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Netflix vs. Hulu vs. Amazon Prime? Which one is the best? Or other? (Original Post) bif Nov 2018 OP
K&R wryter2000 Nov 2018 #1
I have all three exboyfil Nov 2018 #2
If you already use Amazon Prime for mail order shopping yellowdogintexas Sep 2021 #41
My son has a setup where he has a firestick..and subscribes to NITRO - asiliveandbreathe Nov 2018 #3
I had Hulu and just dropped it - nothing of interest on it packman Nov 2018 #4
Same here customerserviceguy Aug 2019 #29
Very happy with Hulu TexasBushwhacker Nov 2018 #5
I got Hulu to watch Handmaid's Tale. I like their other original series yellowdogintexas Oct 2021 #42
I have all three. I watch Hulu the least, probably Netflix the most Glorfindel Nov 2018 #6
At $99, Amazon Prime was quite the deal, now that it is $120/year, less so hlthe2b Nov 2018 #7
I like Amazon Prime. In addition to what posters say above, I get a lot of new "free" music. Hoyt Nov 2018 #8
I like Amazon Prime the best Taraman Nov 2018 #9
I thought Hulu too complicated, movies not organized katmondoo Nov 2018 #14
Me too. I like Amazon first then Netflix. Tried Hulu but did not like it, too difficult to find katmondoo Aug 2019 #30
I started a trial of Hulu last night Scoopster Nov 2018 #10
I rotate. Netflix, then Hulu, then Acorn, then Britbox, then Walter Presents. Squinch Nov 2018 #11
Amazon Prime has a monthly subscription, too Taraman Nov 2018 #12
And you can quit after a few months? Thank you! I'll try it! Squinch Nov 2018 #13
That's what I do. Right now I have PBS Masterpiece so I could watch Poldark, but Luciferous Nov 2018 #20
I keep PBS all the time, just $5 a month donation. It's the only one I don't rotate away from. Squinch Nov 2018 #21
I have it most of the time because there are a lot of shows I watch on there, but Luciferous Nov 2018 #22
Same here and to centralize it all at Amazon is great. I had a problem tho with some cancellations emmaverybo Aug 2019 #35
Is there a service that lets you JUST download a series?? mitch96 Nov 2018 #15
Try Google Play Store, maybe? nt AndJusticeForSome Dec 2018 #24
Sure! You can download just about damn near everything. UniteFightBack Aug 2019 #34
I have never needed Hulu...I rarely use Amazon Prime... Ferrets are Cool Nov 2018 #16
Prime and Netflix Big Blue Marble Nov 2018 #17
That's what we have. I didn't know what to expect on this thread... RussellCattle Aug 2019 #26
In order of MY preference - Amazon - Netflix - Hulu. pnwest Nov 2018 #18
I'm pretty happy with Netflix bif Nov 2018 #19
Both Amazon and Netflix have good selections procon Aug 2019 #31
For me right now -- Hulu ananda Nov 2018 #23
If you have ROKU check out their free channels LeftInTX Aug 2019 #25
We will do one for a while then drop it. Then go back. Also like acorn tv and britbox Thekaspervote Aug 2019 #27
I have all three and find them more or less equal. PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2019 #28
Has anyone tried Hulu Live? procon Aug 2019 #32
I have it. pwb Oct 2019 #36
I've heard good things about Youtube live. Works just like the 'cable box'. Sling TV is another UniteFightBack Aug 2019 #33
We just switched from Hulu Live to Youtube TV Cuthbert Allgood Jan 2020 #39
We like British stuff so we go Acorn TV and Britbox. Mostly good stuff and demigoddess Oct 2019 #37
We have a ROKU and subscribe to all three. yellowdogintexas Dec 2019 #38
Currently all 3 and Peacock "Basic" for no charge. Harold Shea May 2021 #40
One annoying thing about Prime Danascot Oct 2021 #43

exboyfil

(17,863 posts)
2. I have all three
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 01:20 PM
Nov 2018

Hulu is available for $1/mo. for a year so that should be a non-brainer sign up. If I could have only one, it would be Amazon Prime. I like the original shows a bit more, and it has a much better selection of older movies. They recently released some of the best science fiction movies from the early 1970s for example (ones I loved to see with my dad). They also have five of the Hammer Horror vampire movies with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Last time I checked the Indiana Jones movies.

