BEST STREAMING SERVICES OF MAY 2024
6 Best Streaming Services of 2024
The best streaming service for you will depend on your entertainment preferences, budget and TV habits. We chose the following streaming services with an eye toward price, variety and genre so you can choose the service that best meets your needs and interests.
Best for Premium Content
Max
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Why We Chose It
Max, formerly known as HBO Max, consistently pumps out high-quality, award-winning films and TV shows. We love the service’s collection of original, premium scripted television; HBO basically invented prestige TV when it launched “The Sopranos” two decades ago, and Max continues to carry the torch. You also have the option to add a sports bundle called B/R Sports, which offers select games (subject to blackouts and other limitations) for an additional $9.99 per month.
Pros
- High-quality content includes prestige TV and hit movies
- Live news and sports available
- Can download titles to watch on the go
Cons
- No free trial
- Ad-free subscription is pricey
- No live TV
Additional Information
- Deep library of popular movies, hit TV shows and niche titles
- 4K UHD available
- Save up to 20% when paying annually
- Download shows and movies to watch on the go (except with lowest-tier plan)
- Wide range of devices supported
Best for Original Content
Apple TV+
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Why We Chose It
Apple TV+ offers an elegant, ad-free streaming experience with all-original content. Unlike other streaming services, you can give Apple TV+ a test run thanks to the seven-day free trial. That will let you see whether you like the kind of content you’ll find on Apple TV+: overwhelmingly award-winning, if the app’s 425 wins (and 1,700+ nominations) are any indication. We wish you could set up user profiles with Apple TV+ the way you can with other services like Netflix and Disney+, but the complete lack of ads makes up for that small quibble. Soccer fans can add the MLS Season Pass to their Apple TV+ subscription to watch every game with no blackouts for $12.99 per month.
Pros
- New, original content added every month
- No ads or commercials
- MLS Season Pass available as an add-on
Cons
- No app for Android devices
- Shallow content library compared to other services
- No lower-priced option available
Additional Information
- 4K HDR available
- Can share a subscription with up to five people
- Can bundle with other Apple apps for savings
- All original content
- Friday Night Baseball included
Best for Families
Disney+
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Why We Chose It
Disney+ locked down some of the biggest names in family entertainment, creating a top-tier content library of favorites and originals for both kids and adults. If you don’t mind ads, the service’s lowest-tier offering costs just $7.99 per month, which is budget-friendly compared to some other streaming services. You can upgrade to an ad-free experience for $6 more per month, and you also have the option to bundle Disney+ with Hulu and ESPN+ to broaden your content selection for an additional charge. There are no live TV options if you don’t bundle.
Pros
- More than 500 movies and 80 Disney originals available
- Many different pricing and bundle options
- Download titles to watch on the go
Cons
- No free trial
- No live Disney TV channels
- Downloads only available for Premium and Bundle subscribers
Additional Information
- Library includes hundreds of hit titles from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and “Star Wars”
- Junior Mode lets kids use the service safely
- Huge variety of high-quality, kid-friendly titles
- Stream Hulu within the Disney+ app
- SharePlay lets you stream with friends and family far away
Best for Variety
Netflix
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Why We Chose It
As one of the original streaming services, Netflix still offers a staggering array of content, with more than 18,000 titles to watch in a wide range of categories. You’ll find original content, licensed shows and movies, documentaries, reality TV, titles from overseas, anime—if you want it, you’ll probably find it on Netflix. The app also has a fairly effective recommendation engine to help you find your next binge-watch. You can download titles to watch on the go and connect to Netflix in dozens of ways, including on your gaming console. Netflix offers three packages to choose from: Standard with Ads ($6.99), Standard ($15.49) and Premium ($19.99).
Pros
- Huge variety of content
- Variety of pricing options
- Award-winning originals
Cons
- Standard plan comes with ads
- No live TV
- Selection of titles is constantly rotating
Additional Information
- New content weekly
- User-friendly interface
- Ultra-high definition option
- Kids environment lets them watch safely
- Create profiles for household members, including kids
Best for Budget Streaming
Peacock Premium
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Why We Chose It
For the price, Peacock Premium offers plenty to watch, including new movies, exclusive originals, NBC and Bravo TV shows, live news, late-night shows, Telemundo shows and Peacock Channels 24/7. Even the top-tier Peacock package is still only $9.99 per month, and that includes live sports like golf and college basketball in the spring and Sunday Night Football in the fall, among many others. While it may not have the basketfuls of Emmy nominations or tens of thousands of titles to choose from like other big-name streamers, Peacock has been slowly but steadily growing its offerings, and it makes a great pick for first-time streamers as well as a solid supplemental streaming service for veteran cord-cutters.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Live news and sports
- Access to your local NBC channel
Cons
- No free trial
- “Ad-free” version may still have ads
- Downloading titles only available on Premium Plus package
Additional Information
- Low-priced streaming content
- Current NBC and Bravo shows
- Exclusive originals
- Always-on channels
- Create up to 6 profiles
Best for Sports
Fubo
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Why We Chose It
If access to live sports has been the factor keeping you tethered to your cable TV provider, Fubo may be the streaming solution for you. The streaming service offers a wide array of sports programming, including prime-time games. The monthly price seems high until you compare it to what you may be paying for a hefty lineup of cable TV channels—and you’ll still get cable TV channels with Fubo, including ESPN, ESPN2, ACC Network and SEC Network. If you’re looking for a Spanish-language streaming service, Fubo’s Latino package offers 65 channels and 250 hours of cloud DVR space for $32.99 per month.
