Streaming

15+ Best Streaming Services in 2020 – Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+ & More!

By Novak Bozovic / February 3, 2020

Media streaming is in full swing, and it looks like everyone’s trying to capitalize on this trend. On the one hand, we have a nice range of media streaming services competing for their place on your devices. Consider that this competition is quite tough, this translates to a lower price for end-users who get to enjoy watching original programming as well. However, there’s the problem of fragmentation and oversaturation of the media streaming market. This is also one of the reasons why you’re reading this article – to find the best streaming service for your needs. So, that’s what we’ll talk about in this article, so let’s check which are the best streaming services in 2020.

Before we dive any deeper, a few tips that you’ll surely find to be useful. When talking about today’s media streaming services, we have three distinctive groups. First, there are standalone platforms that offer original programming and third-party on-demand content (such as Netflix and Hulu). Then, we have comprehensive platforms that combine on-demand and live TV content (such as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and more). And finally, there are 'smaller' streaming services made by individual TV networks or channels (like CBS All Access and HBO Now). Don’t worry, as we’ll go through all those categories, helping you navigate your way through.

BEWARE OF ISP-IMPOSED THROTTLING: You’ll be surprised to know that streaming services are often throttled by internet service providers – and this is something that happens quite often, in all parts of the world. With this said, we strongly recommend you find the best VPN for streaming, to unblock your favorite platform and watch any type of content, anywhere in the world. Click on the provided links in this paragraph to learn more.

And now, we present to you the 15+ best streaming services in 2020.

5 Best Standalone Streaming Services in 2020

The first category that we’ll cover includes so-called 'standalone' platforms. These bring on-demand TV shows and movies, in addition to their own original programming. We’ve prepared 5 interesting picks as highlighted below, in addition to notable mentions as well.

1. Hulu (Hulu + Live TV)

Hulu Website

If you’re looking to stream movies and TV shows, Hulu presents a compelling offer. For only $5.99/month, you get access to a sizeable library that also includes Hulu’s own originals. However, note that this plan comes with ads (that you can eliminate by upgrading to a plan that costs $11.99/month). Hulu is compatible with plenty of devices, comes with a brilliantly designed interface, and offers plenty of content in HD and even 4K.

If you’re looking to stream live TV channels as well, you can get Hulu + Live TV for $54.99/month. You get plenty of major and local TV channels, and this plan also includes Hulu’s ad-based on-demand movies and TV shows. And finally, considering that Hulu is now owned by Disney, there’s an option to combine the company’s three media streaming services (Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+) into a single bundle for only $12.99/month (there’s no free trial available for this option, though).

To learn more about this streaming service, head over to our Hulu review. And to learn about its live TV streaming capabilities, we have our dedicated Hulu + Live TV review. Make sure to take a close look and you’ll see why this is one of the best streaming services.

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2. Netflix

Netflix Website

We are sure that Netflix needs no introduction. Also, we’re sure that you aren’t surprised to find Netflix on our list of streaming services. Aside from offering a sizeable library of movies and TV shows, this platform is also compatible with just about any device out there. It’s priced at $8.99/month for standard-definition streaming on a single screen, and the price goes up to $15.99 if you need 4K streaming on up to 4 screens at the same time.

Despite the last year's price increase, Netflix remains one of the most popular streaming services. One of the reasons for this is Netflix’s original programming. This is where you’ll find TV shows like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Stranger Things, House of Cards, and plenty more. Besides, Netflix has exclusive streaming deals with numerous broadcasters and movie studios. This is why you’ll find many TV shows here that aren’t available anywhere else.

Want to learn more about his streaming platform? If that’s so, we recommend checking our up-to-date Netflix review, where you’ll find all the information you need. Also, please note that Netflix’s regional libraries can greatly vary in content. Therefore, we recommend checking the best VPNs for Netflix as well.

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3. Disney+

Disney Plus Website

Disney+ is one of the hottest streaming services right now – bringing you plenty of movies and TV shows produced by Disney and other companies owned by this media giant. We’re talking about numerous Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar titles, many of which can’t be found elsewhere. We don’t have to tell you that these are big-budget titles, with TV shows like The Mandalorian already taking numerous awards.

