Video calling makes it easy to connect to your kids and grandkids, no matter where they are, but could those calls be hacked? It’s horrifying to think that a video call could put one of your family members in harm’s way.

I have been speaking with real families about intergenerational video calls, and I put together some resources for getting started with video calls and troubleshooting video calls when something goes wrong.

Privacy is important, too, and I want to address it head-on. Here’s a quick list of the calling apps I recommend if privacy is a top concern:

• Signal: Best private video app for everything from international spycraft to calls with the kids
• FaceTime: Best private video app for everyday family calls
• WhatsApp: Best private video app for mixed-device households

I’ll dig into the pros and cons below, then offer a few more suggestions in case my top three aren’t quite right for you and your family.

Excellent quality and security for Apple users

 WhatsApp

Fun, secure video calls from the owners of Facebook

Other private video calling apps to try

One of the most important things about choosing a private video calling app is finding one that everyone can agree on. If your family can’t come to a consensus on one of the options above (or if your app-of-choice is down), here are a few others I recommend.

Secure video calling if you take extra steps

The Telegram app lets you have massive family groups, and the interface is sleek and fun. But you must manually select the “secret chat” option to trigger end-to-end encryption, and you can only have secret calls one-on-one. I use it, and I like that you can delete messages and files from your device and the other person’s device. There can be a lot of spam, though, and it tracks more metadata than competitors.

Good for Androids when nothing else works

Google Meet comes pre-installed on Android devices and has security software built in. Users can kick participants out or deny entry to a room, and that can come in handy if someone is trying to spy on your call. The app can be hard to use, though, because you have to create a room for each call. Plus, your data is subject to Google’s privacy policy agreements.

The app uses cloud encryption, meaning Google keeps a copy of your keys and could unscramble your data if it wanted to. If you need true E2EE, toggle on Additional Encryption in the pre-call screen.

Let’s imagine your husband is a software expert and you need to plan a surprise birthday party with the grandkids. Jitsi lets you create a completely disposable meeting room with no account registration required. Once the last person leaves the private room, the room (and its data) are deleted from the server.

Just be aware that you have to toggle on the E2EE manually, and it may fail if anyone on the call hasn’t updated their browser. Of course, you’ll also want to hide any messages about the call, especially if you and your husband share devices.

You’ve heard of Swiss bank accounts. Threema is like that, but for video calls. Everyone joins using a random ID instead of a phone number or email. There’s almost no metadata, and the app meets European privacy standards. Unfortunately, it’s not free. The first time you use it, you have to pay $6.

My take: I choose FaceTime or Signal

I am fully bought into Apple’s walled garden, and I feel safe using FaceTime for all my video calls with anyone else who has access to an Apple device. I have family members who are die-hard Android fans, though. With them, I like Telegram (and occasionally use the secret chat function) or Signal for private calls and chats. For everyday family calls and chats, I stick to WhatsApp.

All that said, I’m not a lawyer or a law enforcement officer, and I’m not even a hacker. I just want to help people have nice experiences connecting to their loved ones online.

If you have legal concerns about keeping your communications private, talk to a qualified attorney. If you need help stopping someone from harassing you or your grandkids, file a complaint with the FBI. If you’re being stalked, call 911 or text START to 88788 to chat with an advocate on the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

The amount of internet speed you need for Prime Video depends on the devices you use and how many of them access the service simultaneously. Some devices support 4K Ultra HD playback, while others are locked to HD content. We’ll help you decipher everything so you can get the best experience in streaming Prime Video.

Is your Wi-Fi fast enough?

Take our speed test to see if your internet is fast enough to support your Paramount+ needs.

Prime Video speed basics

You don’t need a lot of bandwidth to stream 4K Ultra HD content from Prime Video. We know this from watching our wired Xbox Series X game console use up to 18Mbps to stream M3GAN in 4K Ultra HD (2160p).

So, based on that number, if we have five consoles streaming the same movie simultaneously, they would only use 90Mbps. Double that number to give every streamer breathing room, and you still only use up 180Mbps.

Live streams are a different story. Amazon states you need a minimum download speed of 5MB per second for HD broadcasts, which converts to 40Mbps. That’s 200Mbps total if five people watch live content simultaneously—double that to 400Mbps for breathing room.

But let’s get real here, folks. The chances of five common household members streaming 4K content or watching live events simultaneously are slim at best. Plus, not every device supports 4K playback, which we’ll get to in a bit.

Here are your minimum speed needs for Prime Video

Amazon doesn’t list recommended minimum speeds for content playback. Instead, it provides multiple support articles listing platforms with specific resolution limits. But we also discovered they’re not quite on the mark, as Amazon says web browsers support HD content but we can clearly stream movies in Full HD.

That said, the best we can do is decipher Amazon’s video quality settings based on its stated resolution limits to get an idea of the speeds you need. The only minimum speed requirements we actually dug up are for live broadcasts.

What do you need to stream 4K Ultra HD content on Prime Video?

First, let’s start with your internet speed. Based on our tests, a 4K video in Best mode streams at up to 18Mbps. If you have five people streaming simultaneously, that’s 90Mbps. Double that number to 180Mbps just in case.

But there’s more to the equation than choosing a fast internet plan. Web browsers don’t support Prime Video’s 4K playback. The Prime Video App for Windows, MacOS, iPhone, and several other platforms doesn’t support 4K video playback either. It’s all a little confusing honestly, even more so with Amazon’s Best/Better/Good Video Quality modes thrown into the mix.

Also, you need a Wi-Fi router that can handle multiple devices simultaneously. If it can only download chunks of video to a few devices at a time, imagine the traffic jam if you have five. Generally, local congestion and Wi-Fi range are your big streaming bottleneck, not your internet plan. We tested and listed the best Wi-Fi routers for streaming to give you some ideas.

Get fiber internet or a fast cable plan for the best 4K performance

We already suggested you should have at least 200Mbps if five people stream Prime Video in 4K simultaneously. Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to go a little higher, especially if someone needs to download a 10GB file quickly.

Fiber internet is the best connection you can get, but you don’t need gigabit internet—sorry, but that’s just overkill for most homes. Honestly, as a homeowner with five streamers and gamers in the house, 500Mbps internet fits the bill just right.

Best internet plans for 4K video streaming

What if you have slow internet? Never fear—you can still watch Prime Video

Five people streaming 4K content simultaneously use around 90Mbps. That’s not a lot, but we like to double that bandwidth just in case. You can feasibly get by with a 200Mbps plan, but you may want to factor in other things that will use your total bandwidth, like silent device downloads and so on.

Best internet plans for budget Prime Video users

Yes, you can stream Prime Video over a satellite internet connection, but do so sparingly since data is limited. Prime Video automatically adjusts the resolution and quality in most cases based on your device, screen, and connection, but you can manually adjust the video quality in a web browser and on some platforms.

Here’s how to adjust the video resolution for Prime Video

Despite what you may read elsewhere, you can’t adjust the video resolution. Switching the stream between the four quality modes doesn’t convert a Full HD video into an HD one. You’re definitely not going to squeeze out 4K streaming by selecting the Best video quality mode on a device or screen that only supports Full HD. Nope. Not happening.

