It's been an incredible year for the best streaming service in Australia, with some incredible content coming to each and every streaming service in the country. 2024 has flown by, though. Just seconds ago we were stressing about Black Friday deals and now we're preparing for Boxing Day sales and Christmas movies are at the top of everybody's streaming wishlist. The silly season is almost here, and everything tends to slow down as we get to the end of the year – but Australia's best streaming services are still ramping up with some mouthwatering new content.
The best Aussie streaming services aren't just pumping out not all hallmark Christmas flicks in December, but if it is Christmas content you're looking for then Binge's How to make Gravy, Jack in Time for Christmas on Prime Video and
If you are looking for new Christmas content this month, though, How to make Gravy on Binge, Netflix's A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter and That Christmas and Jack in Time for Christmas on Prime Video are a few to watch. If you're feeling Grinchy, there's a heap more than to watch across the streamers above, as well as Stan, Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus. Or maybe you need an air conditioned room to watch Australia and India battle it out for the Border–Gavaskar Trophy all summer on Kayo?
With so much great and varied content coming to all the best streaming services in Australia, it's difficult to make a decision on the outright best service. However, with prices continuing to rise – Binge and Stan the most recent persecutors – affording multiple is even harder. Luckily, by paying attention to the monthly drops of each streamer, you can jump between streaming services depending on which content suits you best – only paying for one or two at a time.
Most people don't have (or want to use) the effort that's required to analyse the content of all the best streaming services in Australia every month. That's why we've done the hard work for you! No matter what you’re into, we've got you covered in this guide to Australia's best streaming services – you just have to choose which is right for you.
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
December 4, 2024: Updated the streaming service of the month, listed each services additions this month and refreshed the in-depth reviews of each streaming service to match up-to-date news and information.
Best streaming service this month (December 2024)
Best TV streaming service 2024 overview:
Which streaming service is the best?
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
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
Verdict: 5/5
Best new content coming to Netflix in December
- December 1
- Paper Dolls: Season 1 / Sleeping Dogs
- December 3
- Fortune Feimster: Crushing It
- December 4
- The Children’s Train / Churchill at War / The Only Girl in the Orchestra / That Christmas / Tomorrow and I
- December 5
- Black Doves / Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld
- December 6
- Biggest Heist Ever / Camp Crasher / Echoes of the Past
- December 7
- Birdeater
- December 10
- Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was… / Polo / Rugged Rubgy: Conquer or Die
- December 11
- The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga / Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World / One Hundred Years of Solitude: Part 1 / Queer Eye: Season 9
- December 12
- Dune: Part Two / La Palma / No Good Deed / A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter
- December 13
- 1992 / Carry-On / Disaster Holiday
- December 17
- Aaron Rodgers: Enigma / Ronny Chieng: Love to Hate It
- December 18
- Julia’s Stepping Stones / The Manny: Season 2
- December 19
- The Dragon Prince: Season 7 / Virgin River: Season 6
- December 20
- Ferry 2 / The Six Triple Eight / Umjolo: Day Ones
- December 22
- Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
- December 23
- The Mountain Between Us
- December 24
- Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire / Your Friend Nate Bargatze
- December 26
- Squid Game: Season 2 / NFL on Christmas: Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans / Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
- December 28
- Maestro in Blue: Season 3
- December 31
- Avicii: I’m Tim / Avicii: My Last Show / Michelle Buteau: A Buteau-ful Mind at Radio City Music Hall
Australia’s very first streaming service – releasing way back in early 2015 – Stan has always been an incredibly popular streaming option. Even when it looked drastically different to what it does now. And it's always been Australia-first. I mean, it even launched on Australia Day.
It’s undergone some major changes in the last 9 years, though. Its library has completely evolved with international partnership, a solid amount of aussie content and hit-series like Better Call Saul. Its prices have changed to mirror its improved content. In march Stan's Basic plan jumped from AU$10p/m to AU$12p/m, and in October Stan joined Binge has the latest Aussie streamers to increase its prices, with a AU$1 hike to its Standard and Premium tiers.
Stan's three tiers now cost at AU$12 p/m, AU$17p/m and AU$22p/m and offer one, three and four simultaneous streams respectively, with the devices you can download to numbering one, three and five. For 4K, you'll have to shell out for the Premium tier, with Basic offering only standard definition and the Standard tier offering 1080p HD.
