Netflix is experiencing a very interesting situation, as losing a mere 970,000 subscribers in the last quarter is actually seen as a good thing, as they expected that number to be as high as 2 million. The new Netflix with ads plan is supposed to help stave off those issues. We guess the want for Stranger Things season 5 is already strong. Prime Video’s Supe show just had a strong season, too, and so we’re left waiting for The Boys season 4. We also like Apple TV Plus, which got much better over the last years, adding hits such as The Afterparty and Severance. That said, the Apple TV Price hike is increasing its price by $2 per month. Some of our entries on this list include those that help those cutting the cord. One of these services is used by multiple TG staffers as their cable TV alternative. These services are just one half of the streaming equation, though. As the cable box slowly withers away, it’s being replaced by smart TVs and the best streaming devices, which include Rokus and Chromecasts. And by testing the best streaming services and devices side-by-side, we figure out the best way to build the ultimate streaming setup with the best selection of content and live channels.
The best streaming services now
HBO Max has everything HBO had, and then some. Both HBO and HBO Max pack current-run shows including Euphoria, as well as completed seasons of Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Veep. But for $14.99 per month (or $9.99 with ads, and no big Warner movies), HBO Max adds a lot more to be a compelling competitor to Netflix. But for as much as we love HBO Max, we hate to see it losing dozens of titles. And we hate the prospect of having to pay more when the HBO Max and Discovery Plus merger comes to be. Recently, HBO Max finally upgraded Game of Thones to 4K with HDR 10 and Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, so it’s a good time to go revisit the very dark The Long Night episode. We love HBO Max so much, we awarded it the 2022 Tom’s Guide Award for best streaming service. Recently added pieces of TV excellence include The Rehearsal and Harley Quinn season 2. Check out our guide to the best HBO Max shows, and the best HBO Max movies to see what it’s offering. Check our our full HBO Max review. Hulu’s one of the most interesting options on this list, and its unique nature makes sure it’s one of the best streaming services. While it doesn’t deliver as many new originals as say Netflix, its quality to quantity ratio is better. But more importantly, its next-day airings of cable and broadcast TV shows make it a must-have for many cord-cutters who don’t want to spend $40 or more on the likes of Sling. And while it’s still our value pick, a new Hulu price hike is raising entry to $7.99 per month, though that’s still cheaper than the $9.99 basic Netflix plan. In addition, the service hosts a number of original shows (including joint ventures with the BBC, like The Wrong Mans and season 4 of The Thick of It), a selection of offbeat movies and a surprising amount of classic anime series. Recent Hulu hits include Only Murderers In the Building season 2, Fire Island and The Dropout. Even with a paid subscription, you have to sit through commercials, but far fewer than if you watched the same shows on cable. Hulu’s live TV streaming option is also a solid aspect of its overall package, and that will let you watch CBS too. Wondering what to watch? Check out our lists of the best shows on Hulu and the best movies on Hulu. Check out our full Hulu with Live TV review or view our Hulu promo codes The great-granddaddy in the market remains near the top of our list of the best streaming services. As you probably know, Netflix provides unlimited streaming of TV shows, movies, comedy specials and original programming (we need Stranger Things 5 now) for one monthly subscription fee. It’s continuing to try and make big movies its big thing, but The Gray Man wasn’t exactly a winner (a sequel is coming, though). The new Netflix with ads plan offers a new $6.99 entry-point. Netflix is constantly adding and taking away movies, so you’ll want to check our our what’s new on Netflix guide to see what’s coming soon, and what you should watch before it’s gone. Thanks to a recent Netflix price hike, many likely debated canceling the service. I personally come back and forth to Netflix, because if one month doesn’t have a new show or film I want, the next definitely will. New additions to the service include The Sandman, the adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s beloved graphic novels. It stars Game of Thrones