10 Best Streaming Services in Australia

cord-cutting • September 2, 2023 • Staff

Streaming, it seems, is here to stay. Major players like Netflix and Amazon Prime have all but replaced basic TV, redefining as they did the media landscape. But Australian viewers will do well to know all their options, especially those geared to answer local tastes and needs.

Enter Binge, an exclusively Australian streaming service with licensed titles from America, and Acorn TV, a favorite media player among Commonwealth countries. It's tailored streamers like these, along with global powerhouses like Netflix, that offer the best in streaming in Australia. Below, we list down even more.

Disney+

Disney Plus is a streaming on-demand service owned by the Walt Disney Company available in 59 countries at the time of writing.

Pricing starts at $8 a month in the US, while plans differ from region to region. New theatrical releases cost up to $30 in addition to the subscription fee.

Disney Plus can be accessed via a full range of services including Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, Xbox One and is compatible across Apple and PC computers, and Android and Apple phones and tablets.

Go to Disney+

Price: $7.99/month

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, PlayStation, Roku, Xbox

Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is an ad-free on-demand stream from Apple that costs $6.99 per month and is accessible in about 150 countries. The Apple TV+ app is accessible via Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac) and Apple TV. While Android phones and tablets are not supported, you can access Apple TV+ via Android-powered TV devices like Chromecast. It can be accessed via web browser and supported by PC, as well as Roku devices, Amazon Fire TV devices, PlayStation and Xbox.

Go to Apple TV+

Price: $6.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku TV, Samsung TV

Netflix

Netflix is an ad-free streaming platform that operates on a monthly, or annual, subscription.

There are three pricing plans – Basic, Standard and Premium – and the one you choose will determine the number of devices that you can simultaneously use to watch Netflix, in case you want to share the account with someone else.

There are three plans, though pricing differs from region to region. First up is the Basic plan, which allows you to watch on one device at a time. Upgrading to the Standard plan allows you to watch shows and movies, and download them for offline viewing, on up to 2 different devices at a time. The top-tier Premium plan lets you watch and download on up to 4 different devices, and comes with the options to watch videos in HD and Ultra HD.

Once subscribed, you can watch movies and TV shows directly on your browser via Netflix.com.

You also have the option of downloading the app on pretty much any mobile device, including iOS, Android, or Windows. The app also works on computers using Windows XP or later and Macs with OS X Tiger or later.

Go to Netflix

Price: $8.99/month

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Changhong, Chromecast, Haier, Hisense, iOS, LG TV, Nvidia SHIELD, Panasonic, Philips, PlayStation, Roku, Roku TV, Samsung, Samsung TV, Sharp, Skyworth, Sony, TiVo, Vestel, Vizio, Wii, Xbox

Dig deeper:

How to Watch Netflix With Friends

Amazon Prime

Amazon's premium membership program is an all-in-one bundle that includes access to the streaming platform Prime Video, more commonly referred to in this publication as “Amazon Prime.” A subscription entitles you not only to Amazon Prime's thousands of films and TV shows, but also to Amazon's delivery benefits, which include discounted fees, free shipping, and same-day delivery on select items.

Depending on where you live, access to Amazon Prime might differ. If you live in the US, UK, or Germany, you have the option of paying a yearly or monthly subscription fee for an Amazon Prime account. Users from the US, UK, France, and Brazil likewise have access to Amazon Prime's sports content which, depending on the season, may include live and on-demand coverage of basketball, football, and baseball events. Meanwhile, people in countries where Amazon is not operating may only be able to access it from a browser only.

In addition to on-demand streaming, you can rent or buy titles that are not on the service or purchase add-on channels like HBO, Starz, and MLB.TV to watch on the Amazon Prime platform. And apart from Amazon devices, the app is available on any mobile device, including iOS, Android, or Windows. The app also works on Apple and Windows computers, a wide range of TVs, mobile devices, and gaming consoles.

Go to Amazon Prime

Price: $14.99/month

Free Trial: 30 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Changhong, Chromecast, Haier, Hisense, iOS, LG, Nvidia SHIELD, Panasonic, Philips, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung, Sharp, Skyworth, Sony, TiVo, Vestel, Vizio, Wii, Xbox

Paramount+ Essential

Live sports, news, and CBS round out the Paramount+ Premium package. But don’t fear — the vast Paramount streaming library of on-demand content is included as well. For the reasonable price of $9.99 a month, it’s a deal that doesn’t demand any compromises.

Go to Paramount+ Essential

Price: $5.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, Hisense Android TV, iOS, LG TV, Playsation, Roku, Samsung TV, Sony Bravia Android TVs, TCL 3-Series Smart TV, Visio TV, Vizio TV, Xbox

BritBox

Britbox is a streaming service born out of an alliance between two British broadcasters: BBC and iTV. If you like British humour, British detective shows, or anything British TV, it's the place for you. You won't be the only one, by October 2020, the platform had 1.5 million subscribers, a number that's growing.

Go to BritBox

Price: $6.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, iOS, LG TV, Roku, Samsung TV

Shudder

Shudder is an on-demand streaming service dedicated to niche horror movies.

In the US, a monthly subscription currently runs at $5.99 per month, or $56.99 per year. In 2020, Shudder extended its operations to Australia and New Zealand, where pricing differs. You can also sign up to Shudder via your Amazon Prime account.

Shudder can be accessed via a full range of services including Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, Xbox One and is compatible across Apple and PC computers, and Android and iOS phones and tablets.

Go to Shudder

Price: $4.75/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, iOS, Roku, Xbox

Binge

Despite being relatively new to the game, Binge is one of the most popular streaming services in Australia at the moment, and for good reason: it houses all the best titles that have escaped Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+'s reach. Binge has partnered with the likes of HBO, NBC, WarnerMedia, FX, and BBC to deliver the hottest content to streaming Australians. Included among its lineup are cult shows like Succession and Game of Thrones, as well as comedy classics like The Office and Parks and Recreation. Movie lovers can also revel in Binge's box-office titles as it offers franchise gems from Mission Impossible and DC, as well as critically acclaimed films from directors like Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino.

Go to Binge

Price: $10/month

Free Trial: 14 days

Device availability: Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Telstra TV Box, Website

Acorn TV

While programming depends on your geographical location, Acorn TV in the US focuses on TV shows from dozens of international networks in countries of the Commonwealth, from British channels like the BBC and ITV as well as Oceanic shows from Australia and New Zealand.

Aside from British shows, there’s also a solid selection of content from other major European networks from France, Italy and Ireland.

Go to Acorn TV

Price: $5.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku

7 Plus

7 Plus is a free, ad-supported streaming service that gives viewers the very best from Network Seven, one of Australia's major broadcasters. It has entire seasons of popular shows, movies, live coverages, and old and new content alike as the service's library is constantly updated. Because Network Seven is comprised of many channels, including those entirely dedicated to news, films, and sports, 7 Plus also has one of the most extensive catalogs of content out there. It's also fairly easy to use and available on a number of devices.

Go to 7 Plus

Price: free for 1 channels available

Device availability: Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, LG, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Samsung Smart TV

Channel lineup:

Disney+

Apple TV+

Netflix

Amazon Prime

Paramount+ Essential

BritBox

Shudder

Binge

Acorn TV

7 Plus

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