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 STARZ to help you decide which is the better option for you.
A quick overview of Shudder vs STARZ
If you're a horror fan, Shudder was made just for you. Shudder is an on-demand streaming service that's similar to Netflix, 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.
STARZ, on the other hand, appeals to the masses by offering a cheaper alternative to HBO and Showtime with over 1,000 titles for popular shows and movies, including its own original content.
But which is better? Below, we pinned the two services against each other in the 7 most important categories spanning content, features and of course, price.
Let's kick it off with an overview of the basics:
| Shudder | STARZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $6.99/month | $8.99/month |
| Free Trial Length | 7 days | Through partners only |
| Popular Content | Mayhem | |
| The Dark and the Wicked | ||
| Halloween | Don't Breathe 2 | |
| Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle | ||
| Venom | ||
| Original Content | Creepshow | |
| The Mortuary Collection | ||
| Revenge | Outlander | |
| Shining Vale | ||
| Party Down | ||
| Home Theater Features | Up to 720p | Up to 4K |
| Dolby Atmos | ||
| Offline Viewing | No | Yes |
| Device Support | Apple, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Xbox, select Samsung TVs | Apple, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Fire Stick, Xbox, select Samsung TVs |
| Simultaneous Streams | 1 | 4 |
Shudder is slightly cheaper than STARZ
When it comes to pricing, Shudder is the cheaper option. However, if you're looking for more variety in terms of content and don't just want titles in the horror genre, it may be worth spending the few extra dollars a month for a STARZ subscription.
Shudder has one plan that you can pay monthly or yearly. Another way to get Shudder is to add it as an add-on to another streaming service. Amazon Prime Video and YouTube TV both carry Shudder - however, the content on Shudder can vary when you purchase your subscription through a third-party.
Shudder
$6.99/month
STARZ also offers just one subscription option. With that, you'll get complete access to the entire STARZ library of content and its growing library of original series. Not completely sure about committing to the price? STARZ often offers deals on its service for the first few months of your subscription before you have to pay full price.
Starz
Try 7 days free
- On demand content
- Stream on four screens
$8.99/month
Enjoy a free trial for both streamers
Shudder offers a 7-day free trial so you can give the streaming service a go before committing.
STARZ, on the other hand, only offers free trials through partners. You can get a 30-day free trial for STARZ when you add the streamer through your Amazon Prime Video or Hulu account. That's a much better trial period than what Shudder offers, but it's only useful ass an add-on.
STARZ has a better variety of content
STARZ wins in this category due to volume and versatility of genres. That said, if horror is your preferred genre, Shudder could be the better choice.
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
What to Watch on STARZ
HBO and Showtime dominate the market for movie channels. However, STARZ is slowly making itself into a contender in the market for movie-channels-turned-streaming-services. You can now get over 1,000 titles through STARZ, which is more than HBO and Showtime offer, as well as a slowly but steadily growing library of original content.
STARZ is owned by Lionsgate and therefore has a lot of Lionsgate content, but also carries many classic and newly released movies and TV shows from other production companies.
Some popular titles include:
- Minx
- Spider-Man: No Way Home
- The Equalizer
- Power
- Fantasy Island
Not sure what other content is available on STARZ? Flixed is here to help with the Best Shows on STARZ and the Best Movies on STARZ.
You can also enhance your viewing experience with our free channel guide for STARZ.
Watch titles in 4K with STARZ
When it comes to a better home theatre experience, STARZ wins by a landslide.
Shudder is lacking behind most other streaming services by only offering up to 720p streaming quality and no support for Dolby Atmos. In contrast, STARZ supports 4K resolution and Dolby Atmos, making for an all-around better watching experience.
Download unlimited shows and movies with STARZ
You can watch STARZ offline, but only on your mobile device. Once downloaded, click the menu button and select My List, and your downloaded shows will appear at the top.
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.
Both streamers have good device support
When it comes to device support, Shudder and STARZ don't differ too widely. STARZ just offers slightly more options than Shudder.
To check out the full device support for each streaming service, check out our complete Shudder and STARZ supported devices lists.
Watch on up to 4 devices with STARZ
You get 4 simultaneous device streams per account with your STARZ subscription. That means you can stream on up to 4 devices at once at no additional cost.
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.
Our takeaway: STARZ is a better all-around streamer
Overall, STARZ wins this one. With more content across various genres and better features, it's the better overall choice, and could even be a great dupe for the pricier Netflix or Showtime.
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 and consistent release schedule make it worth foregoing one coffee a month for the monthly subscription fee.
Tara Khudairi • Author
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.
Davan Hamilton • Editor
Davan Hamilton is an editor and writer based in Jacksonville, FL. Holding a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, her writing spans a wide range, from essays on film criticism and analysis to surreal poetry. Now, she works for Flixed as an editor, continuing to ignore the list of passion projects she’s accumulated. When she’s not glued to her computer, you can find her building endless amounts of Lego sets, binge-reading manga, or playing with (fighting) her cat.
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