20 years ago, no one would have imagined that sitting on your couch and watching a movie on a handheld mobile device was possible. Yet, here we are trying to figure out the best way to stream videos on android and iOS devices.
Whether your plan is to watch bite-sized videos on YouTube, binge-watch a full season of the Game of Thrones or play live stream UK roulette online, there are many ways to do it.. How you do it largely depends on your Internet bandwidth, your budget, and a few other things. Find out more below.
Video Streaming: What it means and how it Works?
Streaming means either of two things. On one hand, it implies watching a video as it downloads online. You don’t get to keep the file after you’ve watched though. On the other hand, streaming refers to the act of uploading your video gaming activities for others to watch in real time.
TV streaming is being touted as the future of the media industry. In fact, 61% of millennials have totally ditched cable TV for streaming. If you have access to the Internet, consider trying the following streaming options.
Netflix
Netflix is the crème de la crème of TV streaming. Launched in 1997, Netflix has been in this business longer than almost all of its competitors. While Netflix is best watched on a giant TV screen, it’s absolutely possible to watch movies and shows using your Android or iOS devices.
Simply download the official Netflix app and create an account. The company lets you try its shows for 30 days after which you can subscribe to a paid plan. Netflix is home to riveting thrillers, nail-biting horrors, and top comedy specials.
Since Netflix displays its shows using different video quality formats, you need to have fast connectivity to the Internet. The streaming network suggests that you have a bandwidth of at least 4Mbps to stream HD quality videos smoothly and 5Mbps for full HD videos.
Hulu
Hulu lurks in Netflix’s shadow, but with 25 million fans, it’s proving to be a force to reckon with. The streaming network is available on both android and iOS and has a starting plan that rival’s Netflix at $7.99 per month.
Hulu’s most famous shows include Agents of Shield, How to Get Away with Murder and The Handmaid’s Tale. Like Netflix, Hulu suggests connectivity bandwidths of 3Mbps-6Mbps if you want to stream full HD shows seamlessly.
Before you subscribe to Hulu, keep in mind that it displays ads on its cheapest plan. You must upgrade to an $11.99/month plan for an ad-free viewing experience. If you don’t want to upgrade, there is an alternative. Some of the top shows on Hulu are also available on Netflix and other competing networks.
Amazon Video
Amazon Video was an important component of the Amazon Prime subscription deal until 2016. You can still get prime video services with Amazon Prime, but you can also pay $8.99/month and get video subscription alone.
Many of Amazon’s shows are critically acclaimed originals from other networks like HBO. However, the company also has original shows like Catastrophe and The Tick. You can watch Prime Video shows and TV on both android and iOS devices.
Contrary to Netflix, Amazon rarely pulls off its shows. If you find a TV series you love, chances are it will be available six months later. With Netflix, your top shows could be canceled at any time. This is not to say that Amazon is not without flaws. Its’ apps are not properly polished and most of its originals are not very successful.
HBO Now
When you watch online TV shows, you expect to pay less than cable TV. HBO Now thinks otherwise. The cheapest plan on the network costs $14.99. But then again, you get to watch Game of Thrones and all other famous HBO originals.
3G connection is required to stream HBO shows on your mobile phone. 4G offers better speeds though. Either way, HBO is a great streaming option if you love the network’s shows. It may not be the cheapest company but it delivers good quality originals like no other network.
TV Streaming Networks
Most streaming networks are owned by telecoms. Direct TV is the product of AT&T launched to help people cut cable for streaming options. When you subscribe to their plans, starting at $35/month, you receive access to more than 30 popular TV channels.
Direct TV is joined by a few other networks in this business, including YouTube. These companies are more expensive than regular streaming networks but give you access to a lot more shows and movies.
YouTube, for instance, costs $40/month to access more than 40 channels. From ABC to Fox, E! News to NBA.TV, you basically get cable TV plans on your smartphone. The most affordable brand in this business is Philo TV, whose lowest plan cost $16/month.
100% Free Streaming Options
You probably have cable access and you are not ready to let it go. But in the meantime, you could binge watch online shows without paying anything. Sony Crackle lets you access thousands of shows on the browser or on your mobile devices.
Tubi has access to more than 50,000 shows. Most of these shows are classics but they are several series popular on TV you can find here. Like Crackle, it’s totally free if you live in the US or Puerto Rico. Another great alternative is Pluto TV. Available in both free and paid plans, Pluto TV lets you stream its shows on any mobile device.
Popcornflix is also free and has a wide range of classic shows. If you love the 90s and early 2000 shows, this is a great option to consider. The company makes profits through ads like all the others but it rolls them out at the beginning of your episodes. That way, you get to watch your shows without annoying ads popping up.
Final Verdict
Watching TV online is not just a fad. It’s a new way of life and the most likely direction for the TV industry. Most streaming networks in the business are available on the mobile, some at no fee. Simply subscribe to a good Internet provider and check out some of the networks featured above.