We all love getting lost into the movie and TV show world especially after a week or day of working. Not only is it entertaining but also a way of bonding with our family.
However, this fun turns into frustrations when you can’t find something interesting to watch or when you end up scrolling through the same old titles that you’ve already watched.
At this point, you need to start considering other options such as subscribing to a streaming service. The good news is there are plenty of streaming services to choose from.
The bad news is choosing the best streaming service can be hard since you’re spoilt with options.
Your choice, more often than not, depends on what kind of content you (or your family) are into. Fortunately, most of the streaming services offer a mixed bag of content. There are also those that are niche-specific in their offerings.
Netflix Australia Overview
Price: $9.99 per month (basic) / $13.99 (standard) / $19.99 (premium)
Max. Screens: 1 (basic) / 2 (standard) / 4 (premium)
Content: Movies, TV series, Documentaries
Free trial: N/A
Almost everyone knows Netflix and while it may not be the best streaming service, it sure is the most popular worldwide. The service offers a plethora of TV shows and movies in its Australian library. However, in comparison with other libraries such as Netflix US and Netflix UK, our Australian library lags.
Even so, it has some interesting TV shows and movies that’ll keep you occupied during your leisure time. Some of the Netflix originals include The Witcher, Altered Carbon, Ozarks, and Stranger Things that have all performed well. Other titles that may interest you include Fargo, Peaky Blinders, The Originals, and Suits. It is compatible with almost all devices and often comes pre-equipped in smart TV sets and digital boxes. All you have to do is subscribe to any of the package that suits you.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the common streaming service available in Australia. Hopefully, you’ll find one that suits your needs because they are all good Netflix alternatives.
Best Netflix Australia Alternatives
Stan
Price: $10 per month (basic plan) / $14 (standard plan) / $17 (premium plan)
Max. Screens: 1 (basic) / 3 (standard) / 4 (premium)
Content: Movies, Television series, Documentaries
Free trial: 30 days
Launched in 2015, Aussie-based streaming service Stan has sure come a long way. It is not only one of the budget-friendly services but also one of the best in terms of content. Stan offers different plans each with varying streaming ability and quality. You can see my full stan vs netflix comparison here.
The platform has broadcasting rights to popular hit shows such as Billions, Preacher, Community, and Better Call Saul in Australia. Originals from Stan include film series Wolf Creek and Romper Stomper.
Stan has had a good run since its debut a feat that has made it Netflix’s biggest rival in Australia. Through its partnership with Showtime, the platform’s subscribers can stream ongoing TV shows when they air. Stan also has partnerships with Hulu and Disney.
10 All Access
Price: $9.99 per month
Max. Screens: 3
Free trial: 30 days
Content: Movies, TV series, Documentaries
CBS’s 10-All Access is a streaming platform that was born out of an acquisition deal between CBS and Network 10. The platform’s library features a blend of shows from the original services such as MacGyver and The Bachelor Australia. The input from Network 10 means you’ll find your favourite shows here as well as new ones from CBS. The platform also features Christian content for the religious folk.
Some of the best originals include Twilight Zone and The Good Fight. Movies and TV shows include NCIS, Everybody Hates Chris and The Late Show with James Corden.
Amazon Prime Video
Price: $6.99 per month
Max. Screens: 3
Content: Movies, TV series, Documentaries
Free trial: 30 days
Amazon’s streaming offering also known as Prime Video has been around for some time. The platform has even added to its interesting catalogue in the recent past. Note that to subscribe to Amazon Prime Video you’ll need to create an account with Amazon. The streaming service offers a 30-day free trial period so you can test it before committing.
Prime Video is compatible with several devices including gaming consoles (PS 3 & 4 and Xbox One), smart TVs, phones, and tablets as well. Some of the best originals you can enjoy include The Boys and The Expanse which star actors Karl Urban and Frankie Adams respectively. Other shows you’ll find here are Downtown Abbey, American Gods, The Grand Tour, The Shield, and Seinfield.
