The best TV streaming services in 2026
From Netflix to Hulu, these are the best TV streaming services available today
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There are a lot of excellent streaming services out there. Which one is best for you depends, most importantly, on what kind of content you want to watch.
Netflix is the original streaming service and it still has bucketloads of original programming, and caters to a huge number of viewers, whether you’re looking for reality TV, sci-fi, anime, cartoons, action or more. With a huge fleet of standup specials, it’s also become a streaming hub for comedy, too.
Netflix truly shook up the industry when it pivoted to on-demand video, expanding on its DVD rental roots, and its cultural significance is hard to underestimate. It also has some great functionality, like offline downloads, which makes it a joy to use across various devices. They have also made a big push into games, which has given subscribers even more ways to squeeze value out of their subscriptions.
Tom Power, Senior Entertainment Reporter for TechRadar, says “It’s hard to argue against subscribing to Netflix. It’s cheap, has thousands of shows and movies in its back catalog and offers various perks, such as the ability to download content.”
Disney+ has so many big-name franchises at its disposal that it’s almost impossible to fathom. Between hosting the entirety of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars movies and shows, and Disney-Pixar animated films, this streaming service truly is the place for kids, families and superhero fans alike.
When it first launched, there wasn’t much else alongside these tentpole IP, but Disney’s reach is extensive. You can now enjoy more varied content from Disney-owned studios such as FX and 20th Century Studios — including shows like “The Simpsons” and “The Bear”. It’s no surprise that Disney+ has even managed to outpace Netflix’s subscriber count at times.
If you bundle it with Hulu and ESPN+ as well, you’re often getting quite a good deal overall, though all three services are cracking down on password sharing in a similar manner to Netflix.
Apple TV isn’t usually the first option you think of when counting the best TV streaming services — but since its launch back in 2019, the platform has added hits like “Ted Lasso” and the Oscar-winning film “CODA”. It’s also become a brilliant place for modern sci-fi, in my opinion, with excellent shows like “Severance,” “Silo,” “Foundation” and more. As Power tells us, “If you want prestige TV at a reduced cost compared to HBO Max, Apple TV Plus is absolutely worth investing in.”
As you’d expect from Apple, the interface is a brilliantly sleek affair and offers a streamlined experience for navigating your favorite shows. Similar to Amazon Prime, the Apple TV app offers plenty of licensed programming for purchase, even if it’s not covered by your subscription.
One big perk is Apple TV’s integration with the broader Apple ecosystem. New Apple device purchases generally throw in a three-month subscription for you to test the streaming service out. If you’re a big Apple fan, you can opt for a $19.95 per month Apple One subscription that includes Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade and 50GB of iCloud storage — truly a fantastic deal, in my opinion.
Amazon Prime Video is one of the largest streaming services out there, whether you’re counting its massive library — with three times the number of movies as Netflix, at the time of writing — or its 200 million subscribers.
Prime Video’s biggest benefit is the Prime ecosystem: when you subscribe, you don’t just get access to TV streaming, but also free delivery and exclusive discounts on the Amazon retail site, over 100 million songs through Amazon Music Prime, grocery delivery through Amazon Fresh, a Twitch Prime subscription and unlimited photo storage.
But Prime Video alone seems worth the subscription cost, thanks to a huge content library with thousands of films and TV shows in its roster. It’s an excellent choice for many genres especially if you’re partial to an evening film, in my opinion.
Hulu may not be long for this world, given chatter around folding the service into the Disney+ platform, but for now it offers a distinct lineup of great TV shows — with the possibility of almost 100 live TV channels for its most expensive subscription tier.
There’s also a huge range of comedy, whether you’re interested in “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Futurama” or “Abbot Elementary.” There’s also plenty of drama like “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “X-Files” to tide you over too.
The basic ad-supported plan is $11.99 per month. An ad-free experience will cost $18.99 per month, while a Live TV subscription ramps up the price to $88.99 per month. If you want a good streaming experience alongside plenty of live TV channels, all in the same interface, then Hulu can be a great choice.
HBO Max brings together a huge amount of original programming, thanks to the merger that mashed together HBO Max (famed for its excellent scripted TV series) and Discovery+ (reality TV and docuseries).
HBO Max brings together a huge amount of original programming, thanks to the merger that mashed together HBO Max (famed for its excellent scripted TV series) and Discovery+ (reality TV and docuseries).
HBO is still a byword for high-quality TV, with hits that include “Succession,” “The Last Of Us,” “The Sopranos” and “Game of Thrones” — a legacy that few other streaming services are able to emulate, in my opinion. Max is also home to DC TV shows and films with a huge range of comic book-based animated series and live action flicks.
