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Turn on a TV in 2026 and, in a lot of homes, you'll be greeted by apps instead of cable channels. Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Max, Prime Video, Peacock, Paramount+ and others are now the default option for "channel surfing". Way more people watch movies, series, sports and live events via streamers these days. And why not? With huge on-demand libraries layered on top of live and “FAST” channel options, there's something for everyone, and typically at a lower price.
But it's not always the better option for some viewers. In fact, some premium ad-free tiers now cost as much as or more than a basic cable package.
Kelly Woo is a veteran entertainment journalist who subscribes to far too many streaming services. She oversees the streaming department at Tom's Guide, which includes reviewing and testing streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, and more.
The best streaming service overall
When it comes to both quantity and quality, no streaming service can beat HBO Max. It has everything from prestige HBO dramas to blockbuster Warner Bros. movies to light reality shows from Discovery. So, when you go to the home screen, you might see Targaryen dragons and Guy Fieri sitting side by side. And you get all of that for $18.49 without ads or $10.99 with ads.
HBO Max has also added live sports in its Bleacher Report section, such as soccer, hockey and cycling. There's also a selection of some original animation to peruse, with occasional concerts and documentaries added all the time as well. Check out our guide to the best HBO Max shows and the best HBO Max movies to see what it's offering. With the new season of "Euphoria" around the corner, now's a great time to subscribe.
Check out our full HBO Max review.
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The best streaming service for value
Peacock has continued to add great new content over time, with plenty of new shows and movies with each drop. The bad news, though, is that Peacock previously joined its streaming rivals with a price hike. But we still love Peacock as a value pick, even if it doesn't totally measure up in all respects. You can subscribe to Peacock Premium (with ads) for just $7.99 a month or Premium Plus (without ads) for $13.99 a month.
We at Tom's Guide subscribe to Peacock for a variety of reasons. Some like the Peacock Originals "The Traitors" and "Poker Face" — the kind of shows that keep us subscribing. Also, the service gets next-day episodes of current NBC and Bravo shows, so you never have to miss out on "Law & Order: SVU" or "Real Housewives" drama. Plus, Peacock streams live sports, including Premier League soccer and the NFL.
Read our full Peacock review, and also Peacock TV promo codes to save on monthly costs
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The best streaming service for live TV
Unlike the above on-demand services that outrank it, Sling TV is a streaming service to replace cable, offering many of the most popular live TV channels. We (two of TG's streaming writers) cut the cord with Sling TV for the following two reasons: its competitive price is married with a decent assortment of channels. Sling is especially handy for sports fans, as it offers a variety of ESPN channels — and this alone is worth the price for some.
Other popular networks, like NBC, BBC America, CNN, Cartoon Network, TBS and the Food Network, sweeten the deal. If you want a live TV service with more channels (such as CBS), we say consider Fubo TV, unless you need TNT. In which case, Sling may be the best for you. Check out our Sling TV guide to packages, channels and more. While the other popular live TV streaming services start at around $80, Sling stands out with its $46 per month starting price, especially if you can get it for half-off, as the introductory offer usually provides.
Read our full Sling TV review or view our Sling TV promo codes
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The best streaming service for new TV shows
Hulu is one of the most interesting options on this list, and its unique nature makes it one of the best streaming services. While it doesn't deliver as many new originals as say Netflix, its quality-to-quantity ratio is better. But more importantly, its next-day airings of cable and broadcast TV shows make it a must-have for many cord-cutters who don't want to spend $46 or more on the likes of Sling.
There's also Hulu + Live TV (which is now $89), one of our favorite methods to cut the cable cord. Keep in mind that at this price, you'll still get ads with your Hulu shows, so you'll have to upgrade to skip those and still get your live TV.
In addition, regular Hulu hosts a number of original shows, a selection of offbeat movies and a surprising amount of classic anime series. Wondering what to watch? Check out our lists of the best shows on Hulu and the best movies on Hulu.
