Shudder is an on-demand service aimed at horror and thriller fans. It’s owned and operated by AMC Networks, which means one of the first Shudder alternatives to consider is AMC+, as it includes the entire Shudder catalog (and a lot more) for as low as an extra dollar a month.
Except for Disney+, most major streaming services offer a solid selection of horror titles. From Amazon Prime Video to HBO Max and from Hulu to Starz, we weighed every service’s horror catalog and picked a winner in 3 key areas of price, home theater features, and original content. We also look at the best “pure horror” alternative.
Be sure to read to the end, where we reveal our #1 overall best alternative to Shudder.
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Screambox: Best Shudder alternative for pure horror
Shudder is not alone, as there are a number of horror-focused streaming services on the market. Some are free, while others are only available through Amazon or Roku, such as Fear Factory and FrightPIX. However, even though it’s got niche appeal within the genre, Screambox is the best horror channel after Shudder.
And at $4.99/month, it’s a buck cheaper.
How much does Screambox cost?
Screambox has two plans available–the Free With Ads Plan and the Premium Plan.
The ad-supported content doesn’t let you watch the premium content, but finding “non-premium” content on the platform is next to impossible. Nearly everything is locked behind a Premium badge. However, that premium content is some of the cheapest you’ll find.
The Premium Plan can be paid 3 ways, with 2 of those offering a discount. The Monthly Premium Plan is $4.99, while the 3 Month Premium Plan is $11.99, which works out to $3.99/month. Paying for the full year upfront costs $39.99, which equals $3.33/month or a 30% savings.
Screambox offers more low-key horror
The Premium Plan includes a live TV channel, Bloody Disgusting TV, which offers original content, interviews, podcasts, and more. Just be aware that you won’t find big Hollywood hits on Screambox, as that doesn’t appear to be its focus.
Some of the popular on-demand movies and shows are:
- The Dead Zone
- Freddy’s Nightmares
- Sleepaway Camp
- Slumber Party Massacre
- Yakuza Apocalypse
Screambox in a nutshell
Screambox delivers inexpensive, ad-free horror-only content and streams up to Full HD (1080p). It’s available on a wide range of devices, allows 2 simultaneous streams, and downloads to watch offline on mobile devices.
Screambox currently caters to a certain type of horror fan, particularly those who like B-movies and low-budget 80s slasher films. But if it intends to give Shudder a run for its money, it will need to add a lot more (and better) content.
Paramount+: Cheapest Shudder alternative
Shudder is pretty tough to beat in terms of price, but 3 streaming services are a buck cheaper with $4.99 monthly plans: Apple TV+, Paramount+, and Screambox.
Apple TV+ still has a limited library and Screambox has niche appeal, so we rank Paramount+ as the best lower-cost alternative to Shudder. It offers a great selection of popular horror movies and shows, and a huge library of general content as well, including news and sports.
How much does Paramount+ cost?
Paramount+ has 2 plans available and one add-on.
The basic plan, Paramount+ Essential, is ad-supported and costs $4.99/month ($49.99/year). The Premium plan is ad-free and lets you stream your local CBS affiliate station live. It’s $9.99/month or $99.99 when paying annually.
Adding Showtime bumps Essential up to $11.99/month ($119.99/year) and Premium to $14.99/month ($149.99/year).
Paramount+ is the official streamer for Paranormal Activity
Paramount+ is the official streamer of the Paranormal Activity and A Quiet Place, so it’s where you’ll find new entries for both franchises first. The horror library includes everything from classics to slashers to the hottest new blockbusters.
Below are 5 popular horror titles currently available on Paramount+.
- Friday the 13th Part III
- Pet Semetary
- A Quiet Place 2
- Rosemary’s Baby
- The Town That Dreaded Sundown
Paramount+ in a nutshell
For only $4.99/month, Paramount+ has a broad selection of content, including live sports and news. However, if you’re going with the cheapest Paramount+ plan, the biggest drawback is that it’s got commercials. Shudder is only a dollar more a month and completely ad-free.
Amazon Prime Video: Best Shudder alternative for home theater features
One of the scariest things about Shudder is that it only streams up to 720p. That’s surprising when most streaming services are racing to offer enhancements like 5.1 surround sound, 4K UHD, and HDR.
Many, like HBO Max and Netflix, lock these quality features behind higher-tier plans.
But not Amazon Prime Video. In fact, it’s stated that it has no plans to charge extra for 4K content in the future.
