17 Best Video Streaming in 2026
Video streaming software delivers on-demand movies and shows over the internet, used by viewers who watch on phones, smart TVs, and computers at home.
Top video streaming
| Tool | Best for | License | Price | Reviews | Likes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple TV | viewers who prioritize a small library of high-quality, awards-caliber original series and films over a large licensed catalog, especially those already inside the Apple hardware ecosystem | Paid | From $12.99/mo | 0 | |
| Crunchyroll | anime fans who want simulcast access to new episodes shortly after their Japanese broadcast, bundled with a manga library and merchandise store | Paid | Custom pricing | 0 | |
| Disney+ | households that already watch Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar titles and want to bundle that library with Hulu or ESPN under one subscription | Paid | From $11.99/mo | 0 | |
| Emby | people who already run a home server and want hardware-accelerated transcoding, DVR, and offline mobile downloads without switching to Jellyfin or Plex | Freemium | Free tier · paid from $4.99/mo | 0 | |
| HBO Max | households that want HBO's prestige original dramas and Warner Bros. films alongside live NHL, MLB, and NCAA March Madness sports coverage in one subscription | Paid | From $10.99/mo | 0 | |
| Hulu | US viewers who want next-day access to current-season network TV episodes alongside a general streaming library, especially those already subscribing to Disney+ | Paid | From $11.99/mo | 0 | |
| Jellyfin | self-hosters who want to stream their own media library without paying any subscription fee or relying on a company-owned platform | Open source | Free | 0 | |
| Kodi | users with an existing local or networked media library (ripped discs, downloaded files, home video) who want a customizable, remote-friendly player rather than a subscription streaming service | Open source | Free | 0 | |
| Max | HBO and Warner Bros. film fans already inside the Warner Bros. Discovery ecosystem who also want in-app access to NBA, MLB, and NCAA March Madness without a separate cable package | Paid | From $10.99/mo | 0 | |
| Netflix | individuals and households wanting a large, frequently refreshed library of on-demand TV shows and films across multiple devices, without a cable subscription | Paid | From $8.99/mo | 0 | |
| Paramount+ | CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, and BET viewers who also want in-app live NFL, UFC, and UEFA Champions League coverage without a separate cable or sports subscription | Paid | From $8.99/mo | 0 | |
| Peacock | NBC, Bravo, and Premier League/WWE fans who want live network and sports content alongside NBCUniversal's original series and film library | Paid | From $8.99/mo | 0 | |
| Plex | cord-cutters and home media collectors who self-host their own movie, TV, and music library and want to stream it to any device, alongside free ad-supported content | Freemium | Free tier · paid from $1.99/mo | 0 | |
| Prime Video | Amazon Prime members who want streaming bundled with free shipping, and ad-tolerant viewers who want access to Amazon Originals and live sports without a single-purpose-only subscription | Paid | From $2.99/mo | 0 | |
| Stremio | users who want one unified interface for discovering and playing content from many sources via community addons instead of switching between multiple streaming apps | Open source | Free | 0 | |
| Tubi | viewers who want a large, legal, free movie and TV library without ever entering payment information | Free | Free | 0 | |
| Universal Media Server | technically comfortable users who want to stream a local media library to a smart TV or game console over DLNA/UPnP without cloud accounts or subscription apps | Open source | Free | 0 |
Apple TV
Crunchyroll
Disney+
Emby
HBO Max
Hulu
Jellyfin
Kodi
Max
Netflix
Paramount+
Peacock
Plex
Prime Video
Stremio
Tubi
Universal Media Server3 of 3 sponsor slots open
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Alternatives to Apple TV5Alternatives to Crunchyroll3Alternatives to Disney+6Alternatives to Emby4Alternatives to HBO Max5Alternatives to Hulu4Alternatives to Jellyfin4Alternatives to Kodi4Alternatives to Max6Alternatives to Netflix5Alternatives to Paramount+4Alternatives to Peacock5Alternatives to Plex5Alternatives to Prime Video6Alternatives to Stremio4Alternatives to Tubi1Alternatives to Universal Media Server4
Frequently asked questions
What is the best video streaming tool right now?
- Apple TV leads this list by user signals — it is best for viewers who prioritize a small library of high-quality, awards-caliber original series and films over a large licensed catalog, especially those already inside the apple hardware ecosystem. Crunchyroll is the strongest runner-up.
Which video streaming are free?
- 7 of the 17 tools here have a usable free tier or are fully free: Emby, Jellyfin, Kodi, Plex, Stremio and 2 more.
Are there open-source video streaming?
- Yes — Jellyfin, Kodi, Stremio, Universal Media Server are open source.