Best streaming service: Netflix vs. Vudu vs. Amazon Prime vs. Hulu

When you’re picking a streaming video service, so many questions pop up: how much does it cost? What movies does it have? Can you find current episodes of your favorite TV show, or are they all from past seasons? Is there an app, and how well does it work? The list goes on and on.

Probably one of the most frequently asked questions I get on my national radio show is, “Which streaming service has A&E, FoxNews, HGTV, or fill-in-the-blank?” It’s complicated.

The three big players right now are Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. Unlike network and public television, which have a lot of free streaming content, these are paid services with vast catalogs, original programs, and curated lists and recommendations.

All of these services have earned their stripes. So which service is best for you? We’ll look at Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu along with Vudu, an alternative to renting or buying movies on iTunes or Amazon. Here are the pros and cons of each.

Netflix

Price: $10.99 per month for HD streaming

Netflix is the king of the hill when it comes to on-demand video subscription services. It has moved well past its origins as a DVD-mailing company and now churns out tons of buzzworthy original content alongside a big collection of television shows and movies. It’s also easy to access. You can watch it with all sorts of streaming devices, including most TVs, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon’s new Fire TV Cube, tablets, and smartphones.

Netflix also reneged on its promise never to allow downloaded films, and now you can quickly stack your tablet with an incredible range of movies and shows. Netflix has mastered its format, and with acclaimed original series like "Glow" and "Stranger Things," you can access a myriad of exclusive material.

Speaking of Netflix, if you are wondering if a movie is free on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Playstation, or available to buy or rent on iTunes, there’s a fantastic site to figure it out. You just enter the title of what you want to watch, and the site does the heavy lifting telling where it is streaming free or paid.

Amazon Prime

Price: $119 per year

Amazon Prime Video is one big perk found in the larger Prime subscription package. Amazon has its share of original, exclusive shows, including "The Man in the High Castle" and "The Grand Tour," that sweeten the deal and make the yearly subscription cost (and its recent price hike) more palatable. Thanks to the film “Manchester by the Sea,” Amazon Studios also won an academy award. Who would have ever thought an internet commerce company would do that!

Prime Video is a formidable service, and it connects you to the broader universe of Amazon products, including Echo. You can also buy films and series or add entire networks, such as Showtime and HBO.

Hulu

Price: $7.99 per month

Hulu has been making steady progress in attracting subscribers. It isn’t as big as Netflix, but has gotten a boost from a move into original television shows, including an upcoming Stephen King-based series called “Castle Rock” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Hulu also has the most economical basic plan, at $7.99 per month.

Like Prime Video and Netflix, Hulu has its app, and the streaming quality holds its own. Hulu is also trying to cash in on the "offline" viewing market, allowing subscribers to download their content.

Vudu

Price: Per rental/purchase

Vudu is a dark-horse candidate when it comes to streaming. It's owned by Walmart and operates more like iTunes: you pay for what you want to watch. Rentals start at under a buck. There's no monthly fee, and Vudu boasts that it gets access to movies even earlier than services like Netflix and Redbox.

Vudu also offers a selection of movies that are free with the inclusion of ads. It’s hard to beat the price, but for content with commercials, Vudu’s appeal depends on your tolerance for interruptions.

So which service wins?

Like most service comparisons, there is no definite winner, because the “best” service depends on your interests.

Amazon Prime makes sense if you don't mind a lump investment, and you plan to take advantage of the other features, such as shipping, photo storage, and music.

Netflix is insanely popular because it offers a broad mix of programming alongside an ever-growing slate of original shows and movies. If you want access to Marvel superheroes in TV shows, this is the place to go. If you're only looking to subscribe to one streaming service, then Netflix is probably your best bet.

Hulu doesn’t quite have the depth of Netflix, but it’s still the go-to place to catch up on recent network shows. If that’s important to you, then take a close look at Hulu. The $7.99 plan, while cheaper than Netflix, comes with commercials. To dump the ads, you’ll need to move up to the $11.99 plan.

Vudu won’t take the place of a service like Netflix, but it may appeal to viewers looking for an a-la-carte alternative. If you already buy or rent your entertainment through iTunes or Amazon, then you may not feel the need to try Vudu, though it can still be worth checking out Vudu’s movie collection. You can always pick and choose what you want to pay for.

Pick and choose

There's a reason why many people subscribe to more than one service. You may have Prime mainly for the shipping and other perks but also subscribe to Netflix for the wider range of programming. Alternatively, perhaps you're a fan of a particular hit show on Hulu, but get the rest of your streaming fix from another source.

Just be sure to reevaluate your streaming subscriptions from time to time. If you’re not getting much use out of it, then cancel it and save yourself the money.