Amazon Prime vs. Netflix vs. Hulu

Amazon Prime vs. Netflix vs. Hulu

I know a lot of people are scaling their cable packages back or cutting them altogether in favor of streaming services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu. But how do you know which service is the best to get? They all have award winning exclusive & original shows, and for the most part, they're all around the same monthly cost.



In fact, Consumer Reports did a comparison of Amazon Prime and Netflix in June 2015, and found that the two services are fairly equal. It rated Amazon Prime 3.4/5.0 and Netflix 3.5/5.0, stating: 

"If your primary interest is watching high-definition movies and TV series, Netflix should be your first choice. If you’d rather have greater choice but in standard definition, and you swoon at the thought of goodies such as free shipping, music downloads, and photo storage, Amazon Prime may be a better bet. But all things considered, the two are pretty equal."

As for Hulu, the benefit there seems to be its quick access to network television shows.

Price Points

Under $100

If you're looking at price-point alone, Amazon Prime and Hulu ring it at the cheapest with streaming services under $100 a year.

With Amazon Prime, you're getting a wider selection plus extra Prime benefits (like Prime Music and free 2-day shipping), but you may have to wait longer to see the newest episodes of your favorite shows. Added bonus: you don't have to sit through commercials.

Hulu offers an almost immediate gratification with your favorite shows airing only a day after their network premiere. You'll still have to endure the commercial breaks & you don't have as many choices as you would with Netflix or Amazon, but this might be really enticing to those wanting to cut the cable but still be in the loop with your favorite shows.




Over $100

There's really not a huge difference in prices, unless you go for the Hulu Plus service.

Netflix clocks in at just above $100 on the price point scale, at $108 a year. Netflix works with the most devices and has more of an HD selection. Like Amazon Prime, you won't have commercials but you may have to wait up to a year to see your favorite shows.

At $144 a year Hulu Plus is the most expensive. It boasts (mostly) no commercials, although some shows will contractually have a commercial before or after the episode.

Original & Exclusive Content

All three services offer original and exclusive content, so you may have to make your decision based on the shows you want to be able to see. If you're a huge Walking Dead fan, then Netflix is your choice, because the show isn't available on Amazon Prime or Hulu. Similarly, Downton Abbey is only streaming through Amazon.

Free Trials

All three services offer 1 month free trials, so you can take them for a test drive before paying:

• Hulu offers a 1 month free trial for new and returning customers.
• Netflix offers a 1 month free trial for new customers only.
• Amazon offers a 30 day free trial that includes all benefits of Amazon Prime, not just streaming video.

Side by Side Comparison

Offerings		Amazon Prime		Netflix Streaming		Hulu
Yearly cost		$99		$108		$96 (with commercials) $144 (w/o commercials)
Commercial Free		Yes		Yes		No (even with the commercial-free option, some shows play a commercial before or after the selection)
Selection		17,000 movies and TV shows (2015)		10,000 movies and TV shows (2015)		2,900 TV series (2012)
HD selection		3,500		7,500		not available
Original Shows		Man in the High Castle Mozart in the Jungle Catastrophe Red Oaks Sneaky Pete Transparent ...		Orange is the New Black Marco Polo House of Cards Sense8 Stranger Things Luke Cage ...		The Handmaid's Tale East Los High Louie This is Us The Mindy Project Harlots ...
Exclusive shows		Downton Abbey Orphan Black The Americans Hand of God Mr. Robot		Sherlock Friends Breaking Bad Walking Dead ...		Seinfeld Southpark Fargo Disney Classics
Free extras		Yes (you get other Amazon Prime benefits)		No		No
Add-ons		Amazon Channels: $108/yr (includes Starz, Showtime, HBO)		None		Showtime: $132/yr
TV or Movies		Both		Both		Both
When are TV shows available?		Up to a year after the original airing, unless an exclusive show		Up to a year after the original network airing		Usually 1 day after original network airing from 6 major networks, including NBC, ABC, and Fox

*Just FYI, the Amazon links are referral links.