Seemingly every day, a new video streaming service emerges to fill a previously underrepresented genre niche or help a legacy studio expand its brand in an ever-changing media landscape. However, just a handful of big, mainstream platforms dominate the streaming space. Two of the biggest are Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. But what if you can only stream TV and film from one service? Don’t fret, we’re here to help you decide by comparing their libraries, features, and specs.
(Credit: Netflix/PCMag)
Movies, TV Shows, and Sports
Netflix and Amazon Prime Video both want to be the only streaming service you need. Their libraries cover nearly all genres and age groups, even if more niche services dive deeper into their respective categories. Evaluating their catalogs can be a bit tricky, as they are subject to change over time due to licensing agreements. Still, both platforms have excellent content.
On the sports front, Netflix streams WWE Raw and major one-off sporting events, such as the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match and the NFL’s Christmas Day games. However, Amazon has a more robust overall lineup of live sports thanks to its exclusive NBA on Prime and Thursday Night Football shows.
Want movies and TV? Amazon’s purchase of MGM gives it a lot more Hollywood credibility. And with its deep pockets, Amazon has funded many original shows and movies, including Bosch, The Boys, Catastrophe, Electric Dreams, Fleabag, Good Omens, Hanna, Homecoming, Hunters, Jack Ryan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Patriot, Tales From The Loop, Undone, Upload, and Utopia.
Still, Netflix is the service to beat when it comes to original mainstream streaming entertainment. Its library includes stylish anime, award-winning dramas and documentaries, and the trashiest reality shows you’ve ever seen. Netflix’s lineup includes Black Mirror, BoJack Horseman, The Crown, Dead to Me, Locke & Key, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Never Have I Ever, Orange Is the New Black, Ozark, The Queen’s Gambit, Russian Doll, Stranger Things, The Umbrella Academy, and The Witcher. If anything, Netflix now has too much content, forcing the service to cancel shows at an alarming rate to rein in spending.
Winner: Netflix
(Credit: Amazon/PCMag)
Price and Platforms
After years of price increases, Netflix recently introduced a lower-priced, ad-supported tier. Costing just $7.99, this base plan enables Netflix to compete with lower-priced services. However, this isn’t the best deal. The tier doesn’t allow you to access the full Netflix library, and it lacks certain features, such as 4K resolution and the ability to add extra members to your account. For a more comprehensive Netflix experience, prepare to pay at least $17.99 per month for the Standard plan.
Meanwhile, the ad-free Amazon Prime Video costs $8.99 per month and comes with everything you want from the service. However, to remove ads, you must pay $11.99 per month. You can expand your viewing options by renting or buying content a la carte, or by subscribing to add-on channels. For example, the HBO Max add-on costs $10.99 per month. Prime Video also comes included with an Amazon Prime subscription.
Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are on nearly every platform you would want, including media streaming devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), the Microsoft Store, mobile (Android and iOS), game consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), smart TVs, and the web.
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Winner: Amazon Prime Video
(Credit: Amazon/PCMag)
Video Quality and Viewing Options
As top-tier streaming services, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video share a similar viewing experience. Want to stream in 4K video quality? You got it. Offline mobile downloads let you watch content on the go. Parental controls prevent children from watching inappropriate content.
Additionally, both services allow you to simultaneously stream on a comparable number of devices. Prime Video provides three simultaneous streams, while Netflix’s stream limit varies depending on the tier: You get two with the Standard Plan and four with the Premium plan.
Recommended by Our Editors
Both services include audio descriptions, a particularly useful accessibility feature.
Winner: Tie
(Credit: Netflix/PCMag)
Netflix and Amazon Prime Video offer alternative ways to view content that isn’t in their respective streaming libraries. For example, Amazon offers digital rentals and purchases, which is even more appealing now that Netflix has shut down its DVD mail rental service. Prime Video’s coolest feature, X-Ray, uses IMDb information to provide behind-the-scenes insights on a program’s cast and crew whenever you pause what you’re watching.
Prime Video is a major part of a larger tech company, but Netflix is a streaming company first and foremost. As a result, Netflix has community blogs to support its various fan bases and a finely tuned recommendation algorithm that suggests what to watch with frightening specificity. Want to indulge in something new? Clicking the Play Something icon causes Netflix to launch a random program. Heck, a Netflix subscription now comes with access to surprisingly high-quality mobile video games, such as Dead Cells and Immortality.
Winner: Netflix
Video Streaming Services: What You Should Know
And The Winner Is…
Amazon Prime Video is a worthwhile video service due to its add-on channels and live sports, but Netflix earns its reputation as the biggest name in streaming thanks to innovative features and excellent originals that cater to every audience. For its content and versatility, Netflix emerges from this battle as our Editors’ Choice for mainstream streaming video services.
