Both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video offer compelling streaming options with their own strengths. Netflix stands out with its vast content library and high-quality originals, while Amazon Prime Video provides a wide range of content, including the option to rent or buy, and offers a free trial. The choice depends on individual preferences, budget, and desired features like ad-free viewing and simultaneous streams.
| Attribute | Netflix | Amazon Prime Video |
|---|---|---|
| Content library size and variety | Vast library of movies, TV series, documentaries, kids' shows, stand-up comedy, anime, and international programming. Diverse selection ensuring something for every viewer. | Over 25,000 movies and TV shows, including exclusive originals, live sports, and film premieres. Offers a wide range of categories like Drama, Romance, Comedy, Thriller, Action, and Kids. Renting and buying content is available. |
| Original content quality and quantity | Netflix invests millions in creating its own original content. Consistent in quantity and quality. | Growing slate of in-house original TV shows and movies, including award-winning series like "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel", "The Boys", "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan", "Reacher", and "The Summer I Turned Pretty". Some sources suggest the quantity of original content is limited compared to competitors like Netflix. |
| Subscription cost and plans | Offers different plans: Standard with Ads ($7.99/month), Standard ($17.99/month), Premium ($24.99/month). Extra members can be added to Standard and Premium plans for an additional monthly fee. | Amazon Prime membership (includes Prime Video): $14.99/month or $139/year. Standalone Prime Video: $8.99/month. Ad-free option: Additional $2.99/month. Prime Access (for recipients of government assistance): $6.99/month. Prime for Young Adults (formerly Prime Student): $7.49/month or $69/year. Promotions like free trials and discounts are often available. |
| Video resolution and audio quality | Standard with Ads: Full HD (1080p), Standard: Full HD (1080p), Premium: 4K Ultra HD. | Streams in 4K Ultra HD and High Dynamic Range (HDR). Enhanced streaming quality including UHD, HDR10 and HDR10+ on select titles is available. Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos may also be available for Prime Video Ad Free customers on select titles. |
| Offline viewing availability | Downloading content for offline viewing is possible on devices like Android phones/tablets, iPhones, iPads, Amazon Fire tablets, and Google Chromebooks. Ad-free plans: Up to 100 active downloads at a time per device. Ad-supported plans: Limited to 15 total downloads per device per calendar month. | Mobile downloads are available for offline viewing of some content. You can download titles on up to two compatible devices at the same time. Downloaded videos typically have a viewing period: 30 days to begin watching after downloading, and 48 hours to finish watching once started. A maximum of 15 to 25 titles can be downloaded at one time across all devices. Downloaded videos can only be viewed within the Prime Video app. |
| Device compatibility | Compatible with smart TVs, streaming media players, mobile phones, tablets, computers, game consoles, and set-top boxes. | Compatible with Fire TV/Fire TV Stick, Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, etc.), Android and iOS devices, Game consoles (PlayStation, Xbox), Web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.), Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast. |
| User interface and experience | Well-designed and user-friendly interface with intuitive navigation. Consistent color scheme and fonts, easy browsing via thumbnails, and detailed information for each title. | New navigation bar with destinations such as "Home," "Movies," "TV Shows," "Sports," and "Live TV". Updated interface includes personalized recommendations powered by generative AI. Easier to identify movies and series available at no extra cost with your Prime membership. The redesign aims to simplify finding content and reduce user frustration. |
| Ad-free viewing options | Ad-free viewing is available on the Standard and Premium plans. The Standard with Ads plan includes advertisements. | As of January 29, 2024, ads are included in Prime Video. You can pay an extra $2.99/month to remove ads. Some content, such as live TV and sports events, may still include ads. |
| Number of simultaneous streams | Standard with Ads: 2 devices, Standard: 2 devices, Premium: 4 devices. | You can stream up to three titles at the same time using the same Amazon account. You can stream the same title to no more than two devices at a time. Amazon Prime Video allows viewing on two devices simultaneously per account. |
| Parental control features | Provides parental control features to help keep children safe while streaming. Options include setting maturity ratings, blocking specific titles, and setting a PIN to prevent access to certain profiles. | Parental controls allow you to set restrictions for video content that can be viewed or purchased. You can set viewing restrictions based on age ratings. A Prime Video PIN can be set up to prevent bypassing viewing restrictions and to restrict purchases. You can create child profiles with pre-filtered content. |
| Regional content availability | Content library can vary significantly based on geographic location. | Restrictions on the number of devices you can use to stream Amazon Prime Video may vary from region to region. Content library can vary significantly based on geographic location. |
| Free trial availability | Netflix does not currently offer a free trial period in most regions. | Amazon Prime offers a 30-day free trial, which includes Prime Video. A 6-month free trial is available for students with Prime Student. You are eligible for a trial if you haven't had a Prime membership or free trial in the past 12 months. |