alum Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar and Tom Sturridge as Dream/Morpheus. Wondering what to watch? Check out our lists of the best shows on Netflix and the best movies on Netflix. Read our full Netflix review. Disney Plus is a dominant player in the category, and why wouldn’t it be? Disney controls a frankly frightening number of properties, from Marvel, to Star Wars, to Disney’s own animated canon, to The Simpsons (all 30 seasons, and counting). But a Dec. 2022 Disney Plus price hike has Disney Plus up to $11, though a new $8 ad-free plan is coming for those who want to keep the current price. We’ve got two ways for you to dodge the Disney Plus price hike, though. While we like the Disney Plus apps — they’re all snappy and responsive and well made — we’ve always wanted more from the service. For example, we find ourselves waiting for the next big thing too often. This is why movies like Turning Red and the new Chip n Dale flick are valuable to Disney Plus. We’re also curious about what will change with the addition of TV-MA content in the U.S., as Disney Plus getting the Netflix Marvel shows and improved parental controls. Deadpool, Deadpool 2 and Logan are the first R-rated Disney plus movies, too, but those are just drops in the bucket, as Netflix and HBO Max have long outranked Disney Plus when it comes to a wide variety of content for adults. Fans of Disney, Marvel, Pixar and/or Star Wars have no choice but to subscribe, which makes Disney Plus one of the best streaming services. Trying to figure out what’s actually good? Our guides to the best Disney Plus movies and the best Disney Plus shows can help. Read our full Disney Plus review. Unlike the above on-demand services that outrank it, Sling TV is a streaming service to replace cable, offering many of the most popular live TV channels. We (two of TG’s streaming writers) cut the cord with Sling TV for the following two reasons: its competitive price is married with a decent assortment of channels. Sling is especially handy for sports fans, as it offers a variety of ESPN channels (which it lost briefly in October 2022) — and this alone is worth the price for some. That said, the recent Sling TV price hike just raised its starting price by $5 per month. Other popular networks, like NBC, BBC America, CNN, Cartoon Network, TBS and the Food Network, sweeten the deal. If you want a live TV service with more channels (such as ABC and CBS), we say consider Fubo TV, unless you need TNT. In which case, Sling may be the best for you. Check out our Sling TV guide to packages, channels and more. While the other popular streaming services start at around $65 or $70, Sling stands out with its $40 per month starting price. In Sling keeps changing its new offer deal. It’s currently at 50% off for your first month, and that’s the best deal. Sometimes it goes to $10 off the first month. Read our full Sling TV review or view our Sling TV promo codes When we first named Apple TV Plus one of the best streaming services, it entered this list at the very end, in last place. In the months since? We keep going back to Apple TV Plus, as its hot streak is almost unparalleled outside of HBO Max. Severance is arguably the show of 2022, The Afterparty was a great surprise and Apple TV Plus even took home the best picture Oscar for CODA. So for anyone who says Apple TV Plus is for “Ted Lasso and little else,” tell them they need to check out the best Apple TV Plus shows and movies. It’s serving up programming that continues to surprise and charm, while Netflix almost feels routine and boring. From Schmigadoon! to The Velvet Underground, and from Beastie Boys Story to Mythic Quest, there’s something for everyone. Want drama? For All Mankind and The Morning Show scratch the prestige and tabloid itches, respectively. And while it’s getting into live sports with MLB and MLS, the recent Apple TV Plus price hike is not great news, as it went up from $4.99 to $6.99 per month. Check out our full Apple TV Plus review. We at Tom’s Guide subscribe to Peacock for a variety of reasons. Some like the Peacock Originals Girls5eva and Vigil, which proved to be two of our favorite new shows — the kind of shows that get you to move from Peacock’s free tier to its paid tier. One staffer (Henry) only has Peacock for the WWE live events and content. Also, the Saved By The Bell reboot was much better than expected. Check out the best Peacock shows list for more tips on what to watch. Read our full Peacock review, and also Peacock TV promo codes to save on monthly costs Fubo TV is one of the best streaming services for anyone looking to have