Unfortunately, not all of these platforms are equally available around the world.
Want to get your hands on Hulu or make sure you get access to the full HBO Max library? With a VPN, you can bypass geographical restrictions and stream any content from anywhere in the world.
For streaming, we recommend NordVPN. It has rapid-fire connection and streaming speeds and runs in the background without any issues!
We tested 30+ streaming services to give you personal recommendations! Scroll down for our in depth reviews!
Netflix is one of the best streaming platforms in the world. Or, is it? In the last few years, Netflix has raised its subscription prices multiple times. On top of that, shows get frequently removed, and sharing your account with others has become a challenge.
If you’re looking for a Netflix alternative, take a look at our list of recommendations below. We’ve compiled an overview of the best alternatives for Netflix you can subscribe to today.
Want to make sure you always have access to the biggest possible selection of movies and TV shows on any platform? Use a VPN to stream content from anywhere in the world.
When it comes to streaming platforms, you want to make sure you get value for your money.
To help you make the best choice, we’ve created an overview of the top five best alternatives to Netflix. Compare features and see what each service has to offer.
Ready to take a deep dive? Scroll down for our in-depth reviews!
1. Amazon Prime Video: Our #1 Netflix alternative — more titles, extra benefits (28,000+ titles)
What We Like
Huge streaming library: 28,000+ titles
No advertisements
Extra Amazon benefits
What We Don't Like
Browser app doesn’t always run smoothly
Not all titles are free
Limited original content
Plans:
Amazon Prime Video: $8.99/month
Amazon Prime (including Prime benefits and Prime Video): $14.99/month or $139/year
Pro Tip:
If you’re a student, you can get an Amazon Prime membership (including Prime Video) for $7.49/month or $69/year. There’s a six-month free trial that you can make use of. Go to the Prime Student sign-up and choose the verification method of your choice (age or student status).
What Amazon Prime Video offers you
The sheer size of the Amazon Prime Video library will keep you occupied for years to come! With 28,000+ titles, this streaming service leaves Netflix in the dust. Besides the regular library, you have the option to rent or buy movies that are not available for free in your region. The other week, I decided to rent Pacific Rim, which I got access to for 48 hours.
Of course, plenty of content is available for free. Amazon Prime Video has more than 200 original shows and movies, including The Wheel of Time and Citadel. The platform also offers many Emmy-winning shows and Oscar-winning movies. You can stream in 4K and save movies and TV shows to watch online.
If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you also enjoy extra benefits, including same-day shipping, grocery delivery, and access to a reward program.
My streaming experience
Prime Video might not look as flashy as other streaming services, but you’ll quickly find your way around. More importantly, the content is free from advertisements. Sometimes, you’ll be shown a trailer for an upcoming show, but I personally enjoy seeing those recommendations.
Though the streaming service is available in most countries, each library is different. Don’t let that deter you, though: I often use a VPN to unblock Amazon Prime’s extensive catalog, no matter where I’m located.
Make use of Amazon Prime Video’s 30-day free trial to get started right away.
Need some viewing inspiration? Here are some of my personal favorites to check out on Amazon Prime Video:
Fleabag
The Lord of the Rings
Invincible
A League of Their Own
The Man in the High Castle
2. Disney+: Streaming giant for big studio content (900+ titles)
What We Like
Access to the best of Disney, Pixar, and Marvel
Stream on four screens simultaneously
Supports parental controls
What We Don't Like
Doesn’t have much original content
More prone to buffering than other services
Plans:
Disney Plus: $10.99/month (or $109.99/year)
Disney/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle: $14.99/month
What Disney Plus offers you
If you’re a fan of blockbuster movies, animated content, and major studios like Pixar and Lucasfilm, Disney+ is the Netflix alternative for you. From Star Wars movies to the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, you’ve got your hands on some of the most binge-worthy series and franchises.
Disney+ is also most suited to children and younger viewers! You can not only enjoy classic Disney movies like Lady and the Tramp and — my personal favorite, The Lion King — but also watch newer releases like Raya and the Last Dragon and Encanto.
Disney Plus comes with a lot of benefits, including 4K streaming and the possibility to stream content on up to four screens simultaneously. You can also use the Groupwatch feature to organize viewing parties with your friends! Download content for offline viewing at any point.
I love that parents can create dedicated profiles for children and set parental controls on them. This makes Disney+ a streaming favorite for the entire family!
