50 Best Streaming Services on Xbox in 2025

Sling Blue has one of the best price-quality ratios for cord-cutters. For only $50.99, you get access to big networks like AMC, Bravo, TBS, National Geographic, and NBC. This package from Sling makes the most sense for cord-cutters who don't watch ESPN or the Disney Channel, which are included in the "Sling Orange" offer.

Hulu with Live TV is an obvious choice if you already have Hulu On-Demand, as you'll get to keep all your payment information and history, interact with a similar interface, and get a Live TV service without much effort.

Sling Orange is for all cord-cutters who wish to save money, but it's especially for sports fans who watch ESPN channels as well as households that watch the Disney Channel.

Hulu is an on-demand service that is currently only available in US territories. You can get access to Hulu's on-demand content library for $11.99 a month with commercials, and $18.99 without. There's also an option to bundle it with Disney+ for $12.99 a month with ads.

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 $11.99 a month in the US, while plans differ from region to region.

Paramount Plus is a video-on-demand service that replaced its predecessor, CBS All Access, and is currently available in the US, Canada, and parts of Latin America.  Subscribers used to also have the option to bundle the service with Showtime, but ever since the Paramount-Showtime merger in June 2023, the latter is now only available to "Paramount + SHOWTIME" subscribers. To its credit, standalone Paramount+ still has 40,000 episodes and movies to its name, plus live feeds on NFL on CBS and the UEFA Champions League.

Peacock is a streaming service owned by NBC, with options to choose three plans: TV-focused Peacock Select ($7.99/month), ad-supported Peacock Premium ($10.99/month), or ad-free Peacock Premium Plus ($16.99/month). It used to offer a free plan, but that went away amid the Great Streaming Price Hikes the previous year. Still, with both premium plans, you'll get access to the full catalog of 2,000 movies and shows, including every episode of original NBC favorites like Brooklyn 99, The Office, and Parks and Recreation. You'll also get next-day and early access to all the new episodes of live NBC shows like Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. You can stream Peacock on Apple devices like the iPhone and Apple TV, Google devices like Android phones and Chromecast, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles. But there is still no app available for Roku or Amazon platforms.

Starz is a cable TV network in the US with an on-demand streaming service of the same name. Currently, Starz on-demand has a monthly price of $10.99 ($3/month for the first 3 months). Starz is available as an add-on channel to Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Roku platform. For a similar subscription price, you can also access Starz as an add-on via a variety of online streaming services including YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV, among others. Alternatively, the Starz on-demand app is available for Android, iOS and most other mobile devices.

Netflix is an ad-free streaming platform that operates on a monthly, or annual, subscription. There are three pricing plans – Standard with ads, 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 Standard with ads 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.

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. The membership bundle costs $14.99/month, but you can access the streaming service as a standalone for just $8.99. 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. 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.

HBO Max is a subscription-based on-demand platform that is only available in the US. New subscribers can choose from three monthly tiers ranging from $10.99 (with ads) to $18.49 (no ads) to $22.99 (no ads, plus more concurrent streams, downloads, and 4K streaming). An annual subscription option is also available. When you subscribe, you'll get HBO’s world-class exclusives, such as The Wire and Game of Thrones, but HBO Max also functions as a bundle: you'll get content from Discovery, DC, Criterion Collection, Looney Tunes, Studio Ghibli, Turner Classic Movies, and Crunchyroll. And as of September 2023, you will also get a live stream of CNN. It's not a direct 24/7 simulcast of the channel, but many segments of it are broadcast live. Most mobile devices that can stream video support HBO Max, although there is yet no app for Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices.

In response to the growing popularity of free streaming services like Tubi, Xumo, and Pluto, Sling TV has come up with Sling TV Freestream, an ad-supported version of its live TV and on-demand streaming service. Compared to its paid tier, Freestream has fewer channels and premium titles, but with more than 200 live channels and on-demand content to boot, it's certainly worth giving a try—you don't even need to sign up for an account to start watching. Sling TV has been at the forefront of live TV for years, but it breaks new ground with Freestream, a platform designed to both entertain and entice users to upgrade to their meatier packages. Recently, Freestream also added free DVR.

Shudder is an on-demand streaming service dedicated to niche horror movies. In the US, a monthly subscription currently runs at $8.99 per month or $89.99 per year. In 2020, Shudder extended its operations to Australia and New Zealand, where pricing differs. You can also sign up for 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.

Crunchyroll is a video-on-demand streaming service that specializes in all things anime. It's also recently absorbed a competitor, FUNIMATION, offering an even bigger catalog. You can opt for either a free ad-supported plan or subscribe to one of its paid tiers, which starts at $9.99. These tiers remove ads out of the picture and feature episodes that are simulcast from Japan. for the longest time, you could try these plans free for 14 days, but it's since shortened that trial period to 7 days. You can access Crunchyroll via a web browser or app, the latter of which is available on all major streaming devices.