Pros
- 7-day free trial
- Live local and national sports
- Access to affiliate networks
Cons
- Some games still subject to local-market blackouts
- Expensive compared to other streaming services
- Add-on options are pricey
Additional Information
- Live pro sports, including NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and international leagues
- Access to regional sports networks for local games in some markets
- Live and on-demand TV programming
- DVR capabilities
- ESPN channels included
Vault’s Viewpoint: Compare the Best Streaming Services of 2024
Learn More About Streaming Services
New to streaming? Here’s a quick rundown of what streaming services are, how they work and who uses them.
What Are Streaming Services?
Streaming services are a way to watch media and entertainment, such as movies and TV shows, using an internet connection. The streaming service streams the media over the internet, and you can typically stream on almost any device with an internet connection. Streaming services offer an alternative to over-the-air television or cable programming, and you can typically watch them on various devices: streaming sticks that plug into your TV, smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, apps on your gaming console and laptop and desktop computers.
How Do Streaming Services Work?
Streaming services provide a way to watch without downloading each program or file to your local device. The streaming service purchases the digital rights to a particular piece of content and then compresses it into digital packets that can be sent over the internet to you. When you launch a streaming service app, it reads those packets and reassembles them to display the content on your screen.
Who Are Streaming Services Best For?
Streaming services are best for people with a fast, stable, and reliable internet connection that allows them to stream at a reasonable quality with minimal interruption. Streaming services can be an affordable alternative to cable TV for people on a budget, although many people subscribe to several streaming services at the same time.
Types of Streaming Services
Streaming services typically offer one or both of the following formats:
- On-demand, where you choose what you want to watch and when
- Live, where the program streams whether or not you tune in
Common types of streaming services include:
- Music and audio, which may include podcasts, radio and audiobooks
- Movies and TV, which are typically video on demand
- Sports, which are professional sports typically streamed live
- Gaming, where gamers stream their gameplay to an audience
- Fitness, which offers workouts to stream live and on-demand
How To Choose a Streaming Service
When trying to choose a new streaming service for your household, the following factors can help you make your decision.
Content
Think about what kind of content you consume most. Movies, TV, sports? What genre do you prefer? Do you want to keep up with the latest releases or will you find comfort in watching your favorite shows over and over?
Next, compare the types of programming available with each provider. If you’re signing up for your first streaming service, choose one that offers lots of variety. If you’re adding to your streaming lineup, look for a service that complements what you already have access to.
Price
Consider your budget. Many streaming service providers offer multiple packages, which allows you to choose the right option for your budget. You may also be able to bundle one or more services together and save a few bucks; just don’t sign up for extra services you don’t need.
Ads
Many streaming services offer both ad-free and ad-supported packages. If you don’t mind commercial interruption and want to save money, an ad-supported package might be a good choice. You can always upgrade to the ad-free, more expensive version later. And some services, such as Apple TV+, don’t have any ads at all.
Other Streaming Service Alternatives
In addition to our top picks for streaming services, there are many alternatives. Check out whether the popular services below may suit your lifestyle and preferences better.
Amazon Prime Video
You get free access to Amazon Prime Video with your Amazon Prime membership, including access to Thursday Night Football, exclusive originals and hit movies and TV shows. Watch online or with the app on your smartphone, tablet, smart TV and other platforms. Signing up without a Prime membership costs $14.99 per month.
Hulu
Hulu offers a huge variety of plans and pricing, so you can customize your entertainment to your budget. Choose from $1.99 monthly student rates all the way up to live TV bundles for $90 per month, plus add-ons that include Max, Cinemax, Showtime and others for an additional charge.
ESPN+
You’ll often find ESPN+ offered as part of a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu. Individually, the service costs $10.99 per month. ESPN+ offers live sports streaming as well as a selection of studio shows and originals. Sports options include MLB, PGA tours, a variety of soccer leagues and combat like UFC. You can stream ESPN+ on up to three devices at once.
Paramount+
Paramount+ offers movies and originals plus a livestream of your local CBS station. You can try the service free for one week; subscriptions are $5.99 per month for Paramount+ Essential (with ads) or $11.99 per month for Paramount+ with Showtime (mostly no ads).
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Best Combination of Streaming Services?
If you’re going to subscribe to more than one streaming service, consider bundling two or more services. This often broadens your access to different kinds of content yet costs less than signing up for each service individually. For example, you can bundle Disney+ and Hulu for much less than it would cost to subscribe separately.
What’s the Best TV Streaming System?
If you want to stream to your TV, your best bet is to use an app on your smart TV or use a streaming stick such as the Roku or Amazon Fire Stick. These methods let you use a remote control for easy channel selections and volume control.
What’s the Best Free Streaming Service?
You can add a streaming service to your lineup for free if you know where to look. Our favorite free streaming services include Freevee, Fandango at Home and the Roku Channel.
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2024-04-26T15:51:00Z dg43tfdfdgfd