On March 24, Netflix will launch in Australia. To help you decide which streaming service is for you, Ryan reviews Netflix, Presto and Stan.
Streaming services are programs or websites that allow you to watch movies whenever you want over the internet, using technology similar to that of YouTube. They will cost you a monthly subscription fee, and each item you watch will use a significant amount of your internet data.
A single hour of streaming can use over one gigabyte (GB) of internet data. For this reason, streaming services are typically not suitable for users who have a small broadband data limit or use mobile data.
Stan
Owned by Nine Network and Fairfax Media, Stan will cost you $10 per month and is compatible with iPad, iPhone, Android, Chromecast, Apple Airplay, Windows, Linux and Mac.
Users can link up to six devices to a single account, after which they can swap one around per month. Reviews of the service have been largely favourable – some stating that it is easier to use than Netflix.
Stan’s TV content ranges from new content such as Gallipoli, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul (exclusive to Stan) to classics such as Star Trek and Twin Peaks.
Stan is also in the process of producing two original Australian TV series; a Wolf Creek spin-off and a political drama.
Movies on offer comprise of new releases and classics, including all 23 James Bond films.
Stan offers a free 30-day trial.
Presto
A joint venture between Foxtel and Seven, Presto will cost you $9.99 per month for either Presto TV or Presto Movies, or $14.99 for both.
Channel Seven’s close relationship with Foxtel will pay off when it comes to exclusive content. Plenty of Seven’s classic series, such as Packed to the Rafters, Home and Away and All Saints are already available on the service, as are numerous Showtime and HBO series. However Game of Thrones, the most illegally downloaded show ever is not available.
You can use the Presto website to search for TV shows and movies to see what is available.
Presto is available on iPad, iPhone, Android, Chromecast, Mac and PC. Presto users will be able to access the service on four devices, although only two users can stream content at any one time.
Presto also offers a free 30-day trial.
Netflix
The American veteran of content streaming, with close to 60 million subscribers worldwide, is finally launching in Australia.
A big positive for iiNet and Optus users is that Netflix usage will not count towards your broadband plan.
Pricing for the service has not yet been revealed, but it has been confirmed that there will be three different plans available:
- single-stream standard definition plan
- dual-stream high definition plan
- four-stream 4k definition family plan
The basic plan is expected to cost $10 a month, which will roughly match the cost of the basic plan in the United States at US$7.99 a month.
Netflix is available for iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, Chromecast, Ubuntu, Mac, PC and a large selection of other devices.
While in America Netflix offers over 10,000 titles, the catalogue in Australia is yet to be revealed.
Although we’ll have to wait until 24 March to see just what is offered, Netflix has vowed that the selection of programs will continue to increase over time.
Conclusion
Unless you run into technical issues or your device is not supported, these three services are very similar. The main factor to consider when choosing one from the three is the content library. The best way to do this is to try the service out for yourself. So why not take a look at the free trials of Presto and Stan while Netflix is still on its way?
Do you use a streaming service? Would you recommend it?
