Streaming services have changed the way we consume video, and with the numerous options available, choosing the right combination can mean hours of bonding with your fam, an added way to learn about other cultures or to simply relax and be entertained. Find here the streaming services you can subscribe to, stat!
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Netflix
Price: P149/month for mobile, P369/one screen, P459/Standard HD for two screens, P549/Premium Ultra HD Plan for four screens
If you're going for volume and range, Netflix is a good staple to have in your household. Apart from classics (Back to the Future trilogy, anyone?) and an extensive list of shows from around the world, they also have Netflix originals or content produced specifically for the platform. The likes of documentary Street Food Asia, Korean zombie drama Kingdom, and thriller drama The Stranded fall under this category. They also offer a mobile-only subscription for those who prefer to solely watch on their phones.
Viu
Price: P129/month, 7 days free
K-Drama fans, this is where it's at—it's where the likes of Oscar winner Parasite and hit series The World of the Married first became available online. While some shows can be viewed with a free account, premium members can download unlimited videos to their device with their unlimited access, which wiill then be stored for seven days from the day of download. This is also perfect for K-drama fans who want to explore what other countries like Japan and Hong Kong have to offer.
Mubi
Price: U.S. $10.99/month (roughly P542), U.S. $95.88/year (roughly P4,730)
Aside from being a streaming service, Mubi is also a movie database for over 150,000 films. A free membership might interest film buffs or those who aspire to have a career in the industry by engaging with the community, but a premium account will let you access their curation of movies. They also have a different approach to streaming: instead of an overwhelming library, they carry 30 titles at a time, and replace one movie with a new feature each day.
HBO Go
Price: P149/month (with seven free days)
If you love HBO Originals like Game of Thrones or Westworld, you can definitely maximize the monthly subscription fee, which also grants you 20 downloads per month. You may access your account on two devices simultaneously, and you can avail of the app's features on a maximum of five devices. They also have a pretty extensive list of classic and feel-good films if that is more your thing.
Crunchyroll
Price: U.S. $7.99/month (roughly P394); U.S. $22.99/three months (roughly P1,135), U.S. $79.99/one year (roughly P3,948)
This streaming service is perfect for fans of anime and manga who don't like to wait—they have a simulcast and simulpub feature for premium members. members-only Crunchyroll Store discounts also await subscribers. As with most subscriptions, if you sign up for a longer term, you get a bigger discount on your fee. You can also avail of the Premium+ membership at U.S. $11.95/month, which expands to even more exclusive VIP perks and early access to new features.
iWant
Price/s: iWant Premium subscribers can stream both free and Premium titles without ads for P15/day, P60/7 days, and P120/30 days.
If you want to learn more about the history of Philippine cinema, or you just want to catch the latest Kathryn Bernardo blockbuster or teleseryes, then an iWant membership is the right choice for you. They also have originals on the platform—check out Eugene Domingo's Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 3: The Real Untold Story of Josephine Bracken and Spirits Reawaken, an homage to Spirits, the first ever supernatural teen adventure series shown in ABS-CBN. Apart from the subscription itself, there's also a Pay-Per-View option where you can watch titles for P30 each, unlimited for seven days.
Hayu
Price/s: P149/month (and one month free trial)
Hayu is the online resource for reality shows, so if you like docus but are looking for something lighter to watch on the reg, give these a try. They also have locally-shot shows like It Takes Gutz To Be A Gutierrez and It Girls Besties. You may register up to five devices on one account, but streaming will be limited to only one device at a time.
iflix
Price/s: P129/month, but can be purchased for P99 by Smart subscribers
A free account grants you access to a lot of free movies, but if you love local and Asian shows, you might want to consider upgrading to be able to access all the titles in their library. You have to check out the Korean films and classic teleseryes on their platform!
Prime Video
Price/s: U.S.$5.99, roughly P320 /month
If you're interested in Amazon Originals like The Good Fight and Little Fires Everywhere, drama and period pieces, and some old-school comedies, a Prime membership might be beneficial not just for you, but your entire household. Pro tip: Globe subsrcibers get a discounted rate of P150 for the first six months.
YouTube Premium
Price: P159/month; free trial up to one month
Yes, you can get an ad-free YouTube experience and you can download videos so you can watch them even when you are offline. Plus, you can gain access to YouTube Music Premium for ad-free music, play music in the background while you're using a different app (or while your phone's locked), and download content so you can listen offline. Students can get a membership for P95 per month, while there's a family plan at P239 per month.
Main image by Nicolas J Leclercq/Unsplash; for illustrative purposes only.
this strange new world.