I’m always keeping an eye out to find the best movies on Disney Plus or a new TV show to get into. You’ll find plenty of great streaming content at your fingertips, including these popular titles:
Wall-E
Avatar: The Way of Water
Spider-Man: Homecoming
10 Things I Hate About You
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
3. Paramount+/Showtime: Affordable service with large library (36,000+ titles)
What We Like
Great catalogue (Star Trek, live sports, and more)
Will merge with Showtime in early 2024
Good value-for-money ratio
What We Don't Like
Commercial interruptions on regular plan
Doesn’t have much original content
Not available worldwide (unless you use a VPN!)
Plans:
Paramount+: $5.99/month (or $59.99/year)
Paramount+ with SHOWTIME: $11.99/month (or $119.99/year)
What Paramount+ offers you
Paramount+ has a great library of movies and TV shows that’s on its way to compete with giants like Netflix and Disney Plus. It’s your go-to place for Star Trek content, including movies, the TV series, and the new originals. You can also stream live sports, such as the NFL!
In early 2024, Paramount+ will merge with Showtime, which hosts the hit series Yellowjackets as well as great live sports events, especially boxing and MMA streams.
My streaming experience
Paramount+ is easy to navigate. The streams are mostly ad-free, but you will get commercials when watching live TV. You can browse channels such as CBS, CBS News, and ET Live. If you’re a soccer fan, Paramount+ is also the place where you can find the Champions League and Europa League.
Note:
On Paramount+, you can’t pause live TV or forward it.
If Paramount is not (yet) available where you live, you can use a VPN service to unblock it. Just connect to a server in the United States and head over to the streaming site. You’ll find it unblocked for you!
Want to get your hands on Paramount Plus? Get the 30-day free trial and see if it’s something for you!
Here are some of my recommendations for Paramount Plus:
The Good Fight
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Twin Peaks
Survivor
Frasier
4. HBO Max: Top streaming service for originals, new releases (3,500+ titles)
What We Like
Recently released blockbuster movies
Feature-rich streaming service
Easy to use
What We Don't Like
Content subject to change after merger
Relatively expensive
Free trial only seven days
Plans:
Max (ads): $9.99/month (or $99.99/year)
Max (no ads): $15.99/month (or $14.99/year)
Max Ultimate (no ads): $19.99/month (or $199.99/year)
What Max offers you
HBO Max (Max in the United States; soon to be rebranded around the world) is a premium streaming service that falls on the more expensive side. However, it’s got great things to offer: Max stands out in terms of hit TV shows and blockbuster movies that are available on the service!
With the WarnerMedia/Discovery merger, the Max content library has changed, and some of my favorite shows (Westworld, for example) have, regrettably, been removed. But Max still offers some of the most popular content today, including Succession and The House of the Dragon.
My streaming experience
HBO Max is a well-designed and easy-to-use streaming platform. On Max Ultimate, you can stream in 4K and stream on four devices at once. I find that the HBO Max works well on all sorts of devices, no matter the operating system.
Is Max not available where you live? Make sure you check out how to access Max from anywhere with a VPN. It’s a lot simpler than it may seem and will unblock tons of entertainment for you!
Since Max has a seven-day free trial, you can see if this streaming platform is for you!
Harry Potter (including the new series that’s currently in the making!)
5. Hulu: Versatile range of movies and TV shows + live TV options (2,500+ titles)
What We Like
Offers live TV streaming
Excellent content
Bundle: get access to Disney+ and ESPN+
What We Don't Like
No offline streaming on the base plan
Lowest-tier plan only supports one streamer at a time
Exclusive in US and Japan (unless you use a VPN!)
Plans:
Hulu Streaming (ads): $7.99/month (or $79.99/year)
Hulu Streaming (no ads): $17.99/month
Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN+ (no ads): $81.99/month
Pro Tip:
If you’re a student, you can get the regular ad-supported Hulu plan for just $1.99/month. You will have to verify that you’re currently enrolled.
What Hulu offers you
Hulu is one of our favorite streaming services and an amazing Netflix alternative. It comes with a ton of add-on options, including the option to stream Live TV and get access to ESPN+ and Disney+ via a package deal.
But don’t worry. The low-tier option has plenty to offer, too! For less money than you’d spend on Netflix, you can watch some of the most popular shows of the moment, including Atlanta, Tiny Beautiful Things, and — one of my personal favorites — The Bear.
My streaming experience
In terms of usability, Hulu is at the top of the game. Users can add up to six different profiles, and it’s possible to stream in 4K. The interface is easy to navigate. If you’re paying for the ad-free experience, you can also download content to stream offline, which is great when you’re traveling a lot.
