Netflix vs. Amazon Prime Video

Netflix and Prime Video are video streaming powerhouses. With millions of subscribers worldwide, these services are the best of the best when it comes to streaming movies and TV. While many people are subscribers of both Netflix and Prime Video, several consumers must make a choice between the two. Here, we’ve drawn a direct comparison between these services so that you can choose the option that’s right for you.

Netflix

Netflix has been around since 1997, starting out as a DVD rental service in which users could select a movie or show, have the DVD mailed directly to them, then send it back once they’d watched the title. Netflix now one of the most established streaming platforms available, with new content added each month.

Features

Downloadable Content

Netflix subscribers can download and store up to 100 titles on a single device with the download feature. Devices that you may download Netflix content onto to watch without an Internet connection include: devices with iOS 9.0 or later; devices with Android 4.4.2 or later; Amazon Fire tablet with Fire OS 4.0 or later; tablet or computer with Windows 10 Version 1607 or later; or any device with the latest version of the Netflix Apple iOS, Netflix Android, Amazon Fire, or Netflix Windows 10 app.

Some content may only be downloaded a certain number of times per year. Depending on the Netflix subscription plan that you have, you can have downloaded content on one, two, or four devices. To switch the device on your subscription that with downloaded content, you can delete all of the downloaded content from one device.

Device Compatibility

Netflix has an impressive array of compatible devices, making it simple for subscribers to watch Netflix wherever they are. Supported devices for Netflix include: streaming media players, Smart TVs, game consoles, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, smartphones and tablets, PCs and laptops.

Interface

Netflix has an attractive, intuitive interface. It’s easy to find genres and specific categories, most of which are based upon titles you’ve previously viewed. The interface also makes it simple to find Netflix originals, critically acclaimed content, and titles that you’ve saved to your list.

Pros:

All displayed content is included in the subscription fee.
Netflix offers a wider assortment of compatible devices than Amazon Prime, supporting Windows Phones, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS.

The platform’s personalized “Recommended for You” and “Based on Your Views” categories help viewers discover content that fits their preferences. Unlike Prime Video, Netflix shows a “percent match” for every title, which is a percentage showing you how likely you are to like a title based on other content that you’ve rated highly.

Cons:

Some content isn’t available to stream; you must have it shipped as a disc (although this is typically only true for older, obscure, or niche content).

To watch any of their Ultra HD (4K) content, Netflix requires viewers to have their most expensive subscription plan.

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video was launched in 2006. Two years later, it was given the name Prime Video, and in 2011, it became a streaming platform with thousands of movies and TV shows available for Prime members. Prime Video has gradually gained prominence in the entertainment industry and is now up against Netflix as the top streaming platform.

Features

Downloadable Content

Amazon Prime was the streaming platform that first introduced the option to download content onto your device. With this feature, you can choose shows and movies to watch later without an Internet connection. While the content is downloading, you can go off and do something else – Prime Video will send you a notification when the download is complete.

The limit to how much content users can download depends on a number of factors, including the user’s location. But, generally speaking, Prime Video members can download up to 15 to 25 shows or movies at a time. Users can only download content to two devices at once. Also, the Prime Video guidelines usually require members to watch downloaded content within a month, and once the show or movie is begun, it must be finished within two days.

Compatible devices for downloading include: Fire tablets (not Kindle Fire 1st Generation), Android, and iOS devices.

Device Compatibility

Device compatibility: Prime Video is compatible with: Android smartphones/tablets, iOS devices, Apple TV, Smart TVs (Samsung, Sony, and LG models), Fire TV Stick Basic Edition, Fire Tablets, Playstation consoles, Xbox One consoles.

Interface

The Prime Video interface looks just about the same as when you’re shopping on Amazon. It’s plain, listing out titles in rows with Prime original series typically displayed front and center. Breaking down the available content into genres isn’t as intuitive as it is with Netflix.

Prime’s “X-ray” feature gives viewers instant access to IMBd info on the content that they’re watching. If you want to know the name of an actor or actress on screen. Just position the mouse over them or click on them and their information will appear. (Amazon owns IMDb)

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Subscribers can become full Amazon Prime members to get additional, non-video-related perks included with Prime (free shipping, discounts, etc.).
• Prime Video offers a wider selection of content in 4K than Netflix, and it’s available at no added charge.
• Similarly to Netflix, Prime Video has an advanced recommendation system to display content that viewers may like based on their habits, products they’ve viewed, past content that they’ve watched, etc.

Cons:

• It displays some content that’s included for Prime subscribers and some content that must be purchased or rented for an additional fee.
• Prime’s device compatibility is more limited than that of Netflix.

Pricing

Netflix

• The basic plan, which allows you to stream content on one device at a time in SD, as well as download content to one device, is currently priced at $8.99 per month.
• The standard plan, which allows you to stream content on two devices at once in HD (when applicable), as well as download content to two devices, is priced at $12.99 per month.
• The premium plan, which allows you to stream content on four devices at once in HD and UHD (when applicable), as well as download titles to four devices, is priced at $15.99 per month.

Prime Video

• Prime Video membership is $8.99 per month.
• Amazon Prime membership is $12.99 per month and includes access to Prime Video, along with other membership perks.

Conclusion

Most entertainment enthusiasts should turn to Netflix and Prime Video for their streaming needs. These platforms are the most advanced and expansive options in the field, with exceptional collections of original content and features that are constantly being innovated. When compared directly, Netflix and Prime Video are quite similar, although Netflix is the most long standing, and arguably the most well established, platform of the two.

Sources:

https://media.netflix.com/en/about-netflix
https://devices.netflix.com/en/
https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926
https://www.pcmag.com/feature/340998/11-amazon-video-features-you-may-not-know/1
https://www.primevideo.com/help?_encoding=UTF8&nodeId=202095500
https://www.primevideo.com/help?nodeId=202064900
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200966690