Battle of the Streaming Giants: A Comprehensive Comparison of Netflix and Amazon Prime

Main criteria to compare Netflix and Amazon Prime

Before diving into our Netflix vs. Amazon Prime Video comparison, let’s figure out how to rate these streaming services to determine the winner. We decided to focus on the factors that have the most critical influence on the viewers’ experience:

• Popularity (number of subscribers)
• Content quality (number of original movies and shows and their popularity)
• Library size 
• Supported devices
• Streaming experience
• Extra features (simultaneous streams, offline viewing option, and more)
• Availability (the number of countries where the services are available)
• Pricing plans

Note that the final choice still depends on your own tastes and interests. For instance, if you need a platform with a great selection of family and kids’ content, Disney Plus may be the best option. In turn, if you prefer quality documentaries over mainstream shows and movies, you may consider subscribing to Discovery Plus. 

With that being said, let’s move on to our comparison.

Round 1. Popularity

Netflix was the very first of them all – back in 1998, it revolutionized the broadcast television and cinema industries with its subscription-based approach. And although many new players have emerged, Netflix still got it. In fact, it’s the largest streaming service to date, with over 230 million subscribers worldwide (with an increase of 1.75 million subscribers compared to the previous quarter).

However, Amazon Prime Video is looking over Netflix’s shoulder with nearly 200 million subscribers as of September 2022.

Both platforms are expected to reach over 250 million subscribers by 2027, remaining the two most popular video streaming services. But their main rival Disney Plus with over 150 million subscribers so far might even overtake them, according to some forecasts.

🏆 Who wins: Netflix

Round 2. Content quality

Clearly, the amount and quality of content is the key factor when comparing media streaming services. So, let’s see which of our today’s rivals has a better selection of titles. To determine it, we will look at their catalog sizes, the number of originals they offer, and the most popular movies and shows to watch on both platforms.  

Library size

The Netflix content library is one of the most extensive and versatile. It covers nearly all genres and includes excellent options for every age group. Overall, Netflix owns over 15,000 titles. However, since every country has its own copyright and licensing agreements, the average local Netflix catalog contains approximately 7,000 to 7,500 movies and shows (for instance, Netflix UK provides access to 7,482 titles). 

Amazon Prime also offers a decent amount of content for all audiences. And, unlike Netflix, it’s not only about movies and shows. A Prime Video subscription also covers some live sports events, including NFL, MLB, and NBA. As for the catalog size, it’s even more extensive in some countries, varying between 7,500 and 9,500 titles (for example, Prime Video UK has over 9,000 movies and shows).

🏆 Who wins: Draw

Exclusive and original content

Netflix is one of the main content providers these days. The service has over 1,500 originals to date, including Money Heist, Stranger Things, The Witcher, Bridgerton, and many more. Moreover, Netflix has dozens of award-winning movies and shows – the platform has earned 135 Emmys and 22 Oscars. Besides, the service exclusively owns many popular AMC shows, such as Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, How I Met Your Mother, and Supernatural.

Amazon Prime has produced significantly less original content (approximately 350 movies and series since the platform’s launch). The most famous Amazon originals include The Boys, Fleabag, Good Omens, Jack Ryan, and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. The platform also has several award-winning shows and movies, including Manchester by the Sea and The Neon Demon. As for non-original exclusive content, you can stream some famous HBO and Nickelodeon shows (The Sopranos, Dora the Explorer, Six Feet Under, The Wire, and more) on Prime Video.

Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular Netflix and Prime originals so that you can determine the winner based on your personal taste.

Most popular Netflix shows

Here are the most viewed original series exclusively available on Netflix. 

1. Stranger Things

The nostalgic vibe of the 80s, along with the Steven King, Steven Spielberg, and John Carpenter influence, and Millie Bobby Brown starring as a telekinetic kid – and here it comes, the most viewed English language show on Netflix. Stranger Things is a true phenomenon combining a fantastic cast with an incredible mix of horror, sci-fi, and mystery. The show’s 4th season currently has over 1.3 billion hours watched.

