Prime monthly vs Netflix?
7Amazon has announced two new, monthly versions of Prime, one for video streaming only, and for full benefits. For $8.99 or $10.99 will you take advantage? Can anyone offer a comparison between Netflix and Amazon streaming options?
For that matter, I think there are plenty of people that let VMP ride every month whether they use it or not, should meh offer discounted annual VMP?
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Also accepted, TV/movie watching gifs.
@KDemo
Is Amazon's Prime video library comparable to Netflix's? I always heard not. Dunno.
I use Prime for the shipping, with the other stuff as icing. I pay for Netflix also. There's various stuff on one and not the other.
@f00l I think Amazon's Prime library is generally older releases than what Netflix has but I could be wrong.
@f00l They seem to complement each other, one might have a series that the other does not.
@The_Baron @stardate820926 @f00l I generally prefer the content on Netflix, it's on AppleTV and the Prime app on our TV sucks, but I will put up with Prime for The Doctor (I think they're the only streaming service that currently carries it as part of a regular subscription; I know episodes can be bought on YouTube). And The Man in the High Castle is good.
@joelmw I have a FireTV, which works great for Prime. I know their apps for other devices suck.
I do like Netflix over Prime, far better content. I just seem to luck out on finding stuff on Prime that isn't available or fully there in Netflix or Hulu.
i.e. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is missing the last season on Netflix, Prime has the whole series. I think it was the same for Legend of Korra and The Last Air Bender, when I was watching those a while back. I can find most stuff between Hulu, Netflix, and Prime.
@joelmw looks like Doctor Who was just added back in last month. I binged on them when Amazon was losing it.
@KDemo as for other content, my wife finds it useful for kids' shows and music. Since we already pay for the shipping benefit, we don't bother with Netflix. If it's not on Prime Video, then tough luck for the kids.
Moreover, we have 2 more years of Prime because of the Fire Phone flop, where last year, you could spend the equivalent of a year of prime + $10 to get a pretty powerful smartphone.
@Odi Used to be on Netflix and, I think, Hulu too. For a little while I couldn't find it anywhere. My wife doesn't quite get Doctor Who, so I just watch an episode or two every week or two--ha, kinda like the old days. I'm on season 6. I think @christinewas has seen the whole thing twice.
@The_Baron Amazon Video (aka Prime; I'm still not sure what's up with that branding) actually works great on my iPhone and iPad, which I can connect via AirPlay, but the surround isn't complete. When we were working through The Man in the High Castle, we sometimes resorted to the mobile device (despite the limited sound, which I'm not ever sure my wife much notices) because it was that frustrating working with the TV's builtin app.
@joelmw With the exception of the most recent season (or two), I think I've seen the whole thing three times. Obviously more than that for some episodes.
I have had both Netflix and Prime for years. I don't think I could choose one over the other. They both offer outstanding original programming and their catalogs are different enough that I can always find something I want to watch. I do watch Netflix more than Prime but I think that's mostly because it's built in to our TV and we have one button access to it.
I wouldn't choose the streaming only option for Prime though as I do take advantage of 2-day shipping all the time.
Monthly Prime for the arithmetic-impaired, since the monthly basic rate for streaming is more than the $99/year for full Prime benefits.
I have both Netflix and (annual) Prime, and I like original programming on both. I usually search Netflix first, because sometimes programs are on both, but Amazon charges an added fee to watch. If it is on Netflix, there's never an additional fee.
I also check prices on Amazon, Hulu and Vudu for new releases, because they often charge different prices for the same thing. On Roku, it is easy to do a search on the main Roku page, which will tell you if something is available for streaming, where, and at what price.
@rockblossom These guys have an iPhone app that I like for finding where something's playing.
http://www.yidio.com/
So...can you get the monthly package and then binge watch and buy/ship a bunch of crap for 1 month then turn it off? Maybe alternate months?
@medz Sure. You could always do that with the regular Prime, too. Just turn off the auto-renewal.
... and - annual Prime and both monthly plans come with a free 30-day trial, so if you are going to turn off the auto-renewal and let it end after the trial period, it makes more sense to go with the full Prime rather than just the streaming bit.
@rockblossom I believe Amazon killed the "turn off auto-renew" option. (Unless they've since brought it back.)
And if you, like me, thought you'd be clever by pointing Prime to a credit card you knew to be expired - no joy. Amazon simply searched for an active card and applied the renewal to that card!?!