Disney Plus comes with a nicely designed interface and it’s compatible with plenty of devices and platforms. There are native applications even for smart TVs and consoles – which has become a rare thing to find. However, you should know that this service isn’t available worldwide.

There’s also another important benefit here. You can combine your Disney Plus subscription with Hulu and ESPN+, which costs $12.99 in total. So, you get access to three streaming platforms at once, without any limitations (you’ll get Hulu’s ad-supported plan, though).

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4. Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video Website

One of the biggest benefits of Prime Video is that you’ll get an Amazon Prime subscription. With this subscription, you don’t only get to access Prime Video; You get shopping and shipping benefits (frequent discounts and free/fast shipping), you can stream music, read online books, and plenty more. With this said, this streaming platform could be an amazing solution if you’re already in Amazon’s ecosystem of devices and services.

Aside from being available on Amazon’s devices, Prime Video is compatible with a huge range of other platforms. And just recently, this company managed to strike a deal with Google – bringing its apps to Android and Google Chromecast (finally). Also, you should know that Prime Video comes with the largest library of movies and TV shows out there (more than 17,500 titles). This reason alone is enough to justify the cost of getting a Prime subscription. And finally, Amazon has been investing heavily in producing original titles and getting exclusives, such as Fleabag, Undone, Downton Abbey, and more.

To allow you to check behind-the-scenes of this service, we’ve prepared and published our Amazon Prime Video review – so, make sure to check it out.

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5. Apple TV+

Apple TV Plus Website

Apple has been building plenty of hype surrounding its new Apple TV+ service, which is now available in 106 countries. Even though you’ll find a number of hugely interesting titles here, the chances are that Apple TV+ isn’t going to be your only streaming platform. That’s because you’ll only find movies and TV shows produced by Apple here, without any third-party titles. This means that this platform comes with the smallest media library out of the bunch presented here.

Of course, there are also many reasons why you’ll want to use this platform. At the moment, you’ll find critically acclaimed TV shows here such as The Morning Show, See, and For All Mankind. Throughout 2020, a whole slate of additional content is expected, coming from big-name producers and directors. And when it comes to its limitations, Apple TV+ isn’t compatible with some of the biggest platforms out there, such as Android, for example.

You can subscribe to Apple TV+ for only $4.99/month. However, in case you decide to buy any of Apple’s products, you’ll get one full year of this media streaming service for free. There are no ads present here, and you get to use the Apple TV app on your device to access both this and other streaming services/channels.

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5 Best TV Network Streaming Services in 2020

Next, we have streaming services made by individual channels or TV networks. If you’re a fan of (let’s say) HBO, CBS, or Starz, you can sign-up for their individual streaming services. Aside from their exclusives, many of these come with third-party content as well.

1. CBS All Access

CBS All Access Website

You might be surprised to learn that CBS has entered the media streaming market back in 2014. After a somewhat unsuccessful early stage, this grew out to be a highly successful option (with over 4 million subscribers, at the moment).

Aside from offering more than 12,000 episodes of numerous popular TV shows, you’ll find a sizeable collection of movies here as well. We’re talking about titles such as NCIS, Blue Bloods, Tell Me a Story, The Good Fight, SEAL Team, and more. In addition, this subscription service also gets you access to your local CBS station, CBSN, CBS Sports, and ET Live. So, having the ability to watch live TV in addition to finding plenty of movies and TV shows always seems like a good deal.

CBS All Access starts at $5.99 for its most affordable plan (this one comes with limited commercials). If you want to go ad-free, you’ll need to pay $9.99/month. To learn more about this streaming service, here’s our in-depth CBS All Access review.

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2. HBO NOW

HBO NOW Website

HBO needs no introduction – you’ll find a huge number of blockbusters and movie classics here. In many ways, this TV network has revolutionized today’s media industry – by not being afraid to produce thought-provoking content. This is still one of the trademarks of HBO, which is why we strongly believe that HBO NOW is truly one of the best streaming services in 2020.

