best streaming services at a glance 1. Netflix ($8.99 per month)

2. HBO ($14.99 per month)

3. Disney Plus ($6.99 per month)

4. Hulu ($5.99 per month)

5. Amazon Prime Video ($119 per year)

6. Sling TV ($30 per month)

7. Fubo TV ($54.99 per month)

8. Crackle (free)

The best streaming services make the cord cutting process a peaceful process, so you can keep a full-buffet of content, and not waste away hearing about all the great stuff your friends and family are watching without you. While this list features streaming kings like Netflix and HBO, it's also got the sports-focused streaming services that will help you watch the NBA Playoffs, with live ABC, ESPN and TNT (plus you can add NBATV on top).

The best streaming services also have one strong feature in common, breaking from the status quo of annual contracts. All of these streaming services, whether they offer exclusive original programming, live streaming TV or massive libraries of films and TV shows, are sold in month-to-month subscriptions, making them all viable cable alternatives that you can turn off and on as you wish.

The best streaming devices for cord-cutters

Our best Netflix shows list has 61 picks for your next binge watch

The best TVs you can buy

These services are just one half of the streaming landscape, though, as the cable box is apparently meeting its demise as we type. In its place come the best streaming devices, which include Rokus and Chromecasts, which help you get these services on your TV.

And by testing these services and devices side-by-side, we figure out the best way to build the ultimate streaming setup with the best selection of content and live channels.

What are the best streaming services?

The best streaming service overall is Netflix, which offers an excellent selection of TV shows, movies and original programming. First of all, Netflix practically controls the conversation around streaming, with most of the big shows (which it keeps doing, hand over first, with hit after hit) and routine success making big new series such as Tiger King and Dead to Me. Netflix has also had most of the standard features that competitors took years to realize mattered -- such as user profiles that finally came to Amazon Prime Video.

When it isn't impressing with heavy hitters from its originals collection such as Glow or The Witcher or Mindhunter, Netflix is winning with sheer depth and volume. By frequently adding licensed content, with major sitcoms such as Parks and Rec and Community. If Netflix somehow doesn't have a strong selection in the category you care about the most, you can just wait a month, and watch as they fill in the gaps with something new to watch. The horror section just got the utterly creepy The Girl on The Third Floor.

The newly released HBO Max provides a boost to the HBO catalogue, with a ton more movies and some new original shows. Some will flock to the service for the DCEU films — the Justice League Snyder Cut is coming — while we're loving it for the Harley Quinn show and Adventure Time. HBO Max is still not on Roku or Fire TV, though.

Disney Plus, a relatively new contender, also merits a look, and it practically demands your attention if you're a fan of Star Wars or the Marvel movies, of which it has nearly every film (or it will soon, in some cases). It's also the home of the critically acclaimed Pixar library.

The best streaming services now

(Image credit: Netflix)

1. Netflix The best streaming service around Starting price: $9 per month | Simultaneous streams: 1-4 | Live TV: No | Exclusive originals: Yes | Platforms and devices: Android, iOS, web browers, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Nvidia Shield, Roku, Smart TVs, PS4, Xbox, set top boxes, Netflix $8.99 /mth Visit Site at Netflix Excellent selection Optimized interface Good recommendation system More expensive than other services Titles come and go frequently

The great-granddaddy in the market remains the best streaming service. As you probably know, Netflix provides unlimited streaming of TV shows, movies, comedy specials and original programming (including Love Is Blind, Glow and Black Mirror) for one monthly subscription fee. You can even create up to five different profiles on a single account to make sure that your favorite content doesn't mess up recommendations for your friends and loved ones. Netflix is constantly adding and taking away movies, so you'll want to check our our what's new on Netflix guide to see what's coming soon, and what you should watch before it's gone.