But if you contact customer service and ask them to manually turn off auto-renew, they'll oblige.
Wait, when did the Simpsons get a flat screen?
@zachdecker according to a reddit user, it was season 20, episode 10. Wikipedia says it was for the season 20 premiere when the show went to HD. Either way, it was 2009 :)
@stardate820926 Gads. So the Simpsons had a flat screen before I did!
I don't have much to add. I have the annual Prime and Netflix. I've found a few things on Prime that weren't on Netflix but if I had to just pick one, I'd go with Netflix. That monthly deal for Prime looks like a rip-off. But that's the high cost of being poor...better deal to buy annually.
I had Prime for a few years, and just picked up Netflix within the last year. If I had to choose, DEFINITELY would go with Netflix. For a while, I felt like I had watched everything I wanted to watch on Prime. Netflix opened up a whole new world that seems like it will never run dry.
http://www.businessinsider.com/netflixs-subscribers-most-loyal-of-its-competitors-2016-4 Here is an article fron Friday that will breakdown the popoularity of the top streaming services.
@growyoungagain But of course , my choice by a large margin is NETFLIX!!!
@growyoungagain - That really says it all, thanks!
I have both Netflix and Amazon Prime (annual). My biggest gripe with Prime video streaming is that even after paying a large annual fee you still have to pay an additional fee to watch certain shows or movies. Some of those same shows and movies are part of the package deal on Netflix, no additional fee required.
@TheTexasTwister But the reverse is also true. Some shows are free on Amazon Prime that aren't on Netflix at all.
@Collin1000 While this is true, Netflix does not present you with titles for which you must pay an additional fee to view it. Everything available on Netflix is part of their monthly fee.
With Amazon everything available is not part of Prime and it can feel like a cheat or a tease when you come across a great title only to find you have to pay an additional rental fee for each episode just to watch.
This is especially frustrating when it is available on Netflix or another service without that extra fee.
I have Hulu. Am I the only one who has Hulu?
@sammydog01 Kinda, but I encourage you to get Netflix this month before the price hike in May.
@sammydog01 I had a desktop client for recording streams from my roku. But it was very finicky and a resource hog. But it would stream and record free Hulu. I never did use it much. My TiVo will do the subscription for Hulu, plus a couple of other never-watched services. Matter of fact, I don't use my Rokus much as they are older and Roku doesn't support them very well.
@sammydog01
I have both hulu plus and Netflix. We use hulu for the shows we miss throughout the week and Netflix for our other tv watching needs. I like Netflix because of their awesome original shows! I do hate all the commercials that hulu has, and I'm too cheap to upgrade to the commercial free......
@sammydog01 I have Hulu and pay for the commercial free, seems to save a fair amount of time, so I can watch more TV. I'd go with Netflix over Prime.
@sammydog01 I have Hulu, since I'm more interested in watching what's currently running vs. binge-watching a past season, etc. I don't really think you get that with Netflix? Wouldn't mind Hulu's ads so much if they were less dumb… the targeting seems terrible (so I'm constantly watching ads for things I'll never need) and the stupid 'interactive' ads and 'which ad experience would you prefer?' garbage. Just show me the damned thing and get it over with.
@brhfl I have Hulu as well but I don't use it as often as the others. The only time I like their ad choices are when I can watch one long/interactive ad at the beginning of a show and then not have any more ads. I hate watching the same stupid ads every break.
@sammydog01 have had hulu since before anyone knew about it... I would say it gets my majority use due to the current shows (with NO commercials!!! whoo hoo).
@growyoungagain Netflix lost me with their price hike that split DVD by mail and streaming. My wife and I were paying monthly and not using our benefits to the fullest (we only got 2-3 DVDs per month and streamed for a few hours), much like recently I've been letting VMP roll even when I don't buy anything.
On the other hand, we let Amazon Prime roll mainly because of the shipping benefit, and the Video/Music are a nice bonus.
I don't know about prime monthly but if you're a student, you get prime yearly for 50% off. Just something to consider if you're are in college or, by chance, have access to a .edu email...
@rsky is that all you need, an ID that ends in .edu?
@DMlivezey
Yeah. But no sharing. After 4 years, they cut most people off. Some people seem to be able to keep student prime forever, according to legend.