access to live sports without an actual cable subscription. Fubo’s standard plan is $69.99 and offers 120-plus channels, including almost every major broadcast and cable network. And it’s about to get better, thanks to FuboTV’s huge upgrade for cord cutters who want live sports. And unlike other live TV streaming competitors like YouTube TV and Sling TV, Fubo has 4K streaming for select content on demand and select live events. The other knock against Fubo, besides its higher price, is the limited Cloud DVR storage. When we tested Fubo TV, we found that its multi-screen view was the biggest differentiator outside of its surplus of international sports. Those features work really well together, though, as we got to watch races and futbol simultaneously. While Fubo’s channel lineup is the largest among the higher-priced streamers, they just got a major pair of gaps filled, including ABC and ESPN. By adding ESPN, Fubo makes itself the top streaming service for NFL fans, offering all the major broadcast networks, and the NFL Network too. In addition, the lineup includes popular networks like NBC, Fox, AMC, Food Network, MTV and Syfy, as well as a ton of niche sports channels. Its only big sports flaw is TNT, which is a must for NBA playoffs. Check our our full Fubo TV review or view our FuboTV promo codes Read our full Prime Video review.
How to choose the best streaming services for you
The good news is that you don’t need to limit yourself to just one. It’s all about picking the number of services that’s right for your budget. And to that matter, all depends on the content you want to consume. While Netflix has a diverse array of content, it’s not appealing to any specific audience — which means it’s probably a service that most people have. While Netflix is pivoting more to original shows and movies with each passing week, it’s still constantly adding licensed movies and shows. That means it’s not only the place you’ll re-watch The Good Place, but it’s also got its own hits like Glow and Love Is Blind. Alternatively, do not sleep on HBO Max. Not only does the service get top-tier movies, but it’s continually getting some of the latest and greatest and most prestigious TV shows, such as Watchmen and The Outsider.
How we test streaming services
Testing streaming services is both serious work and good fun. When we test the quality of these platforms, we use them on multiple devices, including game consoles, web browsers and mobile devices. You’d be surprised at how differently Sling TV can look between a Roku, the Apple TV box and Chrome. But there are a lot of other devices, so check out our Nvidia Shield TV vs. Nvidia Shield TV Pro face-off to see the difference between them. We then compare the services based around the number of simultaneous streams they allow, if they throw in 4K streaming for free (or charge extra), and what other special features they allow. We also keep a strong eye on the new channels coming to each service, with articles such as our Sling Orange vs Blue face-off. And as pricing constantly changes (not in the right way, most of the time), we have to rethink how each competitor sits in the landscape. Sling, for example, has stayed near the low-end of the field, even though it too has gone up over time. We also spend a fair amount of time keeping up with the latest entrants into the streaming wars. A newer live TV streaming service is Philo TV, which costs just $25 a month for 59 channels. One of the biggest new names in streaming is NBCU’s Peacock. Its strategy is simple: free ad-supported content you love, but the debate over NBC Peacock Free vs Premium is more about getting people in the door and hooked. Shows such as Girls5Eva are here to make you pay more. Peacock has The Office, SNL and much more, plus it’s the exclusive home for many Premier League soccer games and the WWE Network. HBO Max arrived with the WarnerMedia library (plus Friends), after that, though, it earned a lot of attention for its “day-and-date” releases that brought huge blockbuster movies on the same day they arrive in theaters. This started with Wonder Woman 1984, but ended when 2022 began. Still, HBO Max is the service we love the most, as it keeps delivering great TV shows. Apple TV Plus earned its spot on the best best streaming services by becoming more than just a service you watch Ted Lasso on. The likes of Pachinko, Severance, CODA, The Afterparty and Shining Girls have proven that Apple has an eye for good content. Annoyingly, we’ve found that it isn’t on all brands of Smart TVs. For more information, check out our how we test page for Tom’s Guide.
