Film & TV

Here's Your Guide to the Best Streaming Services for 2020

Disney+, Quibi, and Prime, oh my! We broke them all down to help you navigate the increasingly crowded field of streaming.

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Once upon a time, there were like, three streaming services. The good old days, if you will. At some point, a host of entertainment companies tried to cash in on the fun, and by mid-2020, there will be at least nine streaming services to pick from. With Disney+ and Apple TV+ having both launched in November and several others coming in the new decade, it's safe to say that there's now a whole world of on-demand content beyond Netflix and Hulu.

Overwhelmed yet? Fear not, as we at L’Officiel USA have done the work for you. Below is a breakdown of the streaming service options, including pricing and highlights. You’re welcome. 

HBO Max
HBO Max

One of the much anticipated new streaming services to come is HBO Max. Set to be released in May 2020, the service will contain cherished TV series like Friends and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, as well as popular HBO originals like Euphoria and Big Little Lies. For $14.99/month (or free for some AT&T and DirecTV customers), you’ll also get access to the new Gossip Girl reboot and HBO’s collection of movies. 

Netflix

Ah, Netflix. Old reliable. A lot of beloved binge content will be leaving our OG streaming service, but there are still a ton of good options. We’ll have the Netflix Original series we’ve come to love like Stranger Things and The Crown, and Golden Globe-nominated movies like The Irishman and Marriage Story. The standard Netflix subscription is $12.99/month, which allows for two screens at once. For $15.99/month, you get up to four screens. 

Netflix
Peacock
Peacock

NBC’s new streaming is set to come alive in April of 2020. It’ll have NBC’s hit shows—the ones you currently binge-watch on Netflix—like Parks and Recreation in October of 2020 and The Office starting in January 2021. We don’t know yet how much it’ll cost, but we know it’ll be free and ad-supported for some customers (Comcast, Sky, and NBC Universal pay-TV). Everyone else can subscribe to Peacock separately. 

Apple TV+

Apple TV+ came in hot when it debuted at the beginning of November, releasing much-hyped original shows like Dickinson (Hailee Steinfeld!), The Morning Show (Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon!), and See (Jason Momoa and Sylvia Hoeks!). Apple TV+ is $4.99/month or free for a year if you purchase certain Apple devices, and is ad-free. 

Apple TV+
Disney+
Disney+

Disney+ had the upper hand from birth by bringing subscribers all of their favorite Disney classic movies. Even still, Disney+ is proving to be a valiant competitor by releasing new shows like The Mandalorian (who doesn’t love Baby Yoda) and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. We also can’t wait for them to release the Lizzie McGuire reboot. Disney+ is $6.99/month, or free for one year for certain Verizon customers. 

Quibi

Coming in April of 2020, Quibi is slightly different from the other streaming services on this list in that it’s largely for short-form mobile video content. It’ll feature new shows like Chrissy’s Court, featuring everyone’s favorite Chrissy Teigen, as well as Kill the Efrons, starring Zac Efron and his brother, Dylan. Quibi will be $4.99/month with ads, or $7.99 without. 

Quibi
Hulu
Hulu

Another one of the well-established streaming services, Hulu also has some great original content to watch, including crowd favorites like The Handmaid’s Tale, Looking for Alaska, and The Act. For $5.99/month, you can get the basic membership that includes ads, or for $11.99 you can watch ad-free. Hulu also has options that include live TV from $44.99/month. You can also bundle a Hulu subscription with Disney+ and ESPN+ for $12.99/month, which is good news for anyone who wants to try out multiple platforms without paying practically as much as they would for cable.  

Amazon Prime Video

Prime Video isn’t new, but it has recently made its way into the mainstream of streaming services with hit original shows like Fleabag, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Modern Love. A major plus is that it’s free with your Amazon Prime account. If you don’t have a Prime account, you can purchase a subscription for $8.99/month.

Amazon Prime Video

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