With almost 2.6 million subscribers Stan is popular for good reason, with an inexpensive and ad-free lowest tier, a variety of 4K viewing options, Stan Originals like Nicolas Cage's The Surfer, The Matildas documentary Trailblazers, international exclusives like Power, Billions and The Walking Dead: The Return, and a healthy amount of Aussie content to keep everyone happy. Not to mention a strong library of films and all-time-great shows like Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
While it might not beat out Netflix for the top spot – its library is still significantly smaller and Netflix offers more fresh content – you won't be stuck with nothing to watch if you choose to go with Stan. No matter what you're into, be it documentaries, true crime, reality TV or drama, Stan has it all.
And, if that's not enough, Stan sets itself apart from most of the best streaming services by offering a sports add-on for an extra AU$15 per month. Stan Sport is worth checking out for any UEFA football, rugby union and tennis fans. Subscribers can watch every game in the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League in Football, Super Rugby Pacific, Super Rugby W, Rugby Championship, Bledisloe Cup and all four tennis Majors, with select matches streaming in 4K.
Verdict: 4/5
Best new content coming to Stan in December
- December 1
- My Best Friend’s Wedding / The Octonauts and the Great Christmas Rescue
- December 2
- Earth Abides / Click (2006)
- December 3
- Gang Related / The Great Silence
- December 4
- CMA Country Christmas 2024 / A Kid Like Jake
- December 5
- Hitler: A Life in Pictures
- December 6
- Mr. Deeds / The Drover’s Wife
- December 7
- Ben-Hur (2016) / Escape Room (2019) / Burning
- December 8
- Shadows of the Web / Lantana / Agent Cody Banks / Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London
- December 9
- Universal Basic Guys / Who You Think I Am
- December 10
- Mandy
- December 11
- Born To Spy
- December 12
- Death Wish (2018)
- December 13
- The Craft / The Innocence
- December 14
- Shazam: Fury Of The Gods / Rocky 1 - 6 / Creed 1-3
- December 15
- Man On Wire / A Tale Of Love and Desire
- December 16
- Original Sin
- December 17
- A Fistful Of Dollars / For A Few Dollars More / The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
- December 18
- Evil Dead Rise / Rosalie Blum
- December 19
- Significant Others / Donnie Darko
- December 20
- Legally Blonde / Legally Blonde 2: Red, White And Blonde
- December 21
- Interstellar
- December 22
- The Reserve: Season 1 / Uptown Girls
- December 23
- Next Goal Wins / 70 Big Ones / Barons
- December 24
- The Vow / Petra
- December 25
- The Hobbit films 1-3 / Lassie Come Home
- December 26
- Bump: Season 5
- December 27
- Call The Midwife: Christmas Special 2022 / God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya
- December 28
- 300
- December 29
- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels / Aurora
- December 30
- Grammys Greats: The Most Memorable Moments / District 9
- December 31
- Locke / The Queen of Spain
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 user experience 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's often our monthly pick, and will be the best buy for some.
Binge has seen quite a few changes of late. Binge introduced its ad-supported tier in early 2023, costing just AU$10p/m. Then, in late October 2024, the Standard and Premium Binge tiers got their second price increase of 2024 – bumping up AU$1 to AU$19p/m and AU$22 per month. Binge's two higher tiers provide two and four simultaneous streams respectively, and 4K streaming.
That's not all, though. Binge Basic isn't the only tier that has ads anymore. As reported by our sister site Tom's Guide, Binge now lets you watch select sport matches live with no ad-breaks during play – though you will get ads during halftime and other breaks in play. This most recently included the WBBL and AFLW finals, but you can expect plenty of NRL and AFL content on Binge in the new year. So Binge has at least added a whole heap of value to go with its price increases. And all your movies and drama content is still ad-free on Binge Standard & Premium.
There's plenty to binge on Binge and you can watch 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 makes it stand apart from its competitors – delivering global smash-hit shows and movies directly from the US that would otherwise require one of the best VPN services, as HBO Max isn't currently available in Australia.
That is not going to be the case forever, though. There have been rumours of HBO Max coming to Australia forever, and we expected something to happen when News Corp's deal with HBO set to end in 2026. However, earlier this year Warner Bros. Discovery announced Max would be landing in Australia in the first half of 2025 – putting Binge’s sole claim to HBO in massive jeopardy.
Nevertheless, we expect Binge to continue enjoying HBO exclusives at least through the end of their “multi-year contract”. As long as it does, even if its sharing it with Max, the best shows on Binge will be worth the price of admission.
You can enjoy newer hits like The Penguin, Euphoria, The Last of Us, House of the Dragon and Mr Inbetween, 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. Plus a massive library of content from CNN, MSNBC, History, Discovery, Lifestyle, Fox8, Comedy and more.