Criterion Channel is a curated movie-streaming service that offers ad-free and on-demand access to films from The Criterion Collection in HD. It is currently only available in the US and Canada. The subscription costs $10.99 per month or $99.99 per year. Like Netflix, the Criterion Channel also offers a physical rental service. The number of movies you can rent each month, for a flat monthly rate, depends on how quickly you can return them. You don't need to subscribe to The Criterion Channel to buy or rent physical media on DVD and Blu-ray, but subscribers may get discounts. With the introduction of Criterion24/7, Criterion Channel also entered the Live TV world, offering a great alternative to channels like Turner Classic Movies.

CuriosityStream is an American streaming service that focuses on documentary movies and shows and is available in more than 175 countries. In the US, pricing starts at $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year for the basic plan, with an upgrade to the 4K Monthly plan available for $9.99 per month or $69.99 per year. CuriosityStream can be accessed via web browser as well as Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, and has a mobile app that is compatible across Apple and PC computers, and Android and iOS phones and tablets.

Plex is a media management software that doubles as a free streaming service. Its main function is to organize your own library of content—that is, your own video, photo, or sound files—and make it streamable alongside Plex's offerings of 200+ live TV channels and 50,000+ on-demand movies and shows. Plex's basic package comes at no cost, but it also has a premium package starting at $6.99/month that boasts additional features, such as the ability to download content and watch them offline, among other things.

It might take a while to roll out in your area, but YouTube TV is offering a skinny bundle curated just for sports fans. The YouTube TV Sports Plan gives fans access to all the major sports networks at $18 less than the original YouTube TV base plan. That means fans can watch FS1, NBC Sports Network, and all of the ESPN networks on their intuitive platform at a cheaper price.

This plan can also be combined with the NFL Sunday Ticket, which YouTube TV still holds exclusive rights to. This fall, they'll also be adding access to ESPN Unlimited.

What if you can enjoy YouTube TV, but only pay for the channels you actually watch? YouTube TV's Sports + News Plan is one of the many cheaper skinny bundles the streamer released this year, and as you can probably tell from the name, the line-up includes channels from ESPN and Fox Sports, as well as major news networks like CNN, ABC, and NBC. That makes this plan a great choice for sports fans who still want to stay up-to-date with what's going on around the world.

With YouTube TV's multiview feature, subscribers could even keep up with matches and breaking news at the same time. Only interested in sports? You can check out our notes on the YouTube TV Sports Plan here.

While one of the skinnier bundles now offered by YouTube TV, this plan is rather unexpected. After all, isn't the point of making smaller, more affordable streaming plans? The combination of all three surely would cost a lot. Sports + News + Entertainment = Expensive? Surprisingly not. Despite combining all the three, somehow the cost is five whole dollars short of the original YouTube TV monthly base plan. It's almost like getting a discount. If your plan will only be used by adults– there's not much child-friendly channels in the line-up– swapping to this plan saves you a little for a rainy day.

Not interested in entertainment? Check out YouTube TV Sports + News Plan.

You could look at this plan as a combination of three skinny bundles, but really, the YouTube TV News + Entertainment + Family Plan is simply the YouTube TV base plan, just without all the sports channels. Obviously, that means this plan isn't meant for sports fans– any stray ones who wandered to this page might suit the YouTube TV Sports Plan better. But for families without any sports fan living at home, switching to this package makes sense for the whole family. Removing the sports channels means removing the pesky RSN fees, while still keeping all the features and all the channels you already love from YouTube TV. Still not convinced? It's 15% off the cost of the original YouTube TV base plan.

With YouTube TV's entertainment bundle, you get three premium services for the discounted price of $30—that's $5 off compared to getting HBO Max (without ads), Paramount+ with Showtime, and Starz separately. It may seem pricey, especially since you'll be paying it on top of YouTube TV's already costly subscription, but it could be worth it if you're looking to get a first-rate entertainment package. HBO Max alone gives you access to HBO's critically acclaimed shows, Warner Bros.'s blockbusters, and Discovery's many wildlife features. But coupled with Paramount+ with Showtime and Starz, you get prestige dramas, trendy comedies, and insightful documentaries on top of all that, not to mention YouTube TV's unrivaled DVR storage feature and lengthy live channel list. It's a bundle tailor-fit for TV and film enthusiasts.

Imagine: What if you wanted YouTube TV, but only for the entertainment channels? You can now enjoy that dream through the new YouTube TV Entertainment Plan. It's one of many skinny bundles that YouTube TV recently introduced so that viewers can save up on streaming costs. How? Rather than pay for the full base plan– whose extensive line-up automatically means additional RSN and local programming fees, mind you– subscribers who only want entertainment can get entertainment through this skinnier package. As of writing, the Entertainment Plan also happens to be the cheapest way you can enjoy YouTube TV.

