Best Video Streaming Services in 2024

Video steaming services are online platforms that allow you to watch videos, including TV shows, movies, and other media over the internet without downloading the files. These services offer content that is either streamed in real-time or available on-demand. All the video streaming services can be access from various devises such as your mobile phone, tablets, and smart TVs. In this article, we have listed the types of streaming video services to access your favorite content on-demand across various devices.

1. Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD)

Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) is a service model where users pay a recurring subscription fee(monthly or annually), to access a vast library of on-demand video content. This content includes movies, TV shows, and other exclusive original programming, which subscribers can watch ad-free and without additional payments per title.

Netflix

Netflix is the largest SVOD service worldwide, offering its broad array of original content, movies, TV shows, documentaries, and more from around the globe. The main content includes Netflix originals like “Stranger Things” and “The Crown”, Hollywood films. TV series, anime, reality shows, stand-up comedy specials, and documentaries. Other channels offers special categories for children, international films, and independent cinema.

Amazon Prime Video 

Amazon Prime Video is included with an Amazon Prime subscription, providing access to a vast selection of movies, TV shows, and Amazon Originals, along with perks like free shipping and Amazon Music. Prime Video also offers add-on channels like Starz, Showtime, and AMC+ for additional fees.

Hulu

Hulu is a popular video streaming service that offers a wide range of TV shows, it provides next day access to shows from many major US television networks, and it have developed a strong slate of original content. It has both ad-supported, and ad-fee subscription options, as well as the ability to add live TV channels, it stream current and past TV series, movies, and Hulu Originals like “The Handmaid’s Tale”. Hulu also offers add-ons like HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz for additional fees.

Disney+ 

Disney+ is a streaming video service owned by Disney, it focused on family-friendly content from Disney;s iconic brands and franchised, including Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic content. Streams classics and new Disney movies and shows, also has a dedicated section for adult-oriented content under the “Start” brand.

HBO Max (now called Max)

HBO video streaming service of Max, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, provides access to HBO’S acclaimed original series and films from WarnerMedia’s properties including DC and Cartoon Network. New and classic movies, DC superhero content, and more. The premium channels like Cinemax will need to a additional fees.

2. Ad-supported Video on Demand (AVOD)

AVOD(Ad-supported Video on Demand) is a streaming service model where users can watch video for free with the inclusion of advertisements. Unlike subscription-based services, AVOD streaming video service do not require a recurring fee from users. Instead, they generate revenue through ads played during the content.

Tubi

Tubi is a free AVOD service owned by Fox Corporation, it offers a vast library of movies and TV shows for free, and know for its wide variety of genres and partnerships with major studio. Main covered videos and channels including Hollywood movies, TV shows, original videos, and exclusive content. This streaming service also dedicated to specific genres, franchises, and content provides.

Crackle

Crackle is one of the pioneers in the AVOD sector, owned by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. It offers free-to-stream films and TV shows, and original video content such as Hollywood movies, exclusive content. Crackle has channels focused on specific genres like action, comedy, and drama.

Pluto TV

Pluto TV is a free AVOD streaming service owned by Paramount Global, it provide not only on-demand content but also over 100 live channels that mimic traditional TV watching. Pluto TV have a vast selection of curated channels, including those dedicated to specific networks, genres, and content providers. It also have channels for news, sports, and children’s programming.

The Roku Channel

Ruko also a free video streaming service, the platform offering a combination of free-to-watch movies, TV shows, and live news. The main content is including Hollywood movies, TV series, new, sports, and entertainment. It also occasionally offers premium subscription as an optional add-on.

3. Transactional/Rental Video on Demand (TVoD)

Transactional/Rental Video on Demand (TVoD) is a digital distribution model, users can pay for each piece of video-on-demand content they watch. User also can pay a one-time fee to rent or purchase individual pieces of content for limited period, typically 24-48 hours for rentals. Unlike SVOD streaming services, TVOD allows users the flexibility to access specific video content without committing to a recurring subscription.

Amazon Prime Video rentals

Amazon Prime Video rentals offers a TVOD streaming service where user can rent movies and TV shows for a limited time. The rental catalog includes new releases, popular titles, and a wide range of genres, It also supported users to purchase digital copies of movies and TV shows to own permanently through Amazon’s electronic sell-through(EST) model.

