Amazon established its streaming platform in 2006. Its initial name was Unbox, and then Instant Video on Demand. Once the company implemented its Prime services, the streaming platform became Amazon Prime Video.
If you have already tested Amazon Prime Video or didn’t like what it offers, you might need an alternative. That’s why we searched the market and discovered on-demand and live TV services that can be the perfect replacement. Here are the platforms to consider!
Hulu + Live TV is the best VOD + live TV combo
Hulu is a streaming service owned by Disney and NBCUniversal, with the former being a majority owner. The platform has a generous on-demand library available at a fairly affordable price. But what if you prefer combining VOD with live TV channels?
If that’s your preference, you can get a special Hulu + Live TV deal. It includes more than 90 channels and supports two simultaneous streams. The price is similar to other live TV streaming services, and you can add a few bucks to eliminate ads. If you choose to subscribe, just visit our Hulu live TV guide and you’ll know what’s on at any given moment on the channels supported by the platform.
How Hulu with Live TV compares to Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video is primarily an on-demand streaming service. It does have live channels, but they focus on entertainment. If you’d like an all-around channel lineup, Hulu + Live TV is a better option. You get news channels like CBS and Fox and sports channels like ESPN, Disney, and other broadcasters.
Hulu also has a large on-demand content library. It’s right there with APV as a top player in this market. You can enjoy thousands of hours of content, including original programming like The Handmaid’s Tale and The Kardashians. It’s more expensive with the live TV subscription, but you get a complete cable-free experience. You can read our Hulu vs Amazon Prime Video comparison for more information.
Max is a great choice for top-quality movies and TV shows
WarnerMedia is the company behind Max. It launched this streaming service in 2020, and it’s now available throughout the world. Some statistics indicate it has over 75 million subscribers combined with HBO.
The biggest advantage of Max lies in high-quality and original titles. You can enjoy Warner Bros movies, such as The Batman, quickly after they hit the cinemas. HBO also has extraordinary original programming with award-winning shows like The Wire and Game of Thrones.
How Max compares to Amazon Prime Video
The estimation is that Max has over 15,000 hours of original and third-party content on its platform. That’s quite generous and close to what Amazon Prime Video offers. The platform has a default subscription plan that includes ads, or a more expensive one that removes commercials..
HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video both support simultaneous streaming on multiple devices. They also come with excellent device support, ranging from smart TVs and media players like Roku to smartphones. Max has vast experience in producing original programming, and its unique titles stick to excellent quality standards. If you appreciate a methodical approach to unique programming, the WB’s platform might be a better option.
Netflix is great if you want loads of intriguing and thrilling TV shows
Netflix is among the most generous on-demand streaming platforms when it comes to the offered content. It has thousands of hours of original and third-party programming. Some titles created by Netflix include Money Heist, Squid Game, Bridgerton, etc.
The company has a long history since it began in 1997. The current information indicates Netflix has over 221 million subscribers worldwide. However, the platform is struggling with shared accounts, which put a dent in its growth plans.
How Netflix compares to Amazon Prime Video
Netflix is more expensive than Amazon Prime Video. The Basic subscription doesn’t even get you 1080p videos. You need more expensive plans, such as Standard and Premium, to unlock higher resolutions, which seems like an unnecessary extra investment.
The good news is that all packages secure access to all content provided by Netflix. Although original programming might not be as creative as before, Netflix still has both quality and quantity. If you want access to new titles and classics, this platform is the right choice.
Starz is excellent if you prefer a curated movie selection in different genres
Starz began in the 1990s as a pay-TV service. They kept that concept, although they migrated to the internet. Today, the company has 17 TV channels. You can enjoy IndiePlex, Starz Cinema, and others, offering a fine selection of entertainment content.
The total content of this VOD service comes out to over 1,400 titles. It’s not that impressive, especially if you consider that Starz only has a limited amount of original programming. However, they ensure that their releases are of the highest quality. Ranging from 4K streaming to great titles in all genres, unique programming is among Starz’s strongest suits.
How Starz compares to Amazon Prime Video
Starz has a similar subscription price to Amazon Prime Video. You can save if you choose a long-term deal. There’s a free trial for both services, and Starz gives you a week to try its content.
