But this can make it difficult to select the right option. Some platforms focus on live TV streaming, some offer original content, and others, like Shudder (for horror and supernatural content), have niche offerings. Because of this, it’s important to spend a bit of time deciding which service to sign up for.
We tested and reviewed the top 10 best movie streaming services to help you choose the right one for you.
Our Top 10 Best Movie Streaming Services in 2024
- Hulu - Best free trial
- Netflix - Best movie streaming service overall
- Disney+ - Best family-friendly content
- Sling TV - Best content library
- Peacock - Best budget option
- Amazon Prime Video - Best for downloadable content
- Philo - Best live content option
- fuboTV - Best for sports-focused content
- Vidgo - Best for movie streaming plus sports
- Starz - Best multi-device streaming option
A Closer Look into the Top 10 Movie Streaming Services - Reviews:
1. Netflix
The best overall movie streaming service
Best for: A wide range of genres and a large content library
Price per month: $6.99-$19.99
Number of titles: 6000+
Live TV channels: No
Free trial: No
Netflix has long been a leader in the movie streaming world, and although the competition is getting fierce, it remains our number one overall choice. For one, it’s an affordable option, with prices starting from just $6.99 per month.
It also boasts an attractive library, with over 6000 titles available on Netflix US, including thousands of original titles. There’s a tidy mobile app, customer service is decent, and offline downloads are available for most movies and shows. There’s no free trial, but Netflix is definitely an option worth considering regardless.
Pros
6000+ titles
Attractive mobile app
No lock-in contracts
Cons
No free trial
No live TV channels
Why we chose Netflix: Netflix tops our list due to its large library and strong history in the movie streaming industry.
2. Hulu
A streaming leader with more than 75 live TV channels
Best for: Streaming live TV alongside movies and series
Price per month: $6.99-$75.99
Number of titles: 3000+
Live TV channels: Up to 75+
Free trial: 30 days
Alongside Netflix, Hulu is one of the oldest streaming services around. It boasts more than 3000 titles, including a selection of original movies and TV shows. It also offers a 30-day free trial with some plans, which is nice to see, and prices start from a competitive $6.99 per month.
However, you will have to pay more for access to live TV channels, with the top-end plan reaching $75.99 per month. Overall, Hulu is an option worth considering if you’re looking for on-demand movie streaming combined with a suite of live TV channels.
Pros
Affordable base plans
Excellent original content
A suite of add-ons and bundle deals available
Cons
Numerous adverts without “no-ads” add-on
Downloads are severely limited
Why we chose Hulu: We chose Hulu because of its excellent library, top-quality original content, and a suite of live TV channels.
3. Disney+
A family-friendly streaming giant
Best for: Streaming original Disney content
Price per month: $7.99-$19.99
Number of titles: 1500+
Live TV channels: Optional
Free trial: None
Disney+ is a popular movie streaming platform that offers a wide selection of movies and TV shows, including those from the popular Disney, Pixar, and Marvel brands. It’s quite an affordable option, and bundle packages are available if you want to purchase it alongside Hulu and ESPN+.
It’s also a super family-friendly option, with a decent chunk of child-friendly content and kids' shows. There’s no free trial, but it could be worth paying for a month to test the platform if you or your family enjoy your Disney movies.
Pros
Loads of child-friendly content
Download on 10 devices
A cost-effective option
Cons
No free trial
Limited adult content
Why we chose Disney+: We chose Disney+ because of its family-friendly library and competitive prices.
4. Sling TV
A movie streaming service with excellent live TV channels
Best for: A huge content library
Price per month: $40-$55
Number of titles: 85,000+
Live TV channels: 200+
Free trial: Three days
Sling TV is one of the more expensive options on this list, but it’s right up there with the best movie streaming platforms we’ve seen. For starters, there are more than 85,000 on-demand titles, which can honestly be a little overwhelming! There are also over 200 live TV channels, as well as loads of free content that you can watch without an account.
Sling TV also offers a selection of add-ons that enable you to subscribe to specific niche channels. With a three-day free trial on every plan, we’d highly recommend giving Sling TV a go if you can fit its higher prices into your budget.
Pros
Huge content library
200+ live TV channels
Three-day free trial
Cons
Poor reviews from past customers
Regional content is limited
Why we chose Sling TV: We chose Sling TV because of its huge content library and 200 plus live TV channels.
5. Peacock
A super affordable option
Best for: Anyone on a tight budget
Price per month: $4.99-$9.99
Number of titles: 1200+
Live TV channels: 50+
Free trial: No
Peacock is a super affordable movie streaming platform boasting more than 1200 titles and over 50 live TV channels. There’s no free trial, but there are thousands of hours of content that can be accessed completely for free.
What’s more, Peacock is the place to find NBC shows, including The Office. There are loads of decent originals, and you can even stream sports content if that’s your thing. Overall, we’d recommend giving it a try if you’re on a tight budget or are looking for a decent free streaming platform.
