At launch in Australia, Netflix was a peerless streaming service, even if Stan had a crack at getting Aussies interested in on-demand content. More than a decade later, though, there are a lot more choices when it comes to picking the best streaming services. And considering the regular Netflix price hikes, it's understandable that you may be curious about alternatives to ever-costlier service. The great news is there are plenty of viable alternatives for movies, TV shows, and Australian content.
Our team has tens of thousands of hours of experience with streaming services across Netflix and its most popular alternatives in Australia. For the best Netflix alternatives, we wanted to focus on contenders that had roughly the same entry point price-wise, with plenty of bang for buck.
As part of our considerations, we evaluated major Netflix competitors – Paramount Plus, Binge, HBO Max, Prime Video, Stan, Apple TV, and Disney Plus – as well as more niche services, including Shudder, Beamafilm, Cultpix, Crunchyroll, and Mubi.
Ultimately, the streaming services that rose to the top were the ones that offered the best selection of mainstream titles across movies, TV series, and Aussie content (or sometimes all three). Cost was used to separate contenders from category winners, and features were also taken into account to determine tie breakers.
For context, our recommendations for Netflix alternatives are primarily based on the following Netflix prices in Australia:
- Netflix Standard (with ads): $9.99 per month
- Netflix Standard: $20.99 per month
- Netflix Premium: $28.99 per month
Best Netflix alternative for movies: Prime Video
If you're a fan of Netflix because it has thousands of movies, you can get even more viewing choices with a Prime Video subscription. The biggest challenge of Prime Video is having too many options. You'll get a mix of classics – Memento, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Jurassic Park – alongside newer releases like 28 Years Later, The Monkey, and Materialists.
| Inclusions | Details | |
|---|---|---|
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Prime Video
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Prime Video
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Prime Video is one of the cheapest streaming services in Australia, starting at $9.99 per month. Alternatively, pay $79 for the year for even better monthly value. There are ads, but you can pay $2.99 a month to ditch them. There's also extra value because Prime Video is part of an overarching Amazon Prime subscription, which includes free Amazon shipping and member offers, music streaming, downloadable ebooks, and even free weekly games.
Unlike competing streaming services, Prime Video doesn't have a 4K-resolution tax. There's only one subscription tier, so you can stream movies and TV series at up to 4K resolution. Plus, Prime Video allows for simultaneous streaming on up to three devices. With a selection of Prime Video originals – like The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Palm Springs, and The Covenant – and a rotating roster of popular movies, there's always something to watch.
You may be able to get Prime Video for a cheaper price via discounted pricing.
Benefits of Amazon Prime Video
- Thousands of popular movies and TV series to stream
- Selected content available at up to 4K resolution on up to three devices
- One subscription option that's even cheaper if you pay annually
- Other perks include ebooks, music, gaming, and Amazon shopping
- Prime Video app available on a wide range of devices
Best Netflix alternative for TV: HBO Max
While handfuls of streaming services popped up to chase the popularity of Netflix, all of them have been following in the gargantuan shadow of the success of HBO TV series. The term "originals" technically covers movies and TV series, but it's generally the latter that become part of the pop-culture zeitgeist. Just look at Netflix's Stranger Things, Wednesday, and Cobra Kai, plus limited series like Adolescence and The Queen's Gambit for proof of that.
|
HBO Max
From
$11.99/mth
or $119.99/yr
|
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HBO Max
From
$15.99/mth
or $159.99/yr
|
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HBO Max
From
$21.99/mth
or $219.99/yr
|
But time will only tell if these shows prove to have the staying power of HBO's intimidating roster of iconic TV series and miniseries. If you want drama, there are titans like The Wire, The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, and Game of Thrones. For laughs, HBO Max has Curb Your Enthusiasm, Veep, Silicon Valey, plus Sex and the City. And if miniseries are more your speed, get lost in Band of Brothers, Chernobyl, or Watchmen.
HBO Max prices range from competitive to exy. Get HBO Max Basic With Ads for $11.99 a month or HBO Max Standard for $15.99 per month. Both come with two streams at up to Full HD resolution, but Standard lets you have 30 offline downloads. Alternatively, HBO Max Premium costs $21.99 per month for up to four streams at 4K resolution, with 100 offline downloads. Get better value with an annual HBO Max sub for $119.99, $159.99, and $219.99, respectively.
You may be able to get HBO Max for a cheaper price via discounted pricing.
