Being on a budget doesn't mean you can't enjoy entertainment. But in these hard times it's hard to be sure you are getting your money's worth. Let's look at the big 3 streaming services to see which is the best value for you and your family.
All prices are UK based.
It has competitors sniffing at its heels, but Netflix is still the big dog for now. It has huge shows like for adults like, Stranger Things, Bridgerton and Better Call Saul as well all the Cocomelon and kids shows that you could ever want.
In recent years Netflix has had few price increases but you may be surprised as to how cheap it still is at the lower range. One of the great things about Netflix is that there are more price options than the other streaming services.
Ad supported version £4.99
The cheapest possible version which allows people to watch on one device at a time with no downloads. If you don't mind the occasional ad, this is the one for you.
Basic £6.99
1 screen
Standard Definition
Able to download and watch on 1 extra device
Standard £10.99
2 screens
High definition
Able to download and watch on 2 extra devices
Premium £15.99
4 Screens
Ultra High definition
Able to download and watch on 4 extra devices
For those of us on a budget, who don't mind not watching in high def the £6.99 in an great option, especially as the price increase to high and ultra high def is admittedly steep. One of the negatives about the basic is the inability to watch on 1 screen at a time. If you have a couple of kids, this could cause chaos.
Though not as high profile show wise as Netflix, Prime is full of great shows such as, The Marvelous Ms Maisel and the amazing new Lord of the Rings show. Seriously it's amazing.
There are 3 main options for Prime Video.
Prime Video only
£5.99
Literally just the streaming service without any of the benefits of free delivery etc. Perfect for those of us on a budget who don't order regularly and just want to watch tv.
Full prime membership
£7.99
All the streaming with all the benefits., music, photos etc. This is the one we choose to use in our house. The free delivery just comes in handy, especially around Christmas time.
Yearly full membership
£79.99
If your up for the full membership and you the spare cash this works out at £6.58 a month, making a nice saving every month.
Prime has a massive library, but what lets it down is the lack of major exclusives, however, shows like the Rings of Power and A League of their Own, are staring to change that.
Disney+ may be relatively new but its already made a big impact. With big franchises such as, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar and Pixar as well as all the classics you'd expect, its full to the brim with good stuff. But it's not only kids' stuff. Disney+ also has full on adult content such as Aliens and Die Hard. But how does it add up value wise?
Disney+ offers much less choice when it comes to subscription packages.
Its literally £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year. Thats it. The good news is that both prices come with UHD as standard, the ability to download to different devices and you are also able to have 7 different profiles.
Of course, it all comes down to personal choice. I personally love prime as it has loads of old school horror movies that are great for a Saturday night. But its kids' range is quite bare compared to the likes of Netflix and Disney.
Remember that even during these hard times, you shouldn't feel guilty signing up to a streaming service. You and your family should feel free to chill and entertain yourselves as much as anyone else.
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