For example, when we tested M3GAN playback on an iPhone (which has a weird 2,778 x 1,284 screen resolution), the movie remained in HD resolution no matter what visual quality setting we used—even when we disabled the Use Highest Quality on Wi-Fi feature. But we did notice a clear drop in the stream’s framerate and fidelity.

In other words, the Best mode produced a sharp image and fluid motions, while the Data Saver mode was less sharp and movements were less smooth. But you’ll never see a higher video resolution until Amazon updates the Prime Video App with support for Full HD video playback or better.

In most cases, you can’t manually adjust the video quality anyway (despite what other guides tell you). We noticed a few exceptions, however, in desktop web browsers and the apps for iPhone and iPad. We presume Amazon is quietly removing the video quality setting on devices that don’t use cellular data.

In a web browser:

Step 1: Start the video.

Step 2: Move the mouse cursor over the video to activate the overlay.

Step 3: Click on the Gear icon.

Step 4: Select Best, Better, or Good on the drop-down Video Quality menu.

In the Prime Video App:

Step 1: Tap on your profile icon.

Step 2: Tap on the gear icon.

Step 3: Tap on Streaming & Downloading.

Step 4: Tap on Streaming Quality.

Step 5: Select Best, Better, Good, or Data Saver*.

* The Data Saver mode presumably only appears on devices that use cellular data, like smartphones and 5G-capable tablets.

Choose the best Prime Video plan

You can get Prime Video two ways: for free if you subscribe to Amazon Prime, or as a standalone streaming service if you don’t.

The chart is based on streaming and downloading content from one account. Here are the major differences between the full Standard and Mobile plans:

Mobile Edition subscribers can upgrade to the full Standard Edition plan to stream and download more content. Currently, Prime Video Mobile Edition is not offered in the US.

FAQ about Prime Video

Disclaimers

Choosing the right app is one of the trickiest parts of getting started with family video calls, but it’s also one of the most important.

Before you can have a successful video call, everyone needs to agree on an app. Scroll down for a quick list of our favorites, or tap below to jump to an app you’re curious about.

Start with a good internet connection

To make successful video calls, you need an internet plan with download speeds of at least 100Mbps and upload speeds of at least 25Mbps.

That way, you won’t run into pesky issues like lag, blurry picture, or dropped calls.

If you already have a great internet connection but are still having technical issues on calls, check out our video call troubleshooting guide.

Once your internet connection is ready to go, it’s time to agree on an app for your next family video call. Here’s what I recommend:

• Choose Apple’s FaceTime app if everyone is on an Apple device.
• Choose WhatsApp if your family has a mix of Android and Apple devices.
• Choose Google Meet if someone on the call is using a laptop.
• Choose Messenger by Facebook for an easy, familiar experience.
• Choose Telegram for one-on-one privacy or very large groups.

FaceTime: The best video calling app for Apple users

WhatsApp: The most reliable video calling app

Google Meet: The best video call app for laptops

Messenger by Facebook: The best video calling app for familiarity

Telegram: The best video calling app for privacy

My take

I have an iPhone, and one side of my family is fully bought into the ecosystem. Video calls with them are seamless because we all use FaceTime. On the other side of my family, we have a mix of devices (and a wide mix of ages and experience levels), so WhatsApp makes more sense. Meanwhile, my friends and I make long calls, organize community events, and send long video messages on Telegram.

Whatever video calling app you choose, everyone should agree ahead of time. That way, they can download it on their personal devices and make sure all their permissions are correct so their mics and cameras work on the call.

Lastly, we wouldn’t be HighSpeedInternet.com without one more reminder that good video calls require good internet connections.

If you are in the market for a new plan (or can’t remember the last time you shopped), take a minute to see who’s offering service in your neighborhood. You could save hundreds!

FAQ about family video calling apps

How to get local news without a paid TV subscription

The best way to get local TV news without a cable subscription is through your smart TV. We tried a variety of free live TV apps, but there are only two that are worth your time if you care about local news.

Try the Local Now App

The Local Now app is free, and it starts working after you enter your city or zip code. In my market, it showed three of my local TV news stations in seconds, and it was relatively easy to choose among them. The only one I couldn’t get was my local ABC affiliate.

The app worked best on my Roku TV, but you can also get it on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV. You can also get on a browser or tablet, if that’s how you prefer to watch.

Try the NewsON app

NewsON is another free app that’s worth a try. We recommend using it on a smart TV and logging in as a guest. Like with Local Now, it was easy to find three of my local affiliates, but the ABC option was still missing.

If you don’t have a smart TV, don’t stress. You can plug an inexpensive streaming device like a Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, or Amazon Fire TV Stick into one of your HDMI ports instead.

Haystack News is another app that’s easy to find on many smart TVs, and its easy to use. It found one of my local channels without any extra inputs on my part, but showed many channels from other locations that weren’t nearby.

It’s free and the interface is smooth, though, so its something to consider (especially if its preloaded in your smart TV apps).

How to use local TV apps on your smart TV

If you’ve relied on a set-top cable box for years, it can be intimidating to go back to your TV’s interface or start using a separate media player.

Every setup is going to have its quirks, but the following steps can get you started.

Step 1  Make sure your TV is connected to the internet, with a speed that’s fast enough to stream video.

Step 2  Turn your TV on and find the Input button on your remote. Press it until you reach the interface of your smart TV or streaming device.

Step 3  Scroll through apps using your remote’s direction keys until you find the app you’re looking for.

Step 4  Tap to load your app of choice.

Step 5  Sign up for an account, enter your credentials, or choose to view as a guest.

Step 6  Enter your home zip code to see local news channels.

Step 7  Click around, find your favorite channels, and enjoy!

If you’re used to streaming apps like Netflix, you’re well on the way to success. These free apps work the same way. I have to be honest, though: Your experience with free apps may feel clunky or awkward because you’ll use your TV remote instead of a sleek remote from your cable company. You’re not doing anything wrong!

Just try to have fun, experiment, and revel in all the money you’re saving every month.

Local news options we don’t recommend

There are a lot of ways to find local news out there, but some just aren’t worth it. I stumbled upon a few of those ways in my research for this article.

Don’t rely on your internet browser when you want a TV experience

Even if you have the URLs for your local TV news stations bookmarked (or memorized), they aren’t a true substitute for complete news broadcasts. You have to scroll and click through every article to get a complete picture of what’s happening in your community. Even then, the articles are shortened or edited for readability, and there may be a delay between when a story airs and when it’s published online.

It’s just not the same as having your local news play in the background as you get ready for the day, enjoy your lunch break, or catch up after dinner.

If you want a traditional TV news experience, use your smart TV or an HDMI streaming device.

Don’t try your TV’s browser app

Many smart TVs these days come with a browser app built in. That’s the case with the cheap Hisense I have mounted in the guest room. Unfortunately, I’m telling you about the built-in browser only to tell you to skip it. It’s slow, clunky, and not worth your time.

