As part of our State of Streaming series, we dug deep into Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Paramount+, Apple TV+, Peacock, Hulu, AMC+, Max, and Crunchyroll, offering reviews of each. If you haven't had the time to check out our findings – or were interested to see how they lined up when directly compared against each other, even those which received the same overall score – we've got you covered: This is a ranking of all 10 services from lowest to highest, based on the the quality of their original films and series, the depths of their libraries, the functionality of their user interfaces, and, perhaps most importantly, what they cost in context of how much they offer to what type of viewer. Stick around to the end to find out which streaming service is most deserving of your subscription in 2023.
10. Apple TV+
The issue with AppleTV+ isn't what's on the service, it's what's not: With the exception of classic Fraggle Rock and Peanuts TV specials (each special in their own way), there’s no back catalog to supplement first-rate series and films like Ted Lasso and Severance, or Wolfwalkers and CODA, making Apple TV+ more of an additive service rather than a standalone one. Seeing as most people have multiple streaming subscriptions, this is by no means a deal breaker, and for some it will likely be worth the relatively affordable price of just $6.99 per month. But this does put Apple TV+ at a disadvantage compared to other services, all of which have the potential to be your sole subscription, depending on what you're looking for.
9. Paramount+
With an effort to establish itself as the streaming home of Star Trek, Paramount+ has made a solid inroad into the marketplace. But while there’s a good selection of new TV and films on the app, it often makes that programming a little harder to find and watch than necessary, and the quality of its originals can vary vastly. If you're looking to replicate the broadcast TV model of dramas and real-world inspired series – or if you really love Taylor Sheridan – you'll likely be interested in what Paramount+ has to offer. But if you want expansive genre fare and unexpected choices, the service comes up a little short when you’re asking $11.99 per month for ad-free viewing. That said, a collection of new and classic Star Trek series and many of the franchise’s movie spin-offs makes this a fun addition to a well-rounded streaming service lineup.
8. AMC+
AMC+ may not seem like it has much to offer, but it actually has a solid back catalog thanks to the inventive way that it bundles content from AMC's other apps. Not only do you get critically acclaimed original series like Gangs of London and Interview with the Vampire, but subscribers can also access the full catalogs from Shudder, Sundance Now, and IFC Unlimited. That's really exciting for fans of indie cinema and genre filmmaking, especially since Shudder is one of the best out there when it comes to horror – and if you’re already paying $6.99 a month for Shudder, you may as well add $2 to the bill and upgrade to AMC+. There's also great BBC America programming available like Killing Eve and Happy Valley; if you're looking for an eclectic catalog that will introduce you to new favorites and underseen gems, then AMC+ could be a great choice.
7. Prime Video
Amazon Prime subscribers have finally started to notice their two-day shipping and grocery discounts come with a whole streaming service, too. All it took was some satirically violent superhero action, a correctly sized Jack Reacher, and expensive fantasy epics that make House Targaryen look downright thrifty by comparison. Prime Video is now available as a standalone product for $8.99 per month, though it will soon join the latest trend of introducing ads to its most affordable tier. But it also lets you snap on content from a handful of premium-cable outlets and other streaming services (including some on this list) via Prime Video Channels. Buyer beware: While Prime Video has a selection worthy of The Everything Store, the deeper you go into the search results, the likelier you are to find some of the ugliest video transfers ever streamed.
6. Peacock
Peacock has come a long way since its less than impressive launch: In the spring of 2020, NBCUniversal’s streaming service wasn’t even available on Roku or Amazon devices, shutting out a large chunk of potential subscribers. Not only has the app improved since then, but its selection has, too. Peacock boasts a truly impressive TV back catalog that will entertain anyone who loves to binge classic shows, and it features a ton of great films – including a horror lineup primed for spooky season movie nights – all for a relatively affordable $11.99 per month. While Peacock is definitely still growing into itself, when it comes to value and variety, this service stands up tall and offers something a little bit different and a fair bit cheaper than the others.