Verdict: 4.5/5
Best new content coming to Binge in December
- December 1
- The IT Crowd: Season 4 / How to Make Gravy / WBBL FINAL
- December 2
- TikTok Awards 2024 / Ruthless: Monopoly’s Secret History/ Libertad: Season 1 / Ben: Season 1 / Blue Bloods: Season 13 / Outnumbered: Seasons 1-5 / Bad Education: Season 1-5 / Bookworm
- December 3
- The Great British Bake Off: Season 15 / Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry: Season 1 Premiere / In The Shadow Of The Moon / Escape Room / Georgia Rule / Punisher: War Zone / Something New / Here And Now
- December 4
- Gavin & Stacey: Seasons 1-3 + Christmas Special '08 and '09 / The Great British Bake Off: Festive Specials: Season 14 / Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas / Expert Witness: Season 2
- December 5
- Creature Commandos: Season 1 / 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days: Season 7 / Outlawed: The Real Ned Kelly / Rock The Block / Monsters Of The Bermuda Triangle / iZombie: Seasons 1-5
- December 6
- Southern Charm: Season 10 Premiere / Super Surgeons: Season 2
- December 7
- Batwheels: The Wizard of Bats
- December 10
- The Chocolate Queen Christmas Special / Celebrity Sewing Bee Festive Special / Loading Docs: Seasons 1-9 / Don’t Hate Your House With The Property Brothers: Season 1
- December 11
- Call Me Ted: Season 1
- December 12
- I Kissed A Girl: Season 1 / Trauma Room One: Season 1 / Dune: Part Two / Passengers (2016)
- December 13
- Bookie: Season 2 / Peter O’Toole: Along The Sky Road To Aqaba / Nazca Desert Mystery / Jamie: Together At Christmas: Season 1 / Wings Of The Great War: Season 1 / Prue Leith: My Cotswold Kitchen: Season 1
- December 14
- Batwheels: The Great Christmas Caper
- December 15
- The Summit / Ezra
- December 16
- Motorway Patrol: Season 18
- December 17
- Celebrity Pottery Throw Down Festive Special / U.S. And The Holocaust: Season 1 / Bloodline Detectives: Season 3 / Motorway Patrol: Season 19
- December 18
- Tom Kerridge’s Veggie Christmas
- December 19
- Laid: Season 1 / Rose Matafeo Comedy Special
- December 20
- Mary Berry’s Christmas Treats / Jamie’s Christmas Shortcuts: Season 1 / Sweet Dreams
- December 23
- Masterchef UK Christmas Celebrity Special 2024
- December 26
- Gavin & Stacey: The Finale / Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire
- December 27
- Sister Wives: Season 12Reunion
- December 28
- The Garfield Movie
- December 29
- Food Unwrapped Specials: Season 11 Premiere
- December 30
- The Last Year of Television 2024 / 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way: Season 6 Premiere
- December 31
- Rocketman / A Series Of Unfortunate Events / Bad News Bears / She’s Having A Baby
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. Just in recent months Apple has added Jake Gyllenhaal's Presumed Innocent, Vince Vaughn's Bad Monkey, Sunny, The Lady in the Lake, The Instigators starring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck and Pachinko season 2.
Verdict: 4/5
Best new content coming to Apple TV Plus in December:
- December 6
- Fly Me to the Moon
- December 13
- Eva the Owlet: Eva’s Moon Wish Holiday Special
- Wonder Pets: In The City
- November 18
- The Secret Lives of Animals
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, 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, Shōgun, Only Murders in the Building and The Bear.
Verdict: 4/5
Best new content coming to Disney Plus in December:
- December 3
- Skeleton Crew - Series Premiere / Jung Kook: I Am Still - The Original
- 4 December
- Los Montaner: Season 2 / Light Shop+ Mickey and Minnie's Christmas Carols
- 10 December
- Sugarcane
- 11 December
- Dream Productions - Series Premiere / Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae
- 13 December
- Elton John: Never Too Late / Invisible
- 17 December
- The Simpsons: O C'mon All Ye Faithful / Blink
- 20 December
- Ilana Glazer: Human Magic
- 22 December
- What If...?: Season 3
- 27 December
- John Williams in Tokyo
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.
Verdict: 4/5
Best new content coming to Prime Video in December:
- December 3
- Absolution / Jack In Time For Christmas
- December 4
- Pop Culture Jeopardy
- December 6
- The Sticky
- December 10
- Longlegs / Secret Level
- December 13
- Bandish Bandits – Season 2
- December 14
- Christmas in the Spotlight
- December 27
- Culpa Tuya (Your Fault)
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.