If you’re browsing for local news info, use your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

Skip PlutoTV, Tubi, and other free apps for live news

Unfortunately, your smart TV may suggest its own news channels or PlutoTV for news, but you’ll be disappointed. You will only find local coverage in a few big markets like Chicago or New York. Even then, you won’t have a choice of local channels.

PlutoTV and Tubi are decent for national news, but a poor choice for local coverage.

Ways to pay for streaming TV (without the bundle)

Lucky for you, live TV isn’t black and white. You aren’t stuck with either your internet company’s TV service or free options. Instead, you can try paying for live TV streaming apps.

If that’s the case, there are lots of ways to pay for live TV (and most of them include local news channels). Here’s a taste of what’s available—just be aware that you may not save much money.

• YouTube TV offers hundreds of live channels, including local affiliates of NBC, FOX, CBS, and more, but the base price is $82.99 per month. To find out what you can get where you live, enter your home zip code at youtube.com/welcome.
• Hulu + Live TV offers more than 90 live channels, including all major local networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC). The monthly price is $89.99, but includes the ad-supported version of the Hulu streaming service.
• FuboTV is built for sports and offers multiple tiers, but its cheapest option includes local ABC, CBS, and FOX affiliates. It’s a well-rounded selection, but you may have to look elsewhere for NBC or The CW. Monthly prices start at $55.99 per month.
• Sling TV offers local NBC, FOX, or ABC, but only in some markets. You can get it in Chicago and Hollywood, for example, but not Salt Lake City or St. Louis. Monthly pricing can be as low as $19.99, but it varies regionally. Unfortunately, Sling TV rarely (if ever) carries CBS.

It can seem like national news is all that matters these days. But if your news diet only includes national stories, you miss out on some great stuff:

• High school and college sports
• Info about local property and sales taxes
• State political stories
• Local crime and policing
• Local business news

It’s worth it to stay in the loop in your local community, but you don’t have to pay out the nose for the privilege. All you need is a good internet connection, a decent TV, a little patience, and the gumption to learn something new.

The Seattle Seahawks are set to face off against the New England Patriots for Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8.

I’ll be watching on Peacock over my rock-solid fiber internet connection, but you can also watch on live TV or the NFL+ app.

Super Bowl LX will be played in sunny Santa Clara, California, at Levi’s Stadium. But more than 100 million people are expected to tune in nationwide, from The City on a Hill in the east to Stumptown City in the Pacific Northwest.

Punk rock icons Green Day will lay down the groove in the pregame, and the Puerto Rican “King of Latin Trap” Bad Bunny will headline the halftime show.

Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time, but you can catch Mr. Billie Joe Armstrong and the band starting 90 minutes earlier. Later on, you’ll hear from outstanding talents including Charlie Puth, Brandi Carlile, and Coco Jones.

Whether you’re in it for the ads, the athletics, or the entertainment, it pays to get ready ahead of time.

How to watch Super Bowl LX

You can watch Super Bowl LX live on NBC, Telemundo, or UNIVERSO. You can watch over the air (if you have digital bunny ears), through your cable TV package, or on a variety of live tv streaming apps like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. Fubo viewers will miss out, though, unless the streamer resolves a carrier dispute with NBCUniversal in time.

Either way, you can also catch all the action on Peacock on any of its tiers: Select, Premium, or Premium Plus.

If you just want to listen in or can get by with a smaller screen, try the NFL+ app or services like SiriusXM or Westwood One Sports.

What equipment do you need to stream the Super Bowl?

Unless you’re watching over the air, you’ll need a smart TV and a streaming device like a Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, or Apple TV to watch the big game.

If you have a live TV service from your cable internet provider, you can also use your provided streaming box (like a Xumo) or a standard cable box.

How to get a deal on Peacock through your home internet service

Two of the nation’s biggest internet providers, Spectrum and Xfinity, are offering savings on Peacock subscriptions. Both also offer self-installation if you’ve had the service at your address before, but it may take a day or two to get everything set up.

Get on it!

Tips for optimizing your NFL streaming experience

If you’re looking forward to the next big game, the last thing you want is a spotty Wi-Fi connection. Nobody has time for a buffering error two seconds before a touchdown!

Test out your stream beforehand, and try the following troubleshooting measures if you run into issues.

Replace your router

An out-of-date router means slow speeds and occasional restarts. Vamp up your equipment with a router featuring the Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, or Wi-Fi 7 standard. See our best routers guide for recommendations.

Move your router

If your router’s shoved into a back closet or cabinet, the signal is going to have trouble making a connection with your TV. Put the router in a centralized place, such as your living room or wherever you’ll plan to watch your favorite team.

Test your speeds

A speed test is the stethoscope of your Wi-Fi network, letting you know whether you’re getting the bandwidth you’re paying for from your internet provider.

Limit other devices

Sorry, kids, you don’t need to watch Frozen II for the 15th time if it means the parents might risk missing a game-clinching field goal.

When the big game is coming up, politely ask your children or roommates to cool it on excess app and browser usage—or kick everyone off the Wi-Fi using your router’s admin settings.

Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are two of the biggest names in streaming—but they don’t scratch the same itch. Netflix has all the can’t-miss shows and top-tier custom content, but Amazon has a huge library and a tiny-but-mighty list of originals worth the watch.

We’ll compare pricing, features, and content for Netflix and Amazon Prime Video so you can decide whether to get both, either, or neither.

Pricing

Amazon Prime Video: Free shipping with streaming on the side

Amazon built its brand selling books, then branched into both video streaming and selling other products. Today, the business is highly regarded for its massive shopping database and fast or free shipping options, but it still offers video streaming on its Amazon Prime Video platform. Customers can choose between Prime Video, Prime Monthly, and Prime Yearly, plus upgrades.

• Prime Video: This standalone subscription offers only Prime’s video streaming features, and it costs $8.99 per month.
• Prime Monthly: This gets you access to all of Amazon Prime, including video streaming and fast, free shipping. It costs $14.99 per month.
• Prime Yearly: This is the same as Prime Monthly but billed on an annual basis instead. It’s $139 per year, which is just over $40 cheaper than Prime Monthly over the course of twelve months.
• Ad removal fee: This $2.99 monthly upcharge lets Amazon Prime Video customers opt out of most ads on the platform, bringing total monthly costs to $17.98 or total annual costs to $174.88.

How to add streaming services to your Amazon Prime Membership

Just like old-fashioned cable TV subscriptions, Amazon lets you add channels to your Amazon Prime Video membership. However, they aren’t bundles. You pay a set price for each, but it’s billed with your Amazon subscription. Lucky for you, you can try most channels free for seven days.