title: “The Best Streaming Services In 2022” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-03” author: “Bradley Chapman”
Netflix is experiencing a very interesting situation, as losing a mere 970,000 subscribers in the last quarter is actually seen as a good thing, as they expected that number to be as high as 2 million. The new Netflix with ads plan is supposed to help stave off those issues. We guess the want for Stranger Things season 5 is already strong. Prime Video’s Supe show just had a strong season, too, and so we’re left waiting for The Boys season 4. We also like Apple TV Plus, which got much better over the last years, adding hits such as The Afterparty and Severance. That said, the Apple TV Price hike is increasing its price by $2 per month. Some of our entries on this list include those that help those cutting the cord. One of these services is used by multiple TG staffers as their cable TV alternative. These services are just one half of the streaming equation, though. As the cable box slowly withers away, it’s being replaced by smart TVs and the best streaming devices, which include Rokus and Chromecasts. And by testing the best streaming services and devices side-by-side, we figure out the best way to build the ultimate streaming setup with the best selection of content and live channels.
The best streaming services now
HBO Max has everything HBO had, and then some. Both HBO and HBO Max pack current-run shows including Euphoria, as well as completed seasons of Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Veep. But for $14.99 per month (or $9.99 with ads, and no big Warner movies), HBO Max adds a lot more to be a compelling competitor to Netflix. But for as much as we love HBO Max, we hate to see it losing dozens of titles. And we hate the prospect of having to pay more when the HBO Max and Discovery Plus merger comes to be. Recently, HBO Max finally upgraded Game of Thones to 4K with HDR 10 and Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, so it’s a good time to go revisit the very dark The Long Night episode. We love HBO Max so much, we awarded it the 2022 Tom’s Guide Award for best streaming service. Recently added pieces of TV excellence include The Rehearsal and Harley Quinn season 2. Check out our guide to the best HBO Max shows, and the best HBO Max movies to see what it’s offering. Check our our full HBO Max review. Hulu’s one of the most interesting options on this list, and its unique nature makes sure it’s one of the best streaming services. While it doesn’t deliver as many new originals as say Netflix, its quality to quantity ratio is better. But more importantly, its next-day airings of cable and broadcast TV shows make it a must-have for many cord-cutters who don’t want to spend $40 or more on the likes of Sling. And while it’s still our value pick, a new Hulu price hike is raising entry to $7.99 per month, though that’s still cheaper than the $9.99 basic Netflix plan. In addition, the service hosts a number of original shows (including joint ventures with the BBC, like The Wrong Mans and season 4 of The Thick of It), a selection of offbeat movies and a surprising amount of classic anime series. Recent Hulu hits include Only Murderers In the Building season 2, Fire Island and The Dropout. Even with a paid subscription, you have to sit through commercials, but far fewer than if you watched the same shows on cable. Hulu’s live TV streaming option is also a solid aspect of its overall package, and that will let you watch CBS too. Wondering what to watch? Check out our lists of the best shows on Hulu and the best movies on Hulu. Check out our full Hulu with Live TV review or view our Hulu promo codes The great-granddaddy in the market remains near the top of our list of the best streaming services. As you probably know, Netflix provides unlimited streaming of TV shows, movies, comedy specials and original programming (we need Stranger Things 5 now) for one monthly subscription fee. It’s continuing to try and make big movies its big thing, but The Gray Man wasn’t exactly a winner (a sequel is coming, though). The new Netflix with ads plan offers a new $6.99 entry-point. Netflix is constantly adding and taking away movies, so you’ll want to check our our what’s new on Netflix guide to see what’s coming soon, and what you should watch before it’s gone. Thanks to a recent Netflix price hike, many likely debated canceling the service. I personally come back and forth to Netflix, because if one month doesn’t have a new show or film I want, the next definitely will. New additions to the service include The Sandman, the adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s