Netflix vs. Amazon Prime Video is one of the longest-lasting debates among both avid streamers and casual movie buffs. The two powerhouses of online movie and TV streaming both contain and produce a number of titles. But which is better? Grab your favorite popcorn and get ready for our Netflix vs. Amazon Prime Video showdown as we explore several factors, including the TV/movie catalog, pricing, content availability, and more for both platforms.
Netflix vs. Amazon Prime Video Movies and TV
Probably the most important thing to compare is the actual size and quality of both services’ catalogs of movies and TV. After all, if you are not interested in what’s offered, then neither service is worth paying for.
If this were a pure numbers game, then Amazon Prime would be the winner, with a total of over 20,000 movies and TV shows available to watch on its service in the United States (as of November 2022). Netflix, by contrast, only has only 17,000 titles that are available to watch in the U.S. (as of October 2022).
But these numbers don’t tell the full story. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video license hundreds of thousands of titles per month, yet only a small fraction of those movies and TV shows are available in each region where both platforms are offered. Since content licensing deals are continuously expiring and renewing across a number of regions, it is difficult to pin down exact figures as far as available content.
Do you know: You can download Netflix’s movies and watch it on the go without any need of Internet connection.
Out of Prime’s movies that are available across the globe, many of them are “Not Rated,” which often means that a film is too obscure to have received ratings from the MPAA. Note that it is challenging to determine exactly how many unrated movies are available on Amazon Prime Video worldwide, since the content available on the streaming service varies greatly by region and the overall catalog is constantly changing. Additionally, not all movies that are unrated are explicitly marked as such on Amazon Prime Video, making it difficult to accurately count the exact number of unrated titles.
A movie that is marked as unrated can also indicate that the film is far too explicit, even for the censors, but that’s relatively rare. There is much – to put it mildly – low-quality filler on Amazon Prime Video. Netflix doesn’t have a single unrated movie in its catalog, which suggests there’s a little more quality control going on there. Amazon Prime Video offers a number of blockbuster TV shows and movies including The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, House of Gucci, The Hunger Games franchise, The Boys, and The Wolf of Wall Street.
Meanwhile, Netflix hosts other television favorites including Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad, Stranger Things, The Crown, and BoJack Horseman, which occasionally stars famed character actress Margo Martindale. Netflix also offers a handful of recent box office hits including Where the Crawdads Sing and Sing 2. Netflix Originals, a term used to describe content that is produced and hosted by Netflix, have declined in quality considerably within recent years. If you do happen to find a newer film that you would like to watch, it is a good idea to add the film to your watch list right away, since Netflix’s content deals never seem to last very long.
With tons of fantastic content both old and new on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, it’s hard to declare a true winner in terms of which platform has the strongest content. However, Amazon’s fairly recent acquisition of the streaming service known as Freevee means that true cinephiles are more likely to find even the most obscure and quirky content on Amazon Prime Video.
Netflix vs. Amazon Prime Video Pricing and Streaming Quality
With Netflix, the payment model is pretty simple. There are four tiers of Netflix price plans including Basic, Basic with Ads, Standard, and Premium. Here is the breakdown at a glance:
Netflix Pricing
- Basic with Ads: $6.99/month (find out more about the limitation of this price plan)
- Basic: $9.99/month
- Standard: $15.49/month
- Premium: $19.99
Netflix’s Basic with Ads tier notably limits video quality. At just 720p, content is far from high definition and well-below modern streaming quality standards for even the lowest-end smartphones and TVs. To make matters worse, Netflix does not allow downloads for offline viewing under its entry-level plan. Another major win for Amazon Prime Video is that it allows crystal-clear streaming up to 4K quality even under its most affordable standalone plan.
Tip: Find out how you can save money on your Netflix subscription.
Amazon Prime Video Pricing
The pricing structure for Amazon Prime Video is a little less straightforward compared to Netflix. However, for those who are already somewhat heavily invested in the Amazon ecosystem of products and services, Amazon clearly offers more cost effective solutions for content streaming. Here is the pricing breakdown at a glance:
- Amazon Prime Video (Standalone): $8.99/month
- Amazon Prime (Bundles all Amazon Services): $14.99/month or $139/year
- Amazon Prime Student (Bundles all Amazon Services): $7.49/month or $69/year
You can access the Prime Video library for $8.99/month as a standalone service. Alternatively, for $14.99 per month (or $139/year), you can become an Amazon Prime member which includes lighting fast Amazon package delivery, access to a large library of eBooks with Kindle Unlimited, Twitch Prime (which often includes free games) and Prime Music (a streaming service comparable to Spotify).
