Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Amazon Prime Video (or simply Prime Video) needs no introduction, but just in case: the streaming service has a large catalog of classic and original titles alike. The most notable thing about Prime Video, though, is that it lets you purchase add-on channels like Max or even Starz to supplement your viewing. Starz, on the other hand, is a standalone streaming subscription that costs a bit more than Prime Video, but boasts its own catalog of originals and classics, partnering with major studios to feature some of the newest blockbusters available. The deciding factor here is going to be viewing preference: will you enjoy Prime’s more generic but accessible fare, or do you prefer Starz’s elevated and mature content? You can read more about the two service’s similarities and differences in our breakdown below.
| Feature | StarzOur pick | Amazon Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $11.99/mo | $8.99/mo |
| Free trial | None | 30 days |
| Subscribers | 29 million | 200 million |
| Titles that pass our 7.0 IMDb / 70% RT bar | 32 | 598 |
| Try Starz | Try Amazon Prime free for 30 days |
We only recommend movies and shows rated at least 7.0 on IMDb and 70% on Rotten Tomatoes. By that standard, Amazon Prime currently streams 598 qualifying titles, compared to 32 on Starz. Here are the picks our readers are watching most on each right now.
If you just want the lowest possible bill, here is exactly what each service’s cheapest plan gets you.
| Feature | Starz Starz | Amazon Prime Prime Access |
|---|---|---|
| Price / month | $11.99 | $6.99 |
| Annual Price | $69.99 | – |
| New User Deal | 73% off 1st month | 100% off 1st month |
| Streams at Home | 4 | 3 |
| Streams Outside Home | 4 | 3 |
| Profiles | 5 | 6 |
| Multiview Screens | – | 4 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p |
| 4K Support | – | ✓ Yes |
| Audio | 5.1 surround sound | 5.1 sound |
| Dolby Digital | – | ✓ Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | – | ✓ Yes |
| Min. Speed | 6 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
| Get Starz → | Get Prime Access → |
| Starz 1 plan | Amazon Prime 5 plans | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Starz | Cheapest Prime Access | Prime for Young Adults | Standalone Prime Video | Prime Video Ultra (ad-free) | Amazon Prime membership | |
| Price / month | $11.99 | $6.99 | $7.49 | $8.99 | $13.98 | $14.99 |
| Annual Price | $69.99 | – | $69 | – | – | $139 |
| New User Deal | 73% off 1st month | 100% off 1st month | 100% off 1st month | 100% off 1st month | 100% off 1st month | 100% off 1st month |
| Streams at Home | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Streams Outside Home | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Profiles | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Multiview Screens | – | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| 4K Support | – | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Audio | 5.1 surround sound | 5.1 sound | 5.1 sound | 5.1 sound | 5.1 sound | 5.1 sound |
| Dolby Digital | – | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | – | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Min. Speed | 6 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
| Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | |
Also available as an add-on on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Roku
Qualifying programs include SNAP (EBT), Medicaid, SSI, and others
Both services support most major devices. Here’s a breakdown based on the device apps each service lists.
| Device / Platform | Starz | Amazon Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Airplay | ✓ | Not listed |
| Amazon Fire TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | Not listed | ✓ |
| Android TV | ✓ | Not listed |
| Apple TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Changhong | Not listed | ✓ |
| Chromecast | Not listed | ✓ |
| Google TV Streamer | Not listed | ✓ |
| Haier | Not listed | ✓ |
| Hisense | Not listed | ✓ |
| LG | Not listed | ✓ |
| LG TV | ✓ | Not listed |
| Nvidia SHIELD | Not listed | ✓ |
| Panasonic | Not listed | ✓ |
| Philips | Not listed | ✓ |
| PlayStation | Not listed | ✓ |
| Roku | ✓ | ✓ |
| Samsung | Not listed | ✓ |
| Samsung TV | ✓ | Not listed |
| Sharp | Not listed | ✓ |
| Skyworth | Not listed | ✓ |
| Sony | Not listed | ✓ |
| TiVo | Not listed | ✓ |
| Vestel | Not listed | ✓ |
| Vizio | Not listed | ✓ |
| Wii | Not listed | ✓ |
| Xbox | ✓ | ✓ |
| iOS | ✓ | ✓ |
“Not listed” means the service doesn’t list an app for that device; it may still work via casting or a browser.
Amazon Prime has 200 million subscribers compared to 29 million for Starz. That makes Amazon Prime 592% more popular by subscriber count.
Amazon Prime starts at $8.99/month, while Starz starts at $11.99/month. That’s $3.00 more per month for Starz, or $36.00 more per year.
Before you pick either one, here is the drawback of each service, plainly stated.
Starz is a movie-first channel with a small originals slate; if its film library does not appeal to you, there is not much else here.
Prime Video shows ads by default now, and its interface aggressively mixes rentals and channel upsells with what your subscription actually includes.
Is Amazon Prime cheaper than Starz?
Yes. Amazon Prime starts at $8.99/month, while Starz starts at $11.99/month. That's a difference of $3.00/month, or $36.00 per year.
Do Starz or Amazon Prime offer a free trial?
Starz does not currently offer a free trial. Amazon Prime offers a 30-day free trial.
Are Starz and Amazon Prime the same company?
No. Starz is owned by Starz Entertainment, a separate company spun off from Lionsgate, while Amazon Prime is owned by Amazon. They are separate, competing subscriptions.
Can you get Starz through Amazon Prime?
Yes. Starz is sold as a paid add-on channel inside Amazon Prime, so you can subscribe to it there and watch everything in one app instead of managing a separate subscription.
Which has more highly-rated titles, Starz or Amazon Prime?
By our curation standard (at least 7.0 on IMDb and 70% on Rotten Tomatoes), Amazon Prime currently streams 598 qualifying titles, compared to 32 on Starz.
Can I cancel Starz or Amazon Prime anytime?
Yes. Both Starz and Amazon Prime are month-to-month subscriptions with no long-term contracts. You can cancel either service at any time.
Original programming: While Starz doesn't have as many original shows and movies as Netflix or HBO, it does produce some acclaimed entertainment, including movies like Ash Evil Dead and shows such as American Gods, Power, to name but a few.
Sharing devices: Starz lets you have four simultaneous streams per account, for about $7 less than Netflix's most expensive Premium plan which allows the same.
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