Netflix vs. Hulu Plus vs. Amazon

[buffettbride]

We have Netflix and I love it, although I'm considering adding Hulu Plus. I love my super-cool Sony BlueRay DVD player that is wireless enabled so I can connect it to Netflix, Hulu, etc.

We don't have cable or dish (and don't plan on getting it any time soon). Wondering for HuluPlus subscribers what you get out of it that Netflix doesn't provide.

[maid memories]

There are certain shows that I watch that I have to have Hulu Plus for (Law & Order: SVU), but since it's summer I don't need it at the moment. Between Netflix, Hulu and downloading torrents of the shows not available through either of those I have immensely enjoyed my last five months without cable and the extra $200 a month in my pocket.

My advice is just to use the free Hulu service until you find something that's available through Plus that you really want access to. It's only $7.99 a month.

[buffettbride]

There are certain shows that I watch that I have to have Hulu Plus for (Law & Order: SVU), but since it's summer I don't need it at the moment. Between Netflix, Hulu and downloading torrents of the shows not available through either of those I have immensely enjoyed my last five months without cable and the extra $200 a month in my pocket.

My advice is just to use the free Hulu service until you find something that's available through Plus that you really want access to. It's only $7.99 a month.

Sounds like we're similar consumers. I really just like having on-demand service and not paying for a bunch of other stuff I only channel surf through. If there's something I really want to see that I can't get through streaming on Netflix, I put it in my DVD queue and it's all good. I can totally handle the $20 per month for both services, but not crazy about the $50+ for what I'd want in a cable or dish package.

The only thing I really miss is being able to watch my hockey team---but that doesn't matter really because they s*ck.

[maid memories]

There are certain shows that I watch that I have to have Hulu Plus for (Law & Order: SVU), but since it's summer I don't need it at the moment. Between Netflix, Hulu and downloading torrents of the shows not available through either of those I have immensely enjoyed my last five months without cable and the extra $200 a month in my pocket.

My advice is just to use the free Hulu service until you find something that's available through Plus that you really want access to. It's only $7.99 a month.

Sounds like we're similar consumers. I really just like having on-demand service and not paying for a bunch of other stuff I only channel surf through. If there's something I really want to see that I can't get through streaming on Netflix, I put it in my DVD queue and it's all good. I can totally handle the $20 per month for both services, but not crazy about the $50+ for what I'd want in a cable or dish package.

The only thing I really miss is being able to watch my hockey team---but that doesn't matter really because they s*ck.

I found sites to stream my hockey games this year when I didn't feel like going out to watch them. Best part was hooking up the HDMI cable to my laptop and being able to watch it on my flat screen.

[buffettbride]

There are certain shows that I watch that I have to have Hulu Plus for (Law & Order: SVU), but since it's summer I don't need it at the moment. Between Netflix, Hulu and downloading torrents of the shows not available through either of those I have immensely enjoyed my last five months without cable and the extra $200 a month in my pocket.

My advice is just to use the free Hulu service until you find something that's available through Plus that you really want access to. It's only $7.99 a month.

Sounds like we're similar consumers. I really just like having on-demand service and not paying for a bunch of other stuff I only channel surf through. If there's something I really want to see that I can't get through streaming on Netflix, I put it in my DVD queue and it's all good. I can totally handle the $20 per month for both services, but not crazy about the $50+ for what I'd want in a cable or dish package.

The only thing I really miss is being able to watch my hockey team---but that doesn't matter really because they s*ck.

I found sites to stream my hockey games this year when I didn't feel like going out to watch them. Best part was hooking up the HDMI cable to my laptop and being able to watch it on my flat screen.

We do that ALL the time to catch up on episodes of stuff we've missed.

[maid memories]

There are certain shows that I watch that I have to have Hulu Plus for (Law & Order: SVU), but since it's summer I don't need it at the moment. Between Netflix, Hulu and downloading torrents of the shows not available through either of those I have immensely enjoyed my last five months without cable and the extra $200 a month in my pocket.

My advice is just to use the free Hulu service until you find something that's available through Plus that you really want access to. It's only $7.99 a month.

Sounds like we're similar consumers. I really just like having on-demand service and not paying for a bunch of other stuff I only channel surf through. If there's something I really want to see that I can't get through streaming on Netflix, I put it in my DVD queue and it's all good. I can totally handle the $20 per month for both services, but not crazy about the $50+ for what I'd want in a cable or dish package.

The only thing I really miss is being able to watch my hockey team---but that doesn't matter really because they s*ck.

I found sites to stream my hockey games this year when I didn't feel like going out to watch them. Best part was hooking up the HDMI cable to my laptop and being able to watch it on my flat screen.

We do that ALL the time to catch up on episodes of stuff we've missed.

Once I realized how much money I had wasted on cable in the last two years I nearly choked. And there are more and more people realizing the same thing. I don't want to have to buy a digital package and and HBO subscription just to watch Game of Thrones or True Blood, so I just download them. If it were a viable option, I'd pay per episode or just pay to subscribe to HBO's On Demand service, but it's not. I don't want to pay for all of the garbage on cable, just to watch the few things I have the time to watch.

