There has never been a better time to be an Aussie looking for entertainment than today, with the best streaming services offering almost too much choice. Gone are the days of Netflix and a considerably smaller Stan being Australia's only streaming services options. From Disney Plus and Prime Video to Apple TV Plus, Binge and smaller services like Shudder and BritBox, it can be hard to keep up with what each service is offering, and whether they're for you.
However, while there may be near-endless options, Paramount Plus Australia has followed their United States branch in raising prices – the latest service to do so, and unlikely to be the last – and ad-based tiers are seemingly being added to every streamer, with even Apple TV Plus inching towards adding ads. Each service also just differentiates itself from competitors enough, be it by specialising in a certain kind of content, offering higher-quality production or a lower price, which can make finding and watching the best content for you darn tough.
By putting in the time and research to find which service is offering the best content each month, you can ensure you are only paying for the streaming service that is best for you. That is, if you have the time to do so – and we doubt you do. We do, though! By following this guide and checking out our pick for the best streaming service for September, you can ditch the streaming services you barely use and only watch the best movies and TV this month has to offer.
So whether you're preparing for Halloween with Shudder, need the best streaming service for kids, want the newest movies or are looking for the best service watch the NFL in Australia we've got you covered in this guide to Australia's best streaming services, starting with what we think is the best streaming service this month.
These platforms are constantly changing, so we keep this guide up-to-date with the latest news and ensure our monthly pick is accurate so you know exactly what you're getting.
Recent updates
September 3, 2024: Updated the streaming service of the month and refreshed the in-depth reviews of each streaming service to match up-to-date news and information.
Best streaming service this month (September 2024)
Best TV streaming service 2024 overview:
Which streaming service is the best?
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When you hear 'best TV streaming service' you probably think Netflix – and for good reason. Netflix has long been a powerhouse of content, with a massive catalogue of movies, TV shows, documentaries, kids content and everything in-between.
While it is still undoubtedly the king of streaming platforms when it comes to sheer numbers – with a whopping 296.9 million subscribers worldwide. That's considerably more than Prime Video's reported '200 million plus', more than Disney Plus and (HBO) Max combined, and more than 10 times Apple TV Plus's subscriber numbers – the writers' strike in 2023 caused some content delays for Netflix, and the introduction and improvement of competitors has also diminished Netflix's overall hold on the industry.
Despite those setbacks, Netflix still features some of the most popular shows of 2024 like Eric, Ripley, Bridgerton, Baby Reindeer, Bodkin and the brand new Supacell. There are also fan-favourite classics like Friends, Peaky Blinders, Gilmore Girls, Seinfeld and The Vampire Diaries. The stars of the show are, of course, still largely Netflix Originals like Stranger Things, Money Heist, Ozark, Emily in Paris and Black Mirror, and newer additions like Beef, American Nightmare, Wednesday and Worst Roommate Ever.
One of the ongoing problems with Netflix is its habit of breaking fans' hearts by axing even seemingly popular shows. Just last year, Netflix continued on its cancellation spree, cutting both 1899 and Inside Job after one season, so you may want to keep that history in the back of your mind before falling in love with a new show.
The cost of Netflix has also steadily increased since its introduction Down Under, including another hike in its prices just this past May. Introduced in 2022, Netflix's current cheapest tier, 'Standard with ads', will now set you back only AU$7.99 per month, though you’ll have to slog through ads before and during content. If you want to stay ad-free, the Standard subscription is substantially pricier at AU$18.99p/m; it provides two HD concurrent streams, downloads and the option to add a non-household member to your account for an extra AU$7.99p/m – an olive branch to account-sharers following Netflix’s password sharing crackdown in 2023. If you want 4K or more simultaneous streams, you'll need to pony up for Netflix's AU$22.99
Netflix was very, very close to being our monthly pick, but with HBO's The Penguin just one of the big new shows coming to Binge, the streaming giant just misses out. Nonetheless, Netflix's September offering is certainly worth the subscription cost, headlined by The Perfect Couple starring Nicole Kidman, a drama where the wedding involving one of the wealthiest families in Nantucket is derailed by a death – and everyone becomes a suspect.
There’s also a new animated TV show from Zack Snyder, Twilight of the Gods, that puts the acclaimed director back where he’s at home: controlling Gods and monsters. Rebel Ridge is a new movie from the maker of Blue Ruin and Green Room dropping on the 6th, and Uglies – which is based on Scott Westerfeld’s 205 young-adult novel, where in a dystopian world with enforced beauty standards, a teen embarks on a journey to find her missing friend – comes September 13.
