The COVID-19 pandemic confined us all to our homes. This led to the growth of streaming websites that allow you to watch your favourite movies and TV shows anywhere, anytime. They have changed the entertainment industry drastically. Two of the biggest online streaming services are Netflix and Amazon Prime. They offer excellent content at reasonable prices and have even won awards for their movies and shows. They also have to compete with similar platforms such as Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV, Peacock, etc. This article covers Netflix and Amazon Prime in detail, what factors differentiate these two and what you should choose. Let us know how to use Amazon Prime vs. Netflix.
The difference between Amazon Prime and Netflix is:
- Netflix is a streaming platform allowing you to stream movies and TV series. Amazon Prime membership gets you many additional benefits, such as Free Delivery and Amazon Prime Music
- Netflix has various plans ranging from $9.99 to $19.99 per month. In contrast, Amazon Prime Video has only one general plan that costs $8.99 monthly.
- Netflix has a much more extensive library as compared to Amazon Prime.
- The video and audio quality of Netflix are much superior to Amazon Prime. The former broadcast 4K and HDR content as well.
- You can display Netflix content on gaming consoles, but Amazon Prime does not have this feature.
Content
Netflix and Amazon Prime offer great content to satisfy all your binge-watching nights. The former contains excellent movies, including classics, indie films, and new coming-of-age movies. This includes “The Edge of Seventeen,” Titanic,” and “The Adam Project,” to name a few. Amazon Prime, on the other hand, focuses more on TV shows, including “Modern Love,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and “The Boys.”
Both platforms update their content daily, tailoring it to their viewer’s demands. The competition between both is challenging. Amazon Prime has a vast content library and beats Netflix in quantity. Netflix, however, is far ahead in terms of the quality of content. It has a richness of content that Amazon Prime lacks. The original movies and shows on Netflix have won over fifteen academy awards.
Pricing
Amazon Prime has a general membership and does not have multiple plans based on user needs. Their membership includes benefits such as free shipping, ad-free Prime Music, etc. The annual plan costs $139, and the monthly plan costs $14.99. Suppose you do not wish to avail of their additional benefits and only want to access the streaming service, which costs $8.99 monthly. On the other hand, Netflix is not as affordable as Amazon prime. It only allows streaming videos and has no additional benefits. The plans start with the basic plan costing $9.99 monthly and go up to the Premium plan, which costs $19.99 monthly. These plans vary in terms of the number of screens you can access simultaneously and the resolution of videos.
Downloading Movies and Shows
Amazon Prime Video allows you to download any content available on its platform for offline viewing. While Netflix also allows downloads, it is not for the entire content library. Every Netflix original is available for download, but the rest of the movies and shows depend on the network that owns them.
Additional Benefits
Amazon Prime provides you with two options. The first is that you sign up just for their video streaming service, i.e., Prime Video, and the second is purchasing a full Amazon Prime membership which includes various benefits along with Prime Video. This includes Prime music for ad-free music, free delivery, two-day shipping, and unique or early access to offers and discounts on their shopping platform. Netflix does not have any such benefits. It offers you just a streaming service.
Amazon Prime does not charge extra for high-quality video streaming, but Netflix has separate plans with the expensive plans offering higher resolution. Similarly, the more expensive the Netflix plan is, the more screens you can access simultaneously. Prime Video allows you to access three screens at a time.
User Experience and Ease of Use
Netflix has divided its entire content library into various genres, and this feature is presented beautifully on its app and website. This makes it easy for users to choose their next movie or TV show. Amazon Prime Video can do a lot better in this sector. However, a plus point of using Prime Video is that it displays the IMDb ratings of the movies and shows. This is an excellent feature if you are someone who decides your watchlist based on reviews and ratings. Netflix does not have this feature yet.
Conclusion
The difference between Amazon Prime and Netflix is reducing day by day. Netflix has dropped its rates recently and is now looking to launch even cheaper plans supported with ads. Amazon Prime Video lacks behind Netflix in the richness of content and is constantly working towards it. It is expanding its content library daily by adding new movies and TV shows. Hence, the choice here is highly subjective and depends on your requirements and preferences.
FAQs
- How many subscribers do Netflix and Amazon Prime have?
Answer: Netflix has around 221.64 paid subscribers, and Amazon Prime has over 200 million subscribers. These figures are worldwide and are up until the first quarter of 2022.
- Is Amazon Prime more affordable than Netflix?
Answer: Yes, Amazon Prime Video costs $8.99 monthly, while Netflix costs $9.99 and $19.99 per month.
- Can I access Prime Video and Netflix on all devices?
Answer: Prime Video can be accessed on all devices, including your phones, laptops, tablets, and even TVs. Netflix, however, has different plans for access to devices. You can access the mobile plan at $9.99 on your phones and tablets, while the higher-priced plans are accessed from more devices, including TVs.
