Which is the best: Amazon Prime Video or Netflix?
What's the story
Which is the best, Amazon Prime Video or Netflix? This question has stuck in the mind of every person who has ever thought of using an OTT platform.
Netflix is the veteran among all the other online video streaming services, that is for sure.
But, Amazon Prime Video has become another household name and is becoming bigger and better with every coming day.
Development
OTT platforms have seen tremendous growth in pandemic
The global OTT market is valued at more than a staggering $81.6 billion a year industry, and with more and more people becoming cord-cutters, experts expect OTT to reach $160 billion by the end of the year 2024.
With the pandemic and cinemas closed all across the world, OTT has seen tremendous growth as most movies are getting an online release these days.
Battle
Let's see who wins this 'Battle of the Century'
Amazon Prime Video and Netflix are the biggest giants in the game right now.
Majority of the market share has been captured by Netflix, but Prime Video is also not far behind in the race.
To get more insight into this Battle of the Century, see how Seawallalife carried out the comparison between the streaming giants.
We have divided this battle into smaller categories.
Content
Prime Video has around 22,000 movies and 2,000 shows
Amazon Prime Video has a vast array of movies and shows.
If you stick to the numbers, it is almost impossible to beat Prime Video in this game.
This streaming service has more than 22,000 movies with an addition of around 2,000 shows.
An average content consumer would have decided their winner here.
But this is too soon to decide anything.
Contender
Meanwhile, Netflix focuses on getting newer, fresher content
Netflix only has around 3,700 movies and 1,500 shows.
This huge difference is surprising because Prime Video is only a few years old, while Netflix is the original OTT platform.
Although Prime Video may have a more prominent gallery of movies and shows, these are not really fresh.
Netflix focuses on getting newer, fresher content that does not overlap the existing content.
Result
Content wise, Netflix wins because quality over quantity
Netflix's original series include Stranger Things, Black Mirror, 13 Reasons Why, and more, which are all out-of-the-box ideas.
Originals for Amazon Prime Video include Jack Ryan, The Man in the High Castle, The Grand Tour; which are popular but are mainly commercial genres.
Netflix is the winner here because they have better and newer content.
Prime Video's content is not that fresh.
Video quality
Worthy or not? Video Quality and Simultaneous Streams
Video Quality plays a vital and prominent role in deciding if a video streaming platform is worth its salt or not.
With the rise in consumption of content, the expectations of better quality have raised exponentially.
Both the video streaming platforms offer 4K UHD video quality, but the difference lies in the package you choose.
Let's start with Netflix.
Netflix basic
Netflix's basic plan: 480p resolution and single-screen at a time
Netflix lets users access the different quality of video according to their subscription package, i.e, basic, standard, and premium.
The basic plan from Netflix is $9 a month, which focuses on those who only use smartphones to watch their content.
This plan grants the maximum resolution of 480p and single-screen at a time streaming capacity.
480p is like using a Nokia 5232 in 2020.
Other plans
The premium plan on Netflix allows 4K UHD video transmission
The standard plan from Netflix comes at $14 a month, which allows two users to stream simultaneously and provides Full HD picture quality of 1080p.
This jump from 480p to 1080p comes with an increase of just $5 a month.
Netflix's Premium plan that costs $18 a month, allows four concurrent streams and provides the greatest streaming quality, i.e., 4K UHD video transmission.
Results
Amazon Prime Video has more perks at a cheaper rate
Amazon Prime Video has a single subscription plan at $13/month or $120 annually.
This plan allows you to stream videos at the highest available resolution rate (1080p for most movies and shows, 4K for selected videos) and stream content on three different devices simultaneously.
So clearly, Amazon Prime Video wins here because it costs less than Netflix's Standard Plan and has more perks.
Test
Why is User Interface important in this context?
People have switched from their television boxes to laptops and now stick to their smartphones because most people consume content on their way, either from work or from some other activity.
Since people are using smaller screens to consume their content and navigating through this digital cinema house, User Interface has become an essential part of the package.
Here, both the applications performed similarly.
UI perks
Both streaming services have unique features
Both have a few pros and cons.
Netflix allows you to change the playback speed, which is helpful for those who don't want to waste their time watching a slow scene (or an entire scene).
Prime Video has the "X-Ray" feature by its sister concern IMDb, which provides trivia related to the content that includes details about the cast on-screen at that particular moment.
Information
Both the players are almost leveled in this category
Both are almost leveled at scoreboard, but Prime plays an ad about a movie or show when you open the app. This ad is skippable, as no one wants to see them while watching a movie. So bonus for Netflix here.
Value
Breaking it down: Additional perks and value for money
Amazon Prime Video's subscription for $13 a month gives you access to the entire catalog of Amazon Prime Services, which includes Prime Shopping Perks (Early access to deals, no delivery fee, etc.), Prime Music, and much more.
Meanwhile, Netflix's standard plan, costing you about $14 a month would only get you access to its content.
Clearly, Amazon Prime Video is the winner here.
Conclusion
Bottom line: Netflix for fresh content, Prime for something more
Both platforms have their pros and cons.
If you are looking for fresher, new conceptual shows and movies that you may not have seen, go for Netflix.
However, if you are looking for a package that gives you a good return on your investment plus some good content, take the Amazon Prime Video subscription without giving it a second thought.