No other service has yet given Netflix an honest-to-goodness run for its money in terms of selection, quality and performance consistency. Recently, it's been easy to see that Netflix is inching away from its original business model of distributing other studios' films and shows, in favor of these above originals. Still, though, we see frequent additions of licensed shows, such as Hannibal, Moesha and Community, making Netflix the home for those looking to catch up on beloved shows they missed the first time around. Our Netflix hidden gems guide shows how it's also got a great library of fantastic shows and movies that have somehow gone under the radar for many audiences.

Cobra Kai season 3: Everything you need to know

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2. HBO The best streaming service for prestige TV Starting price: $15 per month | Simultaneous streams: 3 | Live TV: No | Exclusive originals: Yes | Platforms and devices: Amazon Fire, Roku, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, PlayStation 4, Macs and PCs, Samsung Smart TV, Xbox One, TiVo HBO NOW $14.99 /mth Visit Site at HBO Award-winning original programming Top-tier movies Original news programming Pricey Content phases out frequently

HBO, the original premium content channel, is simplifying its branding after everything got too confusing recently. HBO Go will be removed from app platforms on July 31, and the company's ready to move on because most of those customers, have moved onto HBO Max. HBO Now will now be known simply as HBO. This makes the HBO vs HBO Max distinction a bit easier to understand.

Both HBO services pack current-run shows including Insecure, as well as completed seasons of Westworld, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Veep. HBO's biggest recent hits are adaptations of Watchmen and The Outsider. But at $14.99 per month, it can be a little pricey.

That's where HBO Max comes into play. Big highlights include Friends, the Studio Ghibli library and original shows like Love Life and the Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo. HBO Max is not on Roku or Amazon Fire TV (yet). Our current favorite series on HBO Max is Harley Quinn's very own (self-titled) animated series, which was once stuck inside of the DC Universe service.

Our HBO Max review thoroughly explains why this service needs more time in the oven before it feels finished and ready for the public, and why it instead feels a bit half-baked (where is the Roku app, HBO?). Check out our guide to the best HBO Max shows and movies to see what it's offering. Right now, I'm binge-watching Adventure Time, a show that feels made for streaming with its 15-minute long episodes.

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3. Disney Plus The best streaming service for families Starting price: $7 per month | Simultaneous streams: 4 | Live TV: No | Exclusive originals: Yes | Platforms and devices: Amazon Fire TV and Fire tablets, Roku, Chromecast, iOS, iPadOS, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Xbox, PlayStation 4, Android-based Sony Smart TVs, Chromebooks, Samsung and LG devices Today's best Disney+ deals Disney Disney+ Monthly $6.99 /mth View at Disney+ Disney+ Yearly $69.99 /year View at Disney+ Reasonable price Lots of beloved content UHD resolution options Some content is in the wrong aspect ratio Odd gaps in content lineup

Before its release, Disney Plus was one of the most anticipated streaming services on the market. And why wouldn't it be? Disney controls a frankly frightening number of properties, from Marvel, to Star Wars, to Disney's own animated canon, to The Simpsons (all 30 seasons, and counting). At $7 per month, it's among the cheaper of the best streaming services out there, and a lot of the content is available in 4K resolution with HDR color palettes, too.

Oh, and in big news, Disney Plus is also being turned into a PPV service, or at least the company is testing the waters. Disney's live-action Mulan will cost $30 from Sept. 4 until its eventual release date. on the service, giving streamers another reason to consider signing up. If this is a success, will Disney follow suit with the rest of its upcoming blockbusters?

Read our full Disney Plus review.

(Image credit: Hulu; Shutterstock)

4. Hulu The best streaming service for cord-cutters Starting price: $6 per month | Simultaneous streams: 2 | Live TV: No (only with $54.99 Live TV package) | Exclusive originals: Yes | Platforms and devices: Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Echo Show, Fire Tablets, Fire TV, iPhones and iPads, LG TV (select models), Nintendo Switch, Mac and PC, PlayStation 3 (no live programming), PlayStation 4, Roku, Samsung TV (select models), VIZIO SmartCast TVs, Xbox, Xfinity Flex & X1 Get First Month Free Hulu $5.99 /mth Hulu (No Ads) $11.99 /mth Visit Site at Hulu Great selection of current TV Inexpensive Quality original programming Frequent commercials Inconsistent selections from older TV seasons

If you want to keep current with the latest TV shows but don't feel like investing in a cable subscription or an HD antenna, Hulu is the best solution. This service provides access to most major network shows (aside from CBS' programs) and a handful of cable shows the day after they air. It also lets subscribers access a show's current season — or often all of the program's seasons.

