Streaming services have become the go-to way of watching TV and film for most of us, which means the competition between them has never been fiercer.
Viewers are spoiled for choice, and choosing which few to spend money on is not an easy decision, with both cost and quality of content to consider.
When it comes to the ‘best’ streaming service, however, a standout platform for one viewer isn’t necessarily going to be a top pick for another — it all depends on personal taste.
But in an attempt to find out which is the most popular among TV and film buffs, we’ve scoured Reddit to see what viewers are saying — and there’s one streamer that consistently came out on top.
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Apple TV Plus
In news that may not surprise many, Apple TV Plus was favoured by TV fans on Reddit, with many praising the consistently high-quality content.
Reddit user ImperialPotentate said: ‘AppleTV+ is all I’ve been watching for nearly two months now, aside from The Pitt. Silo, Slow Horses, Dark Matter, Foundation, working on For All Mankind… the banger-to-filler ratio 5:0 so far.’
Another user added: ‘For me, having recently discovered it, it has to be Apple TV. So many good shows; Silo, Long Way Home, Severance and that’s just what I have watched. I’ve heard there are lots of other top shows.’
Xer0b0t said ‘I think Apple TV has the best in quality sci-fi,’ while ArchDucky added the streamer is ‘pretty much unmatched at this point.’
OddlyDown agreed, writing: ‘Everything is well made, and it has the shows I care about most’.
However, while there were no arguments about the standard of the content, some users pointed out that the smaller library on Apple TV is a drawback.
User validelad said: ‘It has consistently high quality, but a serious lack of depth/library compared to basically every other service.’
And Ok-Character-3779 added: ‘Apple has a great track record in terms of not many duds, but you can go through their whole catalogue in a couple of months.’
Lollie85 also weighed in, writing: ‘Apple TV+ [compared to Netflix] seems to have less total content but a much higher proportion of stuff I have enjoyed watching. If I had to pick, I’d go for Apple TV+’.
It’s a resounding success for the streamer, but let’s find out which other platforms TV fans recommend…
What to watch on Apple TV Plus right now
- Foundation — there’s still time to catch up on the epic sci-fi series before season three lands on July 11.
- Slow Horses — a seventh instalment of this hit spy thriller has just been confirmed, before the fifth has even aired.
- Stick — starring Owen Wilson and hailed as ‘the Ted Lasso of golf’.
- Smoke — a ‘twisted’ true crime drama based on the case of a serial arsonist who terrorised Southern California.
Apple TV Plus costs £8.99 per month.
Netflix
As the largest streaming service globally, with close to 300 million subscribers, it was inevitable that Netflix would be another favourite among TV fans.
Users praised the sheer volume of content, with many saying they’re always able to find something new to watch on the streamer.
‘It’s not perfect and they’ve made some bad decisions over the years, but the proof is in the watchlist. At any given time there’s likely half a dozen shows on our currently watching, and another half dozen for the kids profile,’ Reddit user SillyMattFace said.
GuidetoRealGrilling added: ‘I’ve been on Netflix since it released the streaming service. It has always been consistent for me,’ while Normal_Cut_5386 said that Netflix licensing content from other providers is a big selling point for them.
Meanwhile, Maester_Bates said: ‘Netflix is the only one I use for the simple reason that all of the others are filled with American TV shows and movies, and Netflix has a huge selection of international content.’
What to watch on Netflix right now
- Squid Game — season three has just smashed records to become the streamer’s most-watched show ever.
- The Sandman — the fantasy show, based on the comics, returned for season two this month.
- Trainwreck: Poop Cruise — a documentary about a revolting series of events that unfolded on the Carnival Triumph cruise ship in 2013.
- Dept. Q — A twisty crime thriller that’s been compared to Line of Duty.
Netflix plans start from £5.99 per month.
Disney Plus
Disney+ proved to be popular with fans of cartoons as well as major franchises like Marvel and Star Wars.
Tobotic said: ‘If I had to keep one, it would be Disney+. It’s always adding good new series, plus it’s got The Simpsons as a good fallback when you just want to put something on but don’t really know what.’
Another user added: ‘I’d say Disney at the moment. There seems to be plenty of the dross my wife likes to watch and I absolutely love American Dad.’
And ShaneSkyrunner also voted for the streamer, saying: ‘Star Wars, Marvel, and The Simpsons are three of my favourite things. Plus I like to revisit some of the older Disney films from my childhood from time to time as well.’
Meanwhile, McSheeples revealed: ‘Disney for us at the moment, but we’ve taken to subscribing to one service at a time and binging what’s on it until we can’t find anything else we want to watch.’
What to watch on Disney Plus right now
- The Bear — season four of the hugely successful series, set in a Chicago restaurant, has just dropped on Disney Plus.
- Rivals — the Jilly Cooper adaptation got pulses racing last year, and fans were recently treated to a first look at season two.
- Ironheart — one from the Marvel universe, this sci-fi series has proved to be a huge hit with viewers.
- Daredevil: Born Again — another Marvel series, this show sees the highly anticipated return of crime-fighting character Matt Murdock.
Disney Plus plans start from £4.99 per month.
Tubi
In a big win for the completely free streaming service, which has seen its popularity soar in recent years and now boasts 97 million users, Tubi has proved popular with TV fans on Reddit.
Damienkarras1973 left a glowing review, writing: ‘It’s not even a contest, Tubi for the win. The amount of content is just insane and that doesn’t even include the live channels that I’ve been toying with this last week.’
Patchouliii agreed, adding: ‘Tubi has everything. Action, comedy, foreign TV shows and films. You can take everything else, but I’m keeping Tubi.’
What to watch on Tubi right now
- I Know What You Did Last Summer — the original 1997 horror was added to the streamer ahead of the remake’s release this year.
- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies — this tongue-in-cheek retelling of Jane Austen’s novel sees the Bennett sisters juggle their romantic lives with fighting zombies.
- Invasive — a hidden gem thriller film that has been raved about by viewers online.
- The IT Crowd — there are several classic comedy shows to enjoy on Tubi, including the Channel 4 series about a team of IT support workers.
Tubi is free to watch online or through the smart TV app.
Other streaming services popular with TV fans include Peacock, which UK viewers can watch with a Sky TV package or Now’s entertainment membership, as well as Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus, BritBox and another free service, Pluto TV.
One user said Peacock’s sitcom selection is ‘unbeatable’, while another added ‘there’s always something good to watch on Peacock’.
Dizzyoatmeal, meanwhile, said: ‘As an anglophile, I’d have to go with Britbox. Lots of great quality content, and they don’t mess you about with ads.’
And Automechanic2 said: ‘Probably Paramount Plus because I can’t do without SpongeBob and other Nickelodeon shows,’ while BelAirGuy45 countered: ‘Amazon Prime. I can usually find something to watch fairly quickly. Can’t say that about the others.’
And there was plenty of praise for lesser-known streaming service Pluto TV, which is completely free.
Neeliemich said: ‘It has a majority of my favourite series on their own channels (Star Trek is on two channels, CSI, Criminal Minds, Frasier, and Murder She Wrote).’
Which streaming service gets your vote?
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