ZWF: The Zander's Facts Streaming Service Rankings
Zander's Weekend Facts #104: Sunday, February 4, 2024
Inside this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts, Zander ranks the best television streaming services, and a look at what Zander’s been reading this past week. Plus, a compilation of the top headlines you need to know about from the last seven days.
Also, go listen to the latest episode of the Zander’s Facts Podcast! Episode 131 features analysis of the current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border. Download the Zander’s Facts podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
Here are Zander’s Weekend Facts for Sunday, February 4, 2024:
The top U.S. streaming services, according to Zander’s Facts
The streaming revolution is upon us, ladies and gentlemen. There are more ways to watch, and more things to watch, than ever before. The options are seemingly endless, and it truly is a wonderful timeline we live in.
And yet, the streaming world also brings with it major confusion. After years of the landscape being dominated by a few options, there are now dozens of services to choose from, all attempting to differentiate themselves and showcasing their offerings as “the best.”
And while there are many rankings you can find of the best streaming services on the market today, there’s only one place where you can find the definitive, most accurate, set of rankings.
That’s right friends, it’s time for the first-ever Zander’s Facts Streaming Service Rankings. These are the BEST on-demand streaming services available in the United States, as of February 4, 2024. Could this list change? Absolutely. But as of writing, these are the 10 most subscribed-to streamers ranked from top to bottom.
To the Facts! ⬇️
10. Starz ⭐️
Subscribers
15.8 million
Plans/Price
$9.99/month
Free Trial Offer
None available 😞
Zander’s Analysis
I’ll be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever used or watched anything on Starz. But if you have, that’s cool. The service, which began as and still is a premium cable channel in the HBO mold, features popular shows and movies such as John Wick, Power, and Outlander. But because I’ve rarely interacted with it, Starz goes at the bottom.
9. ESPN+ ⚽️
Subscribers
26.0 million
Plans/Price
$10.99/month, $109.99/year
Free Trial Offer
None that I can find 😞
Zander’s Analysis
If you’re a sports fan, like I am, then ESPN+ is almost a must-have. At least, it was back when it only cost $5 per month. The monthly price has more than doubled since launch in 2018, and the additions to the service since then have been minimal. You can bundle the service with Disney+ and Hulu if you want for a big discount, but that’s only if you want/have those separate services.
ESPN+ gives you access to almost every documentary ESPN has made recently, has exclusive commentary shows, and has a ton of sports. Several soccer leagues, including Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga, and England’s FA Cup and Carabao Cup competitions, are housed on the service, meaning I’ll never let it go. The service also has many exclusive college football and basketball games, along with supplemental coverage of some of the golf and tennis major tournaments.
What confuses some people, however, is that ESPN+ includes very little of what ESPN shows on its linear television channel. That means most NFL, NBA, and top college football and basketball events aren’t available and need a separate cable/streaming TV subscription. (ESPN is reportedly planning to launch a service where you can buy the ESPN channels separately in the next few years.) While I do love my sports and use ESPN+ all the time, the interface is extremely clunky and I have to log back into the app every few days. It can be a total hassle and sometimes I give up on using the app.
8. Amazon Prime Video 🦦
Subscribers
200 million+ (estimate)
Plans/Price
Prime Video: $8.99/month
Included with Amazon Prime: $14.99/month, $139.00/year, $7.49/month for students
Additional no ads charge: +$2.99/month
Free Trial Offer
30 days free 🤑
Zander’s Analysis
Amazon says they’ve tried to fix their absolutely horrific Prime Video interface, but I haven’t noticed any differences. I actively avoid using the app in most cases because I can’t take it anymore. On the devices I’ve used, it’s difficult to scroll around and I struggle to find the content I want to watch.
But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing good to watch, there definitely is. Amazon has been beefing up its content spending in recent years resulting in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series. They’ve also got The Man in the High Castle, one of my personal favorites, and Reacher. Plus, Amazon has done a wonderful job with the NFL’s Thursday Night Football (meaning, they haven’t really screwed it up, so far).
And now I have a new bone to pick with Prime Video. Amazon just recently began charging users $2.99 per month to not have ads while they’re watching programming. But Amazon already has a streaming service with ads, Freevee, that’s free. The poor souls at Amazon headquarters couldn’t survive off their current profit margin, so they needed to charge their customers already paying $15 a month for Prime another $3. Amazon’s lucky their janky service isn’t lower on this most acclaimed ranking list.
