[UPDATED] 8 Best Netflix Alternatives To Watch Movies
Are you looking for Netflix alternatives? Netflix has introduced binge-watching into the lives of hundreds of people across the world. How can one forget binge-watching series like Orange is the new black, Money Heist, Dark, House of Cards, Crown, or the recently launched movies like Extraction, Bird Box and Velvet Buzzsaw?
Netflix has the upper hand over its competitors, and it accounts for more than one-third of all peak-time downstream traffic. This probably explains the famous ‘Netflix and chill’ slang among teenagers.
Although not everyone prefers Netflix. It’s not the only streaming service out there. People look for the best alternatives to Netflix, and there are many reasons for it.
Like- Outdated New Releases section or the not so popular series, or missing 2000s hit shows like Friends and HIMYM, or maybe you don’t like what it is offering anymore.
Thus, even with tons of exciting content, Netflix doesn’t have everything as it has been recently focusing more on Netflix Originals and Independent movies.
Page Contents
6 Best Netflix Alternatives To Watch Movies & TV Shows
Here in this post, we have come up with some of the best Netflix alternatives apps/streaming services to watch the latest movies & TV shows online:
1. StreamingSites
Whether you are a fan of TV shows, movies, Anime, or even music, StreamingSites offers a massive list of Netflix Alternatives in the world. Your search for best entertainment sites ends at StreamingSites.
The site lists free as well as paid streaming sites for movies, TV shows, sports, Anime, Gaming, Music, and a lot more. You will find more than 10 to 30 sites under each category. So, if you are bored of watching movies, you can easily find tons of other entertainment options in one place.
Besides, StreamingSites keep updating the list frequently to provide new and updated entertainment sites for you to enjoy.
The site also offers options of VPN services to choose for security reasons and even some useful apps such as VLC player, Adblocker, uTorrent, and more.
2. Disney+Hotstar
With nearly 30 million monthly new visitors, Hotstar marks its place into the list of best Netflix Alternatives. Hotstar has an extensive collection of new as well as some famous old TV shows and movies. If you are a sports person, get popcorn to stream all kinds of Sports live on Hostar.
Hotstar has now added a new Disney+ subscription to the premium subscribers. So while you are binging ‘How I met your Mother,’ your kid can watch Frozen and Hannah Montana. Not to mention Hotstar has Marvel movies as well.
Right now, Hostar is available to stream in 3 countries, India, the USA, and Canada. The available shows may vary as per the country. However, if you do not belong to the above three countries, you can always use a VPN and enjoy the shows on Hotstar.
Apart from Hotstar’s original TV shows, you will find a collection of channels on Hostar. Hotstar, in India, has an integration of news channels, entertainment channels, and more.
Currently, Hotstar is available in the US for $9.99/month, $12.99/month in Canada, and Rs. 299/month in India. With the premium plan, you can stream high-quality videos with subtitles; you can cast the shows from Hotstar app to the Chromecast of Smart TV.
Hotstar premium is cheaper than the Netflix premium. Besides, Netflix restricts the video quality and casting features of some of its plans. In such a case, Hotstar would be the best choice.
<Try Hotstar Today><Download Hotstar on Android><Download Hotstar on iPhone>
3. Amazon Prime Video
Amazon, apart from being an e-commerce giant, offers videos to its customers. The company’s streaming platform goes by two names: Prime Video and Amazon Video. Amazon Prime Video is an internet on-demand video service that is developed, owned, and operated by Amazon. It offers various multi-genre television shows and films.
Here, Amazon users pay a price of $12.99 per month or $199 per year cost, which also includes the 2-day free delivery. Amazon Prime is a clear winner in terms of Subscription cost because Prime is cheaper than Netflix.
Amazon adds new releases each month. Namely, series like Bosch, The New Yorker Presents, The Man in The High Castle, and Mozart in the Jungle. Amazon Video was, before known as the Amazon Instant Video is a library of all paid-for content. Here you can rent or purchase various multi-genre television shows and films. A subset of these films and TV series are available for Prime members as well. Although, a lot of these are only available through Amazon Video and need to be rented or purchased.
Apart from the Prime Video, you will also get a bunch of other services like free 2-day delivery on all products listed on Amazon. Along with this, you will get the early access to Amazon deals, sales, and more.
So, what does make Amazon Prime Video different from Netflix? Well, first of all, Amazon Prime Video doesn’t charge extra for Ultra HD and 4K resolutions on any plans. Whereas in Netflix, you’ll need to buy a premium plan of 800 for 1080p and Ultra HD 4K resolution. Netflix doesn’t give these video resolutions in its basic plan, however, which is the downside of Netflix.
Amazon Prime Video has a high quality regional or zonal content than Netflix. On Amazon Prime India, one can find Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, and other related regional movies.
4. Hulu
HULU now has a Disney+ integration as well to enjoy star wars, Marvel, Pixar, and all Disney Cartoons. You can view the channels in your area supported by Hulu. Hulu has a kid’s space with all the famous cartoons separated by age groups.