Here’s a list of top content add-ons and prices:

• HBO Max: $10.99–$22.99/mo. (Basic with Ads: $10.99; Standard Ad-Free: $18.49; Ultimate 4K Ad-Free: $22.99)
• Fox One: $19.99/mo. (Includes live local Fox stations, NFL, MLB, and Fox News)
• Paramount+: $8.99–$13.99/mo. (Essential with Ads: $8.99; with SHOWTIME: $13.99)
• Apple TV+: $12.99/mo.
• MGM+: $7.99/mo.
• STARZ: $10.99/mo.
• AMC+: $6.99–$9.99/mo. (Monthly with Ads: $6.99; Ad-Free: $9.99)
• NBA League Pass: $16.99–$24.99/mo. (Single-team options from $13.99/mo).
• Discovery+: $5.99–$9.99/mo.

Netflix offers different membership tiers based on video quality and whether you see ads.

• Netflix Standard with Ads: This $7.99 monthly subscription includes HD streaming on two devices at a time, but there is no way to stream in 4K, no downloads, and no option to add extra members.
• Netflix Standard: This $17.99 monthly subscription is similar to the ads-based subscription, but there are no ads, you can download on up to two devices, and you can add members outside your household for an additional $7.99 per month.
• Netflix Premium: This $24.99 monthly subscription comes with all the perks of HD streaming, plus the option to stream on four devices at once and download on up to six devices. There are no ads, and you can add members for $7.99 per month.

You can’t get free trials of Netflix anymore, but no contracts or long-term or commitments are required. You can log in to cancel your subscription any time you want and your viewing privileges will remain through the end of the month.

Content availability

Amazon Prime: Huge library, hit-or-miss quality

Amazon has the widest selection of available shows and movies among all three top streamers, and the library is growing all the time. Its best features are total size and depth—think of it like a digital warehouse. But not everything in the warehouse is compelling or super high quality. You’ll find a huge selection of movies, in particular, but a lot of it is B-grade (or worse).

Below is a snapshot of top titles, trending shows, and movies on Amazon Prime Video:

1. Fallout
2. The Night Manager
3. Beast Games
4. Steal
5. Alien: Romulus
6. Spring Fever
7. The Wrecking Crew
8. The Girlfriend
9. Kung Fu Panda 4
10. NBA on Prime (specifically Thursday night doubleheaders)

Netflix: Great content, but it doesn’t last

Netflix, on the other hand, has a smaller library but more that you’ll actually want to watch. It also has a sweet algorithm, meaning its interface is better at showing you options you’ll enjoy.

Netflix has a lot more original content than Amazon Prime, but shows often get canceled after a few seasons or leave the platform when licensing deals expire. It can be frustrating to have great shows canceled without a satisfying ending—it happened to us recently with Supernatural. Crying shame!

Below is a snapshot of top titles, trending shows, and movies on Netflix:

1. His & Hers
2. People We Meet on Vacation
3. Stranger Things
4. Run Away
5. One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5
6. WWE Raw (Live)
7. Death by Lightning
8. Prodigal Son
9. 11.22.63
10. Emily in Paris

Original content

Amazon Originals: You might discover some up-and-coming favorites

Amazon has greatly expanded its original content lately, and several shows have become both fan and critic favorites.

These original shows are fan favorites right now:

1. Fallout: An excellent adaptation of an equally excellent video game franchise, this series follows the journey of a woman who leaves her fallout shelter to find her father in a world full of radiation and brutality.
2. The Boys: This subversive series follows a group of men who take on superheroes, “Supes,” who aren’t really heroes. It’s an R-rated take on the genre, full of political satire and social commentary.
3. Fleabag: This dry, witty show follows a grieving woman in London who frequently breaks the fourth wall to speak directly to the audience. Both hilarious and heartbreaking, it boasts a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Netflix Originals: The streaming MVP, year after year

Netflix was one of the first streaming providers to produce its own original content, and it remains one of the best choices for great shows you won’t find anywhere else.

Check out these originals to make sure you can keep up at the office water cooler:

1. Stranger Things: This masterpiece of sci-fi horror leans into 1980s nostalgia with a group of kids who uncover a government conspiracy and a parallel world called the Upside Down.
2. Beef: This Emmy Award-winning series starts with parking lot road rage and devolves into a life-destroying obsession. Critics call it dark comedy at its finest.
3. Squid Game: This South Korean survival drama criticizes modern capitalism through the stories of 456 deeply indebted players who risk their lives in hopes of winning a cash prize.

Streaming quality

Amazon Prime: You don’t have to pay extra for high-quality video

Amazon Prime offers both 1080p Full HD and 4K Ultra HD resolutions for streaming, as well as HDR video support. Unlike Netflix, both 1080p and 4K are included in the same package price. In other words, you don’t have to pay extra for 4K video, which is great. However, Amazon has started gating Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, making them available only with the $2.99 monthly add-on for ad-free viewing.

What devices does Amazon Prime Video work with?

Amazon Prime works with most streaming players, like Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV, as well as most web browsers. There are also apps available for Android and iOS, so you can stream on the go.

Netflix: High-quality streaming with optional 4K

Netflix offers 1080p and 4K Ultra HD video quality, but there’s a catch: you have to pay extra for 4K. Netflix’s various service tiers are primarily differentiated by three things: how many devices you can watch Netflix on at once (called simultaneous streams), what maximum resolution you can stream in, and whether or not you see ads.

• Standard with Ads: $7.99 per month (up to 1080p Full HD)
• Standard: $17.99 per month (up to 1080p Full HD)
• Premium: $24.99 per month (up to 4K Ultra HD)

When it comes to audio, Netflix slightly one-ups Amazon Prime Video by offering up to Dolby Atmos on the Premium tier. Rather than sending sound to specific speakers, Dolby Atmos follows sounds freely in 3D space (including overhead).

What devices does Netflix work with?

Netflix has been around for a while, and it works on pretty much any smart device you can think of at this point. The company provides an extremely thorough page detailing all the devices you can stream on if you want to check it out, but rest assured that if you have a device and want to watch Netflix on it, there’s a really good chance you can.

Features and user interface

Amazon Prime: Messy interface, but a fabulous X-Ray feature

Amazon Prime Video features a familiar interface with side-scrolling categories for content, but it mixes content you can watch for free with subscription content that costs extra. Finding what you want to watch can be frustrating.

It’s not our favorite interface, but we love X-Ray, Amazon Prime’s technology that lets you see AI-powered recaps, the names of the actors currently on screen, the song playing in the background, and more. It’s not available on Apple TVs, but you’ll find it on virtually every other streaming device you use to watch Amazon Prime Video.

Netflix: An excellent algorithm with fast-loading technology

We really like the Netflix recommendation engine. Its algorithm is great at presenting shows and movies you’ll enjoy. You get personalized artwork and “taste clusters” instead of traditional genres, and the tech pre-loads shows it expects you to watch so they play in seconds.

Netflix also offers an impressive seventeen languages for viewing and subtitles, though not every title is available in every language.

Our take: You probably already have Amazon Prime, but serious streamers need Netflix too

Most households these days have an Amazon Prime subscription already, so our recommendation is to keep the streaming service in mind next time you sit down for a binge. You might be surprised at what you find, especially when you’re on the hunt for older movies or something off the beaten path.