Amazon Prime also gets you two day free shipping, discounts on pantry orders, prime music which actually has some pretty good stuff, one new book release a month (some are pretty good), Prime ebooks (some with audio), and occasionally a free audiobook.

Prime shows include Man in the High Castle, Bosch, and a lot of the older HBO shows.

yellowdogintexas

(22,256 posts)
41. If you already use Amazon Prime for mail order shopping
Thu Sep 30, 2021, 03:30 PM
Sep 2021

you already have the Prime Video, just need to activate it.

asiliveandbreathe

(8,203 posts)
3. My son has a setup where he has a firestick..and subscribes to NITRO -
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 01:23 PM
Nov 2018

I watched football couple weeks ago with him...periodically the picture would go into a buffer...

However - with so many stations..there is NO way you could watch it all..every sport you can imagine..so many movies..I believe he pays $35 a month......for what it is worth...

 

packman

(16,296 posts)
4. I had Hulu and just dropped it - nothing of interest on it
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 01:28 PM
Nov 2018

Now have Netflix and Prime. Prime offers a lot and is easy to navigate as is Netflix. Trying to convince my better half to drop our cable and just go with subscription services.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
29. Same here
Mon Aug 12, 2019, 05:02 PM
Aug 2019

And I had it for free as part of my Sprint cellphone plan. I won't do business with Amazon, and I haven't looked into Netflix. Do they even rent out DVD's any more?

Earlier this year, we got a cable package through our HOA in SC, and that has more programming on it than I could possibly consume. We went about seven or eight years back in NY on just an antenna, and I got away from TV considerably during that time.

TexasBushwhacker

(20,192 posts)
5. Very happy with Hulu
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 01:29 PM
Nov 2018

And you can add on HBO, Showtime, etc for $10 to $15 each without cable, no commitment.

yellowdogintexas

(22,256 posts)
42. I got Hulu to watch Handmaid's Tale. I like their other original series
Fri Oct 1, 2021, 09:33 PM
Oct 2021

and of course they have some programming other services do not have.

A number of current TV shows are current on Hulu, just a day or two behind the network broadcast. I keep up with Law and Order SVU and Organized Crime, Gray's Anatomy
New Amsterdam on Hulu.

I don't want to have to remember the time and channel, switch my TV from ROKU to antenna. This way I do not have to remember all that.

I just loaded Peacock on and I can catch some NBC shows th enext day there as well.

One of the neatest things about having Netflix, Hulu and Prime is the wide variety of original programming on each network.

Hulu is the only place I can watch Fargo for free, and I was watching The Strain there as well.

So I think it is really a matter of what you like. Fortunately we can do a trial to check it out. I will always have Prime because I have an Amazon Prime membership anyway. Prime has added IMDB channel which has brought in some newer stuff.

I think Hulu is $6 for the cheap one, Netflix may be up to $13. I don't count Prime because I would have a prime membership anyway so it is like a bonus. When I think of the $$ in my cable subscription I think I have a real bargain here.

I get PBS Passport at no extra charge because I donate to the local TV station anyway.

We are planning to do a trial of ACORN and BritBox since so much British TV is on those services.

Glorfindel

(9,730 posts)
6. I have all three. I watch Hulu the least, probably Netflix the most
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 01:30 PM
Nov 2018

But if I had to choose one, it would be Amazon Prime. They have an amazing number of movies and TV shows, plus you get free shipping on Amazon orders.

hlthe2b

(102,283 posts)
7. At $99, Amazon Prime was quite the deal, now that it is $120/year, less so
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 01:33 PM
Nov 2018

But I've watched a lot of content there for the first time, and a lot of it was quite good. The free shipping (and free Kindle books and other benefits) confer enough benefit to make it worthwhile, I think, so I will likely renew in December.

I watched pretty much everything I was interested to on Netflix during a 30 day free trial. So, for right now, I don't find that too tempting.

Hulu has never had content I was especially interested in watching. While the Handmaid's Tale is probably exceptional, most of their other original content doesn't seem to compete with that of rival Netflix and Amazon Prime.


So, if I were going for one, it would be Amazon Prime. Even if you order delivery items only once/month, it doesn't take too many "heavy" items for that deal to be well worth it. Add in freebies in video, audio, and kindle book content and it seems to still be a reasonably good deal, despite the $20 increase.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
8. I like Amazon Prime. In addition to what posters say above, I get a lot of new "free" music.
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 01:43 PM
Nov 2018

I probably listen to 5 to 10 new albums/CDs a month that I wouldn't buy. In addition to all the new releases, including obscure artists, they have a great old catalog.

