CNET Editors’ Choice: Our Top Picks for Online Subscription Services

Viewers looking for new content to watch every week, whether it’s a nostalgic TV series from the past, a Netflix original production or licensed titles owned by outside networks like HBO, USA or NBC. It’s hard to beat Netflix’s extensive catalog with content that spans multiple age groups, genres and geographical regions. Its diverse library keeps feeding audiences with originals like Squid Game, Bridgerton, Baby Reindeer, Arcane, Wednesday and Supacell. But its lineup of preschool content, reality shows and international titles consistently offers variety, and thanks to deals with studios such as Sony and Warner Bros., subscribers also get newer theatrical releases like Godzilla Minus One or Aquaman 2, and HBO faves like Warrior and Sex and the City. In addition to offering video games, live events and a vast assortment of content, Netflix’s interface is one of the most reliably user-friendly experiences in the game. From search to watch list reminders to its recommendation engine, it’s smooth and intuitive. We like that you can delete titles from your Continue Watching row, sift through the dedicated sections for new and upcoming releases or use the hidden codes feature. While we’re not exactly fans of streaming service price hikes, Netflix provides plenty of new – and old – stuff to watch for anyone in your household. – Kourtnee Jackson, senior editor

Families with kids, or for fans of Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar and Disney. Disney Plus is a one-stop shop for Disney-owned brands that includes classic movies from the Disney vault, Marvel blockbusters and original TV shows, Star Wars franchise titles, concert films and now, a slice of Hulu content. Bundling Disney Plus with Hulu makes it affordable, and the addition of more mature content is a bonus for an app that’s generally catered to a family-friendly audience. Streaming Disney and Pixar animated titles along with exclusive originals, Abbott Elementary, The Bear or Luke Cage in one location is convenient. Like Netflix, Disney Plus has a well-designed interface, and the hubs make it easy for kids and adult to use. Parental controls come in handy when you want to create customizable profiles by age or content rating, and like other streamers, there’s a selection of fun avatars to choose from. – Kourtnee Jackson

Longtime anime fans or newcomers who want access to simulcasts or its large catalog of popular titles.  While you can watch some ad-supported content with a free account, Crunchyroll’s premium subscriptions allow you to stream its full, massive anime lineup without ads, including originals, movies and new episode simulcasts from Japan. Crunchyroll’s selection is huge and the ability to watch new episodes from Japan is the main draw. The service is relatively affordable and is available in more than 200 countries. You can stream titles in their original Japanese format or choose from subtitled versions in roughly 10 different languages. Depending on your subscription type, members can get added perks like Crunchyroll Game Vault access, merch discounts or access to the platform’s lineup of music videos and concerts. Watch new or old anime content all day, every day, and because Crunchyroll keeps an organized, up-to-date simulcast calendar, you know what’s coming each season, month or week.– Kourtnee Jackson

This live TV streaming service includes dozens of popular channels, an intuitive interface and users can cancel at any time. If you're looking for a true cable TV replacement then Hulu Plus Live TV is the ultimate streaming service. In addition to live TV, Hulu has an unmatched library featuring both original programming and the history of TV itself. If you want to watch it, even if it's a show that aired a single season in 1967, it's most likely to be here. There's no extra gear to worry about including rental set top boxes which can break down. No technicians to schedule. To watch Hulu Plus Live TV you just need an internet connection and your TV remote. It’s cable TV without the hassle, and with apps for every platform it lets you watch wherever you are.– Ty Pendlebury, editor

Serious cord cutters who are looking to save some money will love Sling TV. As the most affordable service, it does involve a little more DIY than its more deluxe competitors. Namely, it doesn’t include the broadcast channels -- ABC, NBC, CBS et al -- but you can buy a separate tuner box and it integrates with your service’s program guide.  The carriage fees that broadcast channels charge to cable TV and streaming services is one of the reasons user fees keep increasing. By Sling TV getting rid of broadcast channels, you’re not paying for network shows you never watch. You can then add an antenna to your TV and watch OTA for free! When you’re already forking out money for video and music streaming, why spend up to $100 on live TV as well? Sling TV, especially the Blue stream, offers most of the popular channels and costs half that of YouTube TV and Hulu.– Ty Pendlebury