[buffettbride]

There are certain shows that I watch that I have to have Hulu Plus for (Law & Order: SVU), but since it's summer I don't need it at the moment. Between Netflix, Hulu and downloading torrents of the shows not available through either of those I have immensely enjoyed my last five months without cable and the extra $200 a month in my pocket.

My advice is just to use the free Hulu service until you find something that's available through Plus that you really want access to. It's only $7.99 a month.

Sounds like we're similar consumers. I really just like having on-demand service and not paying for a bunch of other stuff I only channel surf through. If there's something I really want to see that I can't get through streaming on Netflix, I put it in my DVD queue and it's all good. I can totally handle the $20 per month for both services, but not crazy about the $50+ for what I'd want in a cable or dish package.

The only thing I really miss is being able to watch my hockey team---but that doesn't matter really because they s*ck.

I found sites to stream my hockey games this year when I didn't feel like going out to watch them. Best part was hooking up the HDMI cable to my laptop and being able to watch it on my flat screen.

We do that ALL the time to catch up on episodes of stuff we've missed.

Once I realized how much money I had wasted on cable in the last two years I nearly choked. And there are more and more people realizing the same thing. I don't want to have to buy a digital package and and HBO subscription just to watch Game of Thrones or True Blood, so I just download them. If it were a viable option, I'd pay per episode or just pay to subscribe to HBO's On Demand service, but it's not. I don't want to pay for all of the garbage on cable, just to watch the few things I have the time to watch.

Amen.

[OceanCityGirl]

I very much want to get rid of my big dish bill. I have Netflix and hili plus. The only reason for the dish is football and a fee hbo and Shoshone series. Can somebody pm me info on how to obtain these without dish. I have done torrents but have been unhappy with them and virus problems lately.

[buffettbride]

I'm updating this to include Amazon streaming in the offerings.

We never added Hulu Plus, but we're looking at switching to the Amazon service altogether. For $79 a year you get the Amazon Prime (free two day shipping) plus the streaming service. I do a bit of Amazon ordering, so this could be a win-win for me.

I like the Amazon streaming offerings (Weeds, Dexter) but we would lose Phineas and Ferb and a few shows hubby really likes.

What I can't tell is if the Amazon Prime streaming options are only a subset of the full streaming options.

I do like that you can rent from Amazon, also, avoiding the trip to Redbox and having to return the video.

Thoughts?

[buffettbride]

This thread is *nothing* without a poll.

[~Hippolyte~]

Yes, Amazon Prime "free" streaming is only a portion of what Amazon offers. You'll have access to many other options, but they're Pay-Per-View.

Honestly, I bet you can load the Amazon VOD 'thing' and see what's available and what the fees are.

Hulu Plus is much more for TV show watchers. You can watch many current-season shows with it. I was able to catch up on Bones last year after missing about 10-episodes on Fox.

Definitely try the Hulu Plus free trial. Sadly I think it's only 1-week (unlike Netflix free trial, which is a full month). But you can play with it and see for yourself.

Please tell me you're using an over-the-air antenna for networks? I don't know what channel the Av's play on, but you may get some games for free with an antenna.

HBO, Showtime, ESPN....I'd love it if these were an option to get without a big cable bill.

[buffettbride]

Yes, Amazon Prime "free" streaming is only a portion of what Amazon offers. You'll have access to many other options, but they're Pay-Per-View.

Honestly, I bet you can load the Amazon VOD 'thing' and see what's available and what the fees are.

Hulu Plus is much more for TV show watchers. You can watch many current-season shows with it. I was able to catch up on Bones last year after missing about 10-episodes on Fox.

Definitely try the Hulu Plus free trial. Sadly I think it's only 1-week (unlike Netflix free trial, which is a full month). But you can play with it and see for yourself.

Please tell me you're using an over-the-air antenna for networks? I don't know what channel the Av's play on, but you may get some games for free with an antenna.


HBO, Showtime, ESPN....I'd love it if these were an option to get without a big cable bill.

No can watchey hockey.

[SharkOnLand]

You should be able to get a free 1-month trial of Amazon Prime to try it out. Or http://www.amazon.com/mom might work, I'm not sure how young your kids need to be to qualify.

[buffettbride]

You should be able to get a free 1-month trial of Amazon Prime to try it out. Or http://www.amazon.com/mom might work, I'm not sure how young your kids need to be to qualify.

Anyone can join Amazon Mom...my kids are too old for many of the benefits of it though (like wipes and diapers and such--thank GOD those days are over).

[Hockey Mon]

We do none of the above. I doubt we'd drop our satellite (Dish) for a few reasons:
1. Hockey
2. Boomerang network - my kids love Tom and Jerry, Scooby Doo and old school Bugs Bunny and Road Runner/Coyote.
3. Sirius/XM

[billyelliott]

Legitimately, they're both great. I utilize Netflix on the grounds that it has a great deal of motion pictures, and i cherish viewing motion pictures. Hulu is better with the Tv shows/cartoons. All relies on upon what you watch more. It's most likely better to get both however.
http://www.streamingvpn.com

[Crazy Navy Flyer]

I've got Amazon Prime, it has more than paid for itself in free shipping. I've never used the streaming thing, can't understand why I'd want to watch a movie on my Kindle or laptop.