In the early days of video streaming services, your choice was simple: Get Netflix. It's more complicated now, with Netflix battling other well-known subscription services, such as Amazon Prime and Hulu, as well as with upstarts including Acorn and Mubi.
These services make sense for people who watch a lot of shows and movies, and for fans of original series. But there's a better option for households that don't watch a great deal of TV—buying one movie at a time through a pay-per-view service such as Amazon Video, CinemaNow, FandangoNow, or Vudu.
It can be difficult to untangle your choices. This chart of the major video streaming and pay-per-view services should help. We'll be adding new services as they emerge, so keep checking back. (We also have information on the best streaming devices.)
Subscription Services
Pay-Per-View Services
Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the June 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
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