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Summary

• Disney+ and Max provide extensive catalogs of popular titles with high streaming quality.
• Kanopy and Mubi grant access to award-winning films from around the globe.
• Peacock features some of the most popular comedies and reality TV to binge.

It can be easy to get lost in a sea of content right now, with so many different streaming services, free and paid alike, offering vast catalogs to consume what free time you have. There might be too many services actually, and there are definitely too many shows and movies and specials and limited series available.

Too much content might not be a bad problem, but that services are consistently raising prices and introducing ad-supported tiersin an effort to make more money presents a challenge to consumers. If you want to subscribe to everything, it’s going to cost you. The better path is to go through each service and determine if it’s actually worth investing in. With so many options to consider, here are the streaming services worth paying for in 2025. Spoiler alert: the list doesn’t include Netflix.

1 Disney+ for exciting titles and fan favorites

Popular studios and high-quality streams

A lot goes into deciding what streamers are actually worth it, because it ultimately depends on what you like to watch, how you like to watch, and what kind of money you’re willing to spend. The depth and popularity of the Disney+ content library will be enough for some to make this service worth it. With Disney+, you get access to all of Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, Disney Pictures and all their respective franchises, along with a wide range of other popular content that goes back decades (although some of the older titles are highly questionable).

International subscribers get access to Star with their Disney+ subscription. For American consumers, be sure to bundle in Hulu to get access to more quality dramas and comedies that aren’t as family-friendly.

What boosts the appeal of Disney+, especially for those watching on a high-end TV, is the amount of content that’s available in top formats. Many titles are offered in 4K resolution along with HDR10+, allowing those with the best TVs to enjoy a faithful cinematic experience with accurate colors and fine detail. Some titles are also available in IMAX Enhanced, which has an aspect ratio of 1.90:1., eliminating a majority of the black bars on the top and bottom of the TV for traditionally wide screen content. You can also create up to seven total profiles, which is a nice bonus.

2 Max for binging prestige shows

An extensive catalog features some of the best titles

Similar to Disney+, there is simply too much good content available on Max to skip it. Perhaps HBO’s latest shows aren’t quite up to the standard of those of years and decades past (The Penguin notwithstanding), but there is still plenty to enjoy in this service that has struggled to find an identity. It’s not just that the Max library boasts quality; it features quantity as well, especially some long-running TV shows like Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, and Boardwalk Empire. There is a lot you can get lost in for a long time, which means you can definitely get your money’s worth.

Some services offer ‘extras’ under certain titles akin to those found on DVDs and Blu-rays. You can explore trailers, bloopers, behind-the-scenes clips, and making-of specials.

It does mean you need to put in a bit of work to make sure you’re not just endlessly scrolling for certain titles. And you’ll have to pay a bit to get access to the highest quality tier, which you’ll want to do in order to stream in 4K HDR. It’s a bigger monetary investment than others, but sometimes you need to pay to get the good stuff.

3 Kanopy for global cinema

A free service with some requirements

Kanopy is a curious service: it boasts an eclectic library of content within an app that isn’t particularly enjoyable to use. Notably, it’s free, providing you do a little work first and deal with some annoying restrictions. Still, it’s a worthwhile service to employ simply because of the quality of the varied titles it offers.

To access Kanopy, you must first have an applicable public library card, or be a student or professor at a university or college. Kanopy uses a ticket system, so you can only stream a select number of movies a month, but the limit is still worth the use.

With Disney+, you get access to all of Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, Disney Pictures and all their respective franchises, along with a wide range of other popular content that goes back decades.

Once you successfully sign up, you can enjoy a wide range of indie films, award-winning dramas, documentaries, and even some TV shows. There’s a lot of content, new and old, from around the world, ideal for those seeking out quality films that don’t necessarily play to the masses. Just be patient with the interface; you get what you pay for.

4 Mubi for award-winning entertainment

Compelling stories from iconic directors

For those who look down on the endless parade of mindless blockbusters put forth by Netflix and Amazon with interchangeable titles, dim-witted plots, and the same few A-list actors, then you might want to check out Mubi. This service is filled with international and domestic films that are driven by creativity and curiosity, not an algorithm looking to maximize shareholder value. The library includes both new and old movies from acclaimed directors around the world, a lot of which debuted at film festivals.

There are new popular titles such as The Substance and Queer, but also worthwhile offerings from directors such as Ira Sachs, Wim Wenders, Akira Kurosawa, and Justine Triet from decades past. If you want to watch films that will make you feel a lot of different emotions, including shock and discomfort, then this is the service you should be subscribing to.

5 Peacock for comfort viewing

Reality TV and crowd-pleasing sitcoms

Balance is key when consuming titles; not everything can be an engaging, thought-provoking drama that leaves you shaken afterward. Sometimes, probably more often than not, you need something easy to put on and leave your mind at rest. That’s where Peacock comes in; a younger service that’s worth the investment, especially if you like reality TV. From Brooklyn 99 to Parks and Rec, The Office to Superstore, there is no shortage of quality comfort viewing when you need a laugh.

The dramas are there too, if you’re keen on Yellowstone and its extended universe. But Peacock is also home to the Bravo and the ever-dramatic world of Andy Cohen, including so many Housewives franchises, along with one of the best reality competition shows on TV in The Traitors. After you watch Mubi, you can relax with something easier on Peacock.

With costs creeping ever upward for services, and a finite amount of time to enjoy a seemingly unlimited amount of content, it’s important to cull your subscriptions and focus on what you need most. Invest your time and money in the services that provide the most value, and avoid those like Prime Video and Netflix that are more interested in occupying your time and taking up all your attention rather than providing you with entertainment that meets your needs.