Price: �5.99
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Video streaming is a part of daily life now but are you trying to decide between Netflix and Amazon services? Here's our Netflix vs Amazon Prime Instant Video review. See also: 9 best media streamers UK.
Before we continue, it's worth pointing out that Amazon Prime Instant Video used to be called LoveFilm Instant. Amazon LoveFilm still lives on as the DVDs and Blu-rays by post part of Amazon Prime. However, this article is about streaming so we're looking at Prime Instant Video only. See also: What is Amazon Prime Instant Video? What happened to LoveFilm?
Netflix vs Amazon Prime Instant Video: Price
There are a few free streaming services around but you'll have to pay for the privilege of both Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video. Each offers a 30-day trial so we strongly suggest utilising these as a way of seeing which one you prefer. If your pockets are deep enough you can, of course, sign up to both.
When it was called LoveFilm, Amazon's service was once cheaper than Netflix but now they are both £5.99 per month. Anyone paying £79 per year for Amazon Prime get Amazon Prime Instant Video included at no extra cost.
Netflix has confirmed that it is rising its price in the UK to £6.99 per month for new members. At the time of writing, this has not come into effect so we suggest getting signed up as existing Netflix users will get the price locked at £5.99 for the next two years.
A key difference is that everything you see on Netflix is available to stream. However, only Prime Instant Video content with a 'Prime' banner in included. Other content is available to buy or rent via Amazon Instant Video (not Prime). We'll explore this in more detail in the content section.
Winner: Draw
Netflix vs Amazon Prime Instant Video: Devices
To access streaming services, you're going to need a compatible internet connected device to do it on. Netflix andAmazon Prime Instant Video can be accessed on a range of different devices such as Smart TVs, consoles, smartphones, tablets and dedicated media streamers. See also: Amazon Fire TV Stick vs Chromecast vs Roku Streaming Stick.
We've put a table together below to show you the compatibility of each service (support may be limited to certain models, especially for TVs and Blu-ray players). Aside from the device listed below, Netflix andAmazon Prime Instant Video can be used via a web browser on aPC or laptop, whether or not they are connected to an external display like a monitor or TV.
Netflix
Amazon Prime Instant Video
Smart TV
Sony, Samsung, Sharp, LG, Philips, Panasonic
Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic
Games Console
Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, Wii, Wii U
Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, Wii, Wii U
Tablet
Android, iPad
iPad, Kindle Fire
Smartphone
Android, iPhone, Windows Phone
Amazon Fire Phone, Android, iPhone
Blu-ray player
Sony, Samsung, LG, Philips, Panasonic
LG, Samsung, Sony
Home cinema system
LG, Sony
LG, Samsung, Sony
Set-top box
Sony, YouView
Samsung, Sony
Media streamer
Apple TV, Philips, Roku, Western Digital, Virgin Media, Google Chromecast
Amazon Fire TV
As you can see from the table, Netflix has a superior amount of support for devices despite Amazon adding key support such as Android. The additional support on affordable media streamers puts it out in front.
For full list of devices and models check Netflix and Amazon.
Winner: Netflix
Netflix vs Amazon Prime Instant Video: Movies and TV shows content
Price and device compatibility is all well and good, but they mean nothing if there isn't anything good to watch. Netflix andAmazon Prime Instant Video offer films and TV shows, plus exclusive/original content which you won't find on rival services.
The content available on Netflix is ever changing with new titles being added but also things being taken away too. What we can say, is that the content is good quality across the board but you will have to wait a little while before new releases are added.
See: How to watch US Netflix in the UK.
Amazon touts 50,000 titles in its store but only 15,000 'films and tv episodes' (note that invidual episodes are being counted) are available for the monthly subscription. See below for comparative figures.
Content such as Game of Thrones, Hunger Games Catching Fire and Boardwalk Empire require you to buy or rent them via Instant Video (note how Game of Thrones doesn't have the Prime banner but Sherlock does). Essentially newer content isn't accessible for your monthly fee.
Netflix
LoveFilm
Film titles
6,874
2,665
TV titles
2,917
1,150
Statistics via Amazon Prime Instant Video and InstantWatcher (26/01/14).
Those figures show you just how much content there is available on each streaming service, and remember they are always changing – content is both added and removed just like BBC's iPlayer.
As you can see, Netflix has a lot of content on offer and although Amazon offers pay per view, we're comparing what's included for your monthly fee here so Netflix comes out on top with its vast catalogue.
Winner: Netflix
Netflix vs Amazon Prime Instant Video: Summary
It's a very close fight between these two heavy weights of the streaming industry. If you can afford both then you will get the best of both worlds but if you can't then your decision should come down to what device(s) you want to watch on and what content you want to watch. Make use of those free trials to discover which you prefer.
FollowChris Martinand@PCAdvisoron Twitter.
Buying Advice
Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video both cost �5.99 per month so there's no difference here. However, with more supported devices and a better range of content, Netflix is our winner for best streaming service.