@rsky I tried to get a student id( until 4:00am) from both Ca.&Az. Colleges online. You have to provide everything ssn, birthdate, add, phone yada yada. I gave all fake stuff BUT!! you cannot get an email until after you're accepted. Colleges and Amazon got wise to the fake students. Even if you are a real student Amazon is giving 6mths freeBUT!! no movie, tv, music streaming. Buzzkill.
@growyoungagain
One you start paying the fee for student prime, you get the free video etc.
Consensus leans completely toward Netflix. I have had prime just for the past year since prime day last summer, I'll probably let it lapse and take advantage of monthly membership occasionally, as needed.
In other news, Comcast (at least in Western WA) is offering free premium channels this week. April 18 -24.
Brought to you by Goaty McGoatface. You're welcome!
One more vote for Netflix. I have both, and rarely use prime streaming. I like free 2 day shipping, and occasionally watch something.
I have all(?) 3 - Netflix, Prime, Hulu Plus.
I also don't have any TV service.
I find that they work quite well and, for the most part, compliment each other. Hulu Plus for current-season TV, Netflix for past seasons and movies, Amazon Prime for the stuff that Netflix doesn't have.
@Collin1000 I'm very tempted to put up an antenna and do the same. I'd miss HBO though, and I don't want to use "alternate means" to watch GoT and the Showtime shows.
@G1
You can subscribe to HBO without a cable or satellite setup. Dont even have to own a tv. Perhaps Showtime also.
@G1 I switched to hbo now when it came out, on cable I was paying 18 a month, on hbo now I pay 15 a month... AND I let it lapse when I am not interested, then turn it right back on when a series hits... without talking to a "cable representative" once... and I can use all the itunes gift cards I have gathered to pay for it too.
@G1 or get an account from friends or family and stream HBOGO.
We also have no cable, and I agree the 3 compliment each other.
You can get an HD antenna pretty cheap that you can just hide behind a picture near the TV, no need to mount an antenna, mileage depends on driving conditions and weather, if you're remote instead of urban, maybe not so much on the indoor flat panel antenna...
@DMlivezey and ya know OTA hd is so pretty, makes cable and sat hd seem flimsy bitrate wise...
@Collin1000 I just have an OTA antenna for broadcast channels plus streaming. I can pay for a lot of streaming channels for half what I would pay for cable, even if cable were an option in my very rural area.
@thismyusername Yah, the main digital Over The Air digital channels (2.1, 4.1, etc...) are prettier than cable or satellite but the sub-channels, not so much.
The amount of content probably tripled in our area with digital OTA and some of that content is actually desirable. But yikes, the way the local affiliates compress the sub-channels (2.2, 2.3, 2.4, etc...) to cram in more sub-channels - some of them are unwatchable on anything larger than a 20 inch TV. Quantity over Quality.
@Collin1000 -
No TV service? Where do you get your hyperbolic ridiculously biased 24-hour “news”?
@KDemo
I get my manic-addict 24 hour news channels by walking thru office building lobbies. All i need of cnn and fox.
Netflix's video library has shrunk by 1/3 since its peak size. For example, South Park is no longer available on Netflix.
I eagerly anticipate "a la carte" TV programming; I'm tired of paying so much for maybe 4 channels I watch. I don't want to subsidize sports. I have no interest in sports, except Chess Boxing.
@PocketBrain South Park is now on Hulu.
@PocketBrain chest boxing?
@PocketBrain
I thought the entire South Park library was free on Comedy Central?
Don't forget Clarkson, Hammond, and May's "Currently Unnamed Television Show" will only be available on Amazon.
I have Prime and Netflix. For my purposes, Netflix is the cheese shop sketch from Monty Python. I use Amazon a lot, but I pay per rental. One time I had the pleasant surprise of something free with my prime subscription, but that was literally once. Netflix I think had Napoleon Dynamite which I had to show someone once, I can't remember. Anyway.. they're both right on the verge of useless (for me).
@westownsend - So, the cat's eaten your programs? (Love the analogy).
@KDemo Either that, or they're potentially more runny than I might like
I just went cable free and picked up Sling TV. I have to remember when my shows are on because there's no on-demand, but I'm pretty excited that this is an option.
@sammydog01 I LOVE Sling TV.
@Barney Do you have any experience with only using it periodically?
I had been thinking of getting Sling TV just for ESPN during college football season. -Similar to how I subscribe to HBONow just for the Game of Thrones season.
@zachdecker Find yourself an Amazon Fire stick on sale somewhere. You can load the app for ESPN, and you get the full ESPN suite without having to show you have a cable provider. (Luckily in my case, because I don't.) It can be a little weird/balky at times, but it works.
