Jump to: Price | Features | Supported Devices | Content | Alternatives
Price
Netflix’s pricing starts at £5.99 per month, and that’s for the basic subscription that only lets you watch on one screen at a time (you can’t share this with friends or family) and doesn’t offer HD content. The standard subscription model costs £7.49 per month, offering HD streaming on two devices at once. For Netflix Premium, you’re looking at £8.99 per month for 4K Ultra HD quality and the use of four devices at once.
Features
They also now both offer offline streaming, but both have limitations. Not all content is available to download to view offline, but the catalogue of downloadable content and devices is continuously growing for both. You can find out more about how to download content by following the links below: Taking a closer look at the differences now, and you’ll find that Netflix offers better account features for anyone sharing their subscription. You can set up multiple accounts for different users to keep your recommendations and watch lists separate, and there’s also a dedicated kids section for child-friendly content. One key difference that can be tricky to get your head around to start with is that while everything you see on Netflix is available to stream, only Prime Video content with a ‘Prime’ banner can be watched as part of the subscription. Other videos are available to watch but come at an additional cost to buy or rent. See also: How to watch US Netflix in the UK.
Supported Devices
Netflix used to be the obvious choice because of the breadth of devices, but it’s now too close to call. You’re likely to have a number of devices which can access either service.
Movie and TV show content
Price, features, and device compatibility are all well and good, but they mean nothing if there’s nothing you want to watch. Films and TV shows are on offer with both services, plus original content you won’t be able to find on rival services. Which is better in this respect will depend on your personal taste. Examples of original series on Netflix include Better Call Saul, Orange Is The New Black, House of Cards, Bloodline, Daredevil and popular documentary series Making a Murderer. See our list of the best TV shows on Netflix and our round-up of the best Netflix movies here. They each have around the same amount of content, with close to 4,000 films and TV shows each, too. As mentioned before, we think it’s well worth signing up to both trials in order to get a better idea of which has the offering that’s best suited to you.
Alternatives
There are various non-subscription options available if you want more of a pay as you go service. This way you can rent or buy to keep only the titles you really want to watch. Prices vary so you often need to shop around to find the best price and they are available on a range of devices, too. Tech Advisor’s Reviews Editor, Chris has been reviewing all kinds of tech for over 10 years and specialises in audio. He also covers a range of topics including home entertainment, phones, laptops, tablets and more.