beloved graphic novels. It stars Game of Thrones alum Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar and Tom Sturridge as Dream/Morpheus. Wondering what to watch? Check out our lists of the best shows on Netflix and the best movies on Netflix. Read our full Netflix review. Disney Plus is a dominant player in the category, and why wouldn’t it be? Disney controls a frankly frightening number of properties, from Marvel, to Star Wars, to Disney’s own animated canon, to The Simpsons (all 30 seasons, and counting). But a Dec. 2022 Disney Plus price hike has Disney Plus up to $11, though a new $8 ad-free plan is coming for those who want to keep the current price. We’ve got two ways for you to dodge the Disney Plus price hike, though. While we like the Disney Plus apps — they’re all snappy and responsive and well made — we’ve always wanted more from the service. For example, we find ourselves waiting for the next big thing too often. This is why movies like Turning Red and the new Chip n Dale flick are valuable to Disney Plus. We’re also curious about what will change with the addition of TV-MA content in the U.S., as Disney Plus getting the Netflix Marvel shows and improved parental controls. Deadpool, Deadpool 2 and Logan are the first R-rated Disney plus movies, too, but those are just drops in the bucket, as Netflix and HBO Max have long outranked Disney Plus when it comes to a wide variety of content for adults. Fans of Disney, Marvel, Pixar and/or Star Wars have no choice but to subscribe, which makes Disney Plus one of the best streaming services. Trying to figure out what’s actually good? Our guides to the best Disney Plus movies and the best Disney Plus shows can help. Read our full Disney Plus review. Unlike the above on-demand services that outrank it, Sling TV is a streaming service to replace cable, offering many of the most popular live TV channels. We (two of TG’s streaming writers) cut the cord with Sling TV for the following two reasons: its competitive price is married with a decent assortment of channels. Sling is especially handy for sports fans, as it offers a variety of ESPN channels (which it lost briefly in October 2022) — and this alone is worth the price for some. That said, the recent Sling TV price hike just raised its starting price by $5 per month. Other popular networks, like NBC, BBC America, CNN, Cartoon Network, TBS and the Food Network, sweeten the deal. If you want a live TV service with more channels (such as ABC and CBS), we say consider Fubo TV, unless you need TNT. In which case, Sling may be the best for you. Check out our Sling TV guide to packages, channels and more. While the other popular streaming services start at around $65 or $70, Sling stands out with its $40 per month starting price. In Sling keeps changing its new offer deal. It’s currently at 50% off for your first month, and that’s the best deal. Sometimes it goes to $10 off the first month. Read our full Sling TV review or view our Sling TV promo codes When we first named Apple TV Plus one of the best streaming services, it entered this list at the very end, in last place. In the months since? We keep going back to Apple TV Plus, as its hot streak is almost unparalleled outside of HBO Max. Severance is arguably the show of 2022, The Afterparty was a great surprise and Apple TV Plus even took home the best picture Oscar for CODA. So for anyone who says Apple TV Plus is for “Ted Lasso and little else,” tell them they need to check out the best Apple TV Plus shows and movies. It’s serving up programming that continues to surprise and charm, while Netflix almost feels routine and boring. From Schmigadoon! to The Velvet Underground, and from Beastie Boys Story to Mythic Quest, there’s something for everyone. Want drama? For All Mankind and The Morning Show scratch the prestige and tabloid itches, respectively. And while it’s getting into live sports with MLB and MLS, the recent Apple TV Plus price hike is not great news, as it went up from $4.99 to $6.99 per month. Check out our full Apple TV Plus review. We at Tom’s Guide subscribe to Peacock for a variety of reasons. Some like the Peacock Originals Girls5eva and Vigil, which proved to be two of our favorite new shows — the kind of shows that get you to move from Peacock’s free tier to its paid tier. One staffer (Henry) only has Peacock for the WWE live events and content. Also, the Saved By The Bell reboot was much better than expected. Check out the best Peacock shows list for more tips on what to watch. Read our full Peacock review, and also Peacock TV promo codes to save on monthly costs Fubo TV is one of the best