@zachdecker Funny you should ask. I'm thinking about canceling Sling for the summer months when the weather is nice and I don't watch much TV. It looks like canceling will be pretty easy and Sling says that lots of people subscribe off and on. I'll let you know how the canceling part goes (and if another payment deduction shows up on my bank statement the next month
).
@rockblossom Thanks! Since they are relatively cheap, I figure this is worth trying. -I just ordered a Fire stick now, and will let you know the results.
@zachdecker A lot of the reviews on the ESPN app says it does not work. I loaded the app directly from the Fire stick (in the area for apps) and it has always worked just fine for me. I just checked it and it is still working fine. I would really like to know if you have any problems with it.
@sammydog01 @barney We dropped Sling in February, after the NFL season ended. (Mostly had it for ESPN and HGTV.) Im hoping to subscribe again in the fall.
We didn't have any issues when we dropped it, so I think it will be a great temporary option.
@christinewas Thanks for letting us know this. I guess I'm feeling a little burned by a lot of companies lately. I'm glad to know that this is one of the good 'uns.
@Barney Right now Sling will send you a free Roku 2 or Fire Stick with 3 months pre-paid. I needed one of those anyway so it's like a 3 month free trial.
@christinewas ESPN was my husband's biggest hang-up about dropping cable so Sling is awesome! And I get to keep AMC which is great too.
@sammydog01 That's a great deal.
@sammydog01 some channels have on demand... just do DOWN ARROW twice when looking at the guide for the channel.
AMC has a few on demands and some channels (history, etc) have a giant library. Also the movie channels usually have on demand.
Also if you find slings offerings lacking, and you own a Playstation 3 or 4 or a FireTV device check out sonys new slingtv competition PS Vue... 55 channels for $30 a month WITH DVR functions for almost all channels.
https://www.playstation.com/en-us/network/vue
@thismyusername Thanks for pointing this out, awesome! I stayed up way too late watching The Night Manager and it's on demand. So I can go to bed earlier next week. Yay!
@rockblossom My Fire Stick arrived today, and sadly it doesn't seem to work with the ESPN app. I was hopeful that perhaps it would work with AT&T UVerse since the previous residents here had that (and my service TruStream is contracted through them).
Sadly I am still without free ESPN (at least via the Fire Stick
)
@zachdecker You used the WatchESPN app on the Fire stick and didn't try to load the ESPN app from Amazon? If that's the case, then DAMN! It was still working for new Fire sticks a couple of months ago, and mine still works fine. It has a "Powered by DirectTV" logo in the upper right corner, though I have never had Direct TV or any other satellite/cable hookup here.
So .. return the Fire stick and use Sling?
Added: Also try this on your PC/tablet/laptop/whatever
http://www.firstrows.tv/espn
AM Football (for instance) will show live streams
Anyone here subscribing to Uverse/cable just to get a better data deal? I have friends who do that.
@f00l sadly with the att promotion they kill off your hotspot service... so no go for me.
I have Netflix, Hulu, Prime, and HBO. Hulu is great for new shows and they have a nice Comedy Central Library but Hulu doesn't have very good movies and they're orgional programming stinks. Netflix has the overall best movies and binge-ability and a larger library than Prime. It also has the best origional programming. We have used Prime to watch several shows and movies but usually end up returning to one of the others as Prime can be a pain to search and the selection has been lessened by their add-on services. HBO has Game of Thrones.
Full Disclosure: We do not have cable.
@RedHot I like Deadbeat and The Path on Hulu.
I've had Netflix since when they mailed the movies to you. Amazon Prime for years. Only the free Hulu service though. They all fill a unique niche. Still cheaper than the cheapest cable.
On a side note. After 25 years of no cable I accepted a TV/Internet/phone package offer from Cox that was supposed to be less expensive than just the internet/phone service I've had for years. Turned out they lied (surprise!) and it cost a lot more when all their fees were added in. So cable TV is now gone, phone is now an Ooma, and if fiber ever get put in around here our internet will be switched. Cox lost a customer over this deal. BTW: We get 32 channels via our outside arial antenna. All HD too.
Side note #2: You do NOT get free shipping with prime. You get an upgrade to two day service. Compare non-prime prices to the prime prices and you'll see it.
@Mehrocco_Mole
Re prime, yeah. But still, addictive as heroin.