We live in the Golden Age of Television, and there is virtually an unlimited amount of content available to stream at our fingertips. While Netflix is many people’s go-to site to catch their favourite movies and shows, there is an increasing number of subscription platforms with unique content giving the streaming giant a run for its money. 

#1. Amazon Prime Video 

  • Founded: September 7, 2006
  • Headquarters: Seattle Washington, United States 

Need to know

Netflix’s biggest competitor is arguably Amazon Prime Video, a subscription video and rental service with over 200 million users worldwide. Owned and operated by tech giant Amazon, Prime Video can be purchased as a stand-alone service or as part of a Prime subscription, which also includes the expedited delivery of Amazon products and other exclusive savings. 

Subscribers of Prime Video have access to Amazon Original television series and movies, as well as popular content from other third-party providers. The service also hosts online video rentals and purchases, and live sporting events. Prime Video’s unique feature is Amazon Channels, which allows users to pick add-on content from other subscription services, such as Starz and Discovery Plus. 

Try Amazon Prime Video

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#2. Hulu

  • Founded: October 29, 2007
  • Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, United States 

Need to know

Hulu is an online streaming service owned by the Walt Disney Company. It boasts a large catalogue of original movies and TV series, such as the critically acclaimed The Handmaid’s Tale, as well as content from other networks. The platform’s 43 million users also have access to next-day streaming of new episodes of many popular shows. Hulu’s Live TV feature also offers live news and sports broadcasts.

There are both ad-supported and ad-free versions of the platform, and Hulu’s Basic plan is a cheaper alternative to Netflix for U.S. users. However, for an additional cost, subscribers can also purchase bundles that include access to content from Disney Plus and HBO Max. 

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#3. YouTube Premium 

  • Founded: November 14, 2014
  • Headquarters: San Bruno, California, United States 

Need to know

YouTube Premium, previously known as YouTube Red, is a subscription-based form of the popular Google-owned video-sharing website, Youtube. The premium version provides access to YouTube Originals and exclusive content from famous YouTube creators, such as Lilly Singh and Joey Graceffa. It also allows its users to watch any YouTube video ad-free. Not to mention, Youtube Premium also includes a subscription to YouTube Music, an ad-free way to download and listen to your favourite songs. 

Similar to other platforms, YouTube Premium lets users download content for offline viewing. While YouTube Premium hosts an impressive 50 million subscribers, it is nowhere close to Youtube.com’s 2 billion active users. 

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#4. HBO Max

  • Founded: May 27, 2020
  • Headquarters: New York City, New York, United States 

Need to know

HBO Max is a subscription streaming service owned by WarnerMedia. Users have access to not only a range of Max Originals, but also content produced by HBO and WarnerBrothers such as Game of Thrones and the Harry Potter series. While HBO Max is only available as a stand-alone service in a few regions, it can also be accessed through Hulu, YouTube TV, and select cable providers.  

HBO Max underwent several iterations before it became the streaming platform it is today. First, there was HBO Now, a stand-alone service where users streamed content from HBO itself. Then came HBO Go, which could only be accessed via a cable subscription. Now, HBO Max offers the best of both models and is used by over 43.5 million Americans. 

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#5. Disney Plus

  • Founded: November 12, 2019
  • Headquarters: New York City, New York, United States 

Need to know

Disney Plus is a subscription streaming service that boasts a wide array of content produced by the iconic Walt Disney Studios. All users have access to classic Disney movies, Disney Channel content, and newer releases. The streaming platform even includes content from Disney-owned National Geographic, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel. 

U.S. subscribers are also able to purchase access to Hulu’s streaming catalogue and ESPN+. Even for an extra fee, this bundle is still a cheaper option than Netflix’s premium package. While Disney Plus has a limited global reach (it is only available in 36 countries), Disney’s international recognition has garnered the streaming platform 118 million subscribers.

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#6. Peacock

  • Founded: July 15, 2020
  • Headquarters: New York City, New York, United States 

Need to know

Peacock is an online streaming service operated by NBCUniversal, and named after the network’s famous peacock logo. Peacock was heavily advertised during NBC’s coverage of the 2020 Olympic Games, and many events were broadcast live from the streaming platform. 

In addition to Olympic coverage, subscribers can stream movies and television shows produced by NBCUniversal Studios, sports broadcasts, and content from other select third-party platforms. Peacock’s unique feature is that it offers a free version of the service, with the caveats of ads and access to a limited catalogue. Despite only being available in parts of North America and Europe, Peacock has an impressive 54 million subscribers. 

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#7. Apple TV Plus

  • Founded: November 1, 2019
  • Headquarters: Cupertino, California, United States 

Need to know

Apple TV Plus is a subscription streaming service launched by the tech giant, Apple Inc. This is not to be confused with Apple TV, which before the rise of Smart TVs, was a popular console that connected your television to the internet, allowing access to Netflix or YouTube.

Users of Apple TV Plus can watch a large variety of original content, at a much lower price than Netflix. However, there is only a limited selection of third-party content compared to its competitors. Despite being available in over 100 countries, Apple TV Plus has also had a more difficult time gaining traction and has a relatively low number of subscribers, at just 20 million. 

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#8. Sling TV

  • Founded: February 9, 2015
  • Headquarters: Meridian, Colorado, United States 

Need to know

Sling TV is a streaming platform that lets its users watch a wide range of cable TV channels. This is what sets Sling TV apart from its competitors. As more and more people are ditching their traditional cable packages for one (or multiple) subscription streaming services, Sling TV is hoping to fill in the gap for those who miss their favourite cable television programs. 

Sling TV is available in both the United States and Puerto Rico and allows subscribers to watch live TV channels for a cheaper price than most cable providers. At 2.5 million users, the streaming service has found its niche audience of cable lovers. 

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#9. Paramount Plus

  • Founded: October 28, 2014
  • Headquarters: New York City, New York, United States 

Need to know

Paramount Plus is a subscription streaming platform that hosts a large inventory of content primarily from the production company Paramount Pictures (e.g. Star Trek), and the cable television network CBS (e.g. Survivor, Big Brother). The service also provides access to live sports and news broadcasts, and produces its own original content. Even Paramount Plus’ ad-free version is a cheaper alternative to streaming platforms like Netflix and HBO Max. 

Previously known as CBS All Access, it was renamed Paramount Plus in 2021 with the hope that Paramount’s renowned international recognition would draw more users to the platform. Currently, Paramount Plus has 48 million subscribers. 

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Sources used:

Amazon Prime Video

Hulu

YouTube Premium

HBO Max

Disney Plus

Peacock

Apple TV Plus

Sling TV

Paramount Plus

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