Netflix vs. Amazon Prime Video: Which Streaming Giant Is Best?

New video streaming services crop up every day to fill an underrepresented genre niche or help a legacy studio extend its brand in an ever-changing media landscape. Still, just a handful of big, mainstream platforms dominate the streaming space. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are two such services. But if you can only stream movies and TV shows from one, which should you pick?

Which Video Streaming Service Has a Better Library, Netflix or Amazon?

Netflix and Amazon Prime Video both want to be the only streaming service you need. Their libraries cover basically all genres and age groups, even if more niche services dive deeper into their respective categories. Judging existing catalogs can be a little tricky as those catalogs change over time. New movies enter and old shows leave as licensing deals expire or get renewed.

Amazon’s recent purchase of MGM gives it a lot more Hollywood credibility. Unlike Netflix, Amazon also has live sports thanks to its exclusive Thursday Night Football deal. And with its deep pockets, Amazon has funded many original shows and movies, including Bosch, The Boys, Catastrophe, Electric Dreams, Fleabag, Good Omens, Hanna, Homecoming, Hunters, Jack Ryan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Patriot, Tales From The Loop, Undone, Upload, and Utopia.

Still, Netflix is the one to beat when it comes to original mainstream streaming entertainment. Its library includes stylish anime, awards-worthy dramas and documentaries, and the trashiest reality shows you’ve ever seen. Netflix’s lineup has Black Mirror, Bojack Horseman, The Crown, Dead to Me, Locke and Key, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Never Have I Ever, Orange Is the New Black, Ozark, The Queen's Gambit, Russian Doll, Stranger Things, The Umbrella Academy, and The Witcher. If anything, Netflix now has too much content, forcing the service to cancel shows at an alarming rate to rein in spending. 

Winner: Netflix 

Netflix vs. Amazon Prime Video: Pricing and Platforms

After years of price increases, Netflix recently introduced a lower-priced, ad-supported tier. Costing just $6.99, this base plan lets Netflix compete with cheaper services. However, this isn’t the best deal. As expected, this tier doesn’t give you all of Netflix’s features and doesn’t let you watch the company's entire library. If you want the real Netflix experience, get ready to pay $15.49 per month for the Standard tier.

Meanwhile, Amazon Prime Video costs $8.99 per month and comes with everything you want from the service—without ads. You can expand your viewing options by renting or buying content in a la carte fashion, or by subscribing to add-on channels (like the no-cost Amazon Freevee). Prime Video also comes included with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are on nearly every platform you would want, including media streaming devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), the Microsoft Store, mobile (Android and iOS), game consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), Smart TVs, and the web.

Winner: Amazon Prime Video

Netflix vs. Amazon Prime Video: Streaming Quality

As top-tier services, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are basically neck and neck when it comes to the viewing experience. Want to stream in 4K video quality? You got it. Offline mobile downloads let you watch content on the go. Parental controls prevent children from streaming anything inappropriate.

In addition, both services let you simultaneously stream on a comparable number of devices at once, even though Netflix’s limit depends on the tier. They also include audio descriptions, which is an especially useful accessibility feature. 

Winner: Tie

Netflix vs. Amazon Prime Video: Extra Features

Netflix and Amazon Prime Video both offer alternative ways to view content that may not be available in the streaming library. Still, we prefer Amazon’s digital rentals and purchases to Netflix’s borderline vestigial DVD mail rental service. Prime Video includes Amazon Watch Party, a feature that lets you virtually watch movies and shows with friends. Netflix subscribers, on the other hand, must rely on Teleparty and other third-party services. Prime Video’s coolest feature, X-Ray, uses the IMDB information to give you behind-the-scenes tidbits on cast and crew whenever you pause what you’re watching.

Prime Video is a major part of a larger tech company, but Netflix is a streaming company first and foremost. As a result, Netflix has community blogs to support its fanbases and a finely tuned recommendation algorithm that suggests what to watch with frightening specificity. Want to indulge in something new? The Play Something feature lets Netflix launch a random program. Heck, a Netflix subscription now comes with access to surprisingly high-quality mobile video games. 

Winner: Netflix

Video Streaming Services: What You Should Know

Netflix vs. Amazon Prime Video: Which Is Best?

Amazon Prime Video is a worthwhile video service due to its add-on channels and live sports, but Netflix earns its title as the biggest name in streaming thanks to innovative features and awesome originals that should serve every audience. For its content and versatility, Netflix emerges from this battle as the champ, and reigns as our Editors’ Choice winner for mainstream streaming video services.

Overall Winner: Netflix

For more on streaming, check out five reasons why you may want to ditch your video subscription and keep cable; read how streaming has ushered in a new trash TV golden age; and learn why companies must preserve their streaming catalogs.

Finally, check out our recommended video streaming guides if you don’t know what to watch.