Why would you need a guide to all these services? Surely it’s obvious what’s out there. The problem is, a lot of people are paying for things they don’t really use. Other people may be missing out, as they’re changing all the time. To help you, I’ve created this simple guide to give you an idea of what’s on offer, what might of changed since you last subscribed and what type of subscription will suit you.

Netflix

This is probably the first name that comes to mind when you think of streaming services. It’s understandable, as Netflix is packed with content.

Everyone should find something special.

A few years ago, a Netflix subscription was a simple decision. You’d hardly have to think about it. A lot has changed though. They’ve gone through some tough times financially and you’re now expected to pay more. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been offset with an increase in quality content.

That said, I think the depth and variety available here sets it apart from other services. There are documentaries, lavish in-house productions, comedy specials and classic sitcoms. Netflix will appeal to a wide audience.

Their catalogue is overflowing with content from sources like the BBC. Netflix has also been around for over a decade, so there’s a lot here to keep you entertained.

If you haven’t subscribed for a while, it’s a safe bet you’ll find a lot of new things that interest you. There are also some unique features that help it stand out. For me, the exclusive app games are a real incentive to subscribe.

In my opinion, the biggest issue with Netflix is the price. At the time of writing, their premium subscription is £17.99 and that’s the only way you can get Ultra HD. That’s a lot. Although alternatives are available, they’re still not cheap.

Netflix have introduced an add-supported tier though that’s currently £4.99 and you still get app games at that price. I’ve tried this and it’s ideal if you mainly watch the documentaries. The ads don’t really get in the way either.

It’s also worth considering that Sky offer Netflix memberships as part of their package.

With Netflix, I usually ‘dip in’ for a month or so when I know there’s something I want to watch. It can be expensive to keep the subscription rolling over the year and find you’re barely using it.

Disney+

It's easy to overlook how special this service is. The first thing that will appeal to most people is that Disney+ is the home of Star Wars and Marvel. For a lot of people, like me, that seals the deal. You get all the movies and exclusive shows.

There's a lot more variety than you may think.

When this service first arrived, it felt like it was pretty much Star Wars, Marvel and some old Disney movies. That changed with the introduction of Star. Following their merger with Fox, this brought in a tidal wave of content.

You’ll find classic comedies, all the Fox animated series, like The Simpsons and Family Guy, along with a huge selection of great shows. You need to take a look.

We then get to the movies, The Die Hard series, Avatar and Kingsmen are just some that come to mind. Finally music fans will find the epic Beatles: Get Back and Bono and The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming.

Unfortunately, there’s a downside. Despite previously enjoying the best possible sound and Ultra HD content as part of the single subscription they had on offer, that was amazing value, you now have to pay for it. Like Netflix, they have a premium subscription that’s currently £10.99 and a HD option for £7.99. Like Netflix though, they also offer an ad-supported tier for £4.99.

As a huge Star Wars and Marvel Cinematic Universe fan, I’ve always subscribed to Disney+. That’s changed recently though, as I don’t think the expensive premium subscription will pay-off all-year round. I currently plan to chop and change subscriptions, only going to the most expensive when a new movie or show is released. I’d have a think about what suits you.

Paramount+

Paramount joined the streaming party in 2022. I’m sure you’ve seen one of their adverts, as this service was heavily marketed. It makes sense, as they have a rich history to draw on.

It’s home to some familiar names and faces.

There’s a lot of content available. You’ll get a selection of exclusive shows and a huge choice of movies. They really go back through the years.

If you like Star Trek, it’s an easy choice as all the shows and movies are available. This includes the recent Strange New Worlds, that’s very special and definitely worth a look. Paramount+ will also appeal if you like South Park, Frasier, Tom Cruise or Transformers.

While this all sounds great, there are a few issues. When it first arrived in the UK, I think it’s safe to say it was a bit of a mess. I found the searches didn’t work as expected and the menu really wasn’t delivering.

The movie selection felt like a sale of old DVDs and there were a lot of gaps in some of the series, presumably due to licensing issues. While a lot of these issues have been addressed, it put this service behind their competitors and I don’t feel they have fully closed the gap.

For me, the biggest issue with Paramount+ is that the content is only available in HD in the UK. This is in stark contrast to the Ultra HD options available in the US. To make it easy though, there’s only one subscription available, that’s currently £6.99.

You’ll also find that Sky have a lot of this content, but they offer access to Paramount+ in some of their packages.

Apple TV+

As I said in my guide to the Apple One services, that I’ll link to at the end of this post, they think different when it comes to their streaming service. There’s a clear focus on quality, in terms of both the content and the technology.

It’s what you’d expect from Apple.

Apple TV+ has been on quite a journey. From the start, they focussed on their own content so it took a long time to fill up and offer anything close to the other services. Being Apple, they could rely on trial memberships and lower subscription prices while they did this.

It’s pretty much here now though and you’re sure to recognise some of their biggest shows. Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, Slow Horses, and Shrinking are just a few. They’ve also focused on producing their own original films, such as Napoleon and Killers of the Flower Moon.

So we now have a service with enough quality content to get your attention. Everything is beautifully presented as well, with the highest quality sound and Ultra HD, in the form of 4K HDR, included in their single tier subscription at £8.99. You can also get this at a discount if you choose one of their bundled Apple One subscriptions.

Despite the package they’ve developed, I’d have a good think about this one. It lacks the depth of all of the other services and recent price rises have just put it at the wrong side of good value. That said, it makes sense as part of an Apple One subscription and it’s definitely worth dipping in when there’s something you want to watch.

The Apple TV app also lets you access anything you’ve purchased from them which is handy. You can also integrate it with other streaming services, so you only have to look in one place.

Prime Video

There’s so much here, and you probably pay for it already if you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber. Unlike the other services, Amazon offer a lot of content that can be purchased separately. They also have their Freevee service that’s available to everyone.

What can I say, this is Amazon.

Like Netflix, this is an established service and Amazon have deep pockets.

Just browsing through, you’ll find plenty of exclusive shows, big series and unmissable movies.

Personally, I’ve always struggled with the menus when using Prime Video. Although it’s getting better, it’s often hard to see what’s part of the service and what you have to pay for separately. They have never offered a clear divide.

That said though, I do like the way you can subscribe to other services through their app, like Discovery Plus, and easily access their content.

As you’d expect, There’s plenty of Ultra HD content and it looks and sounds great. A lot of people seem to forget you can subscribe to this service on its own, without the other Prime services. This is currently £5.99. The standard Prime subscription is £8.99 per month or £95.

There’s also a lot a variety here and like Netflix, it’s sure to appeal to a wide audience. Another downside is that they have just introduced adverts. It’s fairly discrete, and you can pay a little extra to get rid of them.

I hope this helps. To sum it up, Disney+ really takes the lead if you’re even remotely interested in Star Wars and Marvel. There’s more to make you think on Netflix and Amazon should always deliver. Paramount+ still has a lot of catching up to do and Apple TV makes sense as part of the Apple One package.

When you’re considering which streaming service suits you, just do these three easy things:

• Have a think about what would appeal to you

• Work out what package is really worth it

• Carefully consider if you need to pay for it every month

Good luck exploring them and I hope you find something special. Please check prices and specifications with the providers before making any decisions though, as they tend to change over time. It’s also worth checking back here, as I’ll keep this post updated.

For more on Apple TV, take a look at my other guide, The Apple One services>