Movies and series have always been a bargaining chip of cable and satellite TV providers. Booming mobile technology progress, wireless Internet, and commuting lead customers to wish something more portable.
TV providers released their apps long ago, but they can’t brag about such huge revenues online-only cross-platform subscription services.
Here are the most popular TV streaming apps that don’t require a TV and a pricey contract with a provider.
1. Hulu
Perhaps, the intense competition between real-time broadcasting and on-demand streaming made the Hulu app so powerful.
It balances on edge and provides both services. At a reasonable price of $5.99 per month, you get access to a robust library of on-demand TV shows and compelling original content.
Although the last was inspired by the success of Netflix, it provides exceptionally high-quality titles since 2011.
The list includes such hits as Harlots, Ramy, The Wrong Mans, Pen15, Difficult People, and over a hundred more.
The kids’ programming includes Naruto, Gravity Falls, Sesame Street, Adventure Time, and other big titles by Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and others.
Unlike its competitors, Hulu’s basic plan provides plenty of titles in HD and even 4K Ultra HD in the Originals section.
If you lack your home TV options, you can additionally enable 60 live channels and an advanced DVR. Instead of paying for the full live-TV plan, you can pick up only your favorites several times cheaper.
If you’re a cord-cutter who needs access to both classic TV-shows and modern online-only originals, then Hulu has all chances to please you.
2. Netflix
Netflix is the one-and-only king of originals. For $8.99 per month, it opens a galaxy of shows that you can’t watch legally in any other network.
Similarly to Hulu, it’s a must-have app market leader, but it’s least focused on live TV. Instead, it offers one of the largest libraries of on-demand shows and series, which are almost entirely original.
Netflix is home of House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Black Mirror, Stranger Things, BoJack Horseman, and loads of other excellent series and full-length movies.
Prices vary from $8.99 to $15.99. The basic pass lets you stream only SD resolution, which looks exactly like TVs before HD networks appeared.
It’s also limited to only one active device at a time. If your whole family enjoys watching different titles in the evening, you’d better get the Premium to stream on 4 devices simultaneously. You know what else? There are no ads in any of the plans at all!
3. Amazon Prime Video
Although it’s not as intuitive and friendly as Netflix and Hulu, Amazon Prime Video remains one of the best 3 streaming options.
Following Hulu, it tries to be everything for everyone and broadcast live TV along with on-demand content and groundbreaking originals.
There are not so many titles, but they won’t leave you indifferent for sure. Hits like Mr. Robot, Transparent, and The Man in The High Castle will make you hang on the edge of your seat until the very last episode. The basic HD plan will cost you just $10.99 with streaming to 3 devices at the same time.
4. YouTube TV
For millions, YouTube has replaced TV and movies. It’s now the largest free streaming platform around, but it didn’t miss the chance to jump in the train of paid original content and TV shows along with others.
It offers one the most expensive starter packs amongst the others, but the offer is quite generous. For $40 per month, you get full access to YouTube originals, 60 live channels with 15GB free cloud DVR. In fact, it’s the cheapest solution in case you need all these features.
5. HBO Now
HBO is another source of exceptional originals. It’s hard to stand from giving up routines and binge such legends as Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, The Wire, or The Sopranos.
HBO doesn’t release new shows as frequently as Netflix and Hulu but adds the new ones in a couple of hours after airing.
If you still don’t want to cut the cable, you can use the HBO Go app instead and access the same content for free using your TV provider account. Otherwise, it requires $15 per month for the entire library.
6. PlayStation Vue
Yes, it’s a proprietary service for PlayStation consoles, but it’s somehow available for the same variety of devices as others.
Sony tried to turn their console into a versatile media center and eventually became popular enough to be in line with guys from above.
It offers over 80 popular live channels and on-demand content by the leading studious, including HBO and Showtime.
Compare the content offer with others and choose the most suitable. Be ready to pay $55 for the core plan, but consider that it allows live HD, cloud DVR, 5 streams at a time, and 10 profiles.
7. Crunchyroll
Enough for traditional content! At last, there’s a huge platform for streaming your favorite anime. Developers of this service know exactly what their people want.
It started out back in 2006 as an illegal platform for users to post their favorite anime series. Today it works 50/50 almost without problems.
There’s no Dragon Ball Z or Pokemon, but still over 200 titles that you can watch absolutely free in SD quality.
What would you say about it? If you want a better image, try the paid subscription, which if the cheapest of all and costs just $7. It’s not expensive at all for such a specific streaming experience.
The Verdict
No matter how strong your fanship to one of these services, it’s hard to limit yourself with content. After comparing prices and functions, think of alternating the apps with paying more or less the same money but obtaining much more.
Alright, there’s one more lifehack that is horrible for content-makers. The idea is simple: use each of the apps only during the trial period. Multiplying the average 30-day free trial, you get over 5 months of free streaming.
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