That's not all, though. Glow fans will want to check out Queen of the Villains, an 80s Japanese wrestling drama, His Three Daughters follows three distant sisters who reunite to care for their sick father and Emily in Paris season 4 part 2 also pops up in September. Netflix will also add The Town, The Blind Side and Crazy, Stupid, Love to its Aussie library this month – and they’re all worth watching (if not rewatching).
Verdict: 5/5
As a News Corp-owned streaming service, Binge gets a bit of a bad wrap. All that aside, though, it's only the smallest issues – like a clunky app on most platforms – that hold it back from being the best streaming service. With a huge library of HBO shows, new releases and all the reality TV you could ever want though, it still might be the best for some.
The cheapest Binge plan, introduced back in March of last year, costs AU$10p/m and comes with ads. This basic tier also provides one stream at a time and only at a maximum of 1080p HD quality. Its two other tiers, Standard and Premium, are priced at AU$18 and AU$22 per month and provide two and four simultaneous streams respectively, with both delivering up to 4K quality streaming.
There’s a lot to binge on Binge and a lot of places you can watch from, with access across most devices including gaming consoles, phones, web browsers and directly through an app on smart TVs. However, it's Binge's claim as the home of HBO shows in Australia that really helps this service to stand apart from its competitors and enhances its quality – delivering global smash-hit shows and movies directly from the US that would otherwise require one of the best VPN services, as Max (formerly HBO Max) is still not officially available Down Under.
Though Binge is the place to watch HBO Max in Australia for now, that might not be the case forever, with News Corp's deal with HBO set to end in 2026. Nevertheless, Binge has the big Max exclusives for the foreseeable future, and the titles it provides are mouth-watering. The Last of Us, House of the Dragon and The White Lotus all arrive on Binge on the same day of their US premieres. Just recently, Binge has seen the addition of HBO's excellent Ren Faire documentary series and surreal comedy Fantasmas. There's also classics like The Sopranos, The Wire, Band of Brothers, Succession, Barry and Chernobyl – and everyone's favourite HBO baseball show, Eastbound & Down.
The service has also started to dip its toes into producing homegrown content, with the second season of the hilarious Colin from Accounts just wrapping up in June. So, as well as a massive library of content from CNN, WWE, MSNBC, History, Discovery, Lifestyle, Fox8, Comedy and more.
Winning our monthly pick as the best streaming service this month, Binge subscribers in September will see Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, a crime drama series that tells the story of the infamous armed robbery after Muhammad Ali's historical comeback fight in 1970s Atlanta, Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos in which the head writer of the acclaimed crime drama series discusses the creative process that brought the show to life. And most excitedly, HBO's The Penguin arrives on Binge. The spin-off series follows Oswald Cobblepot (Colin Farrell) shortly after the events of The Batman as he tries to take advantage of mobster Carmine Falcone’s death.
Binge subscribers also get The Great Australian Bake Off, the 76th Emmy Awards, 50th season of Saturday Night Live, and the addition of this year's Mean Girls musical. Also coming to Binge this month are Krapopolis season 2, Chicago P.D. season 12, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Wonka, Taskmaster season 18, the second season of Funny Woman and seasons 1-4 of Alf.
Verdict: 4.5/5
As a News Corp-owned streaming service, Binge gets a bit of a bad wrap. All that aside, though, it's only the smallest issues – like a clunky app on most platforms – that hold it back from being the best streaming service. With a huge library of HBO shows, new releases and all the reality TV you could ever want though, it still might be the best for some.
The cheapest Binge plan, introduced back in March of last year, costs AU$10p/m and comes with ads. This basic tier also provides one stream at a time and only at a maximum of 1080p HD quality. Its two other tiers, Standard and Premium, are priced at AU$18 and AU$22 per month and provide two and four simultaneous streams respectively, with both delivering up to 4K quality streaming.
There’s a lot to binge on Binge and a lot of places you can watch from, with access across most devices including gaming consoles, phones, web browsers and directly through an app on smart TVs. However, it's Binge's claim as the home of HBO shows in Australia that really helps this service to stand apart from its competitors and enhances its quality – delivering global smash-hit shows and movies directly from the US that would otherwise require one of the best VPN services, as Max (formerly HBO Max) is still not officially available Down Under.
Though Binge is the place to watch HBO Max in Australia for now, that might not be the case forever, with News Corp's deal with HBO set to end in 2026. Nevertheless, Binge has the big Max exclusives for the foreseeable future, and the titles it provides are mouth-watering. The Last of Us, House of the Dragon and The White Lotus all arrive on Binge on the same day of their US premieres. Just recently, Binge has seen the addition of HBO's excellent Ren Faire documentary series and surreal comedy Fantasmas. There's also classics like The Sopranos, The Wire, Band of Brothers, Succession, Barry and Chernobyl – and everyone's favourite HBO baseball show, Eastbound & Down.
