In 2019, Americans spent around $15.9 billion on subscription streaming services.
Nowadays, we love to stream our favorite movies instead of waiting for them to appear on cable TV. Perhaps you’re looking for other ways to stream movies with lower latency and you’re overwhelmed by the options available.
Sound familiar? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
The Benefits of Streaming Movies
Before we discuss how to stream movies online, we should consider the benefits of it. The main advantage is streaming eliminates download times so you don’t need to wait hours for a movie to download and take up space on your device.
Further, buying or renting movies adds up so you can save a fortune by streaming. Simply pay a small monthly subscription and you’ll get access to thousands of fantastic movies so you can spend that extra money on more important things.
Streaming movies is also convenient. You can choose when and where to watch your favorite movie whether it’s on a desktop or a tablet. Plus, you’re not confined to a TV schedule where you have to watch what’s planned. Instead, you can pop on your favorite movie.
Further, streaming movies allow multi-device access so everyone can stream the movies on their device if necessary.
The 8 Ways to Stream Movies Online
You’ve got a list of the best streaming movies you want to try. But which sites are the best? To help you, here are the eight subscription services to use.
- Netflix
Netflix needs no introduction thanks to its extensive catalog of movies. You can also set up five accounts for the entire family so they can binge their favorite content. A bonus is Netflix is intuitive to use whether you’re using a Chromecast app for Mac or streaming it on your mobile device.
- Rakuten
On Rakuten, you’ll find hundreds of ad-free TV shows and movies that you can stream or purchase. There are also plenty of children’s shows and movies to keep the entire family entertained. You just need to enter your email address, password, and connect via your device.
- Yidio
Yidio makes streaming movies easier as it let you watch movies on everything from Netflix to Amazon. Or, if that’s too overwhelming, you can still enjoy Yidio alone. A major bonus is despite the giant database, Yidio is easy-to-use so searching and viewing is easy even for the biggest technophobes.
- Crackle
Crackle has a huge catalogue of free streaming movies, TV shows, and original content. You can access Crackle on your mobile device, TV, Xbox, or PlayStation 3 so the entire family can enjoy the service. And if you’re not sure how to keep the little ones entertained, throw on kid-friendly movies like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and The Smurfs which both feature on Crackle.
- Amazon Prime Video
Another behemoth streaming service is Amazon Prime Video which showcases hit comedies and dramas every month. You can also access weekly Amazon simulcasts like Friday night football games and has a huge selection of movies. If you’re on the fence, consider downloading or renting movies from the store so can you build up your collection.
- Throw a Watch Party
A fantastic way to bring everyone together is to throw a watch party so you can enjoy the movie at the same time. Then, make sure everyone is using the same streaming platform as the giant streaming platforms have this option.
For instance, Netflix users should download the service’s Party Chrome extension and load the desired movie. This will create a link to share with your friends so everyone is synced and you can chat with one another in the sidebar during the movie.
Or try the Amazon Watch Party as it lets you chat with 100 friends at once and is compatible with every TV show and movie. Hulu also has a great Watch Party option which works on every browser so it’s a hassle-free setup.
Regardless of which streaming service you choose, make sure you load up on popcorn and serve hot dogs so it feels like a movie theatre.
- Kast
Not a huge fan of box office movies? Then Kast is for you.
Along with big films, Kast prides itself on its selection of independent movies. Note that Kast is free if you can tolerate ads but there’s a premium option if you can’t.
- HBO Max & HBO Now
Thanks to the launch of HBO Max, viewers can enjoy it along with HBO Now. The latter is a digital version of the beloved cable channel so you can enjoy current and past HBO series and movies on your mobile devices. And HBO Max is perfect if you’re after classics like Casablanca and The Wizard of Oz.
A bonus is that you don’t have to pay for each one separately so don’t worry if you can’t choose between the platforms.
These Are the Best Ways to Stream Movies
Hopefully, you now know creative ways to stream movies whether it’s kid-friendly flicks to timeless classics.
Most streaming platforms offer trials so you get a feel of each one before taking the plunge. To help, consider the type of movies your family wants access to before committing. Luckily, most streaming services offer a Watch Party option so you can watch your favourite movies with other households. Enjoy!
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