YouTube Rentals

YouTube rentals video steaming service where users can rent movies and, in some regions, television shows. The rental services includes new releases and old movies. It provide movies from major Hollywood, studios and many independent filmmakers. It also includes various thematic channels that cater to specific interests, such as documentaries, foreign films, and classic.

Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is primarily a subscription-based steaming video service, but it also offers the ability to rent or purchase movies and TV shows. Its main covered video and channels includes new movie releases, award-winning films and original content from Apple itself.

4. Live TV Streaming Services

Live TV steaming services provide access to live television channels over the internet, it is a digital alternatives to traditional broadcast and cable television. These steaming video services offer a bundle of live channels, such as local broadcast networks, cable channels, and premium channels, along with on-demand content libraries and cloud DVR capabilities. Users can steam live TV on various devices, such as smart TVs, streaming devices.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service owned by Google that offers over 100 channels, including local broadcast networks, popular cable channels, and sports networks. It also includes features like unlimited cloud DVR storage and the ability to share your subscription with family member. The main covered video and channels id about local broad cast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC), cable channels (ESPN, FX, AMC, CNN, HGTV), sports networks (ESPN, FS1, NBC Sports), and premium channels (Starz, Showtime).

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV combines Hulu’s extensive library of on-demand series and movies with the ability to stream live television channels, it offer over 75 live channels. The video streaming services includes major networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox, as well as news channels, sports channels like ESPN, and entertainment options like FX and Food Network.

DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream formerly known ad AT&T TV, is a live TV streaming offers a variety of channels. It provides packages with up to 140+ live channels, including local broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC), cable channels (ESPN, FX, AMC, CNN, HGTV), sports networks (ESPN, FS1, NBC Sports, regional sports networks), premium channels (HBO, Showtime, Starz).

FuboTV

FuboTV is live TV streaming service that focused primarily on sports programming. It offer a base package with over 100 channels, the main content such as local broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC), cable channels (FX, AMC, CNN, HGTV), sports networks (ESPN, FS1, NBC Sports, beIN Sports, international sports channels), premium channels (Showtime, Starz).

5. Niche Streaming Services

Niche video steaming services are on-demand platforms that cater to specific interests, catering to dedicated audiences looking for specialized content. They provide fans with extensive options in their preferred genres, whether that be anime, horror, documentaries, or any other specific interest.

Crunchyroll (anime)

Crunchyroll is a leading video streaming service dedicated to anime and mange content. It offers a vast popular anime series (e.g., Dragon Ball, Naruto, Attack on Titan), catering to fans of Japanese animation and mange culture.

Shudder (horror)

Shudder is a niche video streaming service focused on horror, thriller, and supernatural content. It provides a curated selection of classic and contemporary horror films, original productions for horror enthusiasts. The main covered video and channels includes classic and cult horror movies, independent and international horror films, horror TV series and anthologies, shudder original productions and exclusives.

CuriosityStream (documentaries)

CuriosityStream specialized in factual programming related to science, technology, history, and nature. It offers high-quality documentaries spanning various topics, and the main videos and channels is covered science and nature documentaries, history and culture documentaries, technology and engineering documentaries, original productions and exclusives.

6. Sports Streaming Services

Sports streaming services specialize in broadcasting live sports events, sports-related content, and on-demand sports programming. These platform are designed for sports enthusiasts who want to watch their favorite teams, leagues, and sporting events from and device with internet access.

ESPN+

ESPN+ is a subscription-based sports streaming service, it offers live and on-demand sports content, including exclusive events, main covered videos and channels live streaming of select MLB, NHL, MLS, and college sports events, exclusive UFC pay-per-view events, original shows and documentaries (30 for 30, E:60, Detail), on-demand replays and highlights.

DAZN

DAZN is focuses on live sports streaming, including boxing, MMA, and variety of other sports depending on the region, such as, United States, Canada, and various European and Asian markets. Main covered videos and channels, live streaming of boxing, MMA, and combat sports events, live and on-demand access to major soccer leagues (Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Serie A), MLB, NFL, and NBA content (varies by region), original programming and documentaries.

MLB.TV

MLB.TV is the official live streaming service of Major League Baseball(MLB). It provides access to live and on-demand streaming of out-of-marker regular season games, on-demand replays and highlights, cClassic games and documentaries, live audio broadcasts of games.

Conclusion

Video Streaming services have revolutionized how we consume entertainment, offering a vast array of video content across various platforms and catering to diverse interests. To check all the above mentioned streaming video services, choose the one which perfect fit for your viewing preference.