How much does Amazon Prime Video cost?
As a standalone service, Amazon Prime Video is a bit pricier than Shudder, but comes with more range in content and can be upgraded to an Amazon Prime membership for other perks like free 2-day shipping on Amazon orders.
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What makes Amazon Prime Video’s home theater features so special?
A vast library awaits the home theater enthusiast on Amazon Prime Video, with hundreds of titles in 4K UHD and HDR. And to enhance the audio experience, select titles are available in 5.1, 7.1, and Dolby Atmos surround sound.
And all of it is available at no extra charge.
Amazon Prime Video also supports a long list of devices to stream its 4K, HDR, and surround sound titles. Take a look at our Amazon Prime Video Device Support article for the full story.
Amazon Prime Video offers plenty of chills
When it comes to delivering chills, Amazon Prime Video doesn’t hold back. And it even does so in 4K, HDR, and surround sound. Here are 5 terrifying titles available, along with their audio and video formats.
- Evil Eye (4K, HDR, 5.1)
- Jeepers Creepers (HD)
- The Invisible Man (4K, HDR, 5.1)
- Suspiria (4K, HDR, 5.1)
- A Quiet Place Part II (HD)
The horror choices are virtually endless, with 24,000+ titles included free with Prime Video and more than 60,000 available when including the rental catalog.
Amazon Prime Video in a nutshell
In addition to its low price, Amazon Prime Video ticks all the boxes for its content library, device support, and home theater features.
However, navigation can be frustrating as its user interface could do with a much-needed overhaul. And its 3-stream limit (with no option to upgrade) could be a deal breaker for larger households.
Take a look at our complete Amazon Prime Video Review for all the details.
Netflix: Best Shudder alternative for original content
While Shudder produces a fair amount of original content, it’s the curated content that is the platform’s main draw. Netflix, on the other hand, produces destination content.
How much does Netflix cost?
Being the most expensive on-demand service on the market hasn’t stopped Netflix from raising prices, but its Basic plan is still under the $10 mark at $9.99/month. The Standard plan doubles the number of simultaneous streams from 1 to 2 and offers HD (1080p) resolution instead of 480p. The Premium plan increases the number of screens to 4 and resolution to 4K UHD.
Netflix offers tons of original horror content
From Ozark to The Crown, Netflix is known for its outstanding original content. And when it comes to horror, it’s just as capable of delivering the goods. Here are a few of its most popular titles in the genre:
- Brand New Cherry Flavor
- The Fear Street Trilogy
- The Haunting of Hill House
- Midnight Mass
- Stranger Things
You can find plenty of popular horror titles on Netflix
While Netflix has a killer slate of top-rate originals, it also boasts a huge curated library of horror movies and shows. In addition to the list above, here are some other titles recommended for horror fans check out.
- A Nightmare on Elm Street
- Devil’s Advocate
- Halloween (2007)
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
- Van Helsing
Netflix in a nutshell
The jump from Shudder’s $5.99/month to Netflix’s most popular Standard plan at $15.49/month is well over double the price. Even Netflix’s Basic plan ($9.99/month) is a lot more than Shudder and only streams in 480p.
If you’re looking for 4K, you’ll spend even more, as it’s only available with the Premium plan. Furthermore, the limited number of streams (1 with Basic, 2 with Standard) may be a deal breaker for those with large households.
Check out our Shudder vs. Netflix article for our head-to-head matchup that covers 7 key areas.
Our verdict: Paramount+ is the best alternative to Shudder
One option that didn’t make our top 4 deserves a mention before we get to our number one overall choice. At only $6.99/month, Hulu is such a fan of the genre that every October it has a special content hub called “Huluween” dedicated to horror.
But without further ado, our top overall pick is Paramount+. It’s a buck cheaper than Shudder when going with the ad-supported version. Not only that, titles are available in 4K, HDR, and surround sound, and there is also a huge library of non-horror content to choose from. If you don’t want commercials, Premium is only $9.99/month and gets you live local TV, sports and news as well.
Douglas Wright is a freelance writer based in Japan. A former web designer and technical writer, he left beautiful Vancouver for bustling Tokyo, where he spent a decade recruiting for software and high-tech firms. No longer commuting through the world’s busiest train station, he writes fiction and a wide range of formats for clients around the world. When he gets AFK, he’s either outdoors with his two boys, streaming a show with his wife, or reading a book over a French-pressed, hand-ground coffee.
