Today, there are countless streaming platforms that offer their own appealing selection of movies and TV shows. Though we live in an age where there’s something for everyone, tight budgets and limited free time makes finding the right streaming service challenging.
For students wondering what service gives them the best bang for their buck, I’m breaking down the pros and cons of the hottest streaming platforms to help you decide which service is best worth your money.
Netflix
I miss the days when the only streaming platform you needed was Netflix. Capable of satisfying nearly every media craving we had. Netflix boasts original programming like Stranger Things and BoJack Horseman, as well as a robust catalogue of shows and movies we already love—right at our fingertips.
The platform lets you stay up to date on the biggest pop culture trends. Our social media feeds are filled with memes about the dancing scene from Wednesday, or comedic recreations of the iconic love confession between Queen Charlotte and King George in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
Movie lovers looking for 4K quality streaming need to pay $19.99 for the premium Netflix plan, while those looking to save costs can purchase a streaming plan with ads for $5.99 per month, or a lower quality, ad-free plan for a monthly $9.99. Since other platforms offer better quality video at a similar price to $9.99, Netflix’s cost-saving option is a major let down.
Prime Video
In my humble opinion, the biggest upside of this platform is that it’s included in your Amazon Prime package.
With the discounted student rate of $4.99 per month, Prime offers users access to great content and free package delivery all at once. On top of that, there is plenty of great content, including originals like The Boysand Reacher, along with classics like The Vampire Diaries and The Originals. The service is also a great option for fans of The Lord of The Rings,since Prime is home to Rings of Power.
Amazon Prime Video achieves a unique blend of content that never fails to disappoint, especially those programs that take you back to your early teen obsessions.
Disney+
Owned and operated by the company that represents our childhood, Disney+ is a haven for those of us who love Disney’s animations, Marvel, and Star Wars. You can grab a bag of popcorn with your entire family and watch the movies that you grew up with.
Starting at $11.99 per month with a 30-day free trial, this option is extremely valuable, especially when considering the platform streams FX and Hulu Original series in addition to Disney-owned franchises. This includes highly beloved shows such as Atlanta and American Horror Story.The fact that Atlanta is on this platform makes it worth a free trial to me.
With that said, the platform is still limited in its offerings, sticking to showing only Disney-owned titles. The inability to expand beyond this scope renders anyone looking for more diverse content out of luck.
Crave
Without Canadian access to HBO Max, Crave gives us access to the full HBO catalogue which includes some of the most well-known, high-quality shows on TV right now. Though Euphoria and The Last of Us are probably Crave’s claim to fame, the service is popular for being the destination for dedicated DC fans. The platform offers many cult-classic TV shows, such as Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, and Friends.
Crave is in close competition to other streaming platforms’ impact when it comes to pop culture staples, but it’s difficult to justify a monthly splurge of $19.99 for the service’s full package. While the content on Crave is consistently high-quality, streaming services like Netflix provide a similar level of quality for a lower price.
Tags
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s)-in-Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.