The service has also started to dip its toes into producing homegrown content, with the second season of the hilarious Colin from Accounts just wrapping up in June. So, as well as a massive library of content from CNN, WWE, MSNBC, History, Discovery, Lifestyle, Fox8, Comedy and more.
Winning our monthly pick as the best streaming service this month, Binge subscribers in September will see Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, a crime drama series that tells the story of the infamous armed robbery after Muhammad Ali's historical comeback fight in 1970s Atlanta, Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos in which the head writer of the acclaimed crime drama series discusses the creative process that brought the show to life. And most excitedly, HBO's The Penguin arrives on Binge. The spin-off series follows Oswald Cobblepot (Colin Farrell) shortly after the events of The Batman as he tries to take advantage of mobster Carmine Falcone’s death.
Binge subscribers also get The Great Australian Bake Off, the 76th Emmy Awards, 50th season of Saturday Night Live, and the addition of this year's Mean Girls musical. Also coming to Binge this month are Krapopolis season 2, Chicago P.D. season 12, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Wonka, Taskmaster season 18, the second season of Funny Woman and seasons 1-4 of Alf.
Verdict: 4.5/5
Despite getting off to a strong start when it launched with shows like For All Mankind and Morning Wars back in 2019, it’s taken some time for Apple to firmly find its footing in the TV streaming world. With the releases of Black Bird, Severance and Slow Horses in 2022 however, the service arguably reached a turning point. While not everything since has been a hit, even lower-quality Apple TV content has a level of production that’s rare in streaming service exclusives – matched only rarely in shows like The Gentleman on Netflix, Hulu's The Bear on Disney Plus or the best of HBO on Binge.
From the three aforementioned hits to Constellation, Palm Royale, Ted Lasso and the recent Manhunt and The New Look, the budget, acting talent and writing pedigree on Apple TV shows is rare in the streaming service world. There’s no shortage of stars either: just in that short list we have Taron Edgerton, Austin Butler, Barry Keoghan, Jason Sudeikis and Ben Mendohlson. Apple has more money than any other streaming service by a significant margin – even Amazon and Disney – and it’s been putting that money to good use.
You might think that Apple-produced films come to their streaming service super-fast, but that's not really the case. It took around three months for Killers of the Flower Moon to make its way to streaming, which, while fast, isn't any faster than movies are available to rent on Prime Video. The biggest string in Apple's movie-bow is Apple TV Plus original films like Tom Hanks' Finch and Greyhound, alongside Spirited, The Greatest Beer Run Ever and the Best Picture Oscar-winning CODA – which you should definitely add to your watchlist if you haven’t already seen it.
With more movies coming, you can expect bigger and better movies coming to Apple TV Plus faster and faster, making this service even better. For now though, there is still plenty to love. June added the Jake Gyllenhaal-led drama series Presumed Innocent which will have you on the edge of your seat, while July added Sunny starring Rashida Jones and Natalie Portman’s Lady in the Lake.
Holding strong to their message of quality over quantity, nothing has changed for Apple TV Plus in September – but quality it is. Fans of Slow Horses rejoice! The fourth season of the critically acclaimed spy drama and black comedy will hit Apple's streaming service on September 5.
Also coming to Apple TV Plus this month is Wolfs, starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney – on what other streaming service do you get an original film starring those two? – in which a fixer finds his night spiralling out of control when he's forced to work with an unexpected counterpart. Also arriving later this month is Midnight Family, a Spanish-language series focusing on a family’s struggles to run a private ambulance business, and La Maison, in which an iconic fashion house is thrown into scandal.
Verdict: 4/5
There’s a lot of appeal to Disney Plus, and compared to when the service first landed in Australia, it has expanded extensively. However, while it doesn't perhaps have the diversity to be a sole streaming service for most people, it excels as a one worth subscribing to for specific releases, like The Bear or the latest Marvel or Star Wars content, or as a secondary service that leans more family-friendly.
The incorporation of the Star content hub in 2021 really diversified the Disney Plus line-up – doubling the library and offering high-quality shows intended for mature audiences and movies from other Disney-owned brands like ABC, Disney TV Studios, FX, Touchstones, 20th Century Studios and more.
Disney Plus now offers two subscription tiers in Australia – Standard for AU$13.99p/m and Premium for AU$17.99p/m. Premium adds 4K resolution, Dolby Audio and four concurrent streams. By comparison, the Standard tier only offers two concurrent streams, HD quality streams and standard audio.
