Every year, more and more people are cutting the cord and saving a few bucks by subscribing to a streaming service instead. But with so many options to choose from, how do you decide which one to go with?
In this guide, we’ll do an in-depth comparison of Shudder and Netflix to help you decide which is the better option for you.
Quick Overview: Shudder vs. Netflix
If you’re a horror fan, Shudder was made just for you. Shudder is an on-demand streaming service, but with a twist: all its content falls into the horror genre. Subscribers not only get thousands of classic horror movies but also all kinds of horror-related TV shows as well, including a growing list of Shudder originals to enjoy.
On the other hand, with more than 220 million users worldwide, Netflix is still the most popular streaming service in the world, having come a long way from its humble beginnings as a DVD delivery service. With tons of popular content and an unmatched output of original shows and movies, the streaming service doesn’t seem keen on letting up its #1 spot.
But which one is better? To be able to declare an overall winner, we had to pin the two services against each other in several categories including price, special features and content.
Without further ado, let’s start with the basics:
| Shudder | Netflix | |
| Pricing | $5.99/month | Basic: $9.99/month Standard: $15.49/month Premium: $19.99/month |
| Free Trial Length | 7 days | None |
| Popular Content | Mayhem
The Dark and the Wicked Halloween |
Love is Blind
Bridgerton The Adam Project |
| Original Content | Creepshow
The Mortuary Collection Revenge |
The Haunting of Hill House
Squid Game Ozark |
| Home Theater Features | Up to 720p | Up to 4KHDR
Dolby Atmos 5.1 surround sound |
| Offline Viewing | No | Yes |
| Device Support | Apple, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Xbox, select Samsung TVs | Apple, Android, Roku, Chromecast, Xbox, PlayStation, most smart TVs |
| Simultaneous Streams | 1 | 1-4 (depending on plan) |
Best Pricing: Shudder vs. Netflix
When it comes to pricing, Shudder is the cheaper option, even if you were to choose Netflix’s cheapest plan. However, if you’re looking for more variety in terms of content than and don’t just want titles in the horror genre, it may be worth splurging the extra few bucks for a Netflix subscription.
When it comes to Shudder, wherever you live, the cost is the same. You can either pay $5.99/month or save money with an upfront payment of $56.99 for a year of service. In Canada, the UK, and Ireland, pricing is adjusted to reflect the local currency, but the rate is the same.
| Shudder 7-Day Free Trial $5.99 / month | 630+ titles Also includes 41 series and 7 podcast Famous thrillers 1 simultaneous stream | SIGN UP |
In contrast, Netflix starts at $9.99/month for the Basic subscription, which is nearly twice the price compared to Shudder. You’ll get a lot more content including non-scary shows, but that’s still something to consider if you’re on a budget.
Best Free Trial: Shudder vs. Netflix
Shudder wins this category too. The service offers a 7-day free trial so you can give it a fair go before committing.
Unfortunately, Netflix doesn’t offer any free trial or discounts for first-timers – you’ll have to pay for the first month and cancel if before the month is up if you don’t want to keep your subscription.
Best Content Library: Shudder vs. Netflix
When it comes to which has the better overall content library, Netflix is the clear winner. Not only does it offer a ton more content to choose from with a library of over 15,000 titles, but also tons of great original horror content that you won’t find anywhere else, like The Babysitter, In The Tall Grass, Hush and more.
That said, if you prefer scary flicks, Shudder may be the better choice, with over 400 horror titles to browse and watch – much more than Netflix offers.
What to Watch on Netflix
Netflix has an unmatched range of shows, movies, documentaries, reality shows, and more. You name it – they’ve got it. And in recent years, they’ve spent lots of money on original content, with more than 1,500 original shows and movies as of 2022.
Some popular titles include:
- The Queen’s Gambit
- Bad Vegan: Fame, Fraud, Fugitives.