So for a $115 or so a year, I get decent TV programming, free shipping on orders of stuff I just can't find locally, and a ton of music. That's a pretty good deal.

Taraman

(373 posts)
9. I like Amazon Prime the best
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 01:48 PM
Nov 2018

Have both Netflix and Amazon Prime, but mostly watch Amazon. They mix their free stuff with the pay stuff, so you have to be a little careful to look for the Prime banner. The shipping is no biggie, cause I don't buy much stuff, but surprisingly I listen to the free Amazon Music quite a bit. You get a 6 month subscription to Washington Post for free, which I extended after the 6 month period.

I just renewed for $127.45 with sales tax, a little over $10 a month.

BTW, love my Rokus.

Not much interest in Hulu.


katmondoo

(6,457 posts)
14. I thought Hulu too complicated, movies not organized
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 02:17 PM
Nov 2018

took too long to find what would interest me. I do like Amazon Prime

katmondoo

(6,457 posts)
30. Me too. I like Amazon first then Netflix. Tried Hulu but did not like it, too difficult to find
Mon Aug 12, 2019, 06:29 PM
Aug 2019

a movie I liked.

Squinch

(50,950 posts)
11. I rotate. Netflix, then Hulu, then Acorn, then Britbox, then Walter Presents.
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 02:04 PM
Nov 2018

Amazon doesn't lend itself to it because they bill you all at once.

They all have good things.

Luciferous

(6,080 posts)
20. That's what I do. Right now I have PBS Masterpiece so I could watch Poldark, but
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 03:53 PM
Nov 2018

once I'm done with that I'll switch to something else. I have Prime but that's because of all of the other benefits. I also have Hulu but same thing- during the summer when my shows aren't on I'll cancel.

Luciferous

(6,080 posts)
22. I have it most of the time because there are a lot of shows I watch on there, but
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 08:04 PM
Nov 2018

if there isn't anything new I want to watch I'll cancel it for a month and switch to Acorn or Britbox for a month.

emmaverybo

(8,144 posts)
35. Same here and to centralize it all at Amazon is great. I had a problem tho with some cancellations
Mon Aug 12, 2019, 09:20 PM
Aug 2019

no taking, subscription just starting over. I watch which channels are active. Maybe partner accidentally triggered sub. of an Indian movie channel cause found I had that—unfortunately not a great idea selection either.

mitch96

(13,907 posts)
15. Is there a service that lets you JUST download a series??
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 02:21 PM
Nov 2018

Not interested in any of these subscription services but I want to watch Outlander
Where can I just download Outlander season 3.. I'll even pay!!
m

Ferrets are Cool

(21,106 posts)
16. I have never needed Hulu...I rarely use Amazon Prime...
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 02:21 PM
Nov 2018

I use Netflix all the time, so for me, the answer is an easy one.

Since I watch a TON of anime, Crunchyroll is my go-to streaming site.

Big Blue Marble

(5,091 posts)
17. Prime and Netflix
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 02:23 PM
Nov 2018

The combo gives me most everything I want, plus the many many other benefits of Prime.
As others have said free Prime Music has a surprisingly extensive catalogue.

RussellCattle

(1,535 posts)
26. That's what we have. I didn't know what to expect on this thread...
Mon Aug 12, 2019, 04:29 PM
Aug 2019

...but it looks like Amazon is coming out as the winner.

pnwest

(3,266 posts)
18. In order of MY preference - Amazon - Netflix - Hulu.
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 02:52 PM
Nov 2018

There are some reeaaaallly good Amazon shows: Sneaky Pete, Goliath....I pay for Showtime and HBO thru Prime, though, and those three outlets are where I find the shows I enjoy the most. Netflix, distant second. Hulu, dropped after one month. Got it for the Sean Penn show "The First" which was less thrilling than I'd hoped. Nothing else there interested me.

