Cable television is yesterday’s news as streaming services took over the market. High-speed internet connections made VOD streaming platforms possible. Users can pick from on-demand services offering thousands of titles in different genres, including original production.
It’s time for our next comparison, and this time we focus on Starz and Netflix. The analysis covers all aspects, from the content library to free trial, offline viewing and device support. Keep reading to learn everything about these services and their features!
Quick Overview Starz vs Netflix
The history of Starz began in 1994. While it started as a pay television network, it was only natural for the company to adapt to new trends. The platform kept TV channels but expanded to offer an on-demand streaming service.
It might be a surprise to hear that Netflix’s history also goes back to the 1990s. The company originated as a service that rents and sells DVDs by mail. It launched a streaming platform with VOD services in 2007. Since then, the company has gone a long way. Today, it has an ever-growing content library with many original titles.
You can find a detailed comparison below, but here is a quick Starz and Netflix overview first!
| Starz | Netflix | |
| Pricing | $8.99/month
$23.99/quarter |
Basic: $8.99/month
Standard $15.49/month Premium: $19.99/month |
| Free Trial Length | 7 days | No trial |
| Popular Content | Snow White and the Huntsman
Dawn of the Dead SWAT. Legion |
Ozark
Peaky Blinders The Witcher Raising Dion |
| Original Content | Gaslit
Power Book I – IV Blindspotting |
Bridgerton
Squid Game Stranger Things |
| Home Theater Features | Up to 4K
Dolby Atmos |
Ultra HD
Dolby Atmos |
| Offline Viewing | Only selected titles on mobile | Yes |
| Device Support | Web, iPhone, iPad, Fire TV, Kindle Fire, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, Xbox, LG, Smart TVs, | Web, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, Smart TVs, Xbox, PlayStation, Set-Top Boxes, Android TV, iOS |
| Simultaneous Streams | 4 | 1-4 |
Best Pricing: Starz vs Netflix
| STARZ On-Demand 7-Day Free Trial $8.99 / month | 1,200+ titles Hit movies and series 4 simultaneous streams | SIGN UP |
If we look from solely the pricing perspective, Starz is a better option. It only has a single package that ensures access to everything the company offers. The monthly cost is $8.99, although you can save several bucks with quarterly payments. You can learn more on our page dedicated to Starz plans and pricing.
Things are different and more complicated with Netflix. It offers a basic package at $8.99 monthly, giving you access to the entire library. The trick is that there is no HD resolution available, and you can only watch on a single device. The more expensive packages cost $15.49 (two screens and HD) and $19.99 (four screens and Ultra HD). Although you get a lot in return, that’s far from a cheap option compared to similar services.
Best Free Trial: Starz vs Netflix
Starz comes out as the winner here because it actually has a free trial. The company grants you seven days after you enter basic payment information. You need to cancel the subscription before the trial expires, or the system will charge you for the first month automatically. But an entire week is quite generous, especially since you can use all features offered by Starz during that time.
As for Netflix, they used to offer a free trial. Unfortunately, that’s not the case anymore. It remains to be seen whether the company will change this