While Disney Plus’ library is less diverse than Prime, Netflix, Stan or Binge, there is still plenty of content to enjoy.
In the TV space you've got what you expect from Disney – hits in the Star Wars and Marvel worlds like Mandolorian, Andor, The Acolyte, WandaVision, Loki and Hawkeye but there’s now also plenty of other content. That includes cult hit shows like Sons of Anarchy, New Girl, The Kardashians, Grey's Anatomy, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The Simpsons, as well as fresh hits like Welcome to Wrexham, Clipped and The Bear.
While it might not be enough to make it our pick for this month, Disney Plus' offering in September is more than enough to keep old and new subscribers happy. Undoubtedly the biggest addition to Disney Plus is Agatha All Along. Looking to continue the momentum of Deadpool & Wolverine, this is a very important series for Marvel, which drops on September 19. It follows a powerless Agatha as she partners with a goth teenager to take on a gauntlet of witchy trials.
Doctor Odyssey follows Max, a new on-board doctor for a luxury cruise ship, English Teacher is about a high school teacher in Texas who struggles to balance with the personal, political and professional aspects of teaching and in Child Star, Demi Lovato sits down with the likes of Drew Barrymore, Kenan Thompson, Christina Ricci, Raven-Symoné and JoJo Siwa to reflect on their experiences as child stars.
Also hitting Disney Plus this month is season two of The Old Man starring Jeff Bridges, Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy as well as Tell Me Lies season 2. Catholics vs Convicts: One of the Greatest Games of College Football, Muslim Matchmaker, How to Die Alone and An Oprah Special: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Us, round out the most notable additions arriving throughout September.
Verdict: 4/5
Like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video has its own set of awesome original series – Fallout, Reacher, Mr & Mrs Smith, Upload, Invincible and The Boys among others, just to name a few. The same can be said about Amazon's original movies – Ricky Stanicky and Road House.
What can't be denied about Prime Video is its truly giant content library, with a massive amount of shows and movies to watch and a whole lot more available behind optional add-on subscriptions.. And, while it's certainly the worst streaming service when it comes to user experience through the app (though Binge might have an argument there) the sheer number of movies and shows on Prime tend to paper over any issues.
The big point of difference between Prime Video and other streaming platforms is that its price includes access to the full arsenal of Amazon Prime services – Amazon Music, Prime Reading, Prime Gaming and premium delivery services for a flat monthly fee of AU$9.99 or AU$79 per year. It really is insane value. Unfortunately, that has changed slightly as of July 2024, as Prime Video introduced ads in Australia on July 2.
Fortunately, depending on how you look at it, you can pay a small additional fee of AU$3 each month to remain ad-free. If you use Amazon Prime, paying an extra AU$3 for ad-free Prime Video isn't the worst thing in the world, but it's quite the increase for those whose main use-case of Prime membership is Prime Video.
Amazon Prime Video also gives you the option of signing up to third-party streaming services such as Paramount Plus, AMC+ and Shudder. This means you can avoid creating multiple accounts across numerous services and instead use your Amazon Prime account for access. It also means installing fewer apps, because each of these additional services appear within Prime Video as dedicated 'Channels'. Apple TV Plus has a similar feature, working as a hub for all your apps like Binge and Stan.
The biggest addition to Prime Video in September is its coverage of the NFL through NFL Game Pass. While it will set you back AU$50 per month, it's the only way to watch every minute of every game in Australia and it adds to a library that already boasts coverage of the WNBA and NWSL, and is available at no extra cost to subscribers. And, if you plan on getting ready for the spooky season, Prime Video has you covered with the arrival of Bram Stoker's Dracula, Child's Play, Jeepers Creepers, Wolf Man, Sinister 2, Crimson Peak, Drag Me to Hell and The First Purge this September.
Also coming to Prime Video this month is The Grand Tour: One for the Road – the final episode of Grand Tour in which Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May head to Zimbabwe in three cars they've always wanted to own. The infamous Basic Instinct also comes to Amazon's streamer, along with The Big Lebowski, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Paddington 2, The Usual Suspects and The Grey.
Verdict: 4/5
For years, access to Foxtel required users to sign up for a traditional pay TV subscription – that meant getting technicians over to install a box in your living room.
That all changed with Foxtel Now – a simple streaming service that only requires an internet connection and a device to stream on.
Foxtel Now is a Netflix-style, streaming-only Foxtel package that lets you watch all of the service's catch-up content, as well as its live TV streams.