One of the downsides to Hulu is that it’s only available in the United States and Japan. However, with a VPN, this is no issue at all! You can change your virtual location to any place in the world (in this case, the US or Japan) and access Hulu content from anywhere!
You can try Hulu out risk-free for 30 days if you make use of their free trial!
There are plenty of shows you don’t want to miss. Here are some of my favorites:
Normal People
The Handmaid’s Tale
Reservation Dogs
What We Do in the Shadows
Only Murders in the Building
6. Apple TV+: Cheap alternative to Netflix with great originals (200+ titles)
What We Like
Ideal for Apple users
Fantastic original content
Available in 100+ countries
What We Don't Like
Doesn't work well for non-Apple devices
Episodes released weekly; not ideal for binge-watching
Plans:
AppleTV+: $9.99/month
Apple One: bundle AppleTV+ with other Apple services (various prices)
What Apple TV+ offers you
If you’re looking for a more affordable Netflix alternative with excellent original content, Apple TV+ is certainly for you! You can get a monthly subscription for only $6.99 per month.
Apple TV+ has some of my favorite shows of all time, including Ted Lasso and the eerie workplace thriller Severance. Unfortunately, you can’t stream Live TV, but you can download movies and films to stream offline, and you won’t have to deal with any advertisements.
Moreover, Apple TV+ is available in over 100 countries worldwide.
My streaming experience
There’s one major downside to Apple TV+: it requires you to have an Apple device. For Apple users, it’s great. You can even bundle up to six Apple subscriptions, such as iCloud+ and Apple Music, under Apple One. You can also use Apple TV+ on streaming devices such as the Amazon Fire TV or smart TVs.
Got an iOS device? You can get a seven-day free trial for Apple TV or a one-month free trial for Apple One. If you don’t have an iPhone or iPad yet, you’ll get the first three months of AppleTV+ for free with any new device.
The Apple TV+ library is not as big as the Netflix one, but it has some gems:
Ted Lasso
Slow Horses
The Enfield Poltergeist
Lessons in Chemistry
The Morning Show
7. Peacock: Premium movies and TV shows + free tier available (1,200+ titles)
What We Like
Free plan available
Live TV and sports
Offline viewing available
What We Don't Like
Advertisements on lowest paid tier
No 4K quality
Some content is behind a paywall
Plans:
Premium (ads): $5.99/month
Plus (no ads): $11.99/month
What Peacock offers you
Peacock has a great library with classics like The Office and Parks and Recreation, one of my personal favorites! The free library has over 13,000 hours of content, but the premium library is even bigger.
On top of that, you can watch live sports, including NFL Sunday Night Football, the entire Tour de France, and complete coverage of the Olympics. A Peacock premium plan also includes full access to WWE main events and other content.
My streaming experience
Peacock works great with a VPN for worldwide streaming. With parental controls, parents can create parameters for their kids’ viewing experience. There’s also dedicated kids’ content, though it doesn’t compare with the likes of Disney+.
One of the downsides is that the lower two Peacock subscriptions still have advertisements. Content can also be pay-walled. This means you’re better off with the Plus plan. Since they gave up their free trial a few years back, you can try out some content on their free tier first.
8. Discovery+: Stream content from major cable TV channels (4,000 titles)
What We Like
Very versatile library
Cheap subscription plans
Stream 4K content
What We Don't Like
Content available elsewhere (Max)
No live TV
Lacks audio description support
Plans:
Discovery+ (ads): $4.99/month
Discovery+ (no ads): $8.99/month
What Discovery+ offers you
Discovery+ does a great job of trying to meet its audience’s needs! This streaming platform will only cost you a few dollars a month and offers a wide variety of shows, including shows from cable channels such as the Food Network, Animal Planet, and HGTV. It’s also great for documentary fans!
Enjoy the BBC’s Planet Earth collection with The Blue Planet and Planet Earth, as well as the sequels. If you’re more into HGTV, enjoy TV episodes House Hunters International and Love It or List It. Discovery+ also has original content. In fact, about half of their library is original.
My streaming experience
It’s worth noting that Discovery+ is one of the cheapest streaming services on this list. But while the on-demand content is fantastic, Discovery+ doesn’t offer live TV streaming.
Unfortunately, Discovery Plus is not available worldwide. If you’d like to get access, I recommend using a VPN like NordVPN to connect to a United States server. This will unblock the platform with a few clicks!
Want to try out Discovery+ for yourself? New subscribers can enjoy a seven-day free trial.