Amazon Prime Video works out to be a great value for the money as part of a broader Amazon Prime subscription, especially for students. However, if you’re not likely to use those extra Prime benefits, then Netflix’s catalog is arguably stronger and more heavily curated.
With Amazon Prime Video, users can stream up to three titles at the same time using the same Amazon account, or the same title to no more than two devices at a time. By contrast, Netflix allows subscribers to stream up to four titles at the same time using the same Netflix account, or the same title to no more than four devices at a time, but you will have to subscribe to Netflix’s Premium tier to do so.
Good to know: Unlike Netflix, Amazon Prime Video offers a 30-day free trial for new Amazon Prime members. Netflix does not offer a free trial for any of its plans.
Netflix vs. Amazon Prime Video Navigation and Availability
In terms of browsing libraries, neither service makes it terribly convenient to search by exact title. Netflix just about edges ahead, by allowing you to type in the films, genres, or the actors that you’re looking for, but you will have to navigate through a handful of suggested titles before Netflix offers up the exact one that you are searching for. A little known method is to make use of these code to access some of its secret categories.
With no way to search by episode title, Amazon Prime Video’s anemic search engine makes locating your favorite shows needlessly difficult. With that being said, Amazon Prime Video will for the most part have you doing more scrolling than searching in order to find the content that you are looking for.
Amazon Prime Video Device Compatibility
The Amazon Prime Video app is baked right into most smart TVs by default while other devices including smartphones, tablets, PCs, and gaming consoles may require you to login online via your browser or by using the Amazon Prime Video app. For Mac notebooks and desktops, that are powered by Apple Silicon, Amazon allows customers to run the iPad version of the Amazon Prime Video app on their Mac, for a more straightforward experience. The following devices offer a dedicated Amazon Prime Video app:
- Amazon Fire TV and select Kindle models
- Android Smartphones and TVs
- Apple TV
- Google Chromecast
- iPhone and iPad
- Macs with Apple Silicon
- Playstation
- Roku
- Most Smart TVs
- Xbox
Netflix Device Compatibility
With Netflix frequently going the extra mile to ensure dedicated app experiences for even the most niche platforms, including Nvidia Shield and the now ancient Nintendo Wii, it is safe to say that Netflix remains the superior choice for those looking to stream content on as many of their devices as possible. Here are the platforms where you will be able to access Netflix:
- Amazon Fire TV
- Android Smartphones and TVs
- Apple TV
- Google Chromecast
- iPhone and iPad
- Nintendo Wii
- Nvidia Shield
- Roku
- Most Smart TVs
- Playstation
- Xbox
The Winner
Considering the quantity, quality and pricing, Amazon Prime Video is easily the winner! While Netflix continues to produce award-winning TV shows and movies with more granular content filtering, Prime Video has its share of quality content as well along with an insanely large library. Netflix’s smaller selection definitely appears to be more curated, but Amazon Prime Video simply offers more to watch for less.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I log out of Netflix on my devices?
If you are signed in on too many devices at once, or maybe your ex is still making use of your Netflix account, Netflix may restrict your streaming availability until you sign out of some of your devices. You can follow our dedicated guide to learn how to sign out of Netflix on mobile, PC, and TV.
How do Netflix or Amazon Prime video compare to Disney+?
In addition to an almost endless list of timeless Disney classics, Disney+ offers a surprisingly wide range of content. If you are interested in seeing how Disney+ stacks up against other popular streaming services, including Netflix, you can discover what to expect when you sign up for Disney+.
Is Freevee still a free standalone service even though it is now owned by Amazon?
Yes. In fact, Freevee is included in our curated list of the top 100% legal streaming services that do not cost a dime. With the exception of a few exclusives and originals, you will notice that many of the same titles that you will find on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, can be found for free on a number of other platforms.
What benefits do Amazon Prime Video and Netflix offer?
Netflix now offers more than 40 standalone games that can be accessed using the login credentials for any Netflix account with an active subscription. While this strategy has done little to strengthen Netflix’s platform, Amazon Prime Video offers limited sports content as a bonus feature, including Thursday Night Football. The question is are you a gamer or a fan of the game?
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