In addition, the service hosts a number of original shows (including joint ventures with the BBC, like The Wrong Mans and season 4 of The Thick of It), a selection of offbeat movies and a surprising amount of classic anime series. Recent Hulu hits include a remake of High Fidelity that brings the record shop to New York, and swaps John Cusack out for Zoe Kravitz. Even with a paid subscription, you have to sit through commercials, but far fewer than if you watched the same shows on cable.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide; Amazon Studios)

5. Amazon Prime Video The best streaming service you're already paying for Starting price: $119 per year | Simultaneous streams: 3 | Live TV: No | Exclusive originals: Yes | Platforms and devices: Fire TV, Fire tablet, iPhone, iPad, Chromecast, Xbox, PlayStation 4, Smart TVs, Blu-ray players, Apple TV, Roku, Xfinity X1 30 day free trial Amazon Prime Video $12.99 /mth Amazon Prime Video $12.99 /mth Visit Site at Amazon Prime Wide content selection Included with other Prime benefits Good original shows Not available on some platforms A la carte content costs extra

For those who do most of their shopping online, Amazon Prime is a no-brainer. For $119 per year, you get free two-day shipping on your purchases, a free Kindle book each month, and unlimited access to both Amazon Music and Amazon Prime Video. Like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video is a veritable buffet of movies, television and original programming (the best Amazon shows range from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Man in the High Castle, Bosch and Jack Ryan).

Thanks to a deal with Viacom — which controls Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon — Amazon Prime arguably is the best streaming service when it comes to comedy and children's programming. The service also offers unlimited access to an extensive collection from HBO's back catalog of classics such as The Sopranos and The Wire. You can also rent or purchase movies through Amazon Prime Video, but it's an à la carte service. If you're trying to master your Amazon streaming device, check out our how to use the Fire Stick walkthrough.

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6. Sling TV The best live TV streaming service Starting price: $30 per month | Simultaneous streams: 1-4 | Live TV: Yes | Exclusive originals: No | Platforms and devices: Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, iPhone and iPad, web browsers, Android, Android TV, Xbox, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs and VIZIO Smart TVs Sling Orange $30 /mth Sling Orange + Blue $45 /mth Visit Site at Sling TV Much cheaper than cable Wide breadth of content No contract required Limited on-demand content Gets expensive very fast with optional packages

If you like the idea of a cable subscription but feel it's just too expensive and offers more content than you want, Sling TV might provide a happy medium for you. On paper, Sling sounds a lot like a traditional cable service: Pay a monthly subscription fee in exchange for about 30 real-time channels. But there's no contract and no set-top box rental fee. Sling is especially handy for sports fans, as it offers a variety of ESPN channels -- and this alone is worth the price for some.

Other popular networks, like NBC, BBC America, CNN, Cartoon Network, TBS and the Food Network, sweeten the deal. Check out our Sling TV guide to packages, channels and more. While most of the popular streaming services start at around $50, Sling stands out with its $30 per month starting price. And as competitors like YouTube TV are getting more expensive, Sling TV just introduced a 1-year price guarantee, so you can expect their low prices to last.

Read our full Sling TV review.

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Fubo TV is a good, if somewhat expensive, option for anyone looking to have access to cable channels without an actual cable subscription. Fubo’s standard plan is $54.99 and offers 108 channels, including almost every major broadcast and cable network. And unlike other live TV streaming competitors like YouTube TV and Sling TV, Fubo has 4K streaming for select content on demand. The other knock against Fubo, besides its higher price, is the limited Cloud DVR storage.