Benefits of HBO Max
- Thousands of hours of beloved HBO shows, plus Warner Bros. movies
- Selected content available at up to 4K resolution on up to four devices
- Three subscription options, plus better value from annual plans
- Great layout with meaningful promoted content, plus offline downloads (on two plans)
Best Netflix alternative for Aussie content: Binge
When it comes to streaming services with quality Australian TV series and movies, there are two main contenders: Binge or Stan. While Stan is absolutely worth considering, Binge ekes out a win thanks to a cheaper entry-level plan, plus better value via annual pricing.
|
Binge
Basic with AdsFree 7 Day Trial
From
$10/mth
or $79/yr
|
|
Binge
StandardFree 7 Day Trial
From
$19/mth
or $149/yr
|
|
Binge
PremiumFree 7 Day Trial
From
$22/mth
or $179/yr
|
You can get Binge Basic (with ads) for $10 a month or $79 per year. Ditch the ads and boost the resolution from Full HD to 4K with Binge Standard, which allows two simultaneous streams. Binge Standard costs $19 per month or $149 per year. Alternatively, Binge Premium allows for four simultaneous streams at up to 4K resolution for $22 per month or $179 per year.
If you're a fan of Aussie movies, Binge has you covered. Get stuck into classics like Babe, Ned Kelly, Gallipoli, and The Dressmaker. Or tuck into something more recent with Spit, Dangerous Animals, and The Royal Hotel. For Aussie TV drama, check out Wentworthand Mr Inbetween, or laugh along with Colin from Accountsand Upright.
You may be able to get Binge for a cheaper price via discounted pricing.
Benefits of Binge
- Stream great Aussie movies and TV series, plus 20,000+ hours of other content
- Selected content available at up to 4K resolution on up to four devices
- Three subscription options, plus better value from annual plans
- Practical layout with expected features from a streaming service
- Binge app available on a wide range of devices
Other Netflix alternatives
The options above are our pick of the best, but there are other Netflix alternatives you should consider checking out. In terms of the Disney Plus vs Netflix debate, the former has a great mix of TV series and quality movies. Prices start at $15.99 a month for Disney Plus Standard (or $159.99 per year), which offers two simultaneous streams at up to Full HD resolution. Alternatively, Disney Plus Premium costs $20.99 per month (or $209.99 per year) for four simultaneous streams at up to 4K resolution. Like Netflix, you can add an extra member to your Disney Plus account ($7.99 for one extra member).
Apple TV (Plus) and Paramount Plus subscriptions are also worth considering, albeit more geared towards TV series than a quantity of quality movie options. Paramount Plus is the cheaper of the two, with prices starting at $7.99 per month (or $70.99 per year) for Paramount Plus Basic. That entry-level sub has ads and offers one stream at up to Full HD quality. Ditch the ads and add a second simultaneous stream with Paramount Plus Standard, which costs $12.99 per month (or $115.99 per year). For four simultaneous streams at up to 4K resolution, Paramount Plus Premium costs $17.99 per month (or $159.99 per year).
Apple TV costs $15.99 per month for six simultaneous streams at up to 4K resolution. For a great all-rounder – movies, TV series, and Aussie content – consider a Stan subscription. Stan Basic costs $12 per month for a single SD stream, or pay $17 for Stan Standard, which offers three streams at up to Full HD resolution. Stan Premium costs $22 per month for four streams at up to 4K resolution. You can also add Stan Sport to any of those base subs for $20 extra per month.
|
AMC+ Bundle
TV7-day free trial
From
$8.99/mth
or $83.88/yr
|
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Disney+
From
$9.99/mth
or $179.99/yr
|
|
Amazon Prime Video
TV + movies + more30-day free trial
From
$9.99/mth
or $79/yr
|
|
Netflix
From
$9.99/mth
|
|
Binge
TV + movies + sport7-day free trial
From
$10.00/mth
or $79/yr
|
|
Crunchyroll
TV + movies7-day free trial
From
$11.99/mth
or $119.99/yr
|
|
Apple TV
TV + movies7-day free trial
From
$15.99/mth
or $129/yr
|
|
Kayo Sports
Sport7-day free trial
From
$29.99/mth
|
|
DAZN
From
$31.99/mth
or $149.99/yr
|
|
Foxtel Now
TV + movies + sport10-day free trial
From
$35/mth
|
|
Paramount+
TV + movies + sport7-day free trial
From
$7.99/mth
or $70.99/yr
Link not supplied
|
|
Stan.
