There are numerous Netflix alternatives out there and we’re here today to find the best out of the bunch. I mean, Netflix is a great streaming service. It really is. But, what if you want something different? Something maybe a bit cheaper, free, or with a different selection of movies and shows? So, let’s check out some alternative options.
1: Best Netflix Alternatives For a Subscription: Amazon, Hulu, And HBO
Amazon, Hulu, and HBO are by far the most popular streaming services aside from Netflix. Obviously, most of us already know about them. But, still, we thought that mentioning them is good for starters who are just now getting into streaming. And if you haven’t heard about them, now is your chance to check them out!
First of all, there is Amazon Prime Video which offers a great collection of movies and TV shows like Aquaman, Captain Marvel, Game of Thrones (Along with an HBO sub) and many, many more. The great thing about it is that it goes hand to hand with Amazon Prime which means that you won’t have to pay for two separate services.
Then there is Hulu which has a wide variety of shows to watch from – especially if you include the add-ons that you can use like HBO, Showtime, and more. The only downside of it is that their Android app doesn’t play well with certain devices and that can be an issue. Especially if you consider that more than 60% of people nowadays prefer browsing with their smartphones.
Last, but not least, there is HBO. This is the streaming the service that offers two of the most popular exclusive shows out there:
- Game of Thrones
- Chernobyl
Exclusives are obviously not exactly a good thing for us, the consumers, but just saying. Prices are not going to be mentioned cause they can wildly differ from region to region.
Best Free Netflix Alternatives: Showbox, Popcorn Time, And Kodi
Not everybody is able or willing to pay for a subscription. Thankfully, there are quite a few Netflix alternatives that are also completely free to use.
Now, some of them are a bit shady and maybe even dangerous for your device’s health, viruses and such, while others, up to a certain point, are completely safe and legal to use. Let’s shart with Showbox.
Showbox is completely free and allows you to watch almost every show and movie that’s out there. However, it has 2 series downsides:
- Only available for Android
- No official source as of yet
The first downside is somewhat of a problem for PC users and for those who want to watch their shows on a bigger screen. Not really a huge deal. However, the second downside can even prove to be dangerous. After all, download the app from the wrong source and you may get infected with adware or something even worse.
Popcorn Time is a bit more popular and is available for computers as well. While it has a rather big collection of shows and movies, it’s also considered illegal in numerous countries.
Piracy is commonly nothing to be afraid of. But, if you are living in the wrong country and at the wrong time, you’re risking getting fined or even going to jail. More on that later on.
Last, but not least, Kodi. Kodi, by default, offers quite a number of legitimate and legal sources to watch numerous videos. Now, if you want to move on to more questionable add-ons, then that’s your call to make.
Basically, Kodi allows you to use 3rd party sources and that, in turn, makes it practically possible to get all the shows and movies in the world for free. Just not legally. Again, Kodi, by default, is completely legitimate and legal. The 3rd party add-ons are the ones that are questionable.
Consider Using a VPN
Some of the above-mentioned services, including Kodi and Showbox, are considered illegal in numerous countries. Well, to be more precise, Kodi isn’t considered illegal as it is, but that’s a topic for another day.
Usually, pirating movies and shows isn’t something that will get you punished. However, some countries are known for being strict for such matters. Germany is one of the few that can fine you or even send you to prison for piracy.
So, are you going to take the risk? Why not use a VPN? VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It’s a kind of software which conceals your identity and also whatever it is that you’re doing on the Internet from any prying eyes.
That includes your ISP and even the government. Obviously, if you’re going to do something that’s considered highly illegal, then no VPN provider is going to try and hide you from the government/police.
However, for the rest of us normal folk who just want a bit of privacy and security, a VPN is a great solution. Most of them are extremely cheap while there are also a few free choices. We’d recommend against the latter, but, that’s a topic for another day.
There are plenty of choices out there, but ExpressVPN is the one that we’re going to recommend. After all, it has a long-standing reputation for being fast, reliable, affordable, and secure.
So, all things considered, do seriously think about installing a VPN.
Get ExpressVPN From The Official Website
Honorable Mentions
All the services that we mentioned above are some of the most widely known Netflix alternatives, but there’s much more to it than that. Here are some other streaming services that deserve a bit of attention as well:
- HooqMubi
- Fandor
- Crackle
- Hotstar
- Filmstruck
- Sling TV
- Tubi TV
- YouTube
- Pluto TV
- Showtime
- Pureflix
- Pocorn Flix
- Viewster
- Snag Films
Yes, YouTube is also included. While it’s clearly far from having the biggest collection of shows and movies, you can still find a few stuff there. For example, The Red Pill is only available on YouTube at the moment.
That’s all for now. If you’ve got any other Netflix alternatives to recommend, then let us and everyone else know about them in the comments section down below!