2. Wednesday

The main banger of 2022, Wednesday, is a relatively fresh Netflix hit created by Tim Burton. Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) attends Nevermore Academy to explore her psychic ability and solve mysteries her parents faced years ago. At the beginning of 2023, Wednesday had over 1.2 billion hours watched.

3. Squid Game

This top-rated South Korean show, released in 2021, follows a group of financially desperate people participating in a deadly competition. While playing traditional children’s games, they get a chance to win a massive cash prize. But the stakes get higher, resulting in a series of brutal events. In March, Squid Game had over 1.6 billion hours watched – an absolute record for a non-English language show.

4. DAHMER (limited series)

Released in September 2022, this true crime show tells the story of Jeffrey Dahmer – one of the most notorious American serial killers. The show starring Evan Peters and Richard Jenkins reached an unexpected popularity, topping the Netflix charts for quite a while. In the first part of 2023, it had over 850 million views on the platform.

5. Money Heist

If Squid Game hadn’t broken all possible records, Money Heist would have become the most-viewed foreign show on Netflix. This breathtaking thriller explores the biggest heist in history, carefully prepared by “The Professor” (Alvaro Morte) and a group of skilled robbers.

Most popular Prime Video shows

Now, let’s look at the most popular original series produced by Amazon Prime Video. Note that Amazon doesn’t regularly reveal how many hours watched their shows have, this rate is based on the data available by the time this article is written.

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Despite mixed reactions from viewers and critics, this long-anticipated Prime Video hit based on a classic fantasy trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien is the most viewed Amazon show of all time. The story develops quite slowly, but Middle-earth’s stunning atmosphere, amazing visuals, and great acting have already attracted millions of fans to screens.

2. Reacher

This is another Amazon hit telling the story of Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) – a former US military falsely arrested for a murder. After the release, he helps the police in a rural Georgia town to investigate a conspiracy (while beating some bad guys along the way).

3. The Wheel of Time

While The Lord of the Rings is definitely the headliner on Amazon Prime, there is another noteworthy fantasy based on a bestselling novel by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. The show follows Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) – a member of a powerful organization, Aes Sedai, who teams up with five young men and women to save the world from pure evil. 

4. The Boys

Prime Video has long been associated with The Boys – an extremely popular thrilling show that breaks the stereotypes of superheroes. Here, superpowered people aren’t valiant protectors – instead, they are powerful and cruel celebrities hiding many skeletons in their closets. As a result, we got a violent, provoking, and unpredictable series that earned a huge fanbase worldwide.

5. Hunters

This trending Amazon show follows a secret group fighting against high-ranking Nazi officials in 1977 New York City. A young Jewish mathematician Jonah Heidelbaum (Logan Lerman) joins this diverse squad led by Meyer Offerman (Al Pacino) to prevent the emergence of the Fourth Reich.

Of course, both platforms offer a wide variety of amazing shows and movies for all tastes. But considering a significant advantage in the number of stunning originals, we are personally leaning towards the Netflix win in this round.

🏆 Who wins: Netflix

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Round 3. Supported devices

Netflix and Prime Video are compatible with most operating systems and devices, so you can choose the preferred way to watch the content of your choice. In particular, both platforms offer the following solutions: 

• Web player for most browsers
• Mobile app for iOS and Android
• Desktop app for Windows (both) and macOS (Prime Video)
• Smart TV and Android TV support
• Streaming devices support, including Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Apple TV
• Game console support, including Xbox and PlayStation

Here, it’s worth noting that Netflix doesn’t have an app for macOS. In contrast, Prime Video doesn’t provide a native solution for Apple TV, although you can use it via an iOS device.

🏆 Who wins: Draw

Round 4. Streaming experience quality

Both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video provide viewers with top-tier video quality ensuring an outstanding streaming experience. DVD files can stream HD at 720p and 1080p. 

Also, both platforms provide a 4K Ultra HD video quality. However, while this feature is the default for Prime Video, you should upgrade to the Netflix Premium plan to enjoy your beloved content in 4K. The Basic and Standard Netflix plans are limited to 720p HD.

🏆 Who wins: Amazon Prime Video

Round 5. Extra features

Apart from a rich selection of titles and high video quality, both streaming services provide some additional features. Let’s look at them in more detail.