7. Hulu 🔫
Subscribers
48.5 million
Plans/Price
Hulu with ads: $7.99/month
Hulu with no ads: $17.99/month
Hulu + Live TV: $76.99/month, includes Disney+ and ESPN+
Free Trial Offer
One month free 🤑
Zander’s Analysis
Hulu is in a strange spot right now because while it does have an extensive library of excellent movies and shows, its days appear to be numbered. You can now watch lots of Hulu programming on Disney+, making a merger between the two apps appear inevitable.
Having so many popular movies like 22 Jump Street, Crazy Rich Asians, and Twilight alongside tons of excellent shows such as Family Guy, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and New Girl, joined by many Hulu Originals means you’ll never run out of something to watch. But unless you pay $10 extra per month, you’ll waste lots of time getting your programs interrupted by lots of ads, which you’re already paying $8 to see.
Hulu also includes a Live TV option with channels like ABC, CNN, ESPN, TNT, and more. Which is nice, until you realize there are better streaming live TV options out there (*cough* YouTube TV *cough*). You can also bundle Hulu with Disney+ and ESPN+ to save some money, which is a plus. However, I’ve often turned to other options when searching for something to watch recently. Who knows if Hulu will even be around the next time these rankings come out?
6. Apple TV+ 🍎
Subscribers
25.0 million (estimate)
Plans/Price
$9.99/month
Free Trial Offer
Three months free if you look hard enough 🤯
Zander’s Analysis
Backed by one of the largest companies in the world, you’d probably expect more from Apple TV+. But Apple’s cautious approach into streaming has still produced a quality service. Unlike some of the services on this list, Apple TV+ does not suffer from technological issues very often. The sleek interface it features that Apple is known for is definitely a plus that makes me go to the app more often.
You’re not going to get shabby content crap either when you watching something on Apple TV+. Ted Lasso is an amazing series everyone must watch in their life at least once, and shows like The Morning Show, Foundation, and Severance have garnered critical acclaim. Plus, there’s lots of Tom Hanks, which I happen to enjoy and you should too, except if you’re a complete bumbling idiot and think he eats children.
I also appreciate Apple investing in Major League Soccer and providing a quality product for domestic soccer to shine. The only thing that really lacks with Apple TV+ is the amount of content available. That’ll get better as time goes on, but it does make you question if the service is worth $10 a month. (Although, I do get it free through T-Mobile 😝.)
5. Peacock 🦚
Subscribers
31.0 million
Plans/Price
Premium: $5.99/month, $59.99/year
Premium Plus with no ads: $11.99/month, $119.99/year
Free Trial Offer
I can’t find one 😞
Zander’s Analysis
Almost every time I go into the Peacock app, I’m glad that I did. The service does one of the best jobs at finding me something I want to watch. I hope never to take for granted that when I open the app right before a Sunday Night Football contest, it immediately shows me the football I want. I can’t recall any technical issues I’ve had, which as we know on this list, gives you a bump.
Peacock is home to some of my favorites: The Office, Parks and Recreation, and 30 Rock. And I’ve found some new stuff on the app as well. I just watched the new Ted series, based on the movie, which I found unexpectedly delightful. Plus, I love watching NBC Sports’ superb coverage of the English Premier League. Although I don’t like that I can’t watch every match live and have to get USA Network on a cable/streaming TV subscription to watch all the matches, but that’s more of a Concast thing. (One of the few things I agree with Trump about.)
I’m also upset with Concast about giving away free Peacock to their cable and internet subscribers (which was good) but now taking it away. Just so you know, I’m no longer a customer of Concast internet and cable services. But I will give them credit, they did produce a decent streaming service. Plus, out of all the services with ads I’ve encountered, Peacock probably has the least of them, which is nice for poor people like me who won’t pay more for ad-free experiences.
4. Paramount+ ⛰️
Subscribers
63.4 million
Plans/Price
Essential: $5.99/month, $59.99/year
With Showtime: $11.99/month, $119.99/year
Free Trial Offer
Seven days free 😄
Zander’s Analysis
Like the aforementioned Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+’s biggest weakness is the quality of the app. There are many times when I’ll have to log out or reset the app to get it to work. But, I have been able to navigate this app better than Amazon’s, hence its higher placement in these rankings.
