22 Top Video Streaming Services

What to check before you subscribe to a streaming service

Streaming prices and plans change often, and the content you want may not be available in your country. Before paying, check what is actually in the catalog where you live.

• Plans and ads. Many services offer cheaper plans with ads, and limit video quality or the number of screens on lower tiers.
• Account sharing. Rules on sharing outside your household differ by service and may carry extra fees.
• Billing through partners. If you subscribed through a phone carrier, TV provider or app store, you usually need to cancel there.
• Live sports. Broadcast rights are split by league, competition and country. One service rarely carries everything.

Licensed versus unlicensed streams

Some sites and apps offer films, shows or live sports free or cheaply without licenses from the rights holders. Using them may break copyright law where you live. They also tend to carry intrusive ads, fake "update your player" downloads and pop-ups that lead to phishing or malware, and they can disappear without notice. Apps installed from outside official app stores carry extra risk.

CandorRated company pages show who runs each website, how long the domain has existed and what contact details were found. A service with no identifiable owner and a recently registered domain is a warning sign.

Common problems and how to avoid them

Reviews of paid services often mention price increases, charges after a free trial, and buffering during live events. Set a reminder before a trial ends and test the service on your devices during the trial.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I watch a title that is listed in another country?

Licenses are sold by country, so catalogs differ. Using a VPN to get around this usually breaks the service's terms.

Can I pause instead of canceling?

Some services allow a pause. Check account settings.