10 Best Video Streaming Services of 2026

Netflix ranks first because it pairs the lowest-priced ad tier among the big subscription services with a plan structure that is easy to read. Its US help page lists three plans: Standard with ads at $8.99 a month, Standard at $19.99 and Premium at $26.99. The ad tier is not stripped down on picture quality: it streams in 1080p on 2 devices at once and allows downloads on 2 devices, and games come with every plan. The catch is that most, not all, movies and shows are available with ads, and locked titles show a lock icon. Premium adds 4K with HDR, 4 simultaneous streams, downloads on 6 devices and spatial audio. Households that share beyond one home can add extra members for $7.99 a month with ads. Netflix bills monthly only, so there is no annual discount. On the US App Store it holds 4.7 stars from 7.6 million ratings.

HBO Max takes second place on catalog strength and plan flexibility. Its US page lists three tiers: Basic with Ads at $10.99 a month, Standard at $18.49 and Premium at $22.99, and each one can be paid yearly ($109.99, $184.99 and $229.99), which Netflix does not offer. Basic with Ads streams in Full HD on 2 devices and, like the other tiers, includes live sports such as MLB on TBS. Standard drops the ads and adds 30 downloads; Premium moves to 4K, Dolby Atmos, 4 streams (only 2 for sports) and 100 downloads. The catalog covers HBO, the DC Universe, Warner Bros. and A24, per both the Disney+ bundle page and HBO Max's App Store listing. For households that already pay for Disney+ and Hulu, the three-way bundle with ads is $21.99 a month. The US App Store rating is 4.9 from 5.9 million ratings, the highest in this list.

Prime Video is the easiest subscription to keep because many households already pay for it through Prime. Amazon lists Prime at $14.99 a month or $139 a year in the US, and a standalone Prime Video membership at $8.99 a month. Shows and movies include limited ads; Amazon says the ad-free option, Prime Video Ultra, costs $4.99 a month. The catalog mixes Amazon MGM Studios series such as Fallout, Reacher and The Boys with licensed titles and rentals. Sports are a real reason to keep it: Prime members in the US get Thursday Night Football, NBA, WNBA, NASCAR and the Masters. Amazon also lists more than 900 free ad-supported channels in the US and lets you add HBO Max, Apple TV, Peacock Premium Plus, Paramount+ and others as Prime Video subscriptions with no extra app. On the US App Store it holds 4.8 stars from 3.1 million ratings.

Disney+ earns third place mainly through its bundles. On its own, Disney+ with ads costs $12.49 a month and Disney+ Premium without ads costs $21.49, or $214.99 a year, which Disney says saves over 16%. The better deal for most households is the Disney+, Hulu Bundle with ads at $12.99 a month, or $11.99 a month for the first 6 months on the 6-month price lock. Bundle subscribers can watch select Hulu and ESPN content right in the Disney+ app. The catalog covers Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic, and Disney lists a growing range of 4K UHD and Dolby Atmos titles on compatible devices. Parents get content rating filters, PIN protection and a Junior Mode. One footnote matters for ad-averse viewers: Disney says ads are still served in select live and linear content on its no-ads plans. The US App Store rating is 4.6 from 2 million ratings.

Hulu is a strong pick for people who want current TV, but most households should buy it inside a bundle. Its help center lists Hulu with ads at $12.49 a month or $124.99 a year and Hulu Premium without ads at $21.49 a month, for new subscriptions as of September 23, 2026. Both plans list video in up to 4K UHD, up to 5.1 audio and streaming on multiple devices at a time; Premium adds downloads of select titles and Hulu Watch Party, though Hulu notes a few shows still play ads before and after the video. The Disney+, Hulu Bundle with ads costs $12.99, only 50 cents more than Hulu alone, and three-way bundles with ESPN Select or HBO Max start at $21.99. Hulu says you need to be in the US, a supported device and at least 3 Mbps. It holds 4.6 stars from 1.4 million ratings on the US App Store.

