best streaming services of 2019 Amazon Prime Video, Netflix more
1. Netflix
Price plans: Basic ($8.99), Standard ($12.99) and Premium ($15.99)
Netflix homescreen – one of the best streaming services of 2019
No streaming service list would be complete without the one that started it all – Netflix. With over 4000 titles in the US, it has one of the largest content libraries that is regularly expanded. It also offers a well-balanced selection of content: blockbusters, documentaries, animation, standup comedy, family friendly content and more. The platform’s original series are also a boon, with smash hits like Stranger Things, Black Mirror and The Crown capturing imaginations around the globe.
Yet, what makes Netflix a true winner for movie buffs is that it offers the largest number of ”certified fresh” films of any platform, which can also be streamed in 4K with a Premium plan. That, coupled with the fact that you can download content for later offline viewing, makes Netflix hard to pass up. The only real con is that series and films can be removed abruptly, but that happens on plenty of other platforms too. This is why, even with recent price increases, it’s hard to beat Netflix’s price-quality ratio.
2. Amazon Prime Video
Price: included in your $129 per year Amazon Prime subscription or $8.99 per month standalone subscription
Amazon Prime home screen – one of the best streaming services of 2019
Amazon Prime Video often gets outshined by its two major competitors Hulu and Netflix, but it’s still one of the best video streaming services out there. It has a surprisingly large library and offers a healthy mix of TV shows and movies. Recently, Amazon Prime has also started producing more original series like the Emmy winner The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. However, the one we are most excited about is its upcoming Lord of the Rings series. The best part is that Prime Video is free with your annual Amazon Prime subscription, which has plenty of other benefits.
Nevertheless, the service is not without its flaws. Its interface can be a bit clunky at times and you can only stream on up to two devices at a time. You cannot create multiple profiles under the same subscription like you can with Netflix either. This limits personalization to a degree, but if that doesn’t bother you Amazon Prime Video is a great choice for your primary streaming service.
3. FuboTV
Price plans: Fubo ($55), Fubo Extra ($60)
Initially a soccer streaming platform, FuboTV is now a live TV sports-focused streaming service (although it’s not sports only). It offers 90 channels with the basic package and 110 if you go for Fubo Extra, including regional sports networks which you would rarely find on other streaming platforms. The base package also provides 30 hours of cloud DVR storage, which you can upgrade to a whopping 500 hours for just an extra $10 a month.
FuboTV does have one major drawback, however: it doesn’t carry ESPN or any Disney-owned channels. It compensates for that with more than 30.000 sporting events per year, including NFL, NBA and MLB games. And if you are a soccer fan, FuboTV is probably the best streaming service for you, since it claims to offer more games from both major and minor leagues than any other service out there.
4. CBS All Access
Price plans: $5.99 or $9.99 commercial-free
As the name of this streaming service implies, CBS All Access is a platform dedicated to CBS content. In fact, it only offers CBS programming on demand, as well as live streaming of your local CBS channels. You can even catch NFL broadcasts depending on your location. This makes the $9.99 per month subscription fee for the ad-free experience more than worth it for cord cutters that enjoy the channel’s content. CBS All Access has a huge catalog of classic and modern CBS shows (around 10,000 episodes). It’s a must-have for any Trekkie, for example. It not only offers the CBS original Star Trek Discovery, but also Star Trek The Original Series, The Next Generation, Voyager and more. Other retro hits like The Brady Bunch, Family Ties, Twin Peaks are part of the catalog as well. To top it all off, you can also enjoy popular soap operas and reality TV shows.
Where CBS All Access falls short is movies. You will rarely find more than 30 films on the platform at any time. Streaming in 4K is not possible either, but downloading episodes for offline viewing is an option. So, while not very versatile, the streaming service’s affordability makes it quite appealing, especially if you take advantage of the 25% student discount on offer.