Check out our full Hulu with Live TV review or view our Hulu promo codes
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The best streaming service with a ton of content
The great-granddaddy in the market remains near the top of our list of the best streaming services. As you probably know, Netflix provides unlimited streaming of TV shows, movies, comedy specials and original programming for one monthly subscription fee. It's made a splash with adaptations of popular anime series "One Piece", and with the ending of "Stranger Things", there's another series set in that universe on the way as well.
The new Netflix with ads plan is available for a $7.99 entry-point, and the previously available Basic plan has now been discontinued. Previously, it had gotten a price hike along with the Premium plan, but now you have three tiers to choose from: Standard with ads, Standard, and Premium, which goes up to a whopping $25 monthly. Keep in mind, however, that the Standard plans do not include all content the higher tiers do.
Netflix is constantly adding and taking away movies, so you'll want to check our new on Netflix guides to see what's coming soon, and what you should watch before it's gone. Some may want to cancel Netflix for trying to get them to pay more, as the crackdown on password sharing has the service asking you to cough up more money per month to add users on to your account. If you're not interested in doing that, you might want to look elsewhere.
Wondering what to watch? Check out our lists of the best shows on Netflix and the best movies on Netflix.
Read our full Netflix review.
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The best streaming service for families
Disney Plus is a dominant player in the category, and why wouldn't it be? Disney controls a frankly frightening number of properties, from Marvel to Star Wars, to Disney's own animated canon to "The Simpsons" (all 30 seasons, and counting). The most recent Disney Plus price hike has pushed ad-free Disney Plus Premium up to $19, and the $12 ad-supported plan has gone up as well.
While we like the Disney Plus apps — they're all snappy, responsive and well-made — we've always wanted more from the service. For example, we find ourselves waiting for the next big thing too often. Trying to figure out what's actually good? Our guides to the best Disney Plus movies and the best Disney Plus shows can help.
Read our full Disney Plus review.
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The best streaming service for quality originals
When we first named Apple TV one of the best streaming services, it entered this list at the very end, in last place. In the months since? We keep going back to Apple TV, as its hot streak is almost unparalleled outside of Max. There's a wide variety of greats on the service, including the can't-miss "Severance", but you can check out the best Apple TV shows and movies for more great examples. It's serving up programming that continues to surprise and charm, while Netflix almost feels routine and boring.
While Apple TV getting into live sports with MLB and MLS, the latest price hike wasn't great news, as it went up from $9.99 to $12.99 recently. Still, it offers content without ads with one plan to choose from, so you won't have to be confused when signing up.
Check out our full Apple TV review.
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The best sports streaming service
Fubo is one of the best streaming services for anyone looking to have access to live sports without an actual cable subscription. Fubo’s entry-level plan is $80 and offers 120-plus channels, including almost every major broadcast and cable network. And its recent addition of regional sports networks sounded great until we found out that Fubo's adding upwards of $13.99 extra in a Regional Sports Fee you'll see at checkout.
But unlike other live TV streaming competitors Hulu and Sling TV, Fubo has 4K streaming for select content on demand and select live events. The other knock against Fubo, besides its higher price, is the limited Cloud DVR storage.
When we tested Fubo, we found that its multi-screen view (an Apple TV exclusive) was the biggest differentiator outside of its surplus of international sports. Those features work really well together, though, as we got to watch races and futbol simultaneously.
While Fubo’s channel lineup is the largest among the higher-priced streamers, they just got a major pair of gaps filled, including ABC and ESPN. By adding ESPN, Fubo makes itself the top streaming service for NFL fans, offering all the major broadcast networks, and the NFL Network too. In addition, the lineup includes popular networks like NBC, Fox, AMC, Food Network, MTV and Syfy, as well as a ton of niche sports channels. Its only big sports flaw is the lack of TNT and TBS, which are musts for US sports playoffs for the NBA and MLB.