Paramount+ is the sports-heavy budget choice. Its US App Store listing prices Paramount+ Essential at $8.99 a month and Premium at $13.99, and Paramount says prices shown are in US dollars. The listing promises live sports such as the NFL on CBS, UFC and the UEFA Champions League, plus CBS News 24/7, CBS Sports HQ and 20 live channels. The on-demand side covers CBS series, Paramount Pictures and MGM films, and Nickelodeon shows like SpongeBob SquarePants. Premium adds ad-free on-demand viewing, your local CBS station live, events such as March Madness and the Masters, all of Showtime and offline downloads. Two caveats: live TV keeps its ads on every plan, and downloads expire 30 days after download or 48 hours after you start playing them. Each account supports up to 6 profiles with a Kids Mode option. The app holds Editors' Choice and 4.6 stars from 943,000 ratings.

Peacock is the cheapest route to NBC, Bravo and a wide sports lineup. Its US App Store listing shows three tiers: Peacock Select at $8.99 a month or $89.99 a year, Premium at $12.99 or $129.99 a year, and Premium Plus at $19.99 or $199.99 a year. Select is the stripped-down plan, with next-day NBC and Bravo episodes and a selection of full seasons, but it excludes Peacock Originals. Premium opens the full library plus live sports such as MLB, golf and WNBA games, current NBC series, Bravo shows, Telemundo and new films from Universal, Illumination and DreamWorks Animation. Premium Plus removes most ads, adds your local NBC channel 24/7 and some offline titles, though Peacock says channels, live sports and events still carry ads. Apple sells a combined Apple TV and Peacock Premium plan at $17.99 a month. The listing shows 4.7 stars from 3.8 million ratings.

Tubi is on this list because the cheapest subscription is the one you cancel. It costs nothing: its App Store listing calls Tubi a completely fee-free streamer and promises zero subscriptions, and its parent Fox Corporation describes it as the most watched free TV and movie streaming service in the US. The app mixes on-demand movies, with top titles added every month, full series, live TV for news, weather and sports, and Tubi Originals that stream only on Tubi. There is a Spanish-language section, Tubi Español, plus anime, Korean and Bollywood titles. The trade-off is that everything plays with ads, and its catalog leans on older and licensed titles rather than the newest studio releases the paid services carry. Tubi's site told us it is not available in our region during the check, so treat it as a US service. It holds 4.8 stars from 1.3 million ratings on the US App Store.

Apple TV is the outlier here: it has no ad tier at all. Apple lists one monthly price, $14.99 after a free 7-day trial, and the subscription covers up to six people through Family Sharing. New Apple device buyers get 3 months free if they redeem within 90 days, and Apple One bundles start at $21.95 a month. The catalog is built around Apple Original series and films, with Formula 1 races, MLS matches and Friday Night Baseball streaming live at no extra cost. It plays in the Apple TV app on Apple and Android devices, smart TVs and streaming sticks. The weakness for a household budgeting by the hour is library size: Apple's pitch is exclusives rather than a deep licensed back catalog, so it pairs best with a broader service. Apple also sells Apple TV with Peacock for $17.99 a month. The Apple TV app holds 4.8 stars from 1.9 million ratings on the US App Store.

Crunchyroll is the specialist on this list and only makes sense for households with an anime fan. Its US App Store listing shows Fan at $9.99, Mega Fan at $13.99 a month or $139.99 a year, and Ultimate Fan at $17.99. The listing describes a library of over 2,000 titles, including exclusives such as Solo Leveling, Kaiju No. 8 and Gachiakuta, and simulcast episodes that arrive shortly after they air in Japan. You can watch subbed or dubbed in multiple languages, though dub availability varies, and download episodes for offline viewing. Streaming is ad-free on paid memberships, although Crunchyroll notes plans may include trailers and promotional messages for its own content. Ultimate Fan raises the limit to six devices at once, and Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan add Crunchyroll Game Vault mobile games. Crunchyroll is also sold as a Prime Video subscription. The app holds 4.8 stars from 1.5 million ratings.