The 14 Best Netflix Alternatives, Free and Paid

Netflix is one of the biggest streaming platforms, but it’s certainly not the only one. There are lots of Netflix alternatives out there, both free and paid, and some are arguably even better than Netflix.

In this article, we take at look at some of the best Netflix alternatives available today. These are companies similar to Netflix but which offer streaming services with different features and/or content.

1. Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video is the largest competitor to Netflix and it’s well worth your time. The original movies and TV shows that Amazon produce (like Jack Ryan and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) are worth the price of admission alone. You can either subscribe to Prime Video on its own, or pay an additional $4/month to get all of the benefits of Amazon Prime.

• A wide variety of critically acclaimed original content you can’t find elsewhere
• You can easily rent or buy other content that isn’t included in the subscription
• Prime Video is included as part of a full Amazon Prime subscription

Watch: Amazon Prime Video – $8.99/month

2. Disney+

Disney+ had a lot of hype surrounding its launch as it was the House of Mouse’s big serve against Netflix.

Since the company seemingly owns everything, it’s packed with works from the likes of Marvel, Pixar, and National Geographic. Of course, it also boasts all of the classic and latest Disney films, along with original content like The Mandalorian (the Star Wars TV spin-off).

If you’re on the fence over whether to subscribe, we have already asked, Is Disney+ worth getting?

• Perfect for kids, thanks to the deep Disney archives of classic animations
• A limited amount of content from 20th Century Fox due to its mature slant
• Slowly producing its own exclusive content, though this is a bit limited at launch

Watch: Disney+ – $6.99/month

3. Apple TV+

Apple was comparatively late to the streaming game, but it hit the ground running with shows starring actors such as Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, and Jason Momoa.

However, Apple TV+ doesn’t have licensed content, so the breadth is extremely limited compared to Netflix. Nevertheless, it does have decent shows like Mythic Quest and Dickinson, with more on the way.

• Some good original content from top-tier talent
• There isn’t much to watch due to the lack of licensed content
• You can get a free year’s subscription when buying a new Apple product

Watch: Apple TV+ – $4.99/month

4. Hulu

While Hulu does have movies, its primary focus is on TV shows, both licensed and original. Its licensed catalog is huge, spanning many broadcast networks and with something to suit every age, ensuring you will have enough shows to binge to last you a lifetime.

The biggest problem is that the cheaper price plan has ads. You can pay double the cost to remove them, but some shows will still have ads due to licensing issues.

• Great for its huge back catalog of old and modern TV shows
• Offers a cheap entry point for basic membership
• Commercials on TV and movies; even on the higher price tier

Watch: Hulu – $5.99/month

5. HBO Now

As you might expect given its name, HBO Now is all about the amazing material that HBO produces. This includes shows like Westworld, Game of Thrones, and Succession. The network is known for its high-quality creations, though whether it deserves the expensive price tag is up to you. HBO Now also offers a decent selection of blockbuster movies.

• The greatest selection of HBO’s original shows through the years
• Expensive compared to its competitors
• Lacks features available elsewhere, like 4K or offline viewing

Watch: HBO Now – $14.99/month

6. Acorn TV

Most streaming services focus on American content, so it’s great to have Acorn TV which offers shows from places like Australia, the UK, and France. While there obviously won’t be anything new for those native to those countries, if you haven’t seen shows like Midsomer Murders and Inspector George Gently then you’re in for a treat.

Acorn TV is similar to another streaming service called BritBox. Check out our comparison of BritBox versus Acorn TV for more information.

• A great range of content from countries outside of America
• Reasonable price and cheaper if you sign up for a year
• You can’t download videos for offline viewing

Watch: Acorn TV – $5.99/month

7. CBS All Access

If you’re in the US, CBS All Access is the only way to watch great shows like Star Trek: Picard and The Twilight Zone on streaming.