All you have to do is sign up online, choose your streaming packages, download the app and away you go. Best of all, you don't have to sign any contracts and you can cancel anytime.
It must be said that if you want everything that Foxtel Now has to offer, you'll have to pay quite a bit. Foxtel Now starts at per month for the mandatory Essentials base pack, which includes over 30 channels.
You have the option to build your own bundle, selecting only the content that matters to you. However, the All Packs bundle is currently on sale for AU$58p/m for the first 12 months (AU$104p/m thereafter) until March 31, 2024, and includes the Essentials + Movies content as well as extra sports, drama, kids and documentary channels as well.
That said, it's hard to argue with Foxtel Now's enormous content library, and the inclusion of streaming access to Foxtel's live TV channels will certainly appeal to many. Of course, if all you want is access to HBO shows and other non-sports Foxtel exclusives, you're better off signing up for the more affordable Binge.
With a large variety of channels, there’s something for everyone on Foxtel Now, and along with the entire Binge library, you can catch the following hit shows across the platform: Succession, House of the Dragon, Below Deck: Mediterranean, Call the Midwife, Vera, Mr Inbetween and Bluey. Don't worry, you don't have to lock yourself into a big monthly payment – try it out for free with Foxtel Now's 10-day free trial.
Verdict: 3.5/5
Remember 10 All Access? Well, like a caterpillar into a butterfly, that service has emerged from its cocoon as Paramount Plus, a more prestigious-sounding affair that hopes to draw people in with the promise of exclusive shows and blockbuster releases soon after their theatrical debuts.
Unfortunately, none of that really exists, with only a meagre offering of exclusive shows and mostly lacklustre original films. The Australian version also has previously had delays on movie releases, which hit the US version of the streamer within the promised 35-40 day release period.
Formerly, Paramount Plus subscribers down under could brag about a cheaper subscription price than those in the United States, but with the price hike on the 28th of August, that's no longer the case. A Paramount Plus subscription now costs $10.99 AUD per month or $97.99 AUD per year, and if you're already a subscriber your next payment on or after 28 September 2024 will be at this new rate. That's still pretty cheap for a service that offers 4K content, and its September offering certainly doesn't hurt, either.
In terms of content that is there, Paramount Plus folds in pre-existing shows from 10 All Access along with a decent selection of on-demand movies and shows from Viacom’s various holdings, which include Showtime, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and Smithsonian Channel.
You can even watch Live Sport on Paramount Plus, including the A-leagues and FA Cups at any time during the day when matches are streamed through CBSN.
Paramount Plus can also be added as a channel in your Amazon Prime Video subscription, and you can even find a deal on the service through Amazon Prime Video on the odd occasion as well.
Paramount Plus still has made some major improvements in the last few years, and you can check out the following series on the platform: Dexter: New Blood, Seal Team, The Gilded Age, Frasier, Top Gear Australia, Rabbit Hole, YellowJackets, Why Women Kill and Special Ops: Lioness. If you're looking to try it out, like the sound of one or two shows or aren't sure if Paramount Plus is for you, Paramount Plus's low entry price and free trial makes it easy to experiment with.
There are four main additions coming to Paramount Plus in September; One Life starring Anthony Hopkins, Bob Marley: One Love, the MTV Video Music Awards 2024 and the second season of Sylvester Stallone's Tulsa King. Also coming to Paramount Plus this month is Jersey Shore: Family Vacation season 7, Cocaine Bear, Ridiculousness season 36 and season two of The Tiny Chef Show.
Verdict: 3/5
Specialty streaming services overview
As Australia's only streaming service dedicated exclusively to sporting events, Kayo Sports is a terrific option for those who want to avoid a traditional Foxtel subscription, only paying for what they want – lots and lots of sport. And it now operates through Hubbl, like Binge.
Kayo does a remarkable job of providing instant streaming access to over 50 different sports, although the content is nearly identical to what you'll find on Foxtel's services – which shouldn't be a surprise, as Kayo retains the same broadcast and streaming rights as its pay-TV big brother.
You’ll get access to all seven of the Fox Sports channels, plus the Fox Sports news stream, three beIN Sports options and two ESPN channels offered by Foxtel. That's not to say that Kayo offers everything you could possibly want, as there are some noticeable omissions in the service's content offering. Unfortunately, Kayo doesn't provide access to the three Premier League Club channels (Liverpool TV, Chelsea TV and Manchester United TV), Sky Racing channels or Eurosport. Tennis fans will also not have access to any grand slam.
