The film industry has changed beyond all recognition in recent years, as has the way we all watch television. Technological advances coupled with societal shifts mean that our viewing habits have evolved, and while this has meant a marked increase in visual content, it’s also complicated matters a tad.
In the past, all relevant channels would have been associated with a specific overall subscription, but now the number of streaming services continues to grow, and it’s a real project to locate those which will prove the most relevant to your viewing habits and that of your family.
When trying to work your way around this streaming maze, it’s helpful to take on board essential info provided by the comparison of movie streaming services made by sites that have all the in-depth information you’ll need to make an informed decision.
What to Look for in a Family-Friendly Streaming Service
There are a few aspects to take into account when selecting a streaming service that works for your family’s needs.
The size of the library of content is important as kids can be voracious and picky, and the cost of the basic elements is also important. Some services appear to be very inexpensive, and then you start to realize that this is a little misleading because you’ll need to upgrade to open up new content or remove ads, so do your research.
As this search for streaming services is with kids in mind, you’ll want a provider that offers effective parental control, especially if the service you sign-up with also offers adult entertainment.
Each of the leading streaming services have something specific to offer which makes them stand out from the crowd, and to help you further, here is a look at the five best options to consider.
Netflix
Clearly, Netflix needs no introduction. They are arguably the most popular and leading streaming service out there and offer a vast range of shows and movies, including their own productions, some of which have triumphed at the Academy Awards.
There are some downsides, though, like the price, which isn’t the cheapest around, but the size of their library is huge and is constantly being updated with new titles. Their mobile app is also top-rate, and that could be handy if someone in your family prefers to watch that way.
There is no free trial, and it’s worth noting that the content changes as per your geographical location, and that sometimes means you can’t access top shows and movies, which can be a bit of a pain.
Disney+
This streaming service is pretty much ideal for those with younger families, not just because of the Disney titles that are resplendent but also for the associated content, including Pixar movies, Marvel movies, and every Star Wars-related project you can think of.
It’s perfect for young children also, and you can download it to as many as ten devices, which works well for those with large families. Again, no free trial, and there is less of interest for adults but still a good solid base of classics to take their interest.
There is also the option to bundle up with other streaming services that are connected to the Disney brand.
Amazon Prime
With over 20,000 titles, Amazon Prime is big. It’s obviously useful for those who want cheap or free delivery, as that will be part of most packages. You also have the option of a 30-day free trial, which will, in all likelihood, be enough for you to consider keeping your subscription going.
This brings with it a decent amount of family-friendly content but perhaps less than the first two streaming services we’ve listed.
Also, quite a lot of additional content requires having to pay for add-ons, but a major plus is the excellent mobile app.
Paramount Plus
This streaming service offers a wide range of family-friendly content, including all the classics like SpongeBob and Rugrats, to newer titles, including Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig, and basically anything Nickelodeon-related.
There is a lot of live-stream content, and this is a channel and service that is perfect for kids but perhaps less so for their parents. Essentially this is perfect for entertaining your children for hours on end, and the cost is relatively low when compared to others, and you might want to consider the ad-free Premium version for the best results.
Hulu
Hulu is perhaps the perfect place for families with tweens, and there is a lot of great content here for adults, including the latest episodes of your favorite shows. Additionally, we are big fans of the parental control aspect, which is very intuitive and effective.
What is also useful is the fact that Hulu can be easily accessed via other devices, such as Roku boxes and gaming consoles, which again makes things easier and frees up the TV for the grown-ups.
The costs are varied, but a basic package is just $5.99 a month, which is very low indeed when compared with the competition.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, it is important to consider the pros and cons of every service out there, and worth noting the new options that appear seemingly every month or two.
Additionally, don’t feel compelled to stick around. If a streaming service is poor and isn’t living up to its billing, move on to another that will hopefully hit the spot.
There is no compunction to remain with a streaming provider, and in some cases, you may indeed choose to sign up with more than one, just so long as the financial impact of doing so doesn’t overstretch your budget.
