Netflix vs Prime Video vs HBO Max vs Disney+: Which Has the Best Catalog?

The big picture: movies and TV combined

What the numbers say

• The biggest catalog is not the best catalog. At our last review, Prime Video included by far the most popular titles, but only a small share of them were well reviewed. Netflix included fewer titles in total and more well-reviewed ones than any other service.
• Smaller services can be more selective. Apple TV had the highest share of well-reviewed titles by a distance, followed by Paramount+ and HBO Max. A smaller catalog that is mostly good can be better value than a huge one you have to dig through.
• Movies and TV differ. A service can be strong in one and weak in the other. Check the two tables below against what you actually watch.

Movies

Movies are where catalog size misleads most. At our last review, Prime Video included more well-reviewed movies than any other service, but they were a tiny share of a very large catalog, so finding them takes work. HBO Max came close to Netflix on well-reviewed movies with less than half as many films in total, which makes it the easiest of the big services to browse for a good film. Disney+ was also stronger for movies than for TV.

TV shows

TV is a different contest. At our last review, Netflix included far more well-reviewed shows than any rival, and Hulu was second, ahead of services with bigger overall catalogs. Hulu and Apple TV were the only two with more shows than movies. If most of your viewing is series, those two are the natural starting point, and HBO Max earns its place through a short list of very highly regarded dramas, not through volume.

Service by service: who each one suits

The tables measure quantity and review scores. They do not tell you what a service feels like to use. This is how the eight compare in practice:

• [Netflix](/streaming/netflix) is the best all-rounder: the deepest bench of well-reviewed TV, a steady flow of originals and a broad film catalog. It suits households where everyone watches something different.
• [Prime Video](/streaming/prime-video) has the largest catalog by a wide margin, most of it older and lesser-known films. Its app also mixes included titles with rentals and add-on channels, so check for the "included with Prime" label. See whether Prime is worth it for streaming.
• [HBO Max](/streaming/hbo-max) pairs HBO’s dramas with the Warner Bros. film library. It is the pick for film lovers who would rather choose from a shorter, better list.
• [Hulu](/streaming/hulu) is built around television, including current network shows soon after they air. It suits people replacing cable more than people looking for films.
• [Disney+](/streaming/disney-plus) is narrow and deep: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic. For families and franchise fans it is close to essential, and for everyone else it is easy to finish.
• [Paramount+](/streaming/paramount-plus) covers the Paramount film library, CBS shows and Star Trek. It had a better share of well-reviewed titles than its size suggests.
• [Peacock](/streaming/peacock) is the home of NBC shows and Universal films. At our last review only Prime Video had a lower share of well-reviewed titles, so subscribe for specific shows, not to browse.
• [Apple TV](/streaming/apple-tv) is almost entirely originals. The catalog is tiny, but the share of well-reviewed titles is the highest here. It is ideal for a month or two at a time.

What catalog counts do not tell you

• Plan differences. Cheaper plans can carry ads, cap resolution or leave out 4K and HDR. Two people on the same service can have quite different experiences.
• Turnover. Licensed films and shows come and go every month, while a service’s own originals mostly stay. A catalog built on originals is more predictable. Our guide to why movies leave streaming explains the cycle.
• Live TV and sport. Some services include live channels or sports rights. We count on-demand films and shows only.
• The films nobody has. Plenty of well-known films are not included with any subscription at a given moment. See movies you can’t stream for current examples.

How to choose

1. List five to ten things you want to watch. Search each one on our site and note which service carries it in your country. The service that covers most of your list wins, whatever its catalog size.
2. Weigh originals. Each service has exclusive originals you cannot get anywhere else. If one show is the reason you would subscribe, that settles it.
3. Rotate instead of stacking. Subscribe to one service at a time, watch what you came for, and switch. Our streaming deals page lists current offers and free trials.
4. Check the free options too. Many popular titles are free with ads on services such as Tubi and Pluto TV. Browse our free streaming section.

How we calculate these numbers

"Popular titles" are titles with popularity data in our catalog. A title counts for a service if it is included with that service’s subscription in the US. Rentals, purchases and add-on channels are excluded. Where a service has several plans, such as Paramount+ Essential and Premium, a title counts if it is included with any of them. "Well reviewed" means a user rating of 7/10 or higher, based on enough reviews to be reliable. Catalogs change daily, so the tables update with every data refresh.