Check our our full Fubo review or view our Fubo promo codes
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The best classic movies streaming service
Paramount Plus is rife with tons of content, whether you're looking for a movie to settle in with or a new series to binge. Though it followed the industry trend with a recent price adjustment in late 2024 from $6 to $8, this streaming service still delivers a solid bang for your buck.
Subscribers can choose between the Essential plan with commercials at $7.99 monthly or upgrade to Paramount Plus Premium (ad-free) for $13 per month.
There's a lot to like about the service. Originals like "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" and "Landman" are big reasons to keep coming back, but so are the range of blockbuster movies that hit the service, like "Gladiator II" and "Smile 2."
There's a vast library of classic movies drawn from more than a century of films made by Paramount Pictures, as well as licensed titles. If you're looking for a great selection of flicks with some excellent series sprinkled in, Paramount Plus continues to be a reliable pick if you need a solid option to add to your streaming arsenal.
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Best add-on streaming service
For those who do most of their shopping online, Amazon Prime is a no-brainer. For $139 per year, you get free two-day shipping on your purchases. However, you used to get more, like access to Prime Video in addition to your membership. Now, Prime Video costs $8.99 a month on top of your Prime membership, so be ready to pony up if you want to see what's on offer at Prime Video. You'll also have to pay an additional $2.99 monthly for ad-free viewing, even if you're already a Prime member.
Like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video is a veritable buffet of movies, television and original programming (the best Amazon shows range from "The Boys" to "The Summer I Turned Pretty"). But unlike Netflix, Prime Video's new shows are seemingly few and far between, as its output rates don't quite stack up to the big red streaming machine, or HBO Max.
Aside from having to pay separately for the service, another thing we don't love about Prime Video is how its apps vary greatly across platforms. When we tested Prime Video on Roku or Apple TV or Chromecast, we saw fewer sorting and discovery options than we did on a Fire TV device. You can also rent or purchase movies through Amazon Prime Video, but it's an à la carte service. Check out our list of the best Prime Video movies for more recommendations.
Read our full Prime Video review.
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How to choose the best streaming services for you
The good news is that you don't need to limit yourself to just one. It's all about picking the number of services that's right for your budget. And to that matter, all depends on the content you want to consume. While Netflix has a diverse array of content, it's not appealing to any specific audience — which means it's probably a service that most people have.
While Netflix is pivoting more to original shows and movies with each passing week, it's still constantly adding licensed movies and shows. But HBO Max has a massive library and in general, boasts better quality content.
Among the lower-priced streaming services, our choice is Peacock in comparison to Paramount Plus.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | With ads | Without ads |
|---|---|---|
Netflix | $8 | $18 (Standard); $25 (Premium) |
HBO Max | $11 | $18.49 (Standard); $23 (Premium) |
Disney Plus | $12 | $19 |
Hulu | $12 | $19 |
Peacock | $8 | $14 |
Paramount Plus | $8 | $13 |
Apple TV | -- | $13 |
Prime Video | $9 | $12 |
How we test the best streaming services
Testing streaming services is both serious work and good fun. When we test the quality of these platforms, we use them on multiple devices, including game consoles, web browsers and mobile devices. You'd be surprised at how differently Sling TV can look between a Roku, the Apple TV box and Chrome.
We then compare the services based on the number of simultaneous streams they allow, if they throw in 4K streaming for free (or charge extra), and what other special features they allow. We also keep a strong eye on the new channels coming to each service, with articles such as our Sling Orange vs Blue face-off.
And as pricing constantly changes (not in the right way, most of the time), we have to rethink how each competitor sits in the landscape. Sling, for example, has stayed near the low end of the field, even though it too has gone up over time.
One of the biggest new names in streaming is NBCU's Peacock. Peacock has The Office, SNL and much more, plus it's the exclusive home for many Premier League soccer games and the WWE Network.
HBO Max arrived with the WarnerMedia library (plus Friends), including all of HBO's prestige dramas and comedies. You absolutely need HBO Max if you want to stay on top of the Sunday night TV conversation.
For more information, check out our how we test page for Tom's Guide.
