Pros
ConsThe details
Before the days of streaming popular series like House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, Netflix toppled DVD rental competitors with ease. Now the company is setting its eyes on traditional cable services by offering subscribers a diverse offering of thousands of original movies and programs.
Streaming speed
As with other streaming services Netflix provides different streaming speeds but charges higher rates for high-tier speeds. SD (standard definition) video quality is the most basic and requires 3Mbps to stream.
If streaming HD quality Netflix recommends at least 5 Mbps and 25 Mbps for 4K or Ultra HD video content. Note this speed is enough for watching Netflix only, but if you have other connected devices or other internet users in the house, you’d need a speed of 50 Mbps.
Ease of use
It’s pretty easy to use the service. Open the site or app and click on your profile (create one if you’re a new user) to view the homepage. You’ll see categories like Continue Watching, Popular Picks for You, Trending Picks for You, and others based on what you’ve been watching.
With so many categories, Netflix user interface encourages subscribers to continue scrolling. You can create a watch list to help you save time, but its vast, color library compels you to continue scrolling through the options instead of watching the shows.
Its app is pretty similar to other streaming devices. The web browser’s homepage is identical to that on Amazon Fire TV Stick in content and layout but may appear more condensed if using mobile devices with smaller screens.
However, you may find it difficult to stream a show on your mobile device, depending on the device’s voice capability. For example, if you want to watch Stranger Things on an iOS app, it’ll have you click the show then take you to the Apple TV page for the show. Then it’ll give you the option to open Netflix to start watching.
Content
Arguably, Netflix has the most variety of content compared to rival service providers like Disney Plus, CBS all-access, and Amazon Hulu. It offers a compelling line of original series and movies, many of which have won nominations and major awards.
You’ll find some of the best TV shows of the modern era of television, including Stranger Things, The Crown, Russian Doll, to mention a few. It also has Marvel’s older superhero TV shows like Luke Cage, Daredevil, and Jessica Jones.
Apart from TV shows, Netflix’s original program comprises a wide range of dramas, comedies, shows, and documentary series. In 2021 alone, the streaming service plans to release 70 new movies. It’s pretty impressive at a time when it’s impossible to visit a movie theater. The streaming service adds full seasons of shows at a time after they’ve been aired on network TV.
Value
We found its pricing plans a little steep for many users. The basic plan costs $9, which is the same as Prime Video’s basic subscription plan but more than Hulu’s ad-based plan. While it is the lowest plan, it allows you to create profiles for different users.
The Premium Plan is the most expensive as it costs $18. It hosts 4K Ultra HD, and some movies are available in HDR video content. High Dynamic Range is an improvement in image quality to 4K as it has high contrast and color.
The only downside is that you’d need to pay more to stream shows in 4K definition. In comparison, other streaming services like Disney+, Prime Video, and Apple+ don’t require users to pay extra for this capability.
Final verdict
Netflix shines in the streaming service market due to its enormous array of high-quality TV shows, family favorites, and modern original programming. Its ability to provide offline streaming on mobile devices, convenient features like Smart Downloads, and ad-free streams also make it stand out. However, its price has sky-rocketed over the years, causing subscribers to opt for other streaming alternatives with significantly low monthly costs.