Once you look past the app issues, however, the service shines, just slightly ahead of Peacock. I’d argue the content library is up there with the services near the top of this list, which is a surprise considering Paramount +’s owners, Paramount Global, are the second-smallest company on this list (behind Starz owner Lionsgate). The full library of Spongebob Squarepants and other Nickelodeon faves are included. So are many current and former CBS hits like 60 Minutes, Everybody Loves Raymond, and NCIS. Plus, if you’re a fan of the hit western Yellowstone and its many offshoots, you’ll find them on Paramount+.
Paramount+ also benefits from its CBS Sports collection, giving you access to every NFL game airing in your area (including next week’s Super Bowl) along with its second-to-none coverage of the UEFA Champions League. I love that the service is investing big-time in soccer, which we need more of in this country. And while I personally don’t consume much Showtime, you can add that content to also get rid of ads on most other programming. At its price point, Paramount+ is a great value in today’s streaming age. If its app quality got better, it would no longer be fourth.
3. Netflix 💔
Subscribers
260.2 million
Plans/Price
Standard with ads: $6.99/month
Standard: $15.49/month
Premium: $22.99/month
Free Trial Offer
“Netflix does not offer free trials” 😞
Zander’s Analysis
After the antics this company has been playing, Netflix is lucky they aren’t lower on this incredibly accurate list. The world’s largest, and arguably standard-bearer, streaming service is the one you go to every time you don’t know what to watch. ‘Netflix and chill’ is now synonymous with our daily culture, and it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t watch this service on the regular. And yet, they’re doing all they can to try and ruin the goodwill they have.
First off, the constant price increases are the reason inflation was going crazy back in the day. (It’s doing much better now, just FYI.) I wrote a whole piece almost one year ago about how Netflix used to love password sharing, but now is cracking down for no good reason other than making more money. (And yes, I realize the poor executives need the money to complete their collection of superyachts.) But now, Netflix has removed their basic plan to put ads on their lowest tier? Girl, please.
Netflix has something for everybody. For me, that includes Stranger Things, House of Cards, Seinfeld, and Outer Banks. And for others, that includes a billion other things, which can also make it difficult to navigate the app at times. But I’ve never found myself without something to watch on Netflix, which is probably a challenge no one could beat. So as I haven’t been hit by the password-sharing crackdown yet, Netflix stays near the top. But if/when I do? Count your days buddies.
2. Disney+ 🪄
Subscribers
150.2 million
Plans/Price
Basic with ads: $7.99/month
Premium: $13.99/month, $139.99/year
Free Trial Offer
Nothing in life is free 😞
Zander’s Analysis
I’m not sure Disney+ deserves to be ahead of Netflix because of what the mouse has been up to, but I’ve slotted them into second place. (And no I’m not talking about being woke, I’m not five years old.) Disney, like Netflix, has been steadily raising prices and is now reportedly set to crack down on password-sharing, which does not make me sympathetic to the company’s other endeavors. (Although, I will always choose Disney over Florida’s current governor, because Ron deserves to be put in solitary confinement until he can figure out how to smile correctly and understand why it’s not cool to wear boot heels.)
Despite my thoughts on Disney’s business plans, their streaming service is gas. You have to have a cold soul to not enjoy the endless amount of classic Disney content that ranges from Cinderella and Snow White to Frozen and Cars. (By the way, the tier list goes Cars 1, Cars 3, and Cars 2, in that order.) I also like going back to my youth and watching Disney Channel successes like The Suite Life on Deck and Wizards of Waverly Place. I also just watched the new Percy Jackson series and am questioning why I wasn’t cast as the lead, but it was still a quality program to witness.
I have little issues with the app as well, and the interface may be the best out of all the services listed on these fine rankings. As I mentioned earlier, it appears that a merger between Disney+ and Hulu is inevitable, which would only enhance the service in my opinion. (Unless mega price increases join in as well.) If Disney can find a way to put their family content, adult content with Hulu, and sports content with ESPN all on one app, then they’ll give the top spot a run for its money.