Verdict: 3/5
Best new content coming to Paramount Plus in December:
- December 1
- Hell on Wheels (seasons 1-5) / Longmire (seasons 1-6)
- December 4
- Peppa Pig: Winter Wonderland / Teen Mom Family Reunion (season 3)
- December 11
- First Wives Club (seasons 1-3)
- December 15
- An Evening with Dua Lipa
- December 19
- Nate Bargatze Nashville Christmas
- December 20
- National Christmas Tree Lighting
- Josh Groban & Friends Go Home For The Holidays
- December 22
- The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors
- December 27
- The Greatest Home Videos: Holiday Edition / Grammy Greats: The Stories Behind the Songs
- December 29
- Grammy Greats: The Most Memorable Moments
- December 31
- New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash (live stream only)
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, you can get all the essentials plus the drama, sport and movies packs for just AU$58p/m over 12 months – that's a total saving of AU$312 over an entire year.
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
Best new content on Foxtel Now in December
With Foxtel Now, you get the best of a few different of Australia's best streaming services in one. You get the biggest shows and movies that are coming to Binge, thanks to their shared Foxtel ownership, like The Day of the Jackal, Outlander and Dune Prophecy, plus some content like The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial that is coming to Paramount Plus.
- December 6
- Close Encounters Down Under S1 / Southern Charm S10
- December 9
- Lonely Crime Fanatic
- December 10
- Celebrity Sewing Bee Festive Specials S4 / Holmes On Holmes: Building A Legacy S1
- December 12
- I Kissed A Girl S1 / A Brief History of Cricket Downunder S2 / The Changing of the Guard S2
- December 13
- Longlegs / Bookie S2
- December 14
- Dune: Part Two
- December 16
- Crowdsource Murder
- December 17
- Cold Case Detectives S1
- Festive Celebrity Pottery Throw Down S2 / Laid S1
- December 22
- Aerial Profiles S2
- December 24
- A Night Court Before Xmas
- December 26
- Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
- December 28
- The Garfield Movie
Specialty services
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.
Verdict: 4/5
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. There's never been a better time to jump into a BritBox subscription than right now, though. Thanks to a deal that has cut the cost of its annual subscription by 44%, you can grab 12 months of peak British telly for just AU$55.
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.
Verdict: 4/5
Best new content coming to BritBox in November
- December 2
- 12 Days of Britmas / Vera Christmas Episode
- December 5
- Mr Bates Vs The Post Office – Season 1
- December 13
- Judge John Deed – Seasons 1–5
- December 14
- Brief Encounters – Season 1
- December 15
- Annika – Season 2
- December 16
- Case Sensitive – Seasons 1 & 2
- December 17
- The Amazing Mrs Pritchard – Season 1
- December 18
- Sister Boniface Mysteries Christmas Special 2024 / Lighting Up Christmas
- December 19
- The Limehouse Golem
- December 20
- In the Dark – Season 1
- December 21
- I Want My Wife Back – Season 1
- December 22
- Silent Witness – Season 26
- December 23
- Breathe
- December 24
- Father Ted – Seasons 1–3
- December 25
- Carols From King’s
- December: Date TBC
- Death in Paradise Christmas Special 2024
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.
Shudder subscribers were cheering in September as as In a Violent Nature finally found its way to the horror streamer, alongside 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.
Of course, October was where Shudder shined – with Halloween capping off thirty days of spooks and scares driven by the release of Late Night with the Devil, The Exorcism and a whole bunch of lesser-known films. But, don't worry – October might be the spooky season, but November is just as tasty on the content-front.
Best new content coming to Shudder in December
- December 3
- The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula
- December 13
- Just Joe Bob
- December 15
- Joe Bob Christmas Carnage
- December 31
- Horror’s Greatest
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.
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.
FAQs
What is 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.
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.
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.
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.
Are there any free streaming services in Australia?
Yes! There are a few free streaming services, or at least free tiers of streaming services, including Brollie and Crunchyroll. However, if you're looking for the best free streaming service, it's hard to look past Kanopy. Available through a library card or your university email, Kanopy has a significant library of movies, documentaries and TV shows that you aren't likely to find on other streaming services. Foreign films, independent movies, classic cinema and rare documentaries, Kanopy is perhaps the best streaming service for those looking for more thoughtful, niche or educational content. There's also just some incredible movies on there.
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.