Want to watch some good TV shows on Discovery+? Here are our recommendations:
Animal Planet: Crikey! It’s the Irwins
The Diana Investigations
MythBusters
Science Channel: How the Universe Works
Magnolia Network: Extraordinary Stories Behind Everyday Things
9. Crunchyroll: Great alternative for anime fans (1,000+ titles)
What We Like
Recent anime releases
Relatively affordable
Great variety in terms of content
What We Don't Like
No live TV
Free plan doesn’t offer any new releases
Plans:
Crunchyroll Fan: $7.99/month
Crunchyroll Mega Fan: $9.99/month
Crunchyroll Ultimate Fan: $14.99/month
What Crunchyroll offers you
There’s not much anime content on Netflix, so if you’re looking for a platform that delivers just that, check out Crunchyroll. It has a huge library that features some of the most recent anime releases from Japan. Usually, they’re on Crunchyroll within an hour of airing!
There are a few different subscription plans you can choose from. With the Mega Fan plan, you’ll get access to events and the opportunity to enter lotteries. The Ultimate Fan subscription gives you a quarterly discount of $25.00 in the Crunchyroll store.
Crunchyroll also offers a free plan. Though it’s limited in content, it will give you a great idea of what the platform might have to offer you! For the newest releases, though, you need a paid plan.
Extra Points:
On Crunchyroll, it’s possible to share your account with other people — a clear advantage over Netflix.
Ready to dive deep into the anime catalog? Check out Crunchyroll below!
Got your free trial? I recommend checking out the following shows on Crunchyroll:
Hell’s Paradise
Vinland Saga
Naruto
Nichijou – My Ordinary Life
A Place Further Than The Universe
10. Shudder: Best Netflix alternative for horror fans (650+ titles)
What We Like
Curated selection of horror titles
Affordable
No advertisements
What We Don't Like
No live TV
Very niche content
No offline viewing on mobile devices
Plans:
Shudder: $6.99/month (or pay $71.88 for a year-long subscription, which equals to $5.99/month)
What Shudder offers you
Shudder is a niche streaming provider that rivals Netflix in one particular category: horror. The library features 600+ titles that are selected by horror experts. All content is ad-free and on-demand.
A subscription to Shudder is very affordable, at only $6.99 per month. This gives you access to some of the scariest films, including the best Halloween movies and series in the genre, including Night of the Living Dead and Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
My streaming experience
If you’re a horror fan, Shudder is absolutely worth it! Besides classics, they show some original content, which elevates the genre and gives you multiple gems that you might not have found otherwise. Have a look at Host, a horror movie filmed completely on Zoom.
Personally, I’m a fan of Shudder’s attention to diversity in horror with its “Queer Horror,” “Hispanic Heritage,” and “Horror Noire” categories.
What you can find on Shudder, you can’t easily find anywhere else, including Netflix. Fortunately, Shudder works seamlessly with a VPN, allowing you to watch all the chills, thrills, and spills from anywhere. Make use of the 7-day free trial to see what’s out there, hiding in the dark.
Not easily spooked? Here are some of my personal, scary favorites on Shudder:
Tigers Are Not Afraid
The Invitation
Skinamarink
A Banquet
La Llorona
Best Free Netflix Alternatives: Stop Paying for Subscriptions
There are also some great free Netflix alternatives to take a look at.
If you don’t want to pay at all for your subscriptions but still want a completely free Netflix alternative, you can watch movies on these streaming services like Netflix.
PlutoTV: Free, ad-supported service with great content
Pluto TV is a free, ad-based streaming platform owned by Paramount. It features various live TV channels and on-demand movies to enjoy.
Features:
Live TV channels: MTV Teen, VH1 Reality, and more
Get access to Star Trek content
No registration needed
Service runs within your browser
Newest releases are not available
What to watch on Pluto TV
Here are some of my personal suggestions to check out on Pluto TV:
Django Unchained
The Big Short
But I’m a Cheerleader
No Country for Old Men
Poltergeist
You can check out Pluto TV by clicking the orange button below. Since Pluto TV is exclusively available in the United States and Latin America, you’ll need a VPN to unblock it. NordVPN, our #1 streaming VPN, has a limited discount of 69%!
Kanopy: Watch indie and art house content with your library card
Kanopy lets you watch acclaimed independent movies and classic content for free. Do note that you need to use your library card. This makes Kanopy primarily suited for users in the United States.