Pros
Loads of free content
Super affordable option
Decent selection of Live TV channels
Cons
Blockbuster content is limited
Small range of child-friendly content
Why we chose Peacock: We chose Peacock because of its super low subscription costs and selection of free content.
6. Amazon Prime Video
A popular platform from a tech giant
Best for: Downloadable content
Price per month: $6.99-$14.99
Number of titles: 20,000+
Live TV channels: Optional
Free trial: 30 days
Amazon Prime Video offers a huge range of content, with more than 20,000 titles and a selection of optional live TV channels. It’s quite an affordable option, and it’s included for free with an Amazon Prime membership.
What’s more, there’s a 30-day free trial for the average user, alongside a six-month trial for students. The mobile app stands out as excellent, and most content can be downloaded to watch offline.
Pros
Great range of downloadable content
30-day free trial
Optional live TV channels
Cons
No local channels
Add-ons are expensive
Why we chose Amazon Prime Video: We chose Amazon Prime Video because of its excellent range of downloadable content.
7. Philo
Affordable live TV channels and on-demand content
Best for: Cost-effective live TV streaming
Price per month: $25
Number of titles: 70,000+
Live TV channels: 60+
Free trial: Seven days
Philo offers more than 60 live TV channels and over 70,000 on-demand titles, making it an attractive option for both live TV and movie streaming. It comes in at $25 per month, which is cheap for live TV, but a little on the high side if you’re only going to use it for movies.
The single subscription option includes a range of features, including unlimited DVR recording, the ability to stream on three devices concurrently, and a selection of premium add-ons. Philo is definitely worth considering, and we’d recommend using the seven-day free trial to take a closer look at its library.
Pros
Huge content library
Seven-day free trial
Unlimited DVR recording
Cons
Limited sports and news channels
Expensive if you don’t need live TV
Why we chose Philo: We chose Philo for its attractive features, huge on-demand library, and affordable live TV streaming.
8. fuboTV
A premium option offering unmatched content choice
Best for: Live sports streaming
Price per month: $32.99-$94.99
Number of titles: 6500+
Live TV channels: 34-222+
Free trial: Seven days
fuboTV is expensive, but it’s worth every cent of the cost if you can sneak it into your budget. For starters, the English-language plans come with a minimum of 116 channels. More are available with the top-tier option, and there are loads of add-ons that you can purchase for an extra fee.
What’s more, fuboTV offers more than 6500 on-demand titles and streams a large number of major sporting events. It’s a great option for the sports fanatic, but it’s worth using for its movie streaming services as well.
Pros
Loads of add-ons
Excellent Spanish-language plan
A focus on major sporting events
Cons
Very expensive
4K/HDR availability is limited
Why we chose fuboTV: We chose fuboTV because of its huge channel list, large on-demand library, and its focus on streaming major sporting events.
9. Vidgo
An up-and-coming streaming option with excellent on-demand content
Best for: Movie streaming plus sports coverage
Price per month: $39.95-$99.95
Number of titles: 14,000+
Live TV channels: 150+
Free trial: No
Vidgo might seem like an overly expensive option at first glance, but it actually offers excellent value for money when compared to similar services. It boasts more than 14,000 on-demand titles, over 150 live TV channels, and excellent sports coverage.
What’s more, Vidgo boasts an excellent mobile app, although the on-demand interface is a little confusing and outdated. Overall, though, we’d recommend trying it if you can afford to fork out the high cost upfront.
Pros
Stream on three devices concurrently
Quite an affordable option
Decent selection of sports networks
Cons
Limited DVR recording
On-demand interface could use work
Why we chose Vidgo: We chose Vidgo because of the excellent value for money for what’s on offer.
10. Starz
A movie-centric streaming platform
Best for: Affordable movie streaming
Price per month: $8.99
Number of titles: 1500+
Live TV channels: 20
Free trial: Seven days
Starz is a super affordable option, but it’s also a little on the basic side. It only has around 1500 on-demand titles, although, on the plus side, more than 1400 of these are movies. You will also have access to 20 premium live TV channels, and you can watch on up to five screens simultaneously.
What’s more, Starz offers a seven-day free trial, so we’d suggest jumping on this and giving it a try if you think it could be a fit for your needs.
Pros
A super affordable streaming option
1400+ on-demand movies
Stream simultaneously on up to five devices
Cons
No 4K support
App can be buggy and difficult to navigate
Why we chose Starz: We chose Starz because it’s one of the most affordable movie streaming options on the market.
Our Methodology: How Did We Choose the Best Movie Streaming Services?
To rate the best movie streaming services, we undertook extensive research and testing and rated each platform based on a number of features. These included the following:
Price, deals, and free trials
Catalog offerings, original content, and live TV channels
User interface and functionality
Past user reviews
Every review was completed by a movie streaming expert, enabling us to deliver accurate, consistent reviews across the board.
Why Should You Consider Movie Streaming Services?
Gone are the days when you had to head down to the video rental store if you wanted to have a family movie night. With the rise of streaming services, putting a movie on is as simple as opening your device, signing into your account, and selecting the title you want to watch.
Other benefits of movie streaming services include the following:
Price: Most movie streaming services have a very affordable monthly subscription.
Content library: You will have access to hundreds, if not thousands, of titles with your movie streaming subscription.
Convenience: As mentioned, it’s super easy to watch with a movie streaming subscription.
Technology: Most movie streaming platforms come with useful features like the ability to add a title to your watchlist for viewing later, offline downloads, and concurrent streaming.
Which Movies Can You Stream Online?
Modern movie streaming services enable you to watch a vast selection of movies online. Most platforms offer thousands of on-demand titles, and many have quite different libraries. If you’re looking for something specific, a quick internet search should reveal which streaming platform it’s on.
What You Need to Know Before Choosing a Movie Streaming Service
With the number of options on the market, choosing a movie streaming service can be a difficult and confusing process. Consider the following factors when making your decision.
Price
Some services come in at a few dollars per month, while others can cost $100 plus for a top-end package. Make sure you select something that works with your budget.
Subscription options
Pay careful attention to what each provider offers. Can you download titles to watch offline? Is live TV streaming available? What’s the difference between subscription tiers?
Compatible streaming devices
It’s also important to ensure the movie streaming service you choose is available on the device(s) you want to watch it on. For example, look for a service with a decent mobile app if you want to watch content on your smartphone or tablet.
Simultaneous streams
If you’re sharing your movie streaming subscription with a partner or other family members, simultaneous streaming can be useful. Platforms that support simultaneous streaming enable you to watch on multiple screens concurrently.
Parental controls
Last but not least, you might want to pay attention to the parental controls on offer if you have small children. These enable you to control what they’re able to watch.
Do Movie Streaming Services Support 4K, HDR, and Surround Sound?
Yes, many movie streaming services support 4K, HDR, and surround sound by default. Others, such as YouTube TV, require an add-on for one or all of these. Smaller, cheaper niche streaming sites do sometimes lack these features, but ultimately, it varies from platform to platform.
Is Movie Streaming Illegal?
Streaming movies through a legitimate website like Netflix or Disney+ is absolutely legal, as long as you have a subscription. Some free streaming sites are also legal to use, especially if they have a premium tier or use ads to generate revenue.
However, streaming on unlicensed or illegitimate websites is illegal, so make sure you stick to legitimate sites.
Are Free Movie Streaming Sites Safe?
Yes, legitimate free movie streaming sites are completely safe to use. They tend to be ad-supported, so expect to experience plenty of ads if you decide to use a free service.
For example, YouTube actually has a surprising number of free movies available to stream. These have ads, of course, and you won’t find the latest blockbusters there, but it’s a decent choice if you’re not too fussy about what you watch.
How Much Does Movie Streaming Cost?
The price for movie streaming services can vary from just a few dollars per month to $100 plus. Simple streaming services without live TV channels usually come in at under $10 per month, although top-tier plans can reach $20 or more per month.
When live TV streaming is added, this price sometimes reaches $50-$100 per month, and this price can easily go above $100 if you purchase any add-ons. Some platforms also host free content, which is a great option if you’re on a tight budget and don’t want to pay for movie streaming.
Service
Price Per Month
Price Per Year
Netflix
$6.99-$19.99
N/A
Hulu
$6.99-$75.99
N/A
Disney+
$7.99-$19.99
$79.99 (base plan only)
Sling TV
$40-$55
N/A
Peacock
$4.99-$9.99
N/A
Amazon Prime Video
$6.99-$14.99
$69-$139 (not available on all plans)
Philo
$25
N/A
fuboTV
$32.99-$94.99
N/A
Vidgo
$39.95-$99.95
N/A
Starz
$8.99
$74.99
Other Movie Streaming Services We Reviewed
In addition to the popular sites listed here, we also review a wide range of lesser-known options to help you find the perfect fit for your movie-watching needs. Whether you're looking for a specific genre, a certain type of content, or a specific feature, we have you covered with our comprehensive and unbiased reviews. So, whether you're a movie buff or just looking for something to watch here are some more movie streaming options:
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Get the Show on the Road
There are loads of different movie streaming services out there, which can make it difficult to select the right one for you and your family’s needs. In this guide, we’ve listed the top 10 movie streaming services available in 2024.
We’ve also provided clear information about movie streaming and how it works. If you’re thinking about signing up for a new movie streaming service, we’d suggest taking advantage of free trials to test a few platforms—remember, there’s no one-size fits all best platform, and the right choice for you might be completely different from the platform your neighbor chooses.