Spotify draws the longest bow when it comes to audio entertainment, and is better for it. Its huge catalog of music is supplemented by podcasts and audiobooks which means it’s suitable for almost anyone looking for a high-value subscription service. Spotify has always had the best features, including excellent social sharing and collaboration add-ons. The yearly Wrapped continues to dictate to other services how they should roundup their users’ listening habits. If you had to tally up the individual costs of the features you get from a Spotify subscription you’d be looking at over $30. For just $12 a month you’re getting a lot. It may not have the high resolution streaming of its competitors, but most people aren’t fussed by the differences. The best value music service is right here.– Ty Pendlebury 

Xbox and PC gamers who move through games fast or are always looking for something new. Game Pass Ultimate is a gamer’s version of Netflix, and it gives you access to over 500 games including series like Halo and Dead Space, as well as games like Diablo 4. We especially like that, it gives you Day 1 releases at no extra charge. One year of Game Pass Ultimate will cost you $240. That sounds like a lot, but that covers the price of three new AAA games, which can be $70 upon release. So when Doom: The Dark Ages, Gears of War: E-Day and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 they will likely cost $210 combined, and that doesn’t include access to online multiplayer. Plus, with Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft will likely add games from Activision Blizzard’s back catalog to the service. So if you plan on playing a lot of games, you’ll save money with this service in the long run, and who doesn’t like saving money?– Zachary McAuliffe, writer

Gamers with an iPhone looking for a fun mobile gaming experience, or parents who want to introduce their children to gaming. Apple Arcade’s strength lies in its mobile game catalog and the frequency it adds new games. It offers subscribers over 200 games now without any additional in-game fees, and the service adds new games every month. Apple Arcade costs $7 a month, and you can share your subscription with up to five other people. That means you and some friends can split the subscription fee and you’ll always have others to game with, or you can play games with your children at no extra charge. So you can play NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition against your friends, or Hello Kitty Island Adventure with your kids. Being able to game on your iPhone is great if you have a commute, and many games can be played on iPad or MacBook once you get home.– Zachary McAuliffe

Anyone looking for the smoothest VPN experience for just about any online activity. If there’s a VPN that’s best prepared for the future, it’s ExpressVPN. While most VPNs are working on addressing current online privacy challenges, ExpressVPN’s post-quantum protection has got you covered well into the future by raising encryption standards to guard against decryption from quantum computers.  ExpressVPN is our top VPN pick overall and one of the best across many of our VPN best lists for a reason: It’s a really good VPN for pretty much any use case. ExpressVPN is exceptional for unblocking international streaming content, but we also appreciate its unrivaled commitment to privacy and transparency. Its TrustedServer technology sets the bar for how a VPN server network should protect user privacy, and its 18 independent audits to-date go well above and beyond what other VPNs have published. If you want to stream movies and shows from around the world, enhance your online gaming experience, protect your privacy while traveling, evade online censorship or just hide your internet activity from your internet service provider, ExpressVPN is ridiculously easy to use and connects in a snap to a wide selection of 105 different countries.– Attila Tomaschek, writer

Anyone looking for a premium VPN experience at a great price (as long as you get the yearly or two-year plan).  Surfshark’s Nexus Network technology allows the provider to deliver some innovative privacy features you won’t find with most other VPNs. Through the power of the Nexus Network, you’ll be able to double-VPN through any two servers of your choosing with Dynamic Multihop and automatically change up your IP address every few minutes with IP Rotator. Besides sporting a pretty cool name, Surfshark is a top-notch VPN with an impressive feature set at a price that’s easy on the wallet. With Surfshark, you’ll get all of the privacy protections you’d get from a premium VPN provider like a kill switch, DNS leak protection, obfuscation and a RAM-only server infrastructure. But you’ll also get access to some really helpful tools that you won’t find elsewhere, like the Nexus Network suite of features and Surfshark’s Alternative ID, which lets you generate a fake alias, complete with a full name, date of birth, home address and an email address that automatically forwards messages to your real email address. Use it to keep your true identity private when registering online accounts. Surfshark is also quite fast, great for streaming international content and allows for unlimited simultaneous connections. Good luck finding another VPN that offers these kinds of premium features for $60 per year.– Attila Tomaschek