If you enjoy using the DVR option, Youtube TV is arguably the best option in the market for you: it gives you unlimited DVR storage on the Cloud (accessible from any of your devices), and it saves each of your recordings for 9 months. Also, you can share Youtube TV with up to six accounts, so if you have a big family, this is a much better option than getting a bunch of cheaper Live TV subscriptions. Youtube TV allows up to three accounts of the six to watch at the same time.

YouTube's Movies & TV storefront (not to be mistaken with YouTube TV) allows you to rent and purchase thousands of films and TV shows. You can pick from the latest blockbuster releases, foreign films, award-winning staples, beloved classics, and even pre-order titles that have yet to be available elsewhere. A big draw here is that YouTube is already everywhere—it's a tab on your browser, an app on your phone, a channel on your smart TV—so renting, purchasing, and later on accessing a title is as easy as entering your credit card or PayPal details. And as a bonus, YouTube also has a lineup of free movies it lets you watch with ads. Granted, they're not as big or new as their rentable titles, but there are gems like Moonstruck and Cooley High hidden in there somewhere. 

Now, some things to note before heading to the storefront: you must be 18 years or older to watch these titles, and while buying a movie or TV episode allows you to access them indefinitely, you have only 30 days to start viewing a rental. Once you've started watching it, you usually have about 48 hours until it expires, but this can vary per title. YouTube also allows playback in HD and 4k, but these features are currently unavailable on web browsers. 

For a good while, all Xfinity internet subscribers had access to Peacock's free tier. But since NBCUniversal switched Peacock into a paid-only service, Xfinity has followed suit with the changes. Now there are three ways to get Peacock at no additional cost. First, if you're an Xfinity Internet customer with Gigabit speeds, you're entitled to Peacock Premium at no additional cost for two years, after which, you can elect to continue your Peacock subscription for $7.99/month. Second, if you're an Xfinity Internet customer with Diamond or Platinum rewards, you get to redeem Peacock Premium for free. Third, you can always purchase Xfinity's StreamSaver bundles to enjoy even more streaming options. Just remember to enroll at the rewards store before you avail of the offer. Eligible internet plans start at $65/month.

Similar to the Amazon Prime membership, Walmart+ brings together shopping and streaming into one convenient subscription at $13/month. This time, however, Walmart give users a choice for their streaming service. Apart from free shipping, fuel discounts, and travel-related cashback, subscribers can choose between Paramount+ Essential or Peacock Premium at no additional cost.

The Paramount+ Essential plan, valued at $8.99/month, gives you access to Paramount originals, CBS shows (but not your CBS local station), and NFL matches. Peacock Premium, on the other hand, offers NBC favorites, Peacock originals, and early access to their late night shows, valued at $10.99.

To enjoy this bundle, you'll have to cancel your current account and make a new one with Walmart+. But if you're on the fence about it, that's okay too; Walmart offers a 30-day free trial, no credit card info needed.

If you're a T-Mobile customer, you've likely already heard of the phone service's "Netflix on Us" deal. Depending on your T-mobile plan, you're eligible for a Netflix subscription at no additional cost, regardless of the streamer's price hikes. Currently, they immediately offer Netflix Standard with Ads (valued at $7.99/month) for applicable plans, but you can opt to upgrade to Netflix Standard or Premium at a discount. 

Eligible T-Mobile plans start at $85/month with a single line of the Experience More and Experience Beyond, which recently replaced the Go5G Next and Go5G Plus plans.

The Sling Ala Keifak pack is one three Arabic live TV plans Sling offers. It carries 80 live channels spanning sports, news, entertainment, and music. There are channels from Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Morocco, and the greater pan-Arab region. The Ala Keifak pack costs $17.99/month, but Sling also offers the much cheaper Al Maalem add-on if you're on a budget and the more expensive Al Ostoura add-on if you're willing to shell out for more channels. The Ala Keifak pack also has on-demand titles from LBCI, ART Aflam, and Sling's own catalog of Arabic films. You can order Sling TV’s Arabic plans ala carte, but if you’d like more US channels, then you can stack it on top of base Sling Orange or Blue plan.

If you're a carrier of the American Express Platinum Card, you'll be happy to know that you can get up to $25 in statement credits each month if you purchase a Peacock subscription using your card. Peacock has three plans: Select, which costs $7.99/month; Premium, which cost $10.99/month and gives you access to Peacock originals, sporting events, and live channels; and Premium Plus, which costs $16.99/month. Plus has everything Premium has plus your local NBC channel, offline downloads, and zero ads. To get the Peacock and AMEX bundle, the rules are simple: you have to sign up directly on Peacock's website without using a third-party app or e-wallet, and you have to sign up for a standalone subscription. In other words, it shouldn't be part of a cable or other streaming service bundle. You'll also have to enroll your card on the AMEX website. Once all that's done, you can start getting your monthly $25 credit (or annual $300 credit). Just be sure to check that it's there; if it's still not posted 8 weeks after the date of purchase, you should call the number on the back of your card.