS is bringing its show gallery with a combination of new shows to the mix. She is currently hosting Star Trek Discovery and Picard, who did not receive the welcome they had hoped for. All that could change with The Stand next year, the long-awaited Stephen King epic. Things could finally get better for the platform.
Features
- Get access to all of the new and classic CBS content.
- Sleek and comprehensive interface
- Works on all devices
- Easily change plans
- Special student plan with discounted prices
Verdict
CBS Access brings CBS programming online. The streaming service is fine and spectacular at the same time. While there is still work to be done when it comes to the quality of the content on offer, all of this could change in favor of the platform as 2021 approaches.
Rates
7-day free trial, $5.99/month
Website: CBS Access
10) DirecTV Now.
The best for streaming 4K shows.
DirectTV is a powerful live TV streaming service that aims to bring as much entertainment as possible to its users. Its most basic offering is filled to the brim with over 160 channels, including sports, fiction, news, and other types of content.
The platform allows the live broadcast of favorite sports in high definition if combined with a good Internet connection. In addition to these benefits, the tool also provides users with last-minute information about the latest programs broadcast on a channel in your package.
Features
- Live sports and television programming
- Compatible with multiple devices
- Access to the latest news and content information.
- Access to over 160 channels
Verdict
DirecTV now is a great platform for providing the online cable TV experience. With a large number of channels, this service deserves to be discovered.
Rates
$64.99/month for 160 channels, $69.99/month for 185 channels, $84.99/month for 250 channels
Website: DirecTV
11) Showtime.
The best for streaming Showtime exclusive content.
After HBO, if there is a network that has made progress in the field of mature content, it is Showtime. The channel has only grown by leaps and bounds by offering original raw content that has been awarded worldwide.
Showtime also puts its entire gallery of popular shows like Dexter, Homeland, and others on an impeccable streaming platform. The streaming service prides itself on an elegant interface that is only perpetuated by its gallery of good-quality movies and TV content.
Features
- Access to original Showtime content
- No advertising
- Download for offline viewing
- Live TV streaming services
- Get movies on demand
Verdict
Its gallery of quality programs should alone encourage viewers to subscribe to its services. However, the fact that it also allows offline viewing makes the subscription even more interesting.
Rates
30-day free trial, $10.99/month
Website: showtime
Other major streaming service providers
12) DirecTV Stream (formerly AT&T TV Now).
DirecTV Stream (formerly AT&T TV Now) isn't as intuitive as other live TV streaming services. For starters, its interface is not comprehensive enough to attract more users. On the other hand, it offers a greater number of top-tier channels and is cheaper than other live streaming services.
Rates
$54.99/month
Website: DirecTV Stream (formerly AT&T TV Now)
13) Amazon Prime TV.
Prime can easily rival Netflix; in fact, it's poised to overtake it as the new streaming king. His gallery is also filled to the brim with big shows like The Boys, Marvelous Ms. Maisel, and Jack Ryan. Prime excels when it comes to giving users the power to choose the content resolution they want.
The platform also provides users with real-time information about the cast and crew of the show you're watching.
Rates
1 month free trial, $12.99/month, $119/year
Website: Amazon Prime TV
14) Philo
Philo offers a variety of entertainment and lifestyle channels at a very low price. Its inexpensive nature is perhaps its greatest achievement. It is very easy to use and offers a robust DVR that includes over 60 channels. Although it is full of entertainment content, it is sorely lacking in news channels. So if you're someone who watches the news regularly, don't use it.
Rates
$20/month
Website: Philo
15) Fubo
Launched in 2015, Fubo is a great streaming service for sports fanatics. The service hosts some of the most niche sports channels in existence. In contrast, the service does not host the Turner network and is extremely expensive. So only go for Fubo if you are a sports fan and have money to spend.
Rates
$60/month, Standard - $80/month
Website: Fubo
16) Disney Plus
Disney is perhaps the biggest name on this list. The powerful Hollywood studio has finally made its presence felt in the streaming war. With content from flagship franchises like Star Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Disney's collection of original and classic content, fans of blockbusters can't resist the offer.
Besides entertainment, Disney Plus also hosts ESPN sports programs and Hulu shows.
Rates
$6.99/month, $69.99/year
Website: Disney Plus
Conclusion.
Streaming services have made content more accessible than ever. As such, it is hard to imagine a future without them. They may also make movie theaters and cable networks obsolete. So it makes sense to opt for one or more platforms from this list of great streaming services.
As for our recommendations, Netflix remains the most powerful of its competitors, with a library that is growing day by day. If you're looking for another option for your cable issues, YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV will satisfy you.
Video Streaming Services FAQ
Is streaming a better option than cable?
With streaming, you only pay for the content you watch, which isn't the case with a cable subscription. Sure, cable gives you more channels to watch, but that ends up getting more expensive in the long run because you're also paying for channels that you don't even bother to watch.
Can you use streaming services on your television?
Thanks to the availability of smart TVs, you can now use streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime on your huge TV.
What are the basic requirements for a streaming service to function properly?
All you need for a great streaming experience is a quality device like a laptop, phone, or smart TV, and a lightning-fast Internet connection. Once these requirements are met, you can enjoy high-quality, high-definition content on any device you want.