If there was ever a time when online video streaming platforms would become everyone’s go-to for entertainment, it would be 2020.
The sheer fact that we can have access to video content on-demand has been a respite for so many of us as we stay cooped up in our homes due to this global pandemic.
There are Lots of video streaming platforms to choose from. Choosing the best video streaming platform individually will depend on personal preferences.
But this list offers a deeper insight into the Top 10 streaming platforms everyone loves in 2020.
- NETFLIX (Available on iOS and Android, $8.99 monthly)
Netflix is arguably the most popular video streaming platform in the world.
With over 183 million subscribers globally, Netflix must definitely be getting it right, and that is absolutely the case. There is more than 3000 video content in Netflix’s library.
From hit action movies, and documentaries, to TV shows, and stand-up comedy shows, there is something of everything we all love.
Netflix offers different content to different regions, making each person’s viewing experience more personalized.
It is a subscription-based service, with 3 different plans that let you stream on multiple devices the more you pay.
The basic monthly plan costs $8.99 and lets you stream on one device, the $10.99 plan lets you stream on two devices, and the $12.99 plan lets you stream UHD video on 4 devices at the same time.
Not only can you use Netflix on your computer, but you can also use it on your iOS or Android devices.
Recommended Title: Away
- Amazon Prime Video (Available on iOS and Android, $12.99 monthly)
Amazon Prime needs no introductions.
With more than 150 million global subscribers, you can bet that they have great shows.
Amazon Prime is the home of great TV shows like The Grand Tour, The Expanse, American Gods, and a collection of Marvel and DC superhero movies.
The platform also has great content for kids and students.
Apart from all these video content, you can also watch TV channels like SHOWTIME, STARZ, Cinemax, and HBO without the need for a cable. It allows you to buy or rent movies, depending on your choice.
With a $12.99 monthly subscription fee, you gain access to an unlimited library of video content to keep you glued to your screen.
Amazon Prime is available on iOS and Android platforms.
Recommend Title: The Boys
- Disney+ (Available on iOS and Android, $6.99 monthly/$69.99 yearly)
Disney+ is not unknown in the entertainment industry. Disney+ is an impressive video streaming platform that supports 4k streaming and offline downloads.
It has a huge library with more than 7500 tv show episodes and more than 500 movies.
As you might already know, Disney owns Marvel and Pixar. Disney+ is like a one-stop-shop to get all the great movies and animations from these companies.
You get classics shows like High School Musical, Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, Encore! The Mandalorian, and much more exciting video content.
You can also look forward to seeing shows based on some of Marvel’s titular characters like Loki, Scarlet Witch & Vision when they eventually drop on Disney+.
It costs $6.99 monthly and $69.99 yearly to gain access to its impressive library of accomplished shows.
Recommended Title: The Mandolorian
- HULU (Available on iOS and Android, $5.99 monthly)
Hulu is an online video streaming service that has a mix of on-demand video content and live TV.
It has a solid 35 million viewership count globally and it has a number of good shows like The X-Files, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Veronica Mars, Castle Rock, just to mention a few.
Hulu also offers 60+ TV channels including NBC, ABC, and National Geographic.
Hulu’s basic monthly subscription costs $6.99 with ads. To watch without ads, the premium subscription costs $11.99. To get Hulu’s on-demand video and live TV costs $54.99 altogether.
Recommended Title: Veronica Mars
- HBO Max (Available on iOS and Android, $14.99 monthly)
This is another outlet guaranteed to keep you glued to your screen with endless quality video content on-demand. HBO is already famous for some of the best TV shows we have seen in a while.
Shows like Game of Thrones and Westworld are exclusives from HBO, all available on HBO Max.
You can also watch movies and shows from Warner Bros, DC, The Turner Library, Looney Tunes, and other WarnerMedia brands.
It costs $14.99 monthly to gain access to a huge library of movies and TV shows from various sources.
The platform also supports offline downloads on mobile devices, which means you can download your favorite shows and watch them offline whenever you want.
The only drawbacks to this platform are its lack of support for 4k resolution, and also Roku & firestick devices.
To watch HBO content on firestick or Roku, you will have to go for HBO MAX, HBO’s second streaming platform.
