The best sites similar to Netflix Australia for streaming TV shows and movies.
Netflix is a pretty big deal these days. As the dominant provider of on-demand entertainment for millions of people around the world, it was a big win for Aussies when the service finally made it Down Under back in 2015. Unsurprisingly, Australia has taken quite a shine to Netflix's vast library of movies and TV shows, hitting an estimated 7.5 million subscribers at the tail end of 2017.
This success hasn't gone uncontested, however. Eager to capitalise on the streaming boom, rival services like Stan, Foxtel Now and hayu have emerged to provide Aussies with plenty of choice for getting their streaming fix. Each of these services offers something a little different, distinguishing themselves from Netflix with unique content, extra features or cheaper pricing.
To help you decide whether any of these Netflix alternatives is right for you, we've broken down their core features below. We've also put together comprehensive guides for each service, which you can read by using the links in the relevant section below.
1. Foxtel Now
Foxtel's foray into the world of Internet TV, Foxtel Now offers an online, on-demand streaming service for all programming available on regular Foxtel.
Available on PC, Mac, Chromecast, PlayStation 3 and 4, Xbox One and LG, Samsung and Sony smart TVs.
- Packages start from $10.00 a month
- Enjoy TV shows like Game of Thrones, Westworld and The Walking Dead
2. iTunes
Organise your music, movies and TV shows and shop for the ones that you want. Streaming radio is also available with iTunes Radio.
iTunes provides a central location to download not just music but movies and TV shows, too. There are thousands of movies and TV shows to choose from so you can catch up on your favourite episodes at any time.
- Works on Mac, PC, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV
- iTunes Radio is free
- Gift cards are available to send to friends and family
3. Foxtel
Foxtel is a pay TV service that includes live programs and channels. If you prefer a streaming service, you can get Foxtel Now for all your favourite shows and movies.
Build your own package and you could start watching Foxtel in just minutes. All your need to do is sign up online, install the app and you'll be able to access a range of content.
- Two words (okay, maybe three): Game of Thrones
- Choose from channels like Fox8, Fox Sports, Lifestyle and Discovery
- Compatible on a range of devices including Apple and Android
4. Stan
Offering thousands of hours of HD TV and movies and support for up to three streaming devices, Stan definitely gives Netflix a run for its money.
Stan's basic package starts from only $10 a month, offering a huge range of premium content including Breaking Bad, Adventure Time, Dexter, Preacher and Doctor Who.
- Watch on your TV, computer, tablet or smartphone
- Play via Chromecast or Airplay
- First month free trial
5. hayu
If you love your reality TV, no streaming service gets you more juicy drama than hayu.
For just $5.99 a month, hayu cuts right to the chase by offering nothing more or less than thousands of hours of reality TV fast-tracked from the US.
- Supports a wide range of devices including computers, tablets and smartphones
- Lets you download episodes and watch them offline
- Offers a 30-day free trial
6. Amazon Prime Video
With an emphasis on original content you won't find anywhere else, Amazon Prime Video is one of the best-value alternatives to Netflix.
While the library of blockbuster movies and big-name TV shows available through Amazon Prime Video in Australia could be better, the selection of original content more than makes up for it. With critical darlings like The Grand Tour, The Man in the High Castle and American Gods available exclusively through Amazon Prime Video, the cheap US$2.99 a month buy-in is definitely worth it.
- Six months of access for just US$2.99 a month
- Plenty of exclusive content like The Grand Tour and Mozart in the Jungle
- Offers a 7-day free trial
Want to try before you buy? Check out these free streaming trials:
Watch the latest reality TV with a 30-day free trial from hayu
Take advantage of hayu's limited 30-day month trial and access thousands of hours of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Made in Chelsea and so much more.
View detailsWhich internet TV provider offers the highest streaming quality?
The highest streaming quality currently available is 4K Ultra HD. Netflix, Stan and Amazon Prime Video all support 4K streaming, though only for select titles – mostly original content rather than traditional Hollywood fare. To stream in 4K through Netflix or Stan you'll need to purchase their top-tier subscription options, while Amazon Prime Video offers 4K streaming by default with its standard subscription.
Just bear in mind that streaming in 4K can chew through quite a large chunk of data: on Netflix, an hour of 4K streaming uses up roughly 7GB.
How much do these alternatives cost compared to Netflix?
A basic Netflix subscription will set you back $9.99 a month, but this only gets you the ability to stream to one device at a time and limits you to streaming in Standard Definition (SD).
Stan prices its basic service similarly, charging $10 a month for SD streaming to a single device at a time. Its higher tiers work out cheaper, however, with HD streaming and a three-device cap setting you back $12 compared to Netflix's $13.99 for HD and a maximum of two simultaneous devices. 4K streaming is cheaper still, with Stan charging $15 a month compared to Netflix's $17.99.
Foxtel Now's cheapest package slides in at the same price as Netflix and Stan, with the Docos, Lifestyle and Kids packs setting you back $10 a month each. The popular Drama and Pop packs (which contain Game of Thrones, Supergirl and other big-name titles) clock in at $15 a month each. Depending on how eclectic your tastes are then, Foxtel Now can either cost the same or a whole lot more than Netflix.
Amazon Prime Video and hayu have the clear price advantage on Netflix, charging US$5.99 and AUD$5.99 a month respectively. The catch there is that hayu only allows you to stream to one device at a time, and both hayu and Amazon Prime Video have far smaller content libraries than Netflix.
What shows and movies do Netflix's competitors offer?
Content is king in the streaming video space, and Netflix has a sizeable lead on the competition in terms of the sheer number of TV shows and movies it offers. That said, quality is always more important than quantity, and there are plenty of top-notch titles available exclusively on Foxtel, Stan, Amazon Prime Video and hayu.
Here's a comparison of some of the top shows available on each service:
| Service | Key content |
|---|---|
| Netflix | Stranger Things, BoJack Horseman, Orange is the New Black, The Crown, Black Mirror, Master of None, Star Trek: Discovery |
| Stan | Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad, Preacher, Romper Stomper, The Other Guy, Wolf Creek, Electric Dreams |
| Foxtel | Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Supergirl, Legion, The Americans, Westworld, Silicon Valley |
| hayu | The Real Housewives of New York City, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Botched, The Hills |
| Amazon Prime Video | Transparent, The Grand Tour, The Man in the High Castle, Mozart in the Jungle, American Gods, This is Us |
| iTunes | The Walking Dead, Better Call Saul, Pretty Little Liars, Downton Abbey, Revenge, State of Affairs, The Real Housewives |
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Hi
I’m profoundly deaf and I was wondering if any of the providers guarantee to have subtitles or closed captions on all or most of their movies and TV shows?
Hi Tamika,
Great question. Here at finder.com.au, we’ve compared each providers’ closed caption offerings. Follow this link for more information.
Thanks,
Brodie