The best streaming services in 2025: How to choose between Netflix, Prime and Disney+

Streaming has never been bigger – or more confusing. In the years since Netflix first revolutionised how we consume film and TV, a whole host of rival platforms have launched to the point that it can now be difficult to know where to begin.

From Disney+ – which arrived for UK audiences in March 2020 – to Apple TV, which has amassed a highly impressive catalogue of original films and shows in a relatively time span, there really is a wealth of options.

But which is the best of the bunch? To answer that question, we’ve tested and compared the top streaming services available in the UK, breaking down price, the best shows and what kind of TV fan each one’s is suited to.

With the help of our comprehensive guide below, you'll be far better qualified to select the ideal streamer for you and your family's viewing needs.

Which streaming services are available in the UK?

• Amazon Prime Video: Budget-friendly all-rounder
• Apple TV: Big-budget dramas and kids' shows
• DAZN: Sports and boxing fans
• Disney+: Families and Marvel and Star Wars lovers
• Hayu: Reality TV fanatics
• ITVX: Bingers of British box sets
• Netflix: Binge-watchers, film lovers and fans of original content
• NOW: Prestige TV from Sky & HBO and those wanting blockbuster movies

Amazon Prime Video

Best for those looking for value on a budget

• Price: £8.99 per month or £95 annually (with half-price option available for students)
• Free trial: Yes – there is a 30 day free trial option
• Max resolution: 4k
• Streams: Up to 3

Prime Video is a great option if you're looking for a streamer that's relatively low budget – with the £95 yearly cost also including membership to Amazon Prime, with all the usual perks including next day delivery.

Although it perhaps lags behind some of the other streamers when it comes to the overall quality of its original programming, the platform nonetheless has some major hits – including The Boys and Fallout – and has also kept viewers happy with a range of highly successful young adult fare, including the mega-popular The Summer I Turned Pretty

It's also worth mentioning that it hosts possibly the best library of older films of any of the major platforms, while there is also the option to pay an extra monthly fee to sign up to a number of bonus channels – including Mubi, Shudder and BFI Player.

• Must-watch: The Boys, The Marvellous Mrs Maisel, Fallout, The Girlfriend, Invincible

Radio Times says: Prime Video boasts an excellent and varied selection which – coupled with its comparatively low price and added benefits – makes it the best option for those on a budget.

Sign up to Amazon Prime Video

Apple TV

Best for consistently quality original programming

• Price: £9.99 per month
• Free trial: Yes – there is a 7 day free trial option
• Max resolution: 4k
• Streams: Up to 6

Generally speaking, Apple TV has adopted a mantra of quality over quantity, focusing on star-studded big-budget originals with exceptional production values rather than acquiring a back catalogue of older shows.

Launching with major shows such as The Morning Show and For All Mankind, the library has gone on to add everything from hard-hitting dramas and experimental comedies to intelligent sci-fi and riveting spy thrillers – alongside a growing range of documentaries, almost always with a household name attached either in front of or behind the camera.

Meanwhile, the streamer has also thrown its weight behind some of the world's most prominent filmmakers to fund their latest features, with movies such as Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, Ridley Scott's Napoleon and Spike Lee's Highest 2 Lowest all available on the streamer.

• Must-watch: Slow Horses, Severance, Bad Sisters, Silo, The Studio

Radio Times says: Although there have been a few misfires, Apple TV maintains a remarkable consistency when it comes to the quality of its original programming – making it a great pick for fans of prestige TV.

Sign up to Apple TV

DAZN

Best for those looking to catch must-watch sporting events – especially boxing

• Price: £7.99 a month
• Free trial: Yes – there is a 7 day free trial option
• Max resolution: 1080p HD
• Streams: Up to 2

While the likes of Netflix and Prime Video are known to all, this streamer is less of a household name – and is definitely more of a niche addition to the market.

The platform is devoted entirely to showcasing high quality sporting action both live and on demand, with a huge range of options including everything from American Football to Cycling and everything in between, as well as a host of high profile boxing bouts.

• Must-watch: Live boxing

Radio Times says: This is a specialist option which will only be of interest to sports fans – but if you're big on boxing it's a must.

Sign up to DAZN

Disney+

Best for those with kids and fans of major franchises

• Price: £5.99 for Disney+ Standard with Ads, £9.99 for Disney+ Standard, £14.99 for Disney+ Premium
• Free trial: No
• Max resolution: 4k for Premium subscribers, 1080p HD for Standard
• Streams: Up to 4 for Premium subscribers, up to 2 for Standard

Of course, it's no secret that Disney+ is a treasure trove for fans of big franchises, housing a huge catalogue of Marvel and Star Wars content in addition to a number of animated gems from Pixar and Disney Classics. It's that combination that makes it arguably the best option for those looking to keep their kids happy.