If that isn't too much of an issue, there's plenty of other sports to choose from, including NBA, NFL, the NRL, international cricket, World Surf League, Formula 1 and more. And that's just the live sport. There's an abundance of documentaries, talk shows, Kayo Mini's (condensed versions of past games) and plenty more for sports lovers to enjoy.
Additionally, Kayo offers several unique and useful streaming features, such as picture-in-picture video, a 'key moments' feature that shows just the highlights, the ability to block spoilers for a match you haven't watched yet and a customisable playback speed.
Kayo has recently introduced 4K streaming, a big win for customers who are keen to catch all the sporting action in 4K, but it does come at a cost. Kayo's shaken up its subscription plans, now offering the choice between two tiers – Kayo One which will set you back AU$25 per month with one single HD stream and Kayo Basic for AU$35 per month for two.
The brainchild of two major British broadcasters – ITV and BBC – BritBox is a streaming platform dedicated to delivering everything good about British TV outside the UK, including Australia.
As you can probably tell by the name, BritBox provides exclusively British content. This includes shows such as Luther, Line of Duty, All Creatures Great and Small and Prey. Unfortunately, Dr Who is no longer available on the platform, so you'll have to head to Disney Plus for the latest from The Doctor.
BritBox has had a price increase in 2024, jumping up to AU$9.99 per month along with the annual subscription now costing AU$99.99 per year as of February 22, 2024. There is a 7-day free trial for the service, but this trial period disappears during promotional periods.
Features of this service include up to four simultaneous HD streams as well as a wide range of devices including Android, iOS, Apple TV, Fetch TV, Telstra TV and Google Chromecast, with apps available for LG and Samsung smart TVs, Android TV, Windows 10 and Chrome OS.
Plus, you can add BritBox as a channel to your Amazon Prime account, so you don't have to switch between apps to catch some good British TV.
Get a good dose of British telly with the following shows on BritBox: Six Four, Happy Valley, Shetland, Would I Lie to You?, The Chelsea Detective, Vera and Payback. If that's not enough, coming to BritBox in September is the thirteenth season of Death in Paradise, The Real Spies Among Friends – a documentary focused on Kim Philby and his fellow traitors in the Cambridge spy ring– The Jetty, a detective drama and 6 Days, a crime thriller based on the 1980 takeover of the Iranian Embassy in Princes Gate, London.
If you're the type of sports fan who's absolutely obsessed with football (better known to Aussies as soccer), then Optus Sport is the streaming service for you.
While Kayo or Stan Sport may offer a more rounded sports-watching experience, Optus Sport is dedicated to providing access to every type of soccer coverage imaginable.
For AU$24.99 per month or AU$199 per year, Optus Sport brings you unlimited access to the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, J.League, UEFA EURO 2020, Internationals and FA Women's Super League games, meaning you'll never be short of football content to park yourself in front of.
Additionally, a subscription to Optus Sport also grants you access to the service's fitness content, allowing you to work out alongside handy training videos in a number of areas, including HIIT, yoga, cardio, pilates, core, dancing and more.
Boasting excellent device support and an affordable price point, Optus Sport is a terrific option for football junkies. That said, some areas could see improvement. For instance, while subscribers may register up to four devices, only two can be streamed concurrently and the second device must be a Fetch TV box.
Picture quality is good, although the resolution junkies out there will quickly notice that Optus Sport's maximum 1080p resolution isn't true 1080p. The service's feeds are received at 720p and upscaled. Additionally, the service no longer offers a free trial period and costs AU$24.99 per month, but existing and new Optus customers can bundle the service for only AU$6.99 per month.
A streaming service that's strictly for horror fans, Shudder offers a vast selection of frightening flicks, both old and new, along with a growing library of original films, TV shows, documentaries, podcasts and live-streaming events.
Shudder Originals include FX guru Greg Nicotero's Creepshow TV series, the blood-drenched cult flick Revenge, the Indigenous zombie film Blood Quantum, and the critically adored movie Host, which sees a demonic presence infiltrate an online séance.
Admittedly, Shudder has some work to do when it comes to competing with the big streaming players. For one, its maximum streaming resolution is 720p (with many older movies available in standard definition only). And while its device compatibility has come a long way since its US launch, there's no Shudder app for gaming consoles and many TV brands.
That said, you can't argue with Shudder’s price, which is set at a very reasonable AU$6.99 per month (and even cheaper at its yearly rate of $69.99, essentially netting you two free months of the service).
If you're a horror aficionado with a thirst for (fake) blood, you can test the Shudder waters with a free 7-day trial, with the option to add it on as a channel through Amazon Prime Video as well.
