Amazon Prime vs Netflix is one of the most heated modern debates among entertainment enthusiasts. As we already know, both platforms offer online streaming services for TV shows and movies on the device of your choice. They are already in the first and second positions in terms of user base and popularity. Now the question is, Amazon vs Netflix, which one is better?
It’s pretty clear how the world of streaming has been rapidly expanding its branches. There was a time when the entertainment industry was limited to cable TV. But as digital media underwent an intense evolution, streaming platforms have become the new favorite of TV series and movie lovers.
Every person who has watched even a single Netflix or Amazon Prime Video TV series or movie has realized how the entire entertainment ecosystem has transformed. Depending on the viewers’ taste there is a whole mountain of content widespread on the internet. Amazon Prime Video and Netflix are the two main giants that offer the majority of the world’s entertainment.
What Is Netflix?
Launched in 1997, Netflix brings forth an entire TV series and movie library through its original productions as well as distribution deals. It started out as a rental business based on mail and has emerged as the top OTT platform of the 21st century. Netflix started out small and has become an unbeatable rival to other Video-on-demand platforms in the current day scenario.
What Is Amazon Prime?
Just like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video is also a paid subscription service by the global giant Amazon. It has become widespread in many countries across the globe. Amazon introduced Prime membership as a service offering in 2005. It offers viewers the facility to instantly stream selected TV shows and movies without any additional price as long as they are Amazon Prime members. This is applicable to members from the United States, India, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Italy, and Australia.
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Amazon Prime vs Netflix: Comparing Plans and Pricing:
| S.No. | Feature | Amazon Prime | Netflix |
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Plans | Amazon Prime offers three plans: Prime Video, Prime (Monthly), and Prime (Annual). | Netflix offers three plans: Basic, Standard, and Premium. |
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Pricing |
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Free Trial | 30 days | N/A |
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Offline Viewing | Available on all three plans |
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Amazon Prime: Plans & Pricing
Amazon Prime offers three plans: Prime Video, Prime (Monthly), and Prime (Annual). The Prime Video plan costs $8.99, Prime (Monthly) costs $14.99, and Prime (Annual) is $139. Amazon also offers a free trial of its Prime service for 30 days. Offline viewing is available on all three plans. However, you only consume content on one device at a time.
The price of Amazon Prime is $99/year. It also includes TV series on movies available for streaming even though not all. Some digital content like TV series, music, movies, and books are also available for rent. Some other perks of signing up for Amazon Prime include unlimited 2-day shipping for free, same-day shipping in some areas, one free kindle ebook per month, and more savings on Mom services.
Netflix: Plans & Pricing
Netflix offers three plans: Basic, Standard, and Premium. The Basic one costs $9.99, the Standard costs $15.49, and the Premium costs $19.99. Offline viewing is available on one device for the basic plan, 2 devices on the standard plan, and four devices on the premium plan.
Netflix also provides a service in which you can get a rental DVD via mail. For 2 DVDs it charges $4.99 per month. You can also get 3 a time unlimited Blu Ray discs for $19.99 per month.
If you are looking forward to making the most out of your subscription price, Amazon Prime can turn out to be better. If you are a video game buff, Amazon Prime Video would be even more beneficial, thanks to its perks such as free games, rewards, and so on. But of course, if the content you prefer is only available on Netflix, it’s a great choice too.
Amazon Prime vs Netflix: How Does The Content Library Compare?
If you talk about content, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video greatly diverge. While Netflix is better in terms of originality, Amazon Prime Video shines when it comes to offering more titles. While both are award-winning for the original movies and TV shows, there is still comparison criteria. Mostly, content preferences are highly relative with different watchers having different likes and dislikes.
Amazon Prime Content Library:
If you are looking for a modest yet versatile content catalog, Amazon Prime Video is the way to go. There is no shortage of different niches as Amazon Prime Video is a house to many popular TV shows and movies. One of the most influential appeals is a comprehensive catalog of rich and original content. However, you must keep in mind that if the movie or show of your choice doesn’t display the Prime banner, you might have to rent or purchase to watch it.
Some of the most popular Amazon exclusives include Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, 24, Veronica Mars, The Wire, and kids shows such as Go Diego, Go!, Dora the Explorer, and SpongeBob SquarePants from Nickelodeon.
The content library of Amazon Prime Video is the largest one any streaming service has offered. It has more than 17000 movies.
Netflix Content Library:
Netflix has a comparatively huge content catalog that focuses more on original content. The best part is that it features plenty of foreign content as well that is hard to find. It gained a lot of popularity after producing the new season of Arrested Development, a popular cult classic.
Netflix exclusives feature Mad Men Breaking Bad, Gossip Girl, The Walking Dead, Dexter, How I Met Your Mother, Grey’s Anatomy, Arrested Development, and Supernatural. It boasts critical acclaim winners such as Orange Is the New Black and House of Cards. Some other lovable masterpieces include Icarus, The Crown, The Irishman, Roma, Stranger Things, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
The content library on Netflix has 100000 + titles. However, it doesn’t compare to Amazon Prime Video when it comes to movies as Netflix has less than 4000.