Features:
Free Netflix alternative with award-winning and critically acclaimed movies, such as Moonlight and Eighth Grade
Library card needed to stream free movies
Kanopy Kids section with tons of content for kids, including Sesame Street and Anne of Green Gables
No live TV channels
What to watch on Kanopy
Looking for something new to watch? Here are some of my top picks:
Tubi: Best free streaming service for family content
Tubi is a free Netflix alternative that has lots of free movies and TV shows, as well as a special Tubi Kids version that filters out content suited for families.
Features:
You won’t find any new releases, but there are many free movies available, including Ender’s Game, Memento, Donnie Darko, and Kill Bill. For TV series, you can catch Luther, Hell on Wheels, or Hell’s Kitchen, just to name a few.
Ad-supported, but one of the major free streaming services
Easy-to-use interface
Ads not overly invasive
What to watch on Tubi
Nothing beats free movies! Here are some of my recommendations:
The Blindside
Goodfellas
The Help
John Wick
Get access to this free streaming platform right away.
To give you the best recommendations for Netflix alternatives, we looked at the following criteria:
Accessibility: One of the perks of Netflix is that it’s so widely available. The best Netflix alternatives are offered in many countries around the world and are, ideally, as affordable as Netflix or even cheaper.
Library size (including original content): What TV shows and movies are available on the streaming platform? Are they new releases? Does the service have any good original content? How many titles are in the library and are they easy to watch elsewhere?
Bundles: If you can get a good deal on multiple streaming sites at once, that’s definitely a plus in our books! Have a look at the Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ bundle, in particular.
Streaming features: Can you watch content offline? Is it possible to stream in 4K? Does the service have parental controls? All these features may set apart a good service from a great service.
Overall usability: We’ve put all these services through extensive testing to assess the ease of use. You don’t want to have to deal with any buffering or a confusing interface.
Finally, streaming is subjective — not everyone likes the same things. The recommended Netflix alternatives in this article each have unique selling points and something to offer everyone!
Why Look For a Netflix Alternative?
One of the downsides to a Netflix subscription is that the library constantly changes. On top of that, the streaming giant doesn’t shy away from raising subscription prices. Once upon a time, you could get a Netflix account for $6.99. By now, prices range from $11.99 to $22.99.
If you’re looking for an alternative to Netflix, chances are you’ve also heard about Netflix’s crackdown on password sharing. As of now, Netflix is charging $7.99 for each additional account user that’s not part of your household.
After testing out its new policy in Canada and a few other countries, the ban has come to the United States and expanded to 100 different countries.
Use NordVPN to bypass password sharing policy
At the moment, users with existing accounts can use a VPN to get around the password-sharing policy. The key is a feature called Meshnet, included with a NordVPN subscription.
For free movies and TV shows, we recommend checking out some of the best free streaming services, such as Tubi and Pluto TV.
Don’t forget! A VPN will unblock any streaming platform anywhere for you and get you around geographical restrictions. NordVPN is our best streaming VPN with ultra-fast speeds and the capacity to bypass geo-blocks easily.
What new shows are you excited to watch? Let us know in the comments below!
Best Netflix Alternatives: Frequently Asked Questions
Do you want to know more about the best Netflix alternatives? Have a look at our FAQ below for some quick answers!
Is there a good alternative to netflix?
The best Netflix alternative is Amazon Prime Video. This streaming service is affordable, has 28,000+ titles in its library, and comes with extra perks if you’re an Amazon Prime member. The #2 alternative for Netflix is Disney+, which offers a great bundle with Hulu and ESPN+.
Which platform is better than Netflix?
These streaming services make for a great Netflix alternative:
Amazon Prime Video: Thousands of titles and very affordable
Disney+: All-round family streaming service with major studio content
Paramount+/Showtime: Affordable streaming service with great add-ons
Max: Offers great titles and add-on options for more streaming.
Hulu: Versatile streaming service with popular content, live TV options
Is there a free alternative to Netflix?
The best free alternative to Netflix is Pluto TV. This streaming service has on-demand content as well as live TV! Another great alternative is the free version of Peacock TV, though you’ll get more out of a premium plan with Peacock.
What is the downside of Netflix?
Netflix has been known to raise its subscription prices frequently, removes popular titles from the catalog at will, and has recently cracked down on password sharing, making it much more expensive. On top of that, lots of Netflix libraries are blocked by geographical restrictions. You’ll need a VPN to unblock the full Netflix library you want to access.
Lauren is an internal censorship and security-focused journalist with an eye for how technology affects society. With a background in International Relations and North American Studies, Lauren has a passion for helping understand the importance of privacy, freedom, and internet safety.