TV + movies + sport
From
$9.99/mth
Link not supplied
|
|
HBO Max
TV + movies
From
$11.99/mth
or $119.99yr
Link not supplied
|
|
BritBox
TV7-day free trial
From
$13.99/mth
or $139.99/yr
Link not supplied
|
|
MUBI
Movies7-day free trial
From
$14.99/mth
or $119.88/yr
Link not supplied
|
Free alternatives to Netflix
For free streaming alternatives, create an account for any of the free-to-air streaming apps in Australia: 7plus, 9Now, 10Play, ABC iView, and SBS On Demand. They arguably have more of a focus on Aussie content than anything else, but you'll still find a selection of popular international movies and TV series.
With the right library membership, you may have access to Beamafilm, Hoopla, and/or Kanopy, which all have healthy catalogues of TV series and movies. If your library doesn’t offer those streaming perks, check out Brollie for an Aussie-focused free Netflix alternative, or Tubi TV if you fancy a whole lot of US-focused movies and TV series.
Picking the right internet plan for streaming
While streaming at up to 4K resolution is great for the eyes, it can lead to a massive impact on your internet connection. If you're streaming on mobile data, you can easily go through gigabytes of data each hour. Even when you're at home with an unlimited-data NBN plan, you may hit buffering issues or pockets of degraded resolution if you don't have enough available download speed.
Binge Basic only needs 5Mbps of download speed, which any NBN plan can comfortably handle. Prime Video also only uses 5Mbps for Full HD movies or TV series, and even three simultaneous streams can be comfortably tackled by an NBN 25 plan. But when you start to get into the realm of 4K streaming on multiple devices, you may need up to 100Mbps (or more) of download speed for every screen to have a seamless streaming experience.
Have a look at the table below for an idea of download speed requirements for different popular streaming services in Australia:
| Streaming plan | Download speed | Simultaneous streams | Max download usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stan Basic | 3Mbps | 1 | 3Mbps |
| Binge Basic | 5Mbps | 1 | 5Mbps |
| Disney Plus Standard | 5Mbps | 2 | 10Mbps |
| HBO Max Basic/Standard | 5Mbps | 2 | 10Mbps |
| Netflix Standard | 5Mbps | 2 | 10Mbps |
| Paramount Plus Basic/Standard | 5Mbps | 1 | 5Mbps |
| Prime Video | 5Mbps | 3 | 15Mbps |
| Beamafilm | 7Mbps | 1 | 7Mbps |
| Foxtel Now | 7Mbps | 2 | 14Mbps |
| Kayo Standard | 7.5Mbps | 1 | 7.5Mbps |
| Stan Standard | 7.5Mbps | 3 | 22.5Mbps |
| beIN Sports | 10Mbps | 1 | 10Mbps |
| Mubi | 10Mbps | 2 | 20Mbps |
| Fetch TV | 15Mbps | 1 | 15Mbps |
| Netflix Premium | 15Mbps | 4 | 60Mbps |
| Stan Premium | 15Mbps | 4 | 60Mbps |
| DAZN | 16Mbps | 2 | 32Mbps |
| Disney+ Premium | 17Mbps | 4 | 68Mbps |
| Foxtel IQ | 20Mbps | 2 | 40Mbps |
| Kayo Premium | 25Mbps | 2 | 50Mbps |
| Binge Standard/Premium | 25Mbps | 4 | 100Mbps |
| Paramount+ Premium | 25Mbps | 4 | 100Mbps |
| Apple TV | 25Mbps | 6 | 150Mbps |
| HBO Max Premium | 50Mbps | 4 | 200Mbps |
Because Prime Video, HBO Max, and Binge all support up to 4K streaming, we'd advise grabbing an NBN 100 plan. That's the fastest speed tier available to most homes in Australia. If you're not streaming on multiple devices, you can save money with an NBN 50 or even potentially an NBN 25 plan. But if you want no-compromise streaming in a Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) or Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) home, check out NBN 250, NBN 500, NBN 1000, and NBN 2000 plans.