1. Max ♾️
Subscribers
95.1 million
Plans/Price
With ads: $9.99/month, $99.99/year
Ad-free: $15.99/month, $149.99/year
Ultimate ad-free: $19.99/month, $199.99/year
Free Trial Offer
Last, and certainly tied for least in this category. 😞
Zander’s Analysis
I’m also not sure that Max deserves to be ahead of Disney+ or Netflix, but I’ve ended up giving them the honor of most factual streaming service. Perhaps no award is greater on our planet. I will say that the direction of Max, and Warner Bros. Discovery as a whole, appears to be troubling. They’ve added loads of low-quality, cheap rubbish onto the platform and changed the name from HBO Max. Although, I do understand why they did that to not tarnish the HBO brand, but then maybe don’t add the crap in the first place?
And yet, Max is the best, because its content is the best. Apple TV+ is giving them a run for their money, but there is no better content creator in our great nation than HBO. The Sopranos, The Wire, and my fave, Curb Your Enthusiasm, all reside on the service alongside many other greats like Veep, Entourage, and Game of Thrones. The HBO lineup will always give Max an edge over others, and the infiltration of supplemental content has not all been bad, I’ll concede. I do believe that South Park is an amusing program, and I’m always finding movies that pique my interest. (But I swear to god Bill Maher needs to get off my recommendations, because I guess Max can’t tell I’m not into that kind of twaddle.) Just the other night, I found a movie called Anthropoid while scrolling and watched it. It stars Cillian Murphy and tells the story of how one of the top Nazi leaders was killed by the Czechoslovakian resistance. It made weepy and was very good and I wouldn’t have ever heard of it without the help of the Max recommendation page (which I still have a love-hate relationship with).
I’ve also enjoyed the new sports content that has been put on the platform. For a limited time, all the sporting events that air on TNT, TBS, and TruTV, including the NBA, NHL, and March Madness, are included with Max. I’m always in the mood for some Charles, Kenny, Shaq, and Ernie. However, when they start charging extra for it, my attitude is likely to change. Max is certainly not perfect - I don’t really appreciate the additions of 90 Day Fiancé and Dr. Pimple Popper - but as of February 2024, it is better than every other streaming service out there. What puts it over the top is allowing me to put Larry David as my profile picture, which is everything I’ve ever wanted in life. Thank you gracious multi-billion-dollar corporation! 🙏
* Some basics: All data is from the latest available date as of February 4, 2024. The services chosen to be included were the 10 with the most worldwide subscribers that are available in the United States according to Digital Trends as of January 26, 2024. These are Zander’s rankings, not yours, so quit whining about them and do your own if you, for whatever reason, disagree.
What Zander’s been reading
One of the greatest shows in the history of television, Curb Your Enthusiasm, returns tonight on HBO and Max for its final season. But if you’ve never watched or are trying to catch up, this list will help you find the best episodes to start with from the past 11 seasons (even though there are no bad episodes).
Check out this week’s featured article at The Ringer - Every Episode of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ Ranked
Rapid-fire Facts
These are top news headlines from the past week in rapid-fire fashion:
Tax Bill: In a rare show of bipartisanship, the House of Representatives passed a $78 billion tax package last week. The bill amends the Child Tax Credit by raising the monthly payout and increasing the maximum refundable credit for low-income families. Several business tax benefits resume under the bill, while also enhancing the Low Income Housing Tax Credit and providing disaster relief. The bill passed by a vote of 357-70, with 188 Democrats and 169 Republicans voting in favor.
Middle East Strikes: The U.S. and U.K. militaries launched several retaliatory attacks in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen on Friday and Saturday. After a drone strike killed three U.S. service members in Jordan last Sunday, the U.S. and U.K. launched strikes on Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Iraq and Syria on Friday. On Saturday, the U.S. and U.K. targeted sites in Yemen controlled by the Houthis, a military and political organization that is also backed by Iran. The Houthis have been launching strikes against ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden almost daily since the Israel-Hamas war began in October.
January Jobs Report: The U.S. jobs report showed much better than expected numbers to begin the year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the economy added 353,000 jobs in January, far higher than the Dow Jones’ estimate of 185,000. 353,000 is the highest number of non-farm payrolls added in a single month since January 2023’s 482,000. January’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.7%, with expectations predicting a rise to 3.8%. Additionally, average hourly earnings rose 4.5% last month compared to January 2023. The jump in wages year-over-year is the highest since 4.7% in February 2023.