Hulu is a newer way to stream trending TV shows of Europe and the US as well. It also allows the user to stream its content in the form of documentaries and movies. Streaming options in Hulu and Hulu with Live TV are differentiated from various quality levels. These quality levels can be adjusted based on your bandwidth speed.
For smooth streaming experience Hulu requires a minimum download speed of 6 Mbps, whereas Hulu with Live TV needs 8 Mbps of minimum download speed.
The streaming service is the best replacement for traditional TV. But the difference is that Hulu does not need long term commitments. Hulu does provide seven days of free trial for Hulu + Live TV and a month of free trial for Hulu alone. With this, you can try all their services without paying a single penny.
All the CW shows now go to Netflix but with a restriction, not until a week after the season ends. So, if you want to watch the next-day airing of network TV shows from ABC, NBC, and Fox for one price, Hulu is a must. Also, the Hulu original shows are only getting better, like the recent breakout hit The Handmaid’s Tale.
Looking at the price, Hulu costs 5.99$/per month, but this plan has ads. If you want a completely ad-free experience, one has to pay 11.99$/per month. Although, a few shows still play with an ad break before and after the video.
Netflix offers no Add-ons whereas Hulu at present provides 4 Add-ons “channels”: Starz is $8.99 per month, Showtime is $10.99 a month, Cinemax is $9.99 a month, and HBO costs $14.99 a month. With these add-ons, you can stream Game of Thrones, what more do you need when GOT’s 8th season comes out.
<Try Hulu>
5. HBO Now
HBO Now is an all-new standalone streaming service offered by Home Box Office. It also has a great selection of most favorite series like Game of Thrones, Sopranos, Silicon Valley, The Wire, True Blood, and Deadwood.
Talking about the subscription cost, HBO Now service charges $14.99 per month along with the one month of free trial services as well. It offers TV shows and original content. The streaming service is widely available across many device platforms Apple TV, iPhone, and Windows as well. Meanwhile, students can subscribe for $9.99 per month, which is quite a good deal.
HBO Now has live TV streaming services such as DirectTV Now or Sling TV; you can also get it by paying an additional $5 per month. First of all, sing up on HBO Now using an app which is available on Google Play for Android user. And for Apple users, you will find the HBO Now on App store as well.
HBO is favored for its premium content. Even though Netflix has spent billions over collecting thousands of content, those looking for premium content still go for HBO.
6. YouTube TV
YouTube TV is an internet-based commercial service that streams 60+ channels. It’s a Cable-free live TV that is available in most of the locations in the US. Most of the channels and add-ons are available area wise so you will have to check what’s available in your area.
The most loved features of YouTube TV are that it offers Cloud DVR with no storage limits and includes six accounts per household. You can stream YouTube TV on any device and TV with a Chromecast plugged in. You can even play, pause, or record with voice commands via Google Home.
With its unlimited cloud DVR storage, you can record unlimited things on the go and enjoy your favorite shows anywhere. YouTube TV costs 40$/per month, and you can try it for free.
7. Google Play Movies & TV
Google offers a service called Google Play Movies & TV, where you can buy or rent movies and shows. The cost is about the same as a DVD. You can rent a movie for as low as USD 2.99 or some occasional deals of 99 cents.
As claimed by Google, most of the content is available in high definition or a 4K Ultra HD. Also, one can watch the content through the Google Play website along with an extension in the Chrome Browser. One can also download movies offline through Google Play App or on Chromebook devices.
It is a good option for people who watch movies sometimes and are usually looking for popular titles. At the same time, rental costs for most films are cheaper than buying Netflix, which is around USD 12.99 monthly if you watch movies occasionally.
8. Fandor
Fandor must be your first choice if you’re looking for a break from the popular Hollywood hits. It’s an indie film and a subscription-based streaming service. Currently, it is available on Web, Apple TV, iOS, Android, Roku, and Chromecast. Fandor isn’t for average movie fans who watch superhero movies. It is for those hardcore movie buffs who look for some fantastic gems.
Along with the vast library of films, Fandor offers a collection of 6000 movies to its users. Also, each movie comes with a fresh and accurate description.
It is one of the best platforms for entertainment and licensed content. Fandor offers complete access to the material at the cost of USD 5.99 per month. While if you subscribe to a yearly plan, it will cost you USD 49.99 per year (USD 4.16 per month). It also provides a 14 day free trial on both its monthly and annual plans. This means if you don’t like its content, you can stop your subscription in 14 days.
In their own words, “Fandor Edu gives educators tools to inspire discussions around cinema, within the classroom and beyond.” This statement is coupled with a 50% discount for students and educators. But, Fandor is only available in the United States and Canada at present.
Final Words:
We tried to cover the best Netflix alternatives here that are affordable in terms of pricing compared to Netflix and helps you to keep updated with the latest entertainment movies and shows.
Do let us know which Netflix alternative is your favorite and why? If you have any other suggestions that could be a perfect fit for the post, feel free to let us know in the comment section below.
TechyOceans is a tech community blog for tech lovers. The objective of the blog is to educate users with the latest technology.
Greаt p᧐st. Extremely useful.