|
SpinTel
All Fixed Line nbn®
Home Starter 25/10
$41/mth
Min. cost $41
|
|
Tangerine Telecom
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value NBN 25/10
$42.90/mth
Min. cost $42.90
|
|
Dodo
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn25 Unlimited Plan
$43.99/mth
Min. cost $43.99
|
|
Moose NBN
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn 25/10 Value
$44.80/mth
Min. cost $44.80
Link not supplied
|
|
Flip
All Fixed Line nbn®
Editor's Pick
Unlimited Premium nbn25
$48/mth
Min. cost $48
|
|
Belong
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN Starter – Unlimited
$49/mth
Min. cost $49
|
|
Kogan Internet
All Fixed Line nbn®
Bronze Unlimited
$49.90/mth
Min. cost $49.90
|
|
Swoop
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn® Home Casual
$54/mth
Min. cost $54
Link not supplied
|
|
MATE
All Fixed Line nbn®
Crikey nbn 25/10
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
Link not supplied
|
|
Superloop
All Fixed Line nbn®
Everyday nbn25/10
$58/mth
Min. cost $58
|
|
amaysim
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN50
$45/mth
Min. cost $45
|
|
Belong
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN Standard Plus – Unlimited
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
|
|
Dodo
All Fixed Line nbn®
Editor's Pick
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$57.99/mth
Min. cost $57.99
|
|
Moose NBN
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn 50/20 Premium
$59.80/mth
Min. cost $59.80
Link not supplied
|
|
Tangerine Telecom
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value Plus NBN 50/20
$64.90/mth
Min. cost $64.90
|
|
Flip
All Fixed Line nbn®
Unlimited Family nbn50
$68/mth
Min. cost $68
|
|
Swoop
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn® Home Everyday
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
Link not supplied
|
|
Superloop
All Fixed Line nbn®
Extra-value nbn50/20
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
|
Kogan Internet
All Fixed Line nbn®
Silver Unlimited
$69.90/mth
Min. cost $69.90
|
|
TPG
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$69.99/mth
Min. cost $69.99
Link not supplied
|
|
amaysim
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
NBN100
$50/mth
Min. cost $50
|
|
Belong
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
NBN Premium – Unlimited
$59/mth
Min. cost $59
|
|
Dodo
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Editor's Pick
nbn100 Unlimited Plan
$62.99/mth
Min. cost $62.99
|
|
Moose NBN
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
nbn 100/20 Elite
$63.80/mth
Min. cost $63.80
Link not supplied
|
|
Tangerine Telecom
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Speedy NBN 100/20
$67.90/mth
Min. cost $67.90
|
|
Flip
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Unlimited Turbo Boost nbn100
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
|
Kogan Internet
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Gold Unlimited
$69.90/mth
Min. cost $69.90
|
|
iiNet
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
nbn Home Fast Liimitless
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
|
|
Swoop
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
nbn® Home Fast
$72/mth
Min. cost $72
Link not supplied
|
|
Superloop
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Family nbn100/20
$74/mth
Min. cost $74
|
|
Superloop
FTTP, HFC
Creator nbn250/100
$82/mth
Min. cost $82
|
|
Aussie Broadband
FTTP
Super-Fast Pro nbn - Unlimited
$114/mth
Min. cost $114
Link not supplied
|
|
amaysim
FTTP, HFC
NBN500
$50/mth
Min. cost $50
|
|
Belong
FTTP, HFC
NBN Fast – Unlimited
$59/mth
Min. cost $59
|
|
Tangerine Telecom
FTTP, HFC
Speedy Max NBN 500/50
$59.90/mth
Min. cost $59.90
|
|
Dodo
FTTP, HFC
Editor's Pick
nbn500 Unlimited Plan
$62.99/mth
Min. cost $62.99
|
|
Moose NBN
FTTP, HFC
nbn 500/50 Turbo
$63.80/mth
Min. cost $63.80
Link not supplied
|
|
Flip
FTTP, HFC
Unlimited Fast Speed nbn500
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
|
SpinTel
FTTP, HFC
Home Turbo 500/50
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
|
Kogan Internet
FTTP, HFC
Gold Plus Unlimited
$69.90/mth
Min. cost $69.90
|
|
iiNet
FTTP, HFC
nbn500 Liimitless
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
|
|
Swoop
FTTP, HFC
nbn® Home Megafast
$72/mth
Min. cost $72
Link not supplied
|
More streaming deals
Looking for something to stream tonight but don't want to pay full price? We've rounded up the best deals from Australia's major streaming services.
- Apple TV Plus deals: Get 30% off
- Binge deals: Stream Binge from less than $7 per month
- Disney Plus deals: Get 12 months for the price of 10
- Foxtel packages and deals: Save up to $55 per month
- HBO Max deals: Free HBO Max with Foxtel
- Kayo deals: 50% off Kayo Premium for six months with Optus SubHub
- Netflix deals: Free Netflix with Foxtel
- Paramount Plus deals: Save over $40 per year
- Prime Video deals: Score a 30-day free trial
Nathan Lawrence
Freelance Contributor
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