Horror fans unite – In a Violent Nature is finally on Shudder! Just in time for the October spooky season to begin, along with the incredibly brutal slasher In a Violent Nature. Shudder subscribers will also get The Demon Disorder – an Australian horror that follows Jake and Phillip Reilly and their dead father, whose garage becomes the site of revenge after a family secret is uncovered – Horror's Greatest which is a a deep dive into everything horror, Oddity, Candyman (1992) and Salem's Lot.
Having trouble Keeping Up with the Kardashians? Well, you're in luck, because the streaming service Hayu not only has every single episode of theirs available to watch instantly, but it also provides access to hundreds of other reality shows.
That isn't an understatement – pick a city at random and chances are that Hayu has a Real Housewives show that's set in that very location*.
*We don't mind a touch of exaggeration, okay?
That's not all – while Hayu's junk food menu is undeniably extensive, the service also offers more serious content on its menu, including many true crime docu-series, such as Up and Vanished, In Ice Cold Blood (hosted by Ice-T, no less) and much more.
Priced at only AU$6.99 per month, AU$33.99 for 6 months or AU$61.99 per year, with decent device support, offline viewing for phones and tablets, no lock-in contracts and no ads whatsoever, Hayu is a reality television fan's dream come true. If that sounds like you, then be sure to check out Hayu's free 7-day trial.
Catch the following popular reality TV titles and more on Hayu: Below Deck Mediterranean season eight, Million Dollar Listing, Made in Chelsea, Vanderpump Rules Reunion, The Real Housewives and Queer Eye.
Want diverse news from all angles so you can find the truth for yourself? Well, Flash offers you as many news sources as you can handle. Offering content from more than 25 news channels from around the globe, Flash provides all the biggest breaking news stories covered by the likes of Sky News or CNN, to more specialty coverage from sources such as Ausbiz and ET Now.
The user interface has four main sections, all accessible from a list at the top of the screen. The Home page offers the latest headlines and news, while both the Channels and Categories sections organise news specifically in those respective groupings. The final section is called FlashLists, which is where you can find all the news you’ve saved for later.
A neat feature offered in this subscription is SplitView, which allows you to watch up to four videos at once on your device. Not sure why you would want to do that, but you can! For the time being, SplitView is only available on web browsers and Apple devices, though Flash does note in its help centre that it plans to roll this feature out to more compatible devices in the future.
There are also Live Channels offering real-time coverage. Users will have to go into the source’s channel to find access to these live streams, but they are covered in your subscription. There’s also a feature called FlashPoint, which is a little logo you can select to access multiple sources covering the same story, making it a handy feature to use alongside SplitView.
Flash currently only offers one plan after its 14-day free trial. For AU$8 per month, you’ll only be able to stream on one device but will have full access to the service’s entire catalogue and features.
FAQS
What's the best movie streaming service?
Every platform we've been through has a solid output of movies to watch. However, what the best streaming service for movies is, depends on the user. If you want the biggest library to choose from, Netflix and Amazon Prime, or maybe Disney Plus if you're looking for more kid-friendly options, are probably the easy choice. However, Binge, Stan, Apple TV Plus and Disney Plus, while having smaller libraries, have a solid output of original and fresh-from-the-cinema movies to choose from. However, if you're a big movie watcher, it's hard to ignore the value Netflix provides.
What's the best streaming service for kids?
Every platform has something for kids, so don't let this stop you from picking up your favourite streaming service. Amazon might hold the biggest number of shows rated G and below, closely followed by Netflix and Disney Plus, and while they certainly have enough to keep the little ones entertained, if you're looking for a streaming service that's purely kid-friendly there's plenty to choose from. If you want a service that is entirely directed at your little one aged 7 or younger, it's hard to go past Noggin. From Peppa Pig, Blue's Clues and Dora the Explorer to the digital pre-school classroom show Noggin Knows, Noggin also provides more learning through a library of books and games. While there's still space for your favourite shows from ABC, Disney and Amazon, like Bluey and Play School, Noggin is the best streaming service for kids.
What is the best platform to watch documentaries?
While they are two obvious and easy choices, they are such for a reason. It's hard to ignore the sheer number of titles that Netflix and Prime Video provide. While there's undoubtedly some low-quality content, you're certain to find plenty, no matter what mood you're in. If you're looking for something a bit more off the beaten path, Kanopy is an awesome streaming service. Free with a library card or through your university email address, Kanopy has a large library of lesser-known classic movies, foreign film, documentaries and more that are hard to find anywhere else.
Crunchyroll vs Netflix: which is the best anime streaming service?