- Pieces of Her
- Dirty John
- Dark Waters
Not sure what other content is available on Netflix? Flixed is here to help with the Flixed Netflix Content Guide.
What to Watch on Shudder
Thrillers, horror movies, zombie flicks, and all kinds of other horror-related titles can be found in Shudder‘s online vault. One of the service’s main attractions is its growing library of original content. New releases come out very frequently, as well. In addition to on-demand content, some themed live channel feeds are also available.
Some popular titles include:
- Anything for Jackson
- Kandisha
- Knife + Heart
- Scare Me
- They Look Like People
Best Home Theater Features: Shudder vs. Netflix
When it comes to a better home theatre experience, Netflix wins. It comes with tons of killer features, like 4K UHD support, Dolby Atmos 5.1 surround sound support, and Dolby Vision and HDR10 support on select content on supported devices.
Shudder is lacking behind most other streaming services by only offering up to 720p streaming quality and no support for Dolby Atmos.
If video and audio quality are your top priorities, Netflix definitely comes out on top.
Best Offline Viewing: Shudder vs. Netflix
Netflix will let you download shows and movies. You can then watch this content, later on, offline, on any compatible device of your choosing. The process for downloading shows and other content is relatively simple and you can do so on your iPhone, your Mac, or other Apple devices. Each device can have up to 100 pieces of downloaded content. Most downloads expire in 7 days, but some may expire within just 48 hours.
Unfortunately, you can’t download content with Shudder. The standalone Shudder app doesn’t support this feature.
The only way to get around this and watch Shudder content offline is to get the Shudder add-on for Amazon Prime Video. if you have an Amazon Fire Tablet or the Amazon Prime Video app, you can download content for offline viewing.
Best Device Support: Shudder vs. Netflix
When it comes to device support, Shudder and Netflix don’t differ too widely. Netflix just offers slightly more options than Shudder.
To check out the full device support for each streaming service, check out our complete Shudder and Netflix supported devices lists.
Best Simultaneous Streaming: Shudder vs. Netflix
Both services only allow 1 stream with the basic package, and Shudder’s $5.99 monthly fee is almost half the cost of Netflix’s. But if you’re planning to share your subscription with a friend, family member or roommate, a single stream probably won’t work for you.
If you want more simultaneous steaming allowance, Netflix lets you do so if you upgrade to either the Standard plan ($15.49/month) or the Premium plan ($19.99/month). The Standard plan gives you 2 streams, and the Premium plan gives you 4.
Unfortunately, Shudder doesn’t support simultaneous streaming. In other words, you can only stream to one device at a time. You can try and get around this by getting YouTube TV’s Shudder add-on. Since YouTube TV supports three simultaneous streams, you’ll be able to watch Shudder through the YouTube TV app even if two other people are watching streams through your account.
Like YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video also has a Shudder add-on and supports simultaneous streaming. If you get Shudder through Amazon Video, you can watch Shudder content on three devices at once. But keep in mind that if you subscribe to Shudder through a different streaming service, you won’t be able to watch Shudder’s live feeds.
Which is Better: Shudder vs. Netflix in 2022?
Overall, Netflix gets our recommendation in this face-off. With better features and more variety in terms of content, it’s the better overall choice, and you’ll never run out of things to watch.
However, if you love the horror genre, Shudder is hard to pass on. Despite its lower streaming quality and lack of special features, its focus on carrying the best scary flicks and series with a consistent release schedule make it worth trying out. Thanks to its 7-day free trial, what’s there to lose?
Tara Khudairi is a freelance content writer and copywriter based in Toronto. Since 2014, she has contributed to brands and blogs alike to tackle popular topics relating to technology, personal finance, entertainment, travel and lifestyle. Whether it’s the latest streaming service or cryptocurrency, she’s passionate about making the complex simple. When she’s not busy typing away, you’ll find Tara watching Netflix’s latest true crime doc or a classic 90’s horror flick.