If you choose Netflix or Amazon Prime on the basis of content preferences, it’s important to research and realize the kind of content you actually like. One thing to note is that Netflix has a wide variety of children’s movies and shows as well which makes it a popular option for families. Children’s collection is a little limited on Amazon Prime Video.
Amazon Prime vs Netflix: User Interface and User Experience Comparison
Netflix features a highly optimized, sleek, and clean user interface whereas Amazon Prime Video has things more complicated in this area. This makes it easy for Netflix users to browse the platform on different devices. But since Amazon Prime Video is less integrated, overall navigation and browsing are a little bit more challenging.
The fact Netflix is exclusively targeted at VOD might have something to do with a flawless user interface and user experience. As we already know, Amazon Prime Video offers entertainment as only one of its many services in its marketplace.
Amazon Prime vs Netflix: Video Streaming Quality Comparison
It goes without saying but for most users, video streaming quality is something they can never compromise on. That’s what makes it one of the most important features for comparison between Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.
Amazon Prime Video features HD quality by default. If you wish to crank the resolution up a notch, you can easily level up with 4K ultra HD. Unfortunately, that’s hardly the situation with Netflix. The Basic plan only offers SD quality with a cap at 480p. That means you can’t enjoy the visuals to their fullest. You can get HD quality only by updating to the Standard plan. The only way to avail 4K ultra HD is to purchase the Premium.
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Amazon Prime vs Netflix: How Many Devices Can Stream Video Simultaneously
Before diving into how many devices can stream videos simultaneously, let’s check out the device compatibility of both Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.
Devices Compatible With Amazon Prime Video :
Amazon Prime Video is compatible with the following devices.
- Amazon Fire TV
- Android TV
- Android devices
- Apple TV
- iOS devices
- Google Chromecast
- Nintendo
- Xbox
- Smart TVs
- Roku
- Web browsers
Devices Compatible With Netflix:
Netflix is compatible with the following devices.
- Android devices
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
- iOS devices
- Google Chromecast
- Nintendo
- PlayStation
- Xbox
- Nvidia Shield
- Roku
- Wii
- Smart TVs
- Web browsers
The option for streaming on multiple devices is one of the most sought-after features of OTT platforms. If you are a Netflix user, you are going to have to upgrade to the Standard plan if you want to stream your favorite TV shows in movies on multiple devices. In case you need streaming on more than two devices, only the premium plan offers that. However, Amazon Prime Video offers simultaneous streams for multiple devices in all its plans. As long as the content is different, you can stream it simultaneously on 3 devices. Whereas, for the same content, this limit is up to two devices.
Also, Netflix content streams smoothly on most Amazon devices whereas the same is not true for Amazon. Its interface is optimum for Amazon’s very own content but the lack of cross-device continuity is its disadvantage. However, the number of apps and channels available is beneficial for Amazon Prime Video users.
Comparing Revenue and Subscribers
Netflix has approximately 30 million subscribers and more than 7 million international subscribers whereas Amazon Prime has 10 million Plus subscribers. The annual net subscription services sale for Amazon Prime was dollar 25.21 billion in 2020. On the other hand, Netflix’s revenue was 30 billion in 2021. If this trend continues, both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video could wade the waters of trillions.
Amazon vs Netflix: Which One Is Right for You?
Netflix offers to set up individual profiles for all family members. Since every person in the house has a separate profile, Netflix offers personalization on the basis of their preferences. For instance, if you watch mystery thrillers, Netflix is going to offer other similar suggestions for viewing. It offers the watchlist and wishlist in clear vicinity when a user logs in.
If you are worried about the A-rated content on Netflix, you would be pleased to know that the front and menu can easily be locked. In other words, since Netflix has a separate profile for kids nothing inappropriate would be visible to them.
But if you have a versatile content preference, Amazon Prime can offer you more worth of your money spent. It offers X-ray, something that Netflix doesn’t have yet. This feature offers facts and trivia and information about actors, songs, and other details related to the TV show or a movie you’re watching. So, if you having some trouble placing a face, Amazon Prime Video allows you to instantly identify them. However, if simplicity of the user interface and specific quality content is your preference, Netflix would be the way to go. All in all, it’s going to come down to preferences and pricing.
Conclusion:
By now, it must be clear that if you compare factors like plans pricing, content library, user interface and experience, quality, revenue, and subscribers, it’s possible to make an informed decision for Amazon Prime vs Netflix.
Without a doubt, both Amazon Prime Video and Netflix are the two topmost Video-on-demand streaming platforms out there. Most people who are already a part of the ecosystem of Amazon, they already get the most popular TV series and movies for free as long as they are Prime members. If you are still confused, Amazon Prime Video offers a trial version lasting for 30 days. You can try it out, analyze your preferences, and compare it to Netflix. If you have any queries, sound them off in the comments section below. Meanwhile, do check out our blog on Netflix history to know more about the origin story of NetFlix.
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Head of Digital Marketing at Vdocipher. I love the art of connecting the right product to their users. When i’m not doing that i love getting lost in books.