Alternatives to Netflix

Netflix is probably the most beloved streaming service in the world, and for good reason: a broad catalogue, a polished interface, quality original productions. It doesn't carry the same privacy risk profile as a search engine or social network, but it automatically collects a substantial amount of data about you: what you watch, for how long, when you pause, what you search for but never actually watch. This information feeds the recommendation system that decides what gets surfaced to you first.

The same applies to Disney+, Prime Video, and Apple TV+. But there's a further problem that affects all these services together: catalogues change constantly, content comes and goes without notice, and to access everything you're interested in you could easily end up paying for three or four subscriptions simultaneously. Meanwhile prices rise every year, and almost all platforms have introduced ad-supported tiers — meaning you pay to watch advertisements anyway.

That said, some of the alternatives listed here also carry advertising. It's a contradiction worth naming: advertising means tracking, and in some cases the ad-supported model is more invasive than a subscription without ads. Where ad-free options exist, we flag them explicitly.

The idea here isn't necessarily to abandon Netflix, but not to depend on it as your only source. Exploring what exists outside the algorithms — even just to actively choose what to watch once in a while — is already a different kind of engagement.