But it's more than just the franchises. Given streamer's takeover of 20th Century Fox, there are a whole host of excellent films on the platform, while there's also plenty of original programming and some top shows that initially aired on Hulu for US viewers.

• Must-watch: Star Wars and Marvel, The Bear, Only Murders in the Building, Alien: Earth

Radio Times says: If you've got kids and don't mind spending a little extra, this option is hard to resist – and even for older audiences, there is a huge selection to choose from.

Sign up to Disney+

Hayu

Best for reality TV obsessives

• Price: £4.99 per month, £23.99 for 6 months or £43.99 for 12 months
• Free trial: Yes – there is a 7 day free trial option
• Max resolution: 1080p
• Streams: One

If you're a lover of reality TV, chances are you're already familiar with Hayu – but if this is your first time hearing of it, it could well be the option for you. Since its UK launch in 2016, it's become the only streamer devoted entirely to reality TV and there really are a wealth of programmes waiting for you if that's your thing.

Most of the shows are acquisitions rather than originals – with the likes of Below Deck and Vanderpump Rules notable examples – but earlier this year, the platform did launch its first ever original commission: The Real Housewives of London. Could that be the first of many?

• Must-watch: The Real Housewives, Vanderpump Rules, Below Deck

Radio Times says: A must-have if you're a reality TV obsessive, but otherwise probably one to avoid.

Sign up to Hayu

Sign up to Hayu via Amazon Prime Video

ITVX

Best for lovers of British TV

• Price: £5.99 per month or £59.99 per year
• Free trial: No
• Max resolution: 1080p HD
• Streams: Up to 4

You're probably already familiar with the ad-supported free tier of ITVX, which gives audiences to catch-up with all the latest shows broadcast on ITV and some from the archive – but the streamer also has a premium offering, which is one of the cheaper options on the market.

As well as allowing subscribers to watch all the content on the regular ITVX without suffering the annoyance of ad breaks, there is also a wealth of material not otherwise available including a huge volume of iconic British box sets from BritBox and an interesting and varied selection of films.

• Must-watch: Sanditon, Life on Mars, The Vicar of Dibley, Absolutely Fabulous

Radio Times says: If you like your TV classic and homegrown – and without ads – this is a great option, for a relatively small monthly fee.

Sign up to ITVX

Netflix

Best for binge-watchers and original hits

Best for those looking for value on a budget.

• Price: £5.99 per month for Standard with ads, £12.99 per month for Standard, £18.99 per month for Premium
• Free trial: No
• Max resolution: 4k for Premium subscribers, 1080p HD for Standard
• Streams: Up to 4 for Premium, up to 2 for Standard

The streamer that needs no introduction – and the one that started it all. Netflix produces a wealth of original content – in terms of both films and TV shows – and while perhaps the focus could be said to have shifted towards quantity over quality, there are still some very high highs in the original library.

If you want to join in the latest watercooler conversations, this is still probably the one to gravitate towards, with its popularity still dwarfing that of its rivals in relative terms – even as the monthly cost has soared.

Meanwhile, a significant catalogue of non-original TV shows and films pads out the platform’s library, so you'll never have a lack of options for your next binge-watch or upcoming movie night.

• Must-watch: Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Squid Game, The Crown

Radio Times says: Netflix remains unbeatable for quantity and global hits, though it comes at a premium price.

Sign up to Netflix

NOW

Best for those looking for the top shows from across the pond

• Price: £9.99 per month for Entertainment Pass and £9.99 per Cinema Pass
• Free trial: Yes – there is a 7 day free trial option
• Max resolution: 720p HD (Full 1080p HD with NOW Boost for an extra £5 a month)
• Streams: 1 (3 with NOW Boost for an extra £5 a month)

NOW is an excellent place to catch the latest dramas from Sky and HBO, while Sky also broadcasts a number of glossy exclusive shows across a range of genres.

If you’re a film fan keen to watch the latest blockbusters soon after they leave the cinema, this might also be the service for you. The films included with a Sky Cinema pass frequently include some of the biggest recent hits, and there’s a decent selection of classics as well.

One downside is that, unlike most streamers, you have to pay separately for the TV and Movie options – it's not all one package.

Must-watch: Game of Thrones, Succession, Euphoria, The White Lotus and The Last of Us.

Radio Times says: A more premium offering, but NOW is a great option if you want to enjoy the best of US TV and some of the latest blockbuster films.

Sign up to NOW

Editor’s Choice

So, what is our overall verdict, then? With various factors taken into consideration, we've come to the below conclusion:

Best overall value: Prime Video
Best originals: Apple TV
Best for families: Disney+
Best budget pick: Prime Video
Best prestige TV: NOW

Add your favourite shows to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

Check out our best movies on Netflix, best Netflix comedies and best Netflix horror movies.

Take a look at our best Disney Plus shows guide or best Disney Plus movies.

Here are all the best series on Apple TV and best Apple TV movies.

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