Recommended Title: Raised by Wolves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAg6RTQEfeM
- YouTube TV (Available on iOS and Android, $64.99 monthly)
Youtube TV is more of a live TV platform with a huge library of diverse video content for your viewing pleasure.
It’s on the expensive side but if you don’t mind that factor, you’ll get access to a wide range of entertainment, sports, and news channels.
YouTube TV features more than 80 live TV channels including ESPN, ESPN 2, NBA TV, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, ABC, CBS, and so much more.
It comes with DVR features and a smart user interface to enhance your experience.
As at the time of writing this article, YouTube TV subscription costs $64.99 monthly.
Recommended Titles: Impulse
- Peacock (Available on iOS and Android, Free)
Peacock is another impressive online video streaming platform that gives you free access to a decent number of movies and TV shows. Owned by NBCUniversal, it has a fairly extensive library to be included on this list.
With Peacock, you get many of NBC’s shows, although the most popular shows are sometimes unavailable on the free tier on the platform.
The premium tier has more content, including sports channels that stream in FHD resolution.
According to NBC, Peacock has up to 13,000 hours of entertainment content on the free tier, including shows like Blindspot, Everybody Loves Raymond, Law & Order, Will and Grace, and 30 Rock.
To enjoy more content on Peacock, users can choose from 2 plans, one costs $4.99 monthly and supports ads.
The other ad-free plan costs $9.99 monthly.
Recommended Title
- VRV (Available on iOS and Android, $9.99 monthly)
VRV is not on the same level with most of the other platforms on this list but it stands in its own right as a formidable anime streaming platform.
The experience is a little bit similar to what you get on cable, with the difference being their huge collection of animations, cartoons, and old cult movies for your viewing pleasure.
VRV’s attempt to be unique among other video streaming platforms sees it focusing more on curating different genres of the anime niche.
Channels available on VRV include Boomerang, Crunchyroll, Hidive, Mondo, Rooster Teeth.
The platform offers offline downloads and an unlimited number of devices you can use on one account.
However, the channels can disappear without any prior warning.
Recommended Title: Demon Slayer
- Tubi (Available on iOS and Android, Free)
Tubi is a Fox-owned free on-demand streaming platform. What is really amazing about this platform is that it has more content than some paid streaming platforms such as Criterion Channel, and CBS All Access.
To put things in perspective, CBS All Access has a total of 50 movies on its platform, Criterion Channel has about 2000 movies, but Tubi has more than 20,000 movies to select from. Movies you can stream on the platform include Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, We Need To Talk About Kevin, Food Inc., Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Snakes on a Plane.
Tubi tries to keep everything free despite its large repertoire of entertaining content. The only downsides to the platform are the ads and the resolution which cannot exceed 720p.
But it’s a fair price to pay to enjoy the endless library of video content available on the platform. You can watch it on iOS, Android, as well as other platforms.
Recommended Title: The World Fastest Indian
10. ShowMax (Available on iOS and Android, $4 monthly)
Showmax is a South African video streaming platform with a huge library of on-demand video content as well as live TV shows and programs.
Behind ShowMax is the biggest provider of video entertainment in Africa: DSTV. With ShowMax, you get access to all live TV shows, movies, documentaries, and sports available on DSTV.
Both local and international video content is available on the platform, and this includes kids shows, docu-series, sports, and movies made on and off the continent.
ShowMax is available as an app on both iOS and Android platforms. The Showmax app supports offline downloads and data usage control. It is safe to say that ShowMax is Africa’s competent version of Netflix, except for the absence of FHD or 4k content.
The base monthly subscription for Showmax is $4 after a 14-day free trial period, but this will only support mobile viewing.
To watch ShowMax on PC, Amazon TV, or Roku, the monthly subscription is $7.3 (These are rough estimates as subscription costs vary based on region and local currency).
Apart from these platforms, there are other platforms that offer on-demand video streaming, with great shows, but these are the best platforms anyone can use in 2020.
Recommended Title: Euphoria
So over to you, which of these platforms have you found exciting to use?
Thank you for reading this list. Kindly tweet your list to us @shockNG and let’s be friends!
