Streaming has widely replaced cable for most people, becoming the new way most of us consume media. But that’s led to the growth of streaming platforms to the point of there being so many, you’re practically just making your own cable packages! If you’re looking for which ones are the best, how do you know where to start by narrowing it down?
The best way to do so is to take stock of your tastes and see what sort of content you want. To that end, we’ve gathered some of the most popular streaming platforms on the market today to see which one best fits your purposes. Here are our choices for the best streaming platforms available in 2024.
Amazon Prime
Comes with Amazon Prime!
Fancy shows like The Boys, Fallout, and Invincible? Prime Video is a great streaming service for mature shows, family movies, and everything in between.
Amazon Prime started off without much ground in the game, but they slowly worked until they were equal with bigger names like Netflix. As Netflix begins to decline due to changes in their price modeling and how many people can share an account, Amazon has been steadily climbing up the ranks.
They’re helped in this by blockbuster shows like Invincible for animation fans, The Boys for fans of action-comedy, and Fallout for fans of saying “Okey Dokey” in the face of unimaginable horrors. They also have somegreat anime moviesto watch.
Twitch
But not just for gamers!
Twitch has become the streaming service of choice in the gaming community. This is the best platform for unwinding after a long day if you prefer single streamer personalities over networks.
Twitch is arguably the most popular streaming platform, having become a streaming network that rivals nearly everything else on the internet. This crowd-fueled network doesn’t have its own shows, but instead relies on the personalities of individual creators to drive their content. Twitch is home to some of the biggest names in modern entertainment and is particularly noted for the huge variety of content that’s on service.
That said, the content is widely dependent on whose channel you’re watching. If you’re getting a subscription for your child, you should vet any content creators you’re allowing them to watch. you’re able to even get your ownstream setupand join the ranks of content creators.
Disney+
When you wish upon a star
If you’re a Disney fan, there’s no better place to get your fix of your favorite Disney IPs. This streaming platform is the home of Star Wars, most Disney movies, and more.
Speaking of watching things with your child, few platforms are better for the streaming family than Disney Plus, usually stylized as Disney+. Disney’s streaming platform’s creation led to them pulling their content from other platforms so that they could put it behind their exclusive platform. As such, if you’re a Disney fan, this is a must-have.
You’ll find all of your favorite shows, classic movies, and other Disney musts behind this subscription. You’ll also find some newer acquisitions, like all the new Star Wars shows and movies that are coming out since they were acquired under the Disney umbrella.
Crunchyroll
Home for all things anime
For the anime fans, there’s no streaming platform like Crunchyroll. This is the premier streaming service for anyone looking to see the newest anime, but most other types of media don’t have a home here.
If you’re a fan of anime, there are few options better than Crunchyroll. While some other networks may havesomeanime, like Netflix or Amazon Prime, none of them have as much as Crunchyroll. Crunchyroll is able to get some shows over from Japan on the first day of release, making it a critical subscription for die-hard anime fans.
The only drawback is that almost all of the content on the siteisanime. If you aren’t an anime fan, there isn’t much of a reason to have this subscription. But if you’re looking to become one, you can nurture your inner weaboo with your subscription to this network.
Make sure theanime you wantto watch is on Crunchyroll before you sub! They have a lot of anime, but noteveryshow lands on the network.
MAX
Bundles with other high-demand sites
HBO Max is a great competitor for platforms like Netflix. This platform is home to some of the most classic shows and movies you can find in the streaming industry.
HBO Max - recently shifting to only be called Max - is one of the top competitors for fans of television and movies. Max mostly competes with the same niche as Prime and Netflix and is the premier spot to watch the HBO classics. It’s been kept in the limelight by shows like Game of Thrones and, more recently, House of the Dragon. Their exclusives are their strongsuit, and if you want to keep up with the newest releases, a Max account is a must.
Kick
Still has room to grow
If you’re looking for a still-growing platform, Kick is still getting up and on their feet. We love this platform for its celebrity personalities and its niche in the community.
Kick is the smallest platform we’re mentioning, as well as the newest. Kick was founded in 2022 as a way to compete with Twitch, which has much larger resources due to being owned by Amazon. Since then, Kick has signed exclusive deals with some huge streamers for absolutely mind-boggling prices. The network is still getting off the ground and is dominantly a competitor to Twitch, so if your favorite celebrity is here, it’s worth checking out. But if you’re looking for movies and shows, we’d suggest looking into some of the other platforms.
FAQ
Are There Family Friendly Streaming Platforms?
Disney+ is the most family friendly platform. Most of them also have parental controls so you can ensure your kids aren’t watching things you don’t want them to watch.
Are All Streaming Services Paid?
Can I Have Multiple Platforms?
Yes! There’s no limit to how many you can have. Some, like HBO Max, bundle with others to give you the most bang for your buck. Always look into such deals to save yourself some money.
