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Netflix or Amazon Prime: Which Wins Your Vote?

Netflix or Amazon Prime

Netflix or Amazon Prime

It is a bit difficult to choose: Netflix or Amazon Prime? Both offer a lot of great shows and movies. No matter your preference of binge-watching popular shows or viewing new movies, both services have something unique. In this article, we are going to break down the differences between Netflix and Amazon Prime so that you can find out which is more suitable for the way you watch things. Let’s start.

Outline

 

Netflix vs Amazon Prime: Price and Plans

So, let’s start off with a quick comparison of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video’s main pricing and plan features. The difference between the platform pricing and plans should definitely be taken into consideration before choosing one.

Feature/Plan Netflix Amazon Prime Video
Starting Price $7.99/month (with ads) $8.99/month (Prime Video only, with ads)
Cheapest Ad-Free Plan $17.99/month (Standard Ad-Free) $11.98/month (Prime Video + ad removal for $2.99 extra)
4K Streaming Only with Premium Plan ($24.99/mo) Included with all plans.

Full Amazon Prime: $14.99/mo or $139/year

Downloads Yes Yes
Simultaneous Streams 2 to 4 devices (depends on plan) 3 devices
Add-on Subscriptions No Yes (HBO, Showtime, etc.)

Now let’s take a look at Netflix individual plans in more detail. Netflix has three plans based on ad preference, video quality, and how many people can stream simultaneously, with no bundled plans. It’s hard to take a trial on Netflix without paying an upfront fee. On the other hand, Amazon Prime Video has bundled plans with extra benefits. As opposed to Netflix with its one subscription, Amazon has the option of a video-only subscription as well as a full Prime subscription, complete with free shipping, music, and e-books.

As we can see, Amazon Prime Video wins when we look at promotions and free trials. There is usually a free 30-day trial offer when customers sign up for Prime, which includes access to Prime Video and the rest of the Prime benefits.

In simple words, we can say, if you are looking for a package with added advantages and a good free trial deal, go for Amazon Prime Video.

Region Availability

Both Amazon Prime Video and Netflix are available in almost every country in the world, but the services you have access to will vary by region. Netflix is accessible in over 190 countries, making it one of the most accessible services in the streaming business. However, the library it offers is customized by the service depending on what licensing deals it has in each region, and what viewers watch in each country. This means that the service will try to give you a localised experience, but some of the titles may be region-locked.

Amazon Prime Video is available in even more regions, and the service has reached over 240 countries and territories. Just like with Netflix, the shows and movies will also be dependent on your region. For example, some titles might be available in the US, but not in other countries, or the other way around. Amazon also offers additional subscriptions for premium content, and the availability of these channels can be more restricted regionally as well.

The sites both try to provide subtitles and dubbing to localise the experience, but it is always a good idea to check what is actually available in your country before deciding on which service you want.

Content Library & Variety Comparison

When it comes to content, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video both bring a lot to the table, but their strengths differ quite a bit. Here in this part, we will discuss the content library of Netflix VS Amazon Prime.

Netflix Content Lineup

The vast and numerous libraries have made Netflix famous. One of its main attractions is its original content, which has produced worldwide hit shows such as Stranger Things, Money Heist, and Squid Game, which have become cultural phenomena. However, Netflix does not end with originals. Here you can also watch exciting anime, your favourite anime classics, including Studio Ghibli films, engaging documentaries, reality shows, and kids’ programming. This variety means that the Netflix library is broad and caters to any type of audience. Netflix also ventured into live programming, but the catalogue is still smaller than conventional live TV systems.

Popular Netflix Shows to Watch:

  1. Bridgerton
  2. Ozark
  3. Wednesday
  4. Dark
  5. The Witcher

Amazon Prime Video Content Lineup

The Amazon Prime Video original programming is nowhere near that of Netflix; however, Amazon Prime Video has an enormous movie library that has a wide range of genres and age categories. There are award-winning blockbusters, The Dark Knight, Joker, The Lord of the Rings, and many more award-winning Amazon Originals pleasures like My Fault, Sound of Metal, and One Night in Miami. Prime Video also has a fairly good selection of original dramas, documentaries, anime and kids’ content. One of the advantages of Amazon is that it can add premium channel subscriptions (HBO or Showtime, and so on) directly to the app, and broaden the range of your content. However, remember it will cost you extra, and this may not be ideal for everyone.

Popular Amazon Prime Video Original Shows

  1. The Boys
  2. The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel
  3. Jack Ryan
  4. Fleabag
  5. The Expanse
  6. Good Omen

Streaming Quality & Playback Features

When it comes to the quality of streaming, both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are good platforms to choose from, but they have a few differences, which are important to note.

Netflix has a Premium plan, which allows streaming up to 4K Ultra HD. To have that crystal clear picture, you have to go to the highest level. HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and Dolby Digital Plus are also supported on Netflix and provide you with an excellent audio-visual experience. All plans allow you to play back Netflix without limits, but the number of devices varies depending on your subscription.

Amazon Prime Video offers 4K UHD streaming as a standard feature with any plan, and that is a pleasant bonus when you do not want to pay more money in exchange for a better resolution. It also has Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus audio, which further guarantees its immersive sound on a lot of titles. There are also offline downloads, even though it is only possible to download to a maximum of two devices simultaneously, which is approximated to that of Netflix.

These two platforms have smart playback features that auto-scale the video quality to your internet connection, subtitles and multiple audio tracks and the ability to resume.

User Experience & Ads

The interface of Netflix is very user-friendly and easy to navigate on your smart TV, phone, and computer with ease. It gains popularity with the recommendation system that offers shows and movies that suit your preferences. There are no ads unless you opt in to the ad-supported, cheaper plan.

On the other hand, the interface of Amazon Prime Video is slightly more crowded because the company advertises other services and products offered by Amazon. It may take a bit of adjusting, but it is not hard to get what you want. There are ads unless you are willing to pay extra to get them off, but they are normally not too obtrusive. It also has voice search and compatibility with Alexa.

Also, both services allow creating several profiles with different user accounts, so the other members of the family will be able to create their watchlists and suggestions.

Conclusion: Which Streaming Service is Best for You?

Okay, so in summary, you can pick Netflix if you prefer more unique original shows and storytelling, binge-watching, a user-friendly interface, and lower prices.

And, you can pick Amazon Prime Video when you need a subscription with longer-term benefits (free shipping), a great blend of rentals, live channels, and on-demand content, and you don’t mind a slightly more advanced interface.

Overall, both services really shine in their content lineup and user experience. You can choose one by considering what features and content are important for you.

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