For my money, for well-written, edgy, interesting shows, I do Prime, with Showtime and HBO. And then Netflix for a few more good original shows.

bif

(22,708 posts)
19. I'm pretty happy with Netflix
Tue Nov 27, 2018, 03:00 PM
Nov 2018

My wife and I have been trying to avoid supporting Amazon for various reasons. Plus I'm into movies and don't really care about shows. Are there any movie sites that feature a lot of foreign movies?

procon

(15,805 posts)
31. Both Amazon and Netflix have good selections
Mon Aug 12, 2019, 07:16 PM
Aug 2019

of foreign Language films and TV shows with English subtitles. Koréan dramas are my fave genre. Thére are lots of good Asian stuff in many genes on both, but Amazon offers more choices from Bollywood extravaganzas, Spanish, French, Russian films too. Subscribe to Korrean drama channels thru Amazon.

LeftInTX

(25,363 posts)
25. If you have ROKU check out their free channels
Mon Aug 12, 2019, 04:22 PM
Aug 2019

The ROKU channel, TUBI all have free movies and series.
Lots of the movies are good. Have ads, but not too bad. TUBI even let's you know before an ad will show up!

I recently watched The Temptations miniseries on TUBI
If you create a fee account, you can create watchlists.

When I first got my ROKU, there were a bunch of free channels, but most were duds. Now they've got good ones.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,861 posts)
28. I have all three and find them more or less equal.
Mon Aug 12, 2019, 04:56 PM
Aug 2019

Right now I'm watching more on Hulu than on the others.

I don't have a regular TV, so these services are more or less the only way I get to watch shows.

procon

(15,805 posts)
32. Has anyone tried Hulu Live?
Mon Aug 12, 2019, 07:21 PM
Aug 2019

It has live broadcasting on top of he regular catalog. I'm tempted to try, but any real user opinions would be nice.

pwb

(11,275 posts)
36. I have it.
Sat Oct 5, 2019, 08:40 AM
Oct 2019

It is very good. takes time to learn how to navigate but you get live t v . Live T V has commercials though. On demand of most channels. I have all three but use Hulu and Netflix most.

 

UniteFightBack

(8,231 posts)
33. I've heard good things about Youtube live. Works just like the 'cable box'. Sling TV is another
Mon Aug 12, 2019, 08:03 PM
Aug 2019

one.

Cuthbert Allgood

(4,921 posts)
39. We just switched from Hulu Live to Youtube TV
Tue Jan 21, 2020, 12:06 PM
Jan 2020

The Hulu app (we have a Fire Stick) kept crashing. A lot. Like 5 times in a couple minutes. I chatted with Hulu and they said it was a "known problem" and "they are working on it." We couldn't take it any more, so we did the free trial of YouTube TV. Love it. I will keep "regular" Hulu, but will be dropping their Live TV.

demigoddess

(6,641 posts)
37. We like British stuff so we go Acorn TV and Britbox. Mostly good stuff and
Tue Oct 15, 2019, 12:47 AM
Oct 2019

not too expensive. But we also have cable for news and weather, basic cable.

yellowdogintexas

(22,256 posts)
38. We have a ROKU and subscribe to all three.
Sun Dec 29, 2019, 03:01 PM
Dec 2019

Hulu is fun for me because of the currently running programs; after the episode runs on the network it will show up on Hulu within a few days. I keep up with Gray's Anatomy, Law & Order SVU, Amsterdam, Manifest as well as several shows not on the other two that drop as an entire season, or are finished and the whole series is there. I have the cheapest one and do not find the commercials as annoying as on the actual network since they do not come on every 10 minutes.
Hulu has reorganized their site, so if you have not been there for a while you may find it easier to navigate. On your "my stuff" section, it will show if you have new episodes and tell you if you are all caught up.

They have some good original programming also.

My husband and I watch Netflix and Prime together quite often. Lately we have been watching Witcher and (finally!) Outlander which has dropped the first 3 seasons to Netflix from Starz. It seems that Prime has a nice assortment of Canadian shows that we enjoy (highly recommend Corner Gas! It is our favorite kind of show: out of the ordinary setting, quirky characters, ridiculous events. Very funny - it is the most popular comedy to ever run on CBC We currently have HBO Now on Prime but we are planning to drop it for a while and pick up something else, probably Acorn.

Danascot

(4,690 posts)
43. One annoying thing about Prime
Thu Oct 14, 2021, 10:17 AM
Oct 2021

Is that there is an additional rental fee for a lot of their content. You find something you want to watch only to find out you have to pay an additional $4 for a movie or $20 for a series season.

In addition there are seemingly endless add-on channels like Starz, Showtime, Cinemax, etc that require an additional monthly fee.

There's some great stuff available but the $120/year for Prime membership is only the beginning.

This isn't an issue with Netflix.

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