How to Decide Which Streaming Service You Want to Subscribe To
With the rise of streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and more, it can be difficult to determine which ones are worth paying for. Find out more here.
Photo by freestocks on Unsplash
With the rise of streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, AppleTV, and more, it can be difficult to determine which ones are worth paying for. There are so many shows and movies that you can watch and enjoy but the question is: what streaming service is worth it? In this guide, we explore how to decide which streaming service you want to subscribe to.
Consider their costs
The cost of the streaming service is always something that is a big consideration. As you get older, sadly you’ll have to start paying for more things. You could have a house or flat, bills, and contracts all to pay for, and sadly subscriptions are the first thing to go from monthly bills when things get tight, so you might have to think through and calculate all the costs to find the right one.
An idea of ways to think through all the potential streaming services could be to make a list of all the ones that are within your budget or the ideal amount you would like to pay. It’s best to note the monthly or annual cost of each service’s subscription plan and work out what is best for you. When making your list you should always prioritize the 2-3 services that are most important to you and for most people, subscribing to more than three starts getting quite expensive.
A way you could consider is to look for deals and bundles as many services offer annual plans or bundle deals that lower the overall monthly cost which will come in useful especially if you have more than one streaming service.
There is an option to try that can help you decide, all you have to do is take advantage of any free trial periods. Sign up for free trials before committing to give you a sense of the service but always remember to cancel before the trial ends if you don’t want to continue.
Compare content libraries
When considering the streaming service for you, you should always have a look at the TV shows, movies and original programming each service offers. Are they focused on one niche of content or do they have a wide selection? The most important question is what do you enjoy? As this will be for your entertainment, you will need to find a suitable streaming service that you can click on and enjoy all the content it has to offer in the comfort of your home. Did you know that Netflix has online games, for example, but not casino online games? However, rumor has it that they may venture into that industry at a later date if the introduction of gaming is successful.
A way to do this is to make a list of your must-have shows and movies and see which services have them in their library. Some streaming services excel at reality TV, some documentaries, some classic shows, etc. If you have a particular interest in certain genres, you are best researching and picking the services with strengths in what you watch most. If you are an avid interest in entertainment from streaming services, then you should check how often content is refreshed as some services add new shows more frequently than others.
Consider user experience
The user experience is an important part of picking the streaming service for you. A way you could do this is to check their interface, ease of browsing, quality of recommendations and ability to create user profiles. From there you should be able to find the one you like and enjoy, and this could help narrow down the list. The best apps and websites make finding something to watch simple and quick and this can be very useful when you want to find something quick that you will enjoy.
You could consider checking the recommendation algorithms and see if the service accurately suggests new shows and movies you’ll like based on your viewing history.