It’s worth noting these two companies have a close collaboration. You can get Starz video channels on APV. If we observe the services individually, Amazon Prime Video has more content. However, Starz puts a lot of effort into its original programming. As a result, you can enjoy the platform’s Power Book series, Blindspotting, and other great titles. If the titles seem attractive, you’ll find Starz a good subscription option.
Paramount+ is the top choice if you enjoy content made by CBS
CBS didn’t have much success with its streaming platforms, and they rebranded their All Access service to Paramount+ in 2021. Today, this streaming service mostly focuses on VOD content. You can access over 40,000 hours of content. That ranges from reality shows to other TV shows and movies.
Paramount+ tops up this deal with a limited amount of TV content. You can access the local CBS stations throughout the United States. NFL matches and UEFA Champions League are also available to certain subscribers.
How Paramount+ compares to Amazon Prime Video
If we are comparing content, both platforms are surprisingly strong. Paramount+ mainly focuses on CBS-produced programming. If you like it, you’ll certainly appreciate the option to have it all on one platform.
Another advantage of Paramount+ is you can get it at an affordable price. However, you’ll need to consider the occasional commercial breaks. If you want to enjoy the platform without interruptions, it costs more to remove the ads. That’s slightly higher than the price of Amazon Prime Video, but it still seems like an excellent value for money.
Disney Bundle offers excellent value to VOD fans
Before we continue, we want to highlight a featured deal. The Disney Bundle is one of the best options for streaming with a package that offers a rich catalogue of content for all ages including movies, shows, and sports.
Sign up below to get the whole bundle or get Disney Plus standalone for a more affordable price.
Disney Bundle is a combination of three services. The default one is Disney+, launched by a famous company. And yes, the company offers Pixar and other kid-friendly titles. However, there’s plenty of content for other audiences, too. You can enjoy Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and other content. As a bonus, the Disney Bundle includes Hulu and ESPN+.
How Disney Bundle compares to Amazon Prime Video
The biggest advantage of the Disney Bundle is that it secures access to multiple streaming services. Thanks to Disney being the owner of all, you get access to Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu. The provider secures that at an attractive price. It’s a bit more expensive than Amazon Prime Video, but you do get three platforms.
Disney+ and Hulu have an extensive range of entertainment content. ESPN+ is perfect for all sports fans. As a result, this bundle is a convenient option for families with multiple household members. Here is more about Disney+ plans and pricing.
Peacock is the best affordable option
NBC isn’t different from CBS when it comes to success with on-demand platforms. That’s why they developed Peacock in the newest attempt to become an essential player in the streaming market. Peacock has a great content library but mostly focuses on titles developed by NBC.
How Peacock compares to Amazon Prime Video
The very fact Peacock is quite cheap for all US citizens is its biggest advantage. Five minutes of advertisements every couple of hours aren’t a great price to pay to get access to NBC’s platform. If you want to remove ads, you can access Premium or Plus packages. You can even download content from the VOD library with the Plus subscription.
Hulu + Live TV is the top replacement for Amazon Prime Video since it offers the best of VOD and live TV
Users worldwide can appreciate the option of having so many streaming platforms available. Amazon Prime Video is a great option, but if you need an alternative, it shouldn’t be a problem to find one. Hulu with Live TV is an excellent combo of VOD and live channels. Max and Netflix are fantastic choices if you like top-quality movies and TV shows, and Starz also offers a fine selection of exclusive titles.
Paramount+ and Peacock focus primarily on programming produced by specific networks. Disney+ has a generous bundle that includes an interesting content for audiences of all ages. Ultimately, the decision depends on your preference since you literally can’t go wrong when it comes to the quality of streaming services!
Aneeca Younas • Author
Aneeca Younas is a graduated journalist with years of experience writing in different niches based in Oakland, CA. She is a huge movie fan that also enjoys watching sports. That's why she spends hours daily using various streaming services. Over the years, Aneeca profiled herself as an expert in cable-free and VOD platforms.
Davan Hamilton • Editor
Davan Hamilton is an editor and writer based in Jacksonville, FL. Holding a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, her writing spans a wide range, from essays on film criticism and analysis to surreal poetry. Now, she works for Flixed as an editor, continuing to ignore the list of passion projects she’s accumulated. When she’s not glued to her computer, you can find her building endless amounts of Lego sets, binge-reading manga, or playing with (fighting) her cat.
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