The addition of Discovery content certainly increases the offering. HBO Max is still one of the best TV streaming services available today — particularly for fans of prestige TV, in my opinion.
NBC’s TV streaming service launched in 2020, and now has over 30 million subscribers in the US.Thanks to NBC’s many studios and networks, you’ll get a wide variety of programming including live sports like football, soccer and Wrestlemania, as well as some landmark sitcoms like “The Office,” “Modern Family,” “Community” and “Parks & Recreation”. But Peacock also offers ambitious original programming, like the sci-fi series “Brave New World” to the Natasha Lyonne-starring “Poker Face” and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot “Bel-Air.”
The basic tier only costs $10.99 per month, but you’ll need to pay $16.99 for an ad-free experience with Premium Plus and to be able to download titles for offline viewing.
Paramount+ has carved out a niche for itself with some notable flagship shows — “Halo,” “Yellowjackets,” etc — and it’s the home of the past 60 years of Star Trek shows.
Originally CBS All Access, the platform was rebranded in 2021 as Paramount+, amid a broader push into original programming that has managed to increase the platform’s profile. Paramount’s massive content library certainly helps, across CBS, MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. It’s also a great place for live sports, with coverage of the NFL, PGA golf, The Masters, basketball and more.
There are many TV streaming services available these days. We’re a long way from the days when Netflix was the only major player. Services by Disney, Apple and Amazon have become serious challengers to the once-dominant platform.
We spoke to a number of leading experts in the world of home entertainment, from market analysts to entertainment reporters, to tell you the answers to the most common questions you might have — and to help you decide which TV streaming services are right for you.
Prices vary between TV streaming services, each with their own plans, packages and tiers. It’s usually sensible to look out for promotional offers or bundles to get the best bang for your buck. You should look out for streaming service deals or sales. Black Friday deals often offer bundles or full year subscriptions at a discount.
Power tells us that, aside from using free trial periods, “the best way to get a great subscription deal is by ‘subscription hopping’. Essentially, in the final week of any given month, look at each streamer’s upcoming slate for the month ahead. Max Signorelli, Consumer Research Lead (Media & Entertainment) for consultancy firm Omdia says “Online video markets are set for increasing levels of churn, as video service users have to make choices about which services they keep and for how long.” If you like the look of one platform's forthcoming line-up of movies and TV shows, subscribe to it and cancel your subscription to the other streaming platform. That way, you’ll ‘hop’ between streamers, save money on multiple subscriptions and watch the content you enjoy the most.
There are plenty of free TV streaming services, often baked directly into a smart TV or available for download from a TV’s app store such as Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus, Roku Channel and more. These services can contain thousands of titles, from TV shows and documentaries to feature-length films, though they will usually be ad-supported
You do need a smart TV platform in order to access apps like Netflix or Hulu. You may also consider buying a TV streaming player – which plugs into the back of the television and offers an alternative smart platform – to get a better interface with the particular app support you need.
A big appeal of on demand TV streaming platforms like Netflix was the lack of ads, though a crowded market has seen many streamers turn to ad-supported tiers in an attempt to attract more subscribers – you’ll find them on everything from Netflix and Amazon to Hulu to Paramount+. Some services like Apple TV+ only show ads for other Apple TV content and stick to ‘pre-roll’ ads, meaning they don’t interrupt episodes halfway.
Powers explains that “the introduction of ad-supported tiers makes things more affordable for those on a budget. Even then, signing up to Netflix’s ad-based subscription means you have to sit through a certain number of ad breaks every hour, which doesn’t appeal to many.”
It’s well worth looking at feature functionality between streaming services – such as 4K / Ultra HD resolution, support for Dolby Atmos or Spatial Audio (for those with compatible speakers) or the ability to add multiple users to your account. Support for HDR (High Dynamic Range), which expands the contrast and color accuracy of the images onscreen, is also common across streaming services, though premium HDR formats are often locked behind certain plans – do check what your TV supports and try to pick a TV streaming service that caters to its specific formats.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I am a freelance entertainment and technology reporter with extensive experience covering streaming services, reviewing TVs and testing user interfaces for a host of consumer gadgets. I previously worked as the News & Features Editor at TechRadar and now freelance for NBC Select, CNET and The Independent.
Disclosure: Peacock is the streaming service of NBC News parent company NBCUniversal; NBCU is owned by Comcast, which is a co-owner of Hulu.
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