Apple TV+
Price: $7.99 per month
Max. Screens: 6
Content: Movies, TV series
Free trial: 7 days; and 1 year free with Apple device purchase
California-based giant tech company Apple is the latest layer to join the streaming arena. The company’s offering Apple TV+ made its debut in November 2019 and goes for AUD $7.99/month. Big names associated with the platform include Justin Lin, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Aniston, and Reese Witherspoon.
Unlike most of the other streaming platforms, when Apple TV+ debuted it offered only Apple originals. There has been recent news suggesting that Apple plans to license TV and movie content from other content holders in an attempt to bring in more users.
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The service is also not available to Windows and Android users although the company announced it was planning to extend its services to other devices. Currently, it’s compatible with Apple devices (iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TV), Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung/LG smart TV, and PCs.
Apple continues to put more effort into making its originals successful. Here you can enjoy titles such as Amazing Stories, Morning Wars, See, Mythic Quest, The Banker, and Truth be told.
Disney+
Price: $8.99 per month
Max. Screens: Up to 4 at a time
Content: Movies, TV series
Free trial: 7 days
Disney+ is an on-demand streaming service run by the DTCI Company that is a subsidiary of media and entertainment conglomerate Walt Disney. The platform features a wide range of Disney content such as popular sitcom The Simpsons. It also has some titles from Fox, National Geographic, Marvel, Pixar, and many more. The company recently released a Star War series The Mandalorian that has so far done well.
Disney+ made entry into the Aussie market in November 2019. You can subscribe to the service for $8.99/month or $89.99 for the annual plan. Here are some of the titles you can watch: Loki, Avengers Endgame, Toy Story, The Star Wars collection, Frozen II, and The Lion King.
Foxtel Now
Price: $25 per month (basic) / $104 per month (All Packs)
Max. Screens: 2
Free trial: 10 days
Content: Movies, TV series, Documentaries, Sports, International Channels
If you’re into HBO TV shows, Foxtel Now is the perfect streaming service for you. It is the only platform licensed to offer HBO shows in Australia. This internet TV service is owned by parent company Foxtel. It first launched back in 2013 as Foxtel Play before rebranding to Foxtel Now.
The service is more encompassing than other services as it brings you content from the movie niche to the sports niche. It is compatible with several devices although the resolution available varies depending on the device.
It has an ambiguous pricing structure where pricing varies depending on the packages you want to subscribe to. Catch popular action/drama-packed shows such as Game of Thrones, Veep, The Sopranos, Westworld, and Chernobyl. Foxtel Now provides you with an option to complement your content with add-on packs each with different pricing.
Kayo
Price: $25 per month (basic) / $35 per month (premium)
Screens: 2 (basic) / 3 (premium)
Content: Live sport, Documentaries
Free trial: 14 days
Here is a streaming service for sports lovers in Australia. Kayo brings you all the sporting activity happening around you through its partnerships with BeIN Sports, Fox Sports, and ESPN. What’s more, it comes with extra features such as hide score and split-screen which allow you to watch four sports at the same time.
The service is almost unrivaled as only Foxtel Now offers sports with players such as Stan and Netflix choosing to stay away from the sports niche. On the downside, it is expensive and sometimes doesn’t stream all the games. That said, it is a good option if you’re into sports. Some of the leagues you can follow include A-League NFL, NBA, Rugby World Cup, and UFC.
What are the streaming services in Australia?
It wasn’t long before other streaming platforms threw their nets into the Aussie market after Netflix in 2015. Streaming has grown to become a popular and convenient way of watching TV notwithstanding our questionable internet connection. Streaming is also considerably cheaper and you get the freedom to choose what you like.
5 years down the line, we now have several options to choose from each with their features and content. Netflix remains to be arguably the most popular in the bunch with others such as Stan, Prime Video, 10-All Access, Foxtel Now, Kayo, Apple TV+, Hayu, and Disney+ following closely.
Conclusion
There are other streaming services in Australia such as Binge, Hayu, iWonder, and Tubi TV. Most, if not all, offer a free-trial period. It is best to use this trial to check out the streaming services and find one that suits you.