But to keep up with the social zeitgeist, you also need Netflix. It has the highest-quality library and the best interface we’ve seen. It kicked off the age of streaming, and it’s still impossible to beat.

FAQs about Netflix and Amazon Prime Video

To get paramount performance out of Paramount+, you need decent internet speeds.

Aim to get download speeds of at least 25Mbps per person in your household to ensure smooth streaming when you cue up your favorite movie or TV series on Paramount network’s streaming platform. So if you have four people in your household, an internet speed of 100Mbps is right on the money.

Internet speed is crucial to a good viewing experience, because streams with video resolution of 1080p and 4K take up a lot of bandwidth. Still, everyone’s speed needs are different. Take a look at our guide below to get the full look at the best internet for Paramount+, including the best internet providers to pick from.

Is your Wi-Fi fast enough?

Take our speed test to see if your internet is fast enough to support your Paramount+ needs.

Paramount+ speed basics

Although you’re technically capable of watching Paramount+ with speeds as low as 4Mbps, you want to factor in the totality of your internet usage when deciding the speeds you need to enjoy all the content on the Paramount network.

Many people tend to surf online with their phones or tablets while watching stuff on their smart TVs, and many households are home to multiple users who may all log into the same streaming service on separate devices. (Think: You’re enjoying The Lost City while your kids have PAW Patrol on in the next room.)

To get the best performance out of Paramount+, you should aim to set aside a chunk of bandwidth per every user in your household. If you have 100Mbps for a family of four, that gives you 25Mbps each—that’s adequate speed to cover all your streaming (and gaming and studying and Zooming) needs. Consider bulking up these speeds to 50Mbps per person or more if you also regularly do bandwidth-guzzling things like hosting Twitch livestreams or uploading influencer content to YouTube.

Three golden rules for Paramount+ streaming:

• The more users and devices you have, the more internet speed you need.
• For 4K streaming, reduce buffering with a fiber-optic or cable internet plan.
• For slow connections and hotspots, save money and reduce buffering with the Ad-Free or With Ads plan.

Here are your minimum speed needs for Paramount+

According to Paramount+, you need at least 4Mbps speeds to stream content on its platform. That’s enough to support a shoddy 480p stream on one device at a time, but the reality is you need significantly faster speeds if you want to stream on multiple devices at once or do other things online while streaming. You also need faster speeds to support 1080p or 4K video quality.

What speed do you need to stream movies in 4K, Dolby Vision, or HDR10?

You need much faster speeds than normal to stream video in 4K, Dolby Vision, and HDR10 video formats. In most cases, Paramount’s purported minimum of 4Mbps simply doesn’t cut it. Instead we recommend at least 50Mbps per person, if not more.

Paramount+ offers select TV shows and movies in these three premium video formats. They give you much better video resolution, greater depth, striking contrast, and a carnival of color—vastly improving your viewing experience for the high-flying fighter jet scenes in Top Gun: Maverick and the fast-paced excitement of Paramount’s live sports broadcasts.

But you’re going to need premium internet to match premium video quality—and to do that we recommend getting a fiber or fast cable internet plan.

Get fiber internet or a fast cable plan for the best 4K performance

Fiber internet gives you incredibly fast speeds over a reliable connection. Not only is it ideal for streaming, but it’s also excellent for gaming and working from home.

Even a basic fiber plan gives you ample bandwidth to cover a range of activities—including streaming on multiple devices at once. Best of all, fiber plans often cost as much as (or even cheaper than) cable and DSL plans with slower speeds. That means you’ll have more money to set aside for streaming subscriptions and an upper-tier Paramount+ plan.

If you can’t get fiber internet, cable internet comes in second place as an ideal pick. Cable providers have come a long way in improving their network speeds, and a cable internet plan gives you excellent download power for all the streaming you like.

Best internet plans for 4K video streaming

What if you have slow internet? Never fear—you can still watch Paramount+

Paramount+ still works even if you have slow internet—you just don’t get the same video quality as you would on a top-speed Wi-Fi plan.

When you’re watching content on Paramount+, the platform automatically adjusts the video resolution based on the capabilities of your home internet. A cheaper plan means lower speeds; to compensate, your app adjusts to a lower video resolution, either HD (720p) or even SD (480p). The video still can look good that way, but you’re not as likely to enjoy full 4K or Dolby Vision capabilities, which may put a damper on visually-striking movies.

Best internet plans for budget Paramount+ users

You can definitely stream Paramount+ when you have a satellite internet plan, but you won’t get the same video quality as usual. You also need to be mindful of how much data you use. Satellite internet comes with strict data limits, and you can easily burn through a month’s supply of data in a couple days if you’re not careful.

Check with your satellite internet provider to see how much data you get and use the Armstrong data calculator to budget out how much you can watch on Paramount+ every day before burning through your data limit.

Here’s how to adjust the video resolution on Paramount+ app downloads

There is no way to manually adjust Paramount+ video quality on a browser or TV app, but you can manually switch between different resolutions for video downloads on Paramount’s cell phone app. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open the Paramount+ app.

Step 2: On the Paramount+ homepage, tap the More menu button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Step 3: Tap Settings and scroll to Download Video Quality.

Step 4: Choose between High Definition or Standard Definition.

Choose the best Paramount+ plan

Parmount+ has two plans to choose from: Essential and with Premium. The Essential plan costs only $8.99 a month, but it comes with ads. The Premium plan costs $13.99 a month, doesn’t have ads, and, of course, includes a ton of extra content.

The Paramount+ Premium plan is the best deal overall, since it comes with an extra service while costing a bit less than the premium plans of a lot of other streamers. But stick with Essential if you want to save some money—a few ads while watching movies is a small price to pay for great value.

FAQ

Disclaimers

Most people get their news and entertainment through streaming. For years, more people have watched video over the internet than over broadcast television. Good quality streaming is a basic expectation most people have for their internet service, but it’s one that remains elusive to satellite internet customers.

Traditional satellite internet services are not well designed for streaming video, but with a few data-saving tricks, you can make it work.  Read on to see if any of these tips and tricks work for you.

Popular satellite providers

Viasat is pretty close to Starlink in both speed and cost, plus both offer unlimited data. If you use video chat or play online games, Viasat can cause issues with its much higher latency, but if you only care about video, Viasat is an excellent alternative.

Hughesnet has slightly lower top speeds than the other satellite providers, but it’s enough to stream movies and TV—at least in theory. When we tested Hughesnet plans first-hand, we found that it couldn’t maintain enough speed to stream most content. The most we could manage were YouTube videos at 480p resolution, which is less than most people expect from their phones.

How much speed do I need to stream video?

Video can use a lot of bandwidth, but it depends heavily on the quality of the picture and the number of devices that are streaming at the same time. Different video services have different bandwidth recommendations, though they’re usually pretty similar. Watching high definition 4K video on a single device, for example, usually requires about 25 Mbps of download speed, which is technically doable over satellite.

For a more detailed breakdown of speed requirements for different platforms, check out our guide to How Much Speed Do I Need to Stream Video.

