Top 10 Best Streaming Sites of 2017

Sling is a great choice for anyone out there who likes traditional TV, but is tired of the high prices of cable or satellite, and the often costly fees associated with equipment and setup. The Sling app can be downloaded and run from most devices, conveniently giving you access to a selection of live channels, not just at home, but wherever you go. Given that it delivers live television, Sling is a bit more expensive than your average streaming service, with packages ranging from $20 to $40. But with channels like AMC, FX, and HGTV on the menu, and no contract, it’s got serious appeal. Sadly, it’s only available in the States.

People tend to overlook this streaming site, but it’s worth adding to your repertoire. Sure, it may not have the largest selection of content, super high resolution streams, or the most talked about of original series... but it’s free. No strings attached, no trial periods! Borrowing from traditional television, Crackle is ad-supported, shifting the financial burden onto advertisers rather than the end user. And though it may not be your go-to place for all your favorite series, it nonetheless boasts a respectable, ever-changing collection of television series and movies. Make an account and check it out whenever you’re looking for something new to watch. You literally have NOTHING to lose.

The leading streaming sites out there offer up serious variety. But what if you’re not interested in variety? What if you’re somebody who knows what they like and want as much of that specific type of content as possible? Well, if you’re an anime fan, Funimation is an essential service. A monthly subscription gives you access to Funimation’s ENTIRE catalogue of content, which includes classics like “Dragon Ball Z,” “Attack on Titan,” and “Cowboy Bebop,” as well as newer content like “Hand Shakers” and “Tales of Zestiria the X,” all for $5.99 a month. Their partnership with CrunchyRoll means they’ll have more content than ever, albeit with English dubs rather than subtitles.

Sorry America, but this is one of the few streaming services not available to you. CraveTV is owned and operated by Canadian telecommunications and mass media heavyweight, Bell. Introduced to capitalize on the shift to streaming and on-demand services, in addition to Bell’s traditional TV services, CraveTV can be added to existing TV packages, or taken as standalone streaming service. It offers Canadians a large collection of content that includes classic TV shows, original content, Showtime, and past seasons of HBO series - all for just $7.99 Canadian a month.

Western anime fans tend to fall into two categories… those who prefer subtitles, and those who prefer dubbed content. As part of the aforementioned deal with Funimation, Crunchyroll is not only giving their onetime competitor access to their properties to have them dubbed, but also gaining the right to stream the subtitled versions of Funimation properties. The end result is that more fans will be able to consume more content the way they want to. For some, this might mean picking either Crunchyfoll or Funimation, but for those looking to get as much new anime as they can, a dual subscription is probably the real answer. With Crunchyroll charging just $6.95/month, most can afford it.

Canadians might be able to get a hold of old HBO content on the cheap, but only their American neighbors can get the new stuff without a television provider. HBO GO is a streaming service that comes with all HBO television subscriptions, for which there is a Canadian equivalent in TMN Go. In terms of an internet-only streaming service, however, HBO Now is the only option, and it’s exclusive to the United States. It gives cord-cutters access to all HBO content, new and old, including live premieres of all their favorite shows, like “Game of Thrones” and “Westworld,” all for just $14.99/month.

Streaming websites have forever changed the television and film industry. But they didn’t fundamentally alter the nature of the content - just the means of distribution and style of consumption. YouTube is a streaming site, but one that stands apart as the only one to legitimately revolutionize the very idea of video entertainment. YouTube videos are their own form of content, user-generated media that can fit into a wide variety of categories - many the likes of which we’d never seen before. It’s a free, endless source of entertainment. And if you can’t stand the ads, there’s always YouTube Red, which, for $9.99/month, eliminates ads and gives you access to premium content from top creators.

First they conquered the world of books. Then… the universe of online shopping. In their quest to be your online one-stop shop, Amazon can’t afford to NOT get involved in a growing industry, and sure enough, online media streaming is something else they’ve done, and done quite well. Access to their massive catalogue of television shows and movies comes included with an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $99, or as a stand-alone monthly service at $8.99. To this you can add premium channels, including HBO, Showtime, and Starz. With their hit original content like “Manchester by the Sea” and “Mozart in the Jungle”… they make a solid argument for signing up.

For cordcutters in America who still want access to the same endless variety of content that a satellite or cable package would give them, at a fraction of the price, Hulu is the clear choice. Some are turned off by the fact that the shows in Hulu’s catalogue aren’t always complete series, but that’s missing the point. First off, Hulu has many complete series, as well as a jaw-dropping movie library. Secondly, and most importantly, Hulu has managed to get American first-run rights with countless networks, meaning that if you’re willing to wait a day or two after the live air date, you can keep up with most current shows for just $11.99/month.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- MUBI

- DramaFever

- NOW TV

Listen, we like a hot take as much as the next media company, but there was the only possible #1 pick. People don’t “Amazon Prime Video and Chill.” When you suggest a series to someone, their first question is almost always, “is it on Netflix?” - and your answer will likely decide whether they bother to watch it or not. Netflix has a user-friendly interface, a selection of content that can’t be beat, and enough of a lead in the industry to stop many from bothering to even consider the alternatives. Then there’s their original content... which has arguably set the bar in the industry. When it comes to streaming services, Netflix is king.