First of all, let’s not confuse HBO NOW with HBO GO. Unlike its counterpart, HBO NOW is a standalone streaming service. Priced at $14.99/month, you get to download its apps and enjoy its content throughout the United States. You get to watch the network’s critically acclaimed TV shows, movies, specials, and documentaries. However, if you already get HBO via your cable provider, you can use HBO GO without paying anything extra. So, make sure to explore all your options.

There seems to be a bit of confusion about what HBO NOW brings and what it omits. So, to make sure you understand everything - here’s our HBO NOW review.

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3. ESPN+

ESPN Plus Website

Some of today’s media streaming services target specific groups of users. As you can already guess, ESPN+ is one of those services. Specializing in everything related to sports, ESPN+ brings tons of content from the realm of soccer, NFL football, MLB baseball, and plenty more. You get to stream events live, replays of events, you can watch talk shows on-demand, stream documentaries, and plenty more. This subscription also gets you access to ESPN’s premium articles (on its official website).

As you can see, ESPN+ truly brings plenty of value for its price. However, keep in mind that this company is owned by Disney – and you can take advantage of that. For only $12.99/month, you can bundle ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu into a single package – covering your entire household in terms of meeting different entertainment needs.

If you’d like to learn more about this streaming platform, we strongly recommend you check our ESPN+ review. Make sure that your final decision comes only after in-depth research.

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4. BritBox

BritBox Website

In case you didn’t know, the BBC is home to some of the most respected TV shows out there. If you turn to IMDb to check out the highest-rated TV shows, you’ll see titles such as Planet Earth and Planet Earth II at the top of this list. Then, there’s Doctor Who, Sherlock, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, and plenty more titles that come from the BBC. Therefore, it’s clear that we’re talking about high-quality programming, and that’s precisely what BritBox offers.

You can access this media streaming platform on plenty of devices, and it offers up to 5 simultaneous streams. If you decide to pay on a monthly basis, the price will be $6.99 per month. You can save some money if you get its annual plan, priced at $69.99/year. We recommend BritBox to those who love high-quality TV shows that aren’t afraid to delve into more serious topics. And of course, if you want to watch documentaries, this is perhaps the best option you have right now.

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5. Starz

Starz Website

Combining several media streaming devices can add up to a significant cost. Therefore, we’re sure that many of you are after a streaming platform that offers plenty of value for its price. This is precisely the reason why we’re recommending Starz here.

Following the lead of HBO and Showtime, Starz launched its own streaming platform a few years back. Today, this is a mature platform offering a nice selection of popular and classic movies, and you’ll even find some interesting originals here. To be honest, you will encounter a somewhat limited library, but we’re sure that many of you will be covered more than well. Most importantly, Starz runs on a huge number of devices, comes with a simple yet effective UI, and works like a charm.

Please note that we’re talking here about a standalone media streaming service. You sign-up by downloading its app on your device (the price is $8.99/month). So, no contracts involved, and you can cancel any time. To learn more, here’s our Starz review. And in case you’re not in the USA and still want this streaming service, here’s how to watch Starz outside the USA.

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7 Best Live TV Streaming Services in 2020

The next category contains streaming services that also include live TV channels. These are designed to help you eliminate your cable provider, giving you much greater control over your monthly costs. In other words, you are free to sign-up and cancel your account at any given time.

Some of the most notable recommendations from this category are Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, AT&T TV Now, Sling TV, Philo, and others. To learn more about these and to get more information on how to choose a platform that’s right for you, here’s our dedicated article on the best live TV streaming services. Make sure to take a look and read it carefully.

Are You Still in Doubt? Here’s How to Pick Truly the Best Streaming Service in 2020 - As Per Your Needs!

We understand if you’re feeling overwhelmed right now. After all, there are so many streaming services out there, making it hard to choose one. So, we’ll help you get to the bottom line by recommending the best streaming services for different needs, priorities, and budgets.

Dear readers, we’ve finally reached the end of our guide to the best streaming services in 2020. We hope that you’ve found this article to be interesting and useful, as well as that you’ll listen to our advice. Make sure to stay tuned to TechNadu for more streaming-related guides, tips, and recommendations.



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