Here’s the big reason why Amazon's Prime Video might be a better value than Netflix or Hulu

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

amazon instant video app
Amazon Instant

As more and more people decide to cut their cable cords, the on-demand streaming wars are only just beginning.

Yes, Netflix has a large lead on much of the competition, but thanks to more competition in the space, the company has had to shift its focus in recent years, from buying the rights to shows that were already popular to creating its own content.

Similarly, Hulu and Amazon have both begun investing in in-house shows in order to build up their libraries and make them more enticing to potential new audience members.

This represents just one of many shifts that is happening in the on-demand space. As of now Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon make up most of the market in terms of streaming services. But as individual channels work some wiggle room into their contracts with the cable companies, many of them are becoming available to stream as well. Additionally, brand-new networks are popping up and hoping to appeal to streamers who have committed to cutting the cord, but are still looking for a way to get a bit more niche content.

If you are an Amazon Prime member, you already have access to Prime Video, which offers a ton of programming from all scopes of television. But if you’re looking for a bit more variety in your streaming options, or are simply curious as to what else is out there for potential streaming purposes, you can now add other subscriptions on to your Prime Video membership.

Whether you’re looking for comedy, drama, movies, or talk shows, there’s an option available for every kind of content you might crave, and right now, you can get a free trial on many of them if you want to give them a try.

I’m listing my favorite five subscriptions I think you should consider below, and you can check out all of the potential add-ons here. If you don’t have Prime yet, but still would like to get an idea of what’s available, you can sign up for a free 30-day Prime subscription as well.

Advertisement

1. Showtime

Z 2
Amazon

While those who don’t have it might only think of Showtime as an off-brand HBO, the network has made a splash in recent years with cutting comedies and a few gripping dramas. Yes, you’ll still have a movie selection, but with shows like "Homeland," "Shameless," "Masters of Sex," "The Affair," and "Ray Donovan" at the ready, chances are you’ll be binging pretty quickly.

7-day free trial, $8.99/month after trial.

Advertisement

2. STARZ

Z 1
Amazon

STARZ is yet another HBO-style competitor featuring a ton of movies and original programming. While I am less of a fan of their original series compared to Showtime (although I’ve been told both "Power" and "The Girlfriend Experience" are well worth watching), STARZ has a huge movie library that will be of value to any cinephile.

7-day free trial, $8.99/month after trial.

Advertisement

3. SeeSo

SeeSo
Amazon

SeeSo is one of the most exciting platforms in streaming right now. Owned by NBCUniversal, SeeSo is a comedy venture that has original programming including "The UCB Show" and "Bajillion Dollar Propertie$."  But thanks to the NBC connection, subscribers can also get access to favorites including "Saturday Night Live," "The Office," and "Parks and Recreation." SeeSo also might be the best value on this list, costing only $3.99 a month.

7-day free trial, $3.99/month after trial.

Advertisement

4. Comedy Central Stand-Up Plus

John Oliver
Amazon

If you’re a comedy fan who needs a fix of stand-up every once in a while, this one should be a no-brainer. While Netflix and other streaming services have their fair share of stand-up available, the quality can be hit or miss and it’s easy to run through the entire library fairly quickly. With access to throwback episodes of "John Oliver’s Stand-Up Show" and "Comedy Central Presents," as well as brand new hits like "This Is Not Happening," you’ll find plenty of funny here.

7-day free trial, $3.99/month after trial.

Advertisement

5. Comic-Con HQ

Z
Amazon

With Comic-Con clearly taking over the media world, seeming to release every trailer for every movie that’s coming out for the rest of time last week, it makes sense that the brand would beginning producing content to make its own channel. Right now, the catalog is very on-brand, with subscribers getting a selection of sci-fi, thrillers, and documentaries on everything from tech to Burning Man to Dungeons & Dragons. They even feature live reports from Comic-Con so you can enjoy the festivities even if you can’t make it to San Diego.

7-day free trial, $4.99/month after trial.

Read the original article on Insider Picks. Copyright 2016. Follow Insider Picks on Twitter.
Advertisement