Netflix offers the following extra perks:

• Simultaneous streams (2 for Standard plan and 4 for Premium plan)
• Offline viewing is available for all devices connected within a subscription, excluding macOS.
• Parental control includes a security PIN and access levels from “little kids” to “all.”
• Dolby Atmos speaker system support is compatible with Apple TV, Xbox, Panasonic TV, Sony Bravia Android TV, and more.
• Personalization based on an advanced recommendation algorithm.
• Play Something allows you to play a random movie or show relevant to your preferences.

In contrast, here are some extras Amazon Prime Video has to offer:

• Simultaneous streams (3 devices for all plans).
• Offline viewing is available for all devices supporting a native app.
• Parental control includes security PINs for iOS, Android, and browsers.
• Amazon Watch Party lets you watch content together with family and friends and comment on it virtually.
• X-Ray allows for watching bonus content related to a particular movie or show (information about the cast, soundtrack, and so on) when pausing a video.

🏆 Who wins: Netflix

Round 6. Availability

Many popular streaming services, such as Hulu, Disney Plus, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and Voot, are currently available in a limited number of countries. It deprives many people of access to the desired content and causes inconvenience for frequent travelers. 

But this is not the case for Netflix and Prime Video. Both platforms are available in over 190 countries worldwide. Some rare exceptions are China, North Korea, Russia, Iran, and Syria. But, as mentioned, the availability of particular titles varies depending on your location. Some Netflix and Amazon Prime shows and movies are geo-blocked in particular countries due to local regulations and copyright limitations. Luckily, there is a way out – more on that in a bit.

🏆 Who wins: Draw

Round 7. Pricing plans

Finally, let’s see who wins in the Netflix subscription vs Amazon Prime combat.

Netflix has recently lowered the price of its basic subscription plan to $6.99 per month. However, the deal has some significant downsides — it’s not ad-free and doesn’t provide access to the complete Netflix catalog and features. Therefore, you may need to consider choosing the Standard plan instead. All in all, here are the options available: 

• Basic with ads – $6.99 (video quality up to 720p/HD)
• Basic – $9.99 (video quality up to 720p/HD)
• Standard – $15.49 (HD)
• Premium – $19.99 (HD and 4K Ultra HD)

Also, it’s worth noting that Netflix doesn’t offer a free trial anymore.

Amazon Prime Video, in turn, provides all the essential features and access to the entire library within the basic plan ($8.99 per month), which offers an ad-free plan for $2.99 extra charge. Also, it has several add-ons that open up more streaming opportunities (these include Amazon Freevee, HBO Max, Discovery Plus, Starz, Showtime, CBS All Access, Paramount Plus, and Epix Now). 

Here is how much the Amazon Prime Video subscription costs in 2023:

• Amazon Freevee – no charge
• Prime Video – $8.99 (4K Ultra HD) + $2.99 extra for an ad-free plan
• Amazon Prime – $14.99 per month or $139 per year (includes Prime Video, free Amazon shipping, and more)

Also, the service offers a 30-day free trial period for Amazon Prime membership.

🏆 Who wins: Netflix

Netflix vs. Amazon Prime Video comparison. The round-up

Now that we’re done comparing the main Netflix vs. Prime features, benefits, and drawbacks, let’s provide a brief summary to decide the winner.

As you can see, both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video provide a decent number of features and access to extensive content catalogs. Considering the aspects described above, none of today’s contestants has the edge. However, since the original and exclusive content quality is the most critical factor, we may assume that Netflix slightly outperforms Prime Video as a media streaming platform (while Amazon is out of competition when it comes to online retail and cloud services). 

However, keep in mind that both platforms have one significant pitfall – many of the titles presented in their catalogs are region-locked. Now, imagine you’re going for a work trip to Europe and can’t watch your favorite Netflix or Prime show, which was perfectly available on the platform back in the US. Not cool, right? Well, here’s a solution – a reliable virtual private network (VPN). It hides your IP address and spoofs your actual location, rerouting your traffic through a remote server. This way, you can watch your favorite Netflix or Prime shows when visiting other countries hassle-free.

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Written by VeePN Research Lab VeePN Research Lab is dedicated to provide you latest posts about internet security and privacy.

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