One nice thing about video streaming services like Netflix and Hulu is that the software itself is really good at buffering your signal. When you’re watching a movie, your device downloads the data a few seconds ahead of what’s actually playing on the screen. That means if the speed of your connection fluctuates or there’s a brief disruption, your movie keeps playing smoothly off that pre-downloaded data without any pauses.

Naturally, live content can’t do this as well without putting a huge delay between the live content and when it appears on your screen, so you’re more likely to encounter buffering issues watching a Twitch stream or a live newscast than with pre-recorded content.

Streaming and data caps

Streaming video over satellite isn’t an ideal situation. While most satellite plans meet the speed requirements for streaming video, data caps usually pose the bigger problem. Satellite data caps are incredibly low compared to other types of internet. Although a plan with 50 GB of data might seem like a lot, you could easily run through four or five GB of data for one movie night.

If watching a show in the evening is part of your daily routine, a 50 GB data plan might only get you halfway through the month. Throw in a couple of kids that want to watch Bluey on their iPads every day after school and you could find yourself running out of data in a matter of days, which isn’t very practical.

Choose unlimited data

The best choice for anyone who watches a lot of online video is to choose an internet plan that offers unlimited data. Right now, the only satellite service that does this is Starlink Residential , making it the clear choice for rural Netflix fans. Starlink speeds are also high enough that you shouldn’t have any bandwidth problems, even if streaming on multiple devices simultaneously.

Lower your picture quality

Although it’s not the most visually appealing option, lowering your video resolution drastically reduces the amount of data it uses. Even just dropping the quality from 4K UHD to HD can make your data last around five times longer.

If you watch everything in standard definition, you could probably watch video every day and still make it through the whole month on an average data plan. You can change the resolution of videos on a service like Netflix through its settings menu.

This is also the same principle behind how things like Video Data Saver work. By automatically throttling your speed when you watch a video, it forces lower resolution playback that uses less data.

Get satellite TV

Getting a satellite TV plan like DirecTV in addition to your satellite internet may sound like an expensive solution, but in some situations, it could actually save you money. Unlike satellite internet, satellite TV prices depend primarily on the number of channels you get, not how much data you use or how much time you spend using it. For those who watch video all day, every day, paying for a second satellite service could be cheaper than buying all the extra data  needed every month to support your TV habit.

Of course, satellite TV works a lot differently from a streaming service, and if the channels you want only come in the most expensive packages, it may not be worth it. For some people, however, satellite TV can be a way to watch as much video as you want without worrying about how much data you’re using.

Streaming on satellite FAQ

Disclaimers

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HBO Max is perfect for movie lovers and fans of HBO’s original shows and movies. There are some excellent titles that you just can’t find anywhere else, like Game of Thrones, Last Week Tonight, and Westworld. You can also tap into Discovery’s ambient TV classics like House Hunters and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, perfect for those nights when you just want to turn off your brain or do the dishes with the TV on.

Netflix has a greater overall selection of content with must-see originals of its own, including The Witcher, Orange Is the New Black, Stranger Things, and Black Mirror. The OG streaming service also has a constantly rotating library of films and shows, so you always have something new to watch. The platform also has a lot of foreign films you can’t find anywhere else.

This is a tough comparison because both services offer such great exclusives. If you have to choose, go with HBO Max. It’s a slightly better overall choice simply for the huge on-demand library and wide variety of shows and movies.

HBO Max packages

HBO Max has a few plans to choose from, with basically the same features and a similar price as Netflix’s options. There’s budget-friendly plan with ads, a standard plan for ad-free streaming, and the Premium plan that gives you more downloads, more devices to stream from, and access to 4K viewing. On-the-go watchers could consider opting for the Standard or Premium plan, which give you the option to download and stream your favorite content without an internet connection.

Cable packages that include HBO Max

Some cable packages include HBO at no extra cost. A cable package is a great way to get streaming access to HBO without paying extra monthly fees. Here are some cable packages that include HBO:

• Cox Contour Ultimate
• Spectrum Silver
• Xfinity Digital Premier

Netflix packages

With Netflix, you’ll need to decide whether you want to spring for the Premium subscription—with 4K content, downloads and up to four simultaneous streams—or stick with Standard (the most popular subscription). We recommend skipping the Standard with Ads plan entirely because ads are no fun these days. Plus, it allows for streaming on only a single device, which can get frustrating.

TV shows and movies

HBO Max and Netflix both have some outstanding shows and movies that you can’t find anywhere else. How can you choose?

On-demand shows and movies

HBO Max and Netflix are both on-demand services, so that’s where the bulk of the goodies are at. The main difference is that HBO Max does offer a semi-live TV experience, since new episodes are generally available to stream right when they air on the cable channel.

HBO Max

While it isn’t normally considered a livestreaming service, HBO Max allows you to catch new episodes of shows as they air. The only exceptions to this are shows that are filmed live, like Last Week Tonight and Real Time with Bill Maher. These episodes are usually available to stream within 24 hours of when they air live.

Netflix

Netflix doesn’t offer live TV programming—everything is available on-demand. And that’s just fine with us! But depending on what you’re into, that could start to feel boring after a while.

Compatible devices

You can get Netflix and HBO Max on pretty much everything, including popular choices like Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast. Most users won’t have any trouble finding a device for either service.

Best streaming devices

The device you stream on can be just as important as the service itself. That’s because apps and interfaces vary from one platform to another, so Netflix on an Apple TV may look a bit different from Netflix on another device.

For the best all-around experience, we recommend Apple TV. Nearly every streaming service supports it, so you should be covered with all your streaming services. Plus, you get access to the iTunes Store, which is a great alternative for shows and movies that aren’t available to stream. For future-proofing purposes, we’re fans of the Apple TV 4K.

Resolution and quality

HBO Max and Netflix provide up to 4K streaming quality, but you have to spring for the deluxe, $22.99–$24.99 per month plans to get video that good. With 4K, your picture is about four times sharper than 1080p—that’s 24 times sharper than a DVD. With TVs getting larger every year, 4K can make for a noticeably better picture.

However, 4K also uses up a ton more data, and most people will be perfectly happy with the 1080p video quality available on HBO Max and Netflix’s standard ad-free plans.

Recommended internet speed

Fast internet is vital to a good streaming experience. You’ll get less buffering on your shows, and it can have a major impact on streaming quality as well (like in the case of HBO Max).

HBO Max recommends at least 5 Mbps per user for streaming reliably.

Netflix recommends these minimum speeds:

• 3 Mbps per user for SD
• 5 Mbps per user for HD
• 25 Mbps per user for 4K

Keep in mind that these are minimum speeds for one instance of streaming. So if you and your kids want to watch different shows, make sure you have enough internet speed (and the right Netflix package) to support multiple streams.

Pros and cons

Why choose just one?

HBO Max and Netflix both offer excellent streaming platforms with outstanding original programming, but the content is totally different. This makes choosing just one much harder. For that reason, we recommend grabbing both if you can swing it. That way you won’t miss out on any of the watercooler conversations about who did what on TV.