While Fubo’s channel lineup is the largest among the higher-priced streamers, they just got a major pair of gaps filled, including ABC and ESPN. For a service that touts its sports programming, that was a pretty big hole. In addition, the lineup includes popular networks like NBC, Fox, AMC, Food Network, MTV, Syfy and TNT, as well as a ton of niche sports channels.

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8. Crackle One of the best free streaming services Starting price: Free | Simultaneous streams: N/A | Live TV: No | Exclusive originals: Yes | Platforms and devices: Chromecast, Fire TV, Apple TV, web browsers, Roku, Xbox, Android, Android TV, iPhone and iPad, LG TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, PlayStation 4, Vizio TVs Sony Crackle Visit Site at Sony Crackle Free Amusing content Good variety of videos Lots of commercials Videos rotate very frequently

If you yearn for the halcyon days of cheesy action movies and anime on afternoon cable, Crackle will take you back in time at no cost. The Sony-owned platform broadcasts movies, TV shows and original programming on a rotating basis. There's no subscription or à la carte fee, although you do have to sit through a fair amount of commercials. While the programming is not usually blockbuster material, it's stuff you've heard of — think Total Recall rather than The Terminator, or Pitch Black rather than Riddick. Some of the original shows are good, too.

Crackle originals include Snatch, an adaptation of the Guy Ritchie film, which stars Rupert Grint (yes, Ron Weasley himself). Adam Brody starred in StartUp, Keegan-Michael Key did voice work in the animated Supermansion, and even Chad Michael Murray showed up for CH:OS:EN. There's even Rob Riggle's Ski Master Academy, which bears resemblance to what would happen if you made a real life show out of Archer.

How to choose the best streaming services for you

The good news is that you don't need to limit yourself to just one. It's all about picking the number of services that's right for your budget. And to that matter, all depends on the content you want to consume. While Netflix has a diverse array of content, it's not appealing to any specific audience — which means it's probably a service that most people have.

While Netflix is pivoting more to original shows and movies with each passing week, it's still constantly adding licensed movies and shows. That means it's not only the place you'll re-watch The Good Place, but it's also got its own hits like Glow and Love Is Blind.

Alternatively, do not sleep on HBO Now and HBO Go. Not only does the service get top-tier movies, but it's continually getting some of the latest and greatest and most prestigious TV shows, such as Watchmen and The Outsider.

How we test streaming services

Testing streaming services is both serious work and good fun. When we test the quality of these platforms, we use them on multiple devices, including game consoles, web browsers and mobile devices. You'd be surprised at how differently Sling TV can look between a Roku, the Apple TV box and Chrome.

We then compare the services based around the number of simultaneous streams they allow, if they throw in 4K streaming for free (or charge extra), and what other special features they allow. We also keep a strong eye on the new channels coming to each service, with articles such as our Sling Orange vs Blue face-off.

And as pricing constantly changes (not in the right way, most of the time), we have to rethink how each competitor sits in the landscape. Sling, for example, has stayed near the low-end of the field, even though it too has gone up over time.

We also spend a fair amount of time keeping up with the latest entrants into the streaming wars. A newer live TV streaming service is Philo TV, which costs just $20 a month for 59 channels. One of the biggest new names in streaming is NBCU's Peacock. Its strategy is simple: free ad-supported content you love, but the debate over NBC Peacock Free vs Premium might be an easy question depending on how July's nation-wide launch goes. HBO Max is coming this month, and we'll get to that when it arrives.

Check out our Quibi review to see if the mobile-only service can spark your interest, and review our guide to the best Quibi shows to see if they've made any series that float your boat.

While Apple TV Plus hasn't risen to the ranks of the best streaming services, we just found out some of the top Apple TV Plus shows are free right now, to give people a taste. And did you know that AT&T TV isn't a month-to-month subscription service? It's a really weird offering that feels like it's stuck in the past.

This is a big year for streaming: HBO Max arrived with the WarnerMedia library (including Friends). NBC's Peacock is in soft-launch and has have The Office, SNL and more.