streaming services for anyone looking to have access to live sports without an actual cable subscription. Fubo’s standard plan is $69.99 and offers 120-plus channels, including almost every major broadcast and cable network. And it’s about to get better, thanks to FuboTV’s huge upgrade for cord cutters who want live sports. And unlike other live TV streaming competitors like YouTube TV and Sling TV, Fubo has 4K streaming for select content on demand and select live events. The other knock against Fubo, besides its higher price, is the limited Cloud DVR storage. When we tested Fubo TV, we found that its multi-screen view was the biggest differentiator outside of its surplus of international sports. Those features work really well together, though, as we got to watch races and futbol simultaneously. While Fubo’s channel lineup is the largest among the higher-priced streamers, they just got a major pair of gaps filled, including ABC and ESPN. By adding ESPN, Fubo makes itself the top streaming service for NFL fans, offering all the major broadcast networks, and the NFL Network too. In addition, the lineup includes popular networks like NBC, Fox, AMC, Food Network, MTV and Syfy, as well as a ton of niche sports channels. Its only big sports flaw is TNT, which is a must for NBA playoffs. Check our our full Fubo TV review or view our FuboTV promo codes Read our full Prime Video review.
How to choose the best streaming services for you
The good news is that you don’t need to limit yourself to just one. It’s all about picking the number of services that’s right for your budget. And to that matter, all depends on the content you want to consume. While Netflix has a diverse array of content, it’s not appealing to any specific audience — which means it’s probably a service that most people have. While Netflix is pivoting more to original shows and movies with each passing week, it’s still constantly adding licensed movies and shows. That means it’s not only the place you’ll re-watch The Good Place, but it’s also got its own hits like Glow and Love Is Blind. Alternatively, do not sleep on HBO Max. Not only does the service get top-tier movies, but it’s continually getting some of the latest and greatest and most prestigious TV shows, such as Watchmen and The Outsider.
How we test streaming services
Testing streaming services is both serious work and good fun. When we test the quality of these platforms, we use them on multiple devices, including game consoles, web browsers and mobile devices. You’d be surprised at how differently Sling TV can look between a Roku, the Apple TV box and Chrome. But there are a lot of other devices, so check out our Nvidia Shield TV vs. Nvidia Shield TV Pro face-off to see the difference between them. We then compare the services based around the number of simultaneous streams they allow, if they throw in 4K streaming for free (or charge extra), and what other special features they allow. We also keep a strong eye on the new channels coming to each service, with articles such as our Sling Orange vs Blue face-off. And as pricing constantly changes (not in the right way, most of the time), we have to rethink how each competitor sits in the landscape. Sling, for example, has stayed near the low-end of the field, even though it too has gone up over time. We also spend a fair amount of time keeping up with the latest entrants into the streaming wars. A newer live TV streaming service is Philo TV, which costs just $25 a month for 59 channels. One of the biggest new names in streaming is NBCU’s Peacock. Its strategy is simple: free ad-supported content you love, but the debate over NBC Peacock Free vs Premium is more about getting people in the door and hooked. Shows such as Girls5Eva are here to make you pay more. Peacock has The Office, SNL and much more, plus it’s the exclusive home for many Premier League soccer games and the WWE Network. HBO Max arrived with the WarnerMedia library (plus Friends), after that, though, it earned a lot of attention for its “day-and-date” releases that brought huge blockbuster movies on the same day they arrive in theaters. This started with Wonder Woman 1984, but ended when 2022 began. Still, HBO Max is the service we love the most, as it keeps delivering great TV shows. Apple TV Plus earned its spot on the best best streaming services by becoming more than just a service you watch Ted Lasso on. The likes of Pachinko, Severance, CODA, The Afterparty and Shining Girls have proven that Apple has an eye for good content. Annoyingly, we’ve found that it isn’t on all brands of Smart TVs. For more information, check out our how we test page for Tom’s Guide.