FAQ about HBO and Netflix

You don’t need the fastest internet speeds to watch all the premium content on HBO Max. But it sure helps to have fast speeds.

Aim to get an internet plan that gives you 25Mbps per person if you plan to sign up for the streamer’s Ad-Free or Ultimate plans. HBO Max is an expanded version of HBO, loaded with content from HBO, Warner Bros., and Discovery. Technically, you can get away with streaming movies and TV with slower speeds than that. But 25Mbps ensures you get an über-smooth connection and avoid buffering issues when you’re binging House of the Dragon or running HGTV’s home makeover shows on a constant loop.

Keep reading for our rundown of how to get the best streaming performance possible on HBO Max.

HBO Max speed basics

You need Wi-Fi speeds fast enough to cover not just your streaming needs, but also those of everyone else in your household. The more people streaming video on their own devices, the faster speeds you need to accommodate all these hungry content viewers. By the way, the same principles apply when you use other streaming services as well, including Netflix, Apple TV+, and many digital live TV options.

If you have an Ultimate account, you also need speeds that can handle the massive bandwidth demands of 4K resolution. That said, you can get away with much slower speeds if you’re signed up for one of HBO Max’s lower-tier plans, such as the Ad-Free plan, which delivers max resolution of 1080p. You can also adjust the video settings in your HBO Max app to stream content at a lower resolution.

Three golden rules for HBO Max streaming:

• The more users and devices you have, the more internet speed you need.
• For 4K streaming, reduce buffering with a fiber-optic or cable internet plan.
• For slow connections and hotspots, save money and reduce buffering with the Ad-Free or With Ads plan.

Here are your minimum speed needs for HBO Max

HBO Max officially recommends minimum speeds of just 5Mbps for its two basic plans, one with ads and the other ad-free. It recommends minimum speeds of 15Mbps for its Ultimate plan, which gives you the ability to stream video in 4K resolution.

You can probably steam video on your smart TV with those speeds, but those are lowball estimates. If you really had internet that slow, you’d likely experience a lot of buffering and slowdowns in 1080p resolution, and you would have to revert to a much lower video quality for a better viewing experience. Streaming 4K with 15Mbps would also be a struggle, since 4K takes up exponentially more bandwidth and data than 1080p does.

You should aim to get 200Mbps speeds or faster if you want to stream in Ultra HD 4K resolution.

Having a speed of 200Mbps allots 25Mbps per person (or streaming device) for up to eight people in your household. You can accommodate that many users without fear of endless buffering.

Ultra HD 4K resolution gives you stunning detail in every frame, making for awesome viewing as you settle in for a visual extravaganza like Avatar: The Way of Water. But that quality comes at a steep price, as 4K puts a much larger burden on your bandwidth and data usage.

Here’s a breakdown of the facts: 

• 4K needs 15Mbps minimum speeds for a single user to stream HBO Max smoothly—3X faster than what you need to stream video in Full HD 1080p resolution.
• Watching a two-hour film in 4K consumes a whopping 16GB per hour—4X the amount of data you use streaming video in HD.

Lots of people stream movies on HBO Max while playing on their phones or tablets at the same time. There are also plenty of households where multiple people regularly stream content on separate devices in different rooms. You want to make sure you have enough bandwidth to cover all those bases.

Get fiber or cable internet for the best 4K performance

Fiber internet is the fastest and most reliable internet you can get, so it’s also the best for streaming. Outages and slowdowns are much less common on fiber connections, and even baseline fiber plans typically come with excellent minimum speeds of 200Mbps or faster. You don’t ever have to worry about a buffering blowout ruining your Sex and the City marathon when you have enough bandwidth and then some.

Most cable internet plans work excellently for streaming, too. Although cable gets slower upload speeds than fiber, download speeds are often just as fast—ensuring smooth viewing even on less expensive cable internet plans.

Best internet plans for 4K HBO Max streaming

What if you have slow internet? Worry not—you can still enjoy HBO Max

Although we usually recommend fast speeds, you don’t need to be the fastest to enjoy HBO Max. You can have a budget cable or 5G internet plan (or even satellite internet) and still catch up on Succession or Euphoria. But you need to adjust your expectations.

HBO Max’s With Ads and Ad-Free plans both give you video resolution of up to 1080p, but depending on your speed, the platform may adjust to a lower resolution—either HD (720p) or SD (420p). Lower video quality doesn’t look as good, but it comes with some advantages: it saves you a ton of bandwidth and doesn’t put as much of a dent in your data.

Can you manually change your video settings on HBO Max?

HBO Max doesn’t have an option to manually adjust video settings on its app. The platform automatically sets the resolution, giving you the best-quality image available based on your network bandwidth and internet speeds.

Best internet plans for budget HBO Max users

Can you stream HBO Max with satellite internet?

Yes, you can stream HBO Max with satellite internet. However, satellite has much slower speeds and extremely limited data compared to other types of internet, so you may experience buffering issues on HBO Max more often.

Choose the best HBO Max plan

HBO Max offers a few plan options. The basic Ad-Free plan is the best for most people because it lets users stream on two devices at once and offers excellent 1080p video quality without requiring you to break the bank.

The Ultimate Ad Free plan is the better option for big households and streaming buffs. You get access to 4K resolution, and you can stream on up to four devices at once—twice as many as you get with any other plan.

HBO Max plan options

FAQ

Disclaimers

Bottom line

Both Disney+ and Netflix are top-tier streaming services, but if you have to choose only one, you should stick with Netflix for now. It costs more, but it also offers a significantly larger content library and a wider variety of movies and TV shows.

Of course, it depends on what you want to watch. If your kids are demanding a Frozen marathon, you’ll need that Disney+ subscription. And Disney+ is still fairly new—it will probably only get better from here.

Disney+ and Netflix vs. the competition

Disney+ and Netflix packages

Disney+ is simply cheaper than Netflix, and it lets you stream in 4K and on up to four screens without upgrading. To get that with Netflix, you’d need Premium, which costs $84 more per year than Basic and $36 more per year than Standard.

Disney+ plans and prices

Data effective 10/24/2025. Not all offers available in all areas. Prices subject to change.

Disney+ offers packages with different bundling options with Hulu and ESPN+. You can also choose between watching with ads or for a few extra dollars more you can watch without ads. This is similar to Netflix which also has tiers of service.

Disney+ Premium is pretty inexpensive, and you get a nice discount if you pay for a full year instead of paying monthly. Prepaying for a full year saves you a little more than a dollar every month, for a total savings of $31.89 over the course of a year.

You can “upgrade” Disney+ (with ads) by bundling it with Hulu and ESPN+ for an additional $10 per month. That’s less than the cost of a Premium Netflix package, and it gives you a much broader range of content than Disney+ alone.

Netflix plans and prices

All Netflix packages have access to the same content library, but paying a little extra per month opens up perks like no ads, higher-resolution options, and the ability to watch on more screens at the same time. “Extra member slots” options let you add a second account for users who don’t live in your household.