Once again, it's hard to ignore Netflix. This time, though, it’s not being praised for a heavy library of classics and fan-favourites. No, where Netflix excels in the anime space is with excellent original content like Beastars, Castlevania, Aggretsuko and Devilman Crybaby – combined with a library of classics including those from Studio Ghibli, Yu-Gi-Oh!, My Hero Academia And Pokemon.
For more hardcore Anime fans there's CrunchyRoll, which includes shows such as Attack on Titan, Death Note, FLCL, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Hunter X Hunter, One-Punch Man and several Naruto series. No matter what you choose to go with, these two streaming services deliver plenty of Anime to keep you entertained.
Where can I watch true crime in Australia?
Luckily for true crime fans, there's a healthy stream of solid content from all the major streaming services in Australia. However, Netflix once again proves why it's king. It’s got documentaries, crime dramas based on true stories, docu-series and everything in between. With titles like What Jennifer Did, Dahmer, the Conversations with a Killer series and American Nightmare, it would take a lifetime to get through the best true crime on Netflix.
While that's all true, that doesn't mean Netflix is the only option when hunting down the best streaming service for true crime. Both Binge and Stan make strong arguments for themselves, but they can't stand up to Netflix because of the latter’s sheer amount of content. Where they shine is through individual shows like Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV on Binge and Louis Theroux, Confronting a Serial Killer and the dramatised Dr. Death on Stan.
What's the best music streaming service in Australia?
While Spotify and Apple Music are the Spartan-style two kings of the music streaming industry, apps like Qobuz, Youtube Music, Amazon Music and Tidal are worthy competitors that might be better suited to some individual tastes.
Qobuz and Tidal are for the audiophiles. The former is a French streaming service that combines a huge library of new and old hits with studio-quality audio streaming and an attractive mobile app. If sound quality is make or break for you, Qobuz could be your best music service. On the other hand, subscribers to Tidal HiFi can listen to music at near-CD level sound quality, with tracks mixed in more immersive formats like Dolby Atmos and Sony 360. If sound quality is your number one worry, Qobuz might be the choice, but Tidal has more hi-res listening options that appeal to larger audiences.
More of a true competitor to Spotify and Apple Music, YouTube Music shines in what it provides to music-video lovers. Unsurprisingly, the user experience is excellent when using YouTube Music – the search feature is great, there's regular new additions to its library and there's a significant number of live recordings. If you love music videos and listening to live performances, YouTube music might be the best music service for you. However, if that's not your thing, it does nothing else to separate itself from Spotify and Apple Music.
As for Amazon Music… There aren't many reasons why you would choose it over Spotify or Apple Music. However, if you love getting mixes filled with new music made for you, then Amazon Music might just be the choice for you.
Which streaming service has unlimited devices?
Even at premium tiers of the best streaming services, you usually won't find an unlimited number of devices available to be connected to the same account at any one time. Stan allows you to watch on four devices simultaneously, and download content on up to five tablets or phones, while Apple TV Plus allows for a whopping six devices to be watching content at the same time. Kayo Sports allows you to register several devices to a single account but you will be restricted to the one or two simultaneous streams your plan allows for. While Youtube TV does allow for unlimited concurrent streams, it is only available within the US.
How much are all the streaming channels?
Every streaming service provides subscribers with something unique, whether its original content, a category they excel in, like documentaries, or a brand-new show you don't want to miss. If you were to subscribe to the cheapest possible tier of the seven main streaming services (excluding Foxtel Now) we listed above, it would cost AU$75.95 per month, which adds up to AU$911.4 over 12 months. With more expensive tier choices, add-ons like Stan Sport or subscriptions to other streaming services like Kayo, it will cost well over AU$100 per month.
When streaming 'channels' through Amazon Prime Video, subscriptions like Shudder, Paramount Plus, Hayu, BritBox, AMC Plus, MGM and Lionsgate Plus will rack up AU$53.93 in addition to your normal Prime Video subscription, and there's still several other channels to choose from.
Is there a streaming service that has everything?
Yes, there is, depending on what you mean by everything. Foxtel Now has everything that Foxtel provides, from live TV and news to sports, while Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have plenty of movies, documentaries and TV series, more than you could ever want. If you're looking for something that covers all your entertainment bases, we recommend one of those three.
Are Binge and Stan the same company?
While they are Australian streaming services, Binge and Stan don't sit under the same umbrella. Binge is owned by Hubbl, which is owned by Foxtel. Stan, meanwhile, was previously owned by a 50/50 partnership between Fairfax Media and Nine Entertainment Co. In 2018, however, Nine acquired FairFax Media, and Stan is now wholly owned by Nine Digital, a subsidiary of Nine Entertainment Co.