Like HBO Now, this service is really only suitable if you’re a fan of what the network produces, but there’s a large selection of past and present shows to keep you busy. Disappointingly, there aren’t that many original series compared to its competitors.

• CBS has produced some great shows which are available here
• Only the higher price plan of $9.99/month is free of commercials
• There’s no support for offline viewing or 4K content

Watch: CBS All Access – $5.99/month

8. MUBI

MUBI is the perfect service for those who enjoy their films a little less mainstream, showcasing works from film festivals and highlighting independent creators. It only has 30 films on offer—every day it removes one and adds another—but it’s unlikely you will have seen many of them unless you’re the ultimate film buff.

• A rotating selection of movies from around the globe
• There are only ever 30 movies available to watch
• MUBI is expensive considering the limited amount of content

Watch: MUBI – $10.99/month

9. Hotstar

Hotstar is unique because it’s all about Indian movies and TV shows that you won’t find anywhere else. There are over 2,000 Indian movies to watch, alongside the TV and sports content, and it can be watched directly on your TV or on the mobile app. Disappointingly, you can’t sign up for a monthly membership, only annual.

• Lots of great Indian content that other services don’t offer
• A wide range of device support, from TVs to mobile
• It’s only available with an annual membership

Watch: Hotstar – $49.99/year

10. Tubi

Tubi has thousands of movies and TV shows available for free, all supported by adverts. While obviously a lot of the content is older or lesser known stuff, there’s so much of it that you are bound to find something you like. It’s all sorted into categories, including a dedicated kids section to keep your little ones entertained.

• A huge amount of movies and TV shows from studios like Lionsgate and Paramount
• Available on all popular devices like streaming sticks and games consoles
• Collections like “Highly Rated” and “Award Winners” help you find the good stuff

Watch: Tubi – Free

11. Vudu

Vudu has been around since 2004, but owned by Walmart since 2010. While it does have a wide selection of movies available to rent, there’s also a sizeable collection of free movies and TV shows to watch that are supported by ads. It even streams in high definition video and audio, which is a great bonus.

• Offers a decent selection of free ad-supported movies and TV shows
• Streams in high quality
• Boasts a clean and easy-to-navigate interface

Watch: Vudu – Free

12. Plex

Plex is primarily designed as a service to create your own streaming catalog from your own videos. However, it has now expanded into offering free movies supported by ads, from studios like Legendary, MGM, Lionsgate, and more.

If you already have Plex then you will see them appear automatically. If not, the service is just a free sign-up away.

• Integrates into the existing Plex service, giving you access to free movies
• Lots of niche and older movies to choose from
• A stylish and quick interface that you can expand using Plex apps

Watch: Plex – Free

13. IMDb TV

IMDb TV is a great way to watch a range of movies and TV shows for free. Since IMDb is owned by Amazon, you can use this service within the Amazon Prime Video app itself. Alternatively, you can watch via your browser.

There’s a good amount of free stuff here to watch, supported by relatively minimal advertising.

• Available on a range of devices thanks to the Amazon integration
• A solid amount of blockbuster movies and TV shows to watch
• Supported by ads, but not that many

Watch: IMDb TV – Free

14. Crackle

Crackle is a free service owned by Sony, which also features movies and TV shows from the likes of MGM, Paramount, and Warner Bros. It splits everything into “channels”, though these aren’t genuine live channels—it’s just Crackle’s way of categorizing content. Crackle is good, but the amount of ads you’ll see on a full-length film is tiresome.

• A good selection of movies and TV shows from many studios
• Supports a wide range of playback devices
• Longer content has a large amount of ads

Watch: Crackle – Free

The Best Live TV Streaming Services

All of these Netflix alternatives offer something a little bit different. But with so many different streaming services available, you may have to rotate between all of them in order to have access to the widest range of content.

While these services offer pre-recorded movies and TV shows, you might also want to watch some live TV. If so, check out our recommendations for the best live TV streaming services for cord-cutters.

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