Everyone knows of the big hitting streamers. It seems like everyone today has a subscription to Netflix and Prime Video, and probably even Disney+ and HBO Max (despite them being relative newcomers to the streaming game). There are a few key ingredients to making a streaming platform successful - the most obvious being the library. Other key ingredients include price, quality, and ease of access.
Of course, there are other, smaller subscription services that aren't nearly as popular as Netflix, Prime, and the other heavy hitters. In fact, it seems like every company has its own streaming service. And some of these smaller services are actually quite good.
10 Crave
Unfortunately for those in Canada, Canadian broadcasting rights have completely messed with streaming services and their respective libraries. Netflix offers altered content compared to its American counterpart, and there is no Hulu or HBO Max to speak of.
Fortunately, Crave is there to pick up the digital pieces. Crave comes in two options - a barebones version for $10, and "Crave + HBO" that offers all HBO content (including HBO Max originals) and popular new films for an extra $10. It's a little pricey, but Crave's library is arguably the best of the Canadian streamers.
9 Shudder
For horror lovers, Shudder is an absolute must. Shudder is aimed primarily at the horror and thriller genres, and it comes at the relatively cheap price of $6 a month. Shudder has a great library of existing horror movies, and it also comes equipped with some meaty originals that are exclusive to the streaming service.
It also hosts The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs, an acclaimed and enormously popular variety series that sees Briggs marathoning movies and providing commentary.
8 Paramount+
Formely known as CBS All Access, Paramount+ holds the exclusive streaming rights to ViacomCBS content, which contains all CBS television properties. This includes Star Trek and its recent properties, including Star Trek Discovery and Star Trek Picard.
The service also promises big things for the future, with many upcoming Paramount films - including Mission: Impossible 7 and A Quiet Place Part II - receiving exclusive releases through Paramount+ just 45 days after their theatrical debut.
7 Apple TV+
It seems like Apple has its hand in every business cookie jar - and that includes television streaming. Launched in November 2019, Apple TV+ has generated 10 million users as of November 2020. This is in large part due to its unique library and cheap price point, coming in at just $5 a month.
The site's greatest output is arguably For All Mankind, a sci-fi series depicting an alternate history in which the Soviet Union won the space race. It has also signed an exclusive deal with Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way Productions.
6 Peacock
Launched nationwide in July of 2020, Peacock is one of the newest members of the streaming business. Owned by NBCUniversal, Peacock has already generated over 33 million users.
It comes in two forms - a free version supported by advertisements, and a paid subscription version containing an extended library of content and various add-ons, including the WWE Network and NBC Sports. Peacock is currently the home of various popular franchises, including The Office, Parks and Recreation, and the Harry Potter movies.
5 YouTube TV
When it comes to streaming services, few people remember that YouTube TV exists. It is currently the greatest way to access live television for those who have cut the cord, offering over 80 television networks (including NBC, CBS, and ABC), the NBA Finals, and the World Series.
It also comes with DVR functionality, offering all cable amenities without the cable. The only drawback is the cable price, with YouTube TV coming in at $65 a month.
4 Sling TV
Sling TV is the main competitor to YouTube TV, offering cable channels and video-on-demand services to those who have cut the cord. It comes in two forms. The first is Sling Orange, offering sports content like ESPN. The other is Sling Blue, offering traditional television channels like Syfy and Discovery.
Both are $35, or customers can package both for $50. It's not quite as good as YouTube TV, but it's also significantly cheaper, offering a decent selection of television content for cable-less households.
3 Crackle
When it comes to free streaming services, it's hard to beat Crackle. Crackle is co-owned by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment and Sony, and as such, its movie library largely consists of Sony films. The library includes some surprisingly decent entries, including the highly acclaimed zombie film Train to Busan.
It also contains its fair share of original programming, including the crime drama The Oath and the sci-fi series Trenches.
2 FuboTV
FuboTV is becoming increasingly popular, closing 2020 with $100 million in quarterly revenue and over 500,000 paying subscribers. FuboTV is another competitor to YouTube TV and Sling TV, offering television channels for cord-cutters.
Its most substantial offering is live sports, offering subscribers access to live football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer games. It's also quite easy to access, being available through most smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, and Xbox One/Xbox Series X and S.
1 Hulu
Despite being one of the first streaming services and the main competitor of Netflix, Hulu has since fallen by the wayside. As of 2020, Hulu enjoys just under 40 million users. It's a decent number, but it pales in comparison to Netflix's 208 million, and even Disney+'s 100 million.
Part of that is due to its limited availability, being only available in the United States. Despite its perceived lack of popularity, Hulu still contains a solid library of content, including the popular and long-acclaimed The Handmaid's Tale, which began its fourth season in April 2021.
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