Trump Election Trial: Federal Judge Tanya Chutkin postponed the start date of former President Donald Trump’s 2020 election trial indefinitely last week. Chutkin ordered on Friday that the trial will not begin until it is determined whether Trump is immune from the charges. Trump is currently arguing in front of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that he is immune from prosecution because of his status as president at the time. Trump is accused in this lawsuit of attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, which he lost.
Mayorkas Impeachment: The House of Representatives is expected to vote on articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas this week. The House Homeland Security Committee voted on party lines last week to advance the two articles of impeachment to a full floor vote. The two articles charge Mayorkas with “willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law” and “breach of public trust.” If he is impeached, Mayorkas would be just the second cabinet member to be impeached in U.S. history.
Zander’s Facts Sporting Club
Here are the top headlines from the sports world in the Sporting Club:
NFL Coaching Carousel: All head coaching vacancies in the NFL have been filled as the final two teams hired new coaches last week. On Wednesday, the Seattle Seahawks announced the hiring of Mike MacDonald as their next head coach. Macdonald was previously the defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, who lost in last week’s AFC Championship. Then on Thursday, the Washington Commanders reportedly hired Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who was previously also the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. The Commanders officially announced the hire of Quinn on Saturday.
College Basketball Top 10: For just the fourth time in the history of the AP college basketball poll, there were three games on a single day that only featured teams ranked in the top ten. In the first matchup, #8 Kansas held firm on their home floor against #4 Houston, winning 78-65. In the nightcap, #5 Tennessee hit the century mark to beat #10 Kentucky at Rupp Arena 103-92. But the highlight of the day was college basketball’s most-anticipated matchup, #7 Duke against #3 North Carolina. In the first matchup between the rivals since 2019 where both teams were in the top 10 of the AP poll, UNC held off the Blue Devils 93-84.
Formula 1 Move: A shocking move in Formula 1 was announced on Friday as Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes after the 2024 season. Hamilton, who has won a record-tying seven world championships, will be joining Ferrari in 2025. When the 39-year-old Hamilton first entered Formula 1 in 2007, it was originally with McLaren, where he won his first drivers’ championship. Hamilton then moved to Mercedes in 2012, where he’s won six more championships and has tied Michael Schumacher for most all-time with seven. Hamilton solely holds the record for most wins all-time with 103.
NHL Sexual Assault: Five NHL players were named in a sexual assault lawsuit against Hockey Canada last week and subsequently turned themselves in to police. In 2022, a woman filed a lawsuit in London, Ontario accusing eight members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior championship team of sexual assault during a June 2018 gala fundraiser. On Monday, the names were revealed of those accused, including five active or former NHL players. The players named were Cal Foote and Michael McLeod of the New Jersey Devils, Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Phillies, Dillon Dubé of the Calgary Flames, and Alex Formenton who previously played in the NHL but now plays in Switzerland. Police in London are expected to hold a press conference on Monday.
PGA Tour Investment: The PGA Tour announced a deal had been reached with Strategic Sports Group last week to launch PGA Tour Enterprises. The deal includes an up to $3 billion investment by SSG into PGA Tour Enterprises, which will be a new for-profit entity in which PGA Tour players will have equity. SSG is backed by sports owners including Arthur Blank, Steve Cohen, and John Henry. Teams owned by those three include the Atlanta Falcons, Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC, and the New York Mets. Despite the deal, the PGA Tour reiterated that it is still negotiating with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, who finance LIV Golf.
Wrapping up the Facts
Before this edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts wraps up, here’s another reminder to check out the latest episodes of the Zander’s Facts podcast. Download and listen to the latest episode of the podcast, along with every episode of Zander’s Facts, wherever you get your podcasts.
You can also listen to every episode of the podcast on this very website. All Zander’s Facts podcast episodes are now available on zandersfacts.com under the “Zander’s Facts” tab for your enjoyment! That includes the next episode of the Zander’s Facts Podcast, Zander’s Super Bowl preview, which comes out this Wednesday!
That’s a wrap on this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts. The facts in print return next Sunday, February 11, 2024.