Some Netflix packages cost less per month than Disney+, and Netflix also gives you a larger library and more variety of content. Netflix lets you jump from true crime documentaries like Abducted in Plain Sight to feel-good reality TV like The Great British Baking Show. Then you can jump to an action-packed drama like The Witcher or a stand-up comedy special like Iliza Shlesinger: Elder Millennial.

Movies and shows

Original content

If you’re looking for pop culture content, Disney+ has both the Marvel and Star Wars universes to pull from for original content. Disney+ also gives you access to classic Disney movies like Beauty and the Beast and Toy Story. Netflix has its own impressive line up with The Witcher, Stranger Things, The Crown, Bridgerton, You, and many more.

Fan favorites

Netflix started its streaming service without original content by licensing movies and shows from other entertainment companies, including Disney. Licensed media accounts for a hefty chunk of the platform’s most popular shows, including The Office and Grey’s Anatomy.

That model was all fine and good when there was limited competition. Now that everyone has jumped into the on-demand video streaming game, things are a little more complicated. For example, Netflix lost the ever-popular Friends at the beginning of 2020 to Max.

Of course, Netflix has always had rotating content. Favorites come and go, with the only constants being Netflix Originals.

Disney+, on the other hand, has the advantage here. The Disney nostalgia is real—not only with the classic animated movies but also with Disney Channel shows like Lizzie McGuire, Pixar movies, and franchises like Marvel and Star Wars.

Disney (and all the other companies it owns) has decades’ worth of content in the vault. And it supposedly won’t have a rotating library like Netflix, outside of having to pull content for pre-existing licensing deals.

Availability and compatible devices

You want to be able to watch your content anywhere on any of your devices, right? Netflix has a bit of an advantage here, just because it’s been so ubiquitous for so long.

Disney+ is still available on a ton of devices, but it doesn’t have native compatibility on some older devices, like some previous-generation gaming consoles.

Availability

Disney+ is not yet available in most of the world. It is currently available in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. It’s slated to launch in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain at the end of March 2020. The content library will vary a little in different countries.

Netflix is available in 190 countries around the world, but the content library varies in different regions.

Compatible devices

Sharing accounts, multiple screens, and downloads

Sharing accounts

Ok, we know that a lot of people do it, but Netflix really doesn’t like it when you share your account login with other people. In its terms of use, Netflix states, “The Netflix service and any content viewed through our service are for your personal and non-commercial use only and may not be shared with individuals beyond your household.”

Disney+ is a little more understanding of reality. Its subscriber agreement states:

“You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of your username and password and for all activities that occur on or through your Disney+ and ESPN accounts. However, if you allow others to access your Disney+ or ESPN account, this Agreement, as well as any specific consents you may have provided, also applies to their access, use and disclosure of information.”

Basically, that means you’re on the hook for making sure no one uses your account for anything illegal, but it doesn’t forbid account sharing.

Watching on multiple screens

Disney+ lets you watch on up to four devices at the same time, so there’s no need to argue when one person wants to watch Star Wars Resistance and someone else wants to watch Moana for the twentieth time.

Netflix Premium also lets you watch on up to four devices at the same time, but Standard Netflix cuts that number in half. Basic Netflix allows for only one screen at a time.

With both services, you’ll get cut off if too many users try to watch at the same time. Be wary of sharing your login with too many people—or else you might not be able to watch the latest episode of The Mandalorian as soon as it drops.

Downloading movies and shows to watch offline

We love that Disney+ is generous with its download allowances. You can download unlimited movies and TV episodes on up to ten mobile devices. And your downloads never expire.

Netflix has a lot more rules about downloads. You can have a max of 100 downloads per device on up to four mobile devices. And there are some extra restrictions on certain types of content, depending on the licensing agreement Netflix has with the company that owns the IP (intellectual property):

• Some pieces of content can be downloaded only a certain number of times per year.
• Some licensing companies allow only a few titles to be downloaded at a time.
• Many downloads expire after a certain amount of time that varies depending on what it is.

User interface

Both streaming services open to a home screen with several sliding bars full of ready-to-watch content, recommended based on your viewing history. And finding something to watch on either service is easy and intuitive.

User profiles

Disney+ lets you set up to seven user profiles, so you don’t have to live in the same recommendation algorithm as your Forky-obsessed little sibling. You get to choose a Disney-character avatar, and there’s a specific “kids” setting for viewers, which filters out content unsuitable for young children.

Netflix allows for up to five total profiles, no matter your subscription level. Probably because it has a wider variety of content and content ratings, Netflix has three levels of filter. You can roll without an age filter for access to all content on the platform. Plus there are “For Kids” and “For Teens” options, which filter out age-inappropriate content.

Parental controls

Beyond making a kids profile on Disney+, there aren’t other parental controls. And the kids profile thing can be easily circumvented by choosing a different profile. Of course, there isn’t a lot of inappropriate content on Disney+—it’s specifically intended to be family-friendly—but there are perhaps some lines from The Simpsons that you don’t want a two-year-old repeating.

Netflix has more robust content filters and parental controls, which is good because it has a lot of not-family-friendly content. Don’t go unintentionally scaring the children with A Nightmare on Elm Street, folks.

You can set each Netflix user profile to automatically filter out content not suitable for kids or teens, and you can lock content that’s above specific maturity ratings with a pin on all profiles.

Pros and cons

Our verdict: Netflix is better than Disney+.

While Disney+ has amazing, family-friendly titles and a growing library of original content, Netflix still holds on as the top streaming service. It’s Premium package is a little more expensive, but it’s worth it for the much larger library and better assortment of content.

Of course, you don’t have to choose one or the other. Netflix and Disney+ cater to different needs and offer different movies and shows. They also both operate on month-to-month billing cycles, so if you can’t spring for both at the same time, you could alternate months to get the best of both worlds.

Disney+ and Netflix FAQ

Does Disney+ have R-rated movies?

Initially, Disney+ focused on exclusively family friendly content. However, since acquiring 20th Century Studios this is no longer the case. The platform now has R-rated films available for streaming under adult profiles.

Does Disney+ include Hulu?

Disney+ does not include Hulu, but you can bundle Disney+ with Hulu and ESPN for a discounted price. Bundling the three streaming services together costs $29.99 per month with no ads.

How to cancel Netflix?

You can cancel your Netflix subscription at any time from your Account page. If you don’t see that option, you can just cancel the payment with your bank or credit card.

When you cancel Netflix, you can continue to watch until the end of your current billing period. And Netflix keeps your viewing data for 10 months after you close your account, so you can resume your subscription with your algorithm intact if you sign up again within that time.

How to cancel Disney+?

You can cancel Disney+ in a web browser by going to the Billing Details tab from your Account page.

In iPhone settings or through the Google Play Store, you’ll need to navigate to Subscriptions from the main menu, select Disney+, and cancel.

When you cancel, you still have access to Disney+ shows and movies until the end of your billing cycle (or the end of your free trial). After that, Disney+ keeps your account information on file in case you want to come back.