5. Disney+
The appeal of an all-Disney streaming service has always been easier to understand than that of its Hollywood rivals: The Walt Disney Company has spent a century cultivating a reputation for all-ages entertainment, built on a foundation of beloved characters and classic features. That foundation has only grown in footprint following the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, the Muppets, and the entirety of another showbiz institution, 20th Century Fox. Those names, and the colorful onscreen tiles representing them, remain the core of what you’ll find on Disney+ four years after its launch. What you won’t find, increasingly, are the original streaming series and movies that once padded out its library – Disney has followed HBO’s lead in the distasteful practice of pruning its catalog. If the app takes a little long to load these days, or glitches while flipping from a Simpsons hub to one collecting the adventures of Indiana Jones, don’t blame exiles like Willow or Turner & Hooch for clogging things up – but maybe blame spiking subscription fees (now up to $13.99 per month for ad-free viewing) on all the unrecouped money Disney threw at those and other Disney+ exclusives.
4. Crunchyroll
It might seem wild for what is essentially a niche streaming service dedicated to anime alone to come this close to the top of our list – ranking above Prime Video and Disney+. But the reality is that for cost, choice, and ease of use, Crunchyroll just stands above those services. In all honesty, it almost reached the runner-up position on the strength of its affordability and comprehensive catalog – hence our high review score. But since we want to be able to recommend great one-stop-shop services, Crunchyroll’s specialized content came in behind just three of the biggest fish in the streaming pond. With over 1,000 series, including a mix of some of the greatest anime ever made, ongoing simulcasts, and deep-cut gems, this is a service that offers far more than a $7.99 monthly price would suggest. The app has grown by leaps and bounds, with a smooth, lightweight interface that delivers stunning, high-quality playback. As Guillermo del Toro put it at the 2023 Oscars, “Animation is cinema. Animation is not a genre.” Well said – it’s a medium in and of itself, one that Crunchyroll presents in a full array of storytelling forms, styles, and tones.
3. Max
Yes, Max was the first to begin purging whole wings of its library out of loyalty to the bottom line. True, it attempted to lump directors, writers, and producers into one “creators” category in its credits. Sure, it could’ve integrated the likes of Dr. Pimple Popper and 90 Day Fiancé a little more, shall we say, elegantly during the merger with Discovery. And no, “the one to watch for HBO” doesn’t say “The Sopranos, dragons, and Carrie Bradshaw live here” quite like the name HBO Max (or even HBO Go). But none of that changes the fact that the rebranded Max has an unbeatable film selection (with or without the disappeared Batgirl) and best-in-class picture quality to go with its premium price tag of $15.99 per month. The new app even runs easier and lighter than its predecessor, so at least we got something in exchange for the ill-advised name change. It’d be nice to get some of those missing Looney Tunes shorts back, or to be able to log in on a Roku without a remote, but Warner Bros Discovery boss David Zaslav has to do a lot more damage to Max to knock it out of streaming’s upper echelon.
2. Netflix
The gold standard in streaming is no longer the gold medalist. Netflix’s ubiquity and recommendations continue to drive the pop-culture conversation thanks to the still-strong Stranger Things and The Witcher, and newer shows like Beef and The Diplomat, among others, but today, the topics of that conversation more often include the latest semi-forgotten cable drama riding the algorithm to the top of the charts. In 2023, Netflix subscribers are also talking about lag and buffering issues making it harder to enjoy. The ad-free “Basic” plan is no longer available to new or returning customers: The new “Standard” tier is nearly twice the price at $15.49 per month, though “Standard with ads” is a relative steal at $6.99 a month – with HD video to boot. Still, no other service can beat Netflix’s international selection, and for every wannabe blockbuster tossed into the red-and-black void, it can still generate a high-profile hit like Wednesday.
1. Hulu
In a time of price increases, mockable rebrands, and shrinking libraries, it feels like streaming’s promise of an all-access media utopia never came to fruition. Leave it to one of the originals to come closest to fulfilling those abandoned visions: Easy to use and well-stocked with award-winning original series, familiar TV favorites, and 4K UHD quality at every subscription level, Hulu is our pick for 2023’s top streaming service. Watch Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez solve murders on demand, drop in on The Bear at all hours of the day, and do it all without sacrificing everything you still enjoy about cable. Hulu + Live TV gives cord cutters access to local TV, sports, and cable channels like Comedy Central and Bravo – though its rising monthly cost (now at $14.99 per month without ads) proves that even the best service isn’t immune to the problems plaguing its competition.
Will Hulu be able to fend off Netflix and Max again next year? With Disney and Comcast once more negotiating over its ownership, who’s to say if Hulu will even be around in 2024? Cherish those four green letters while you can: If there’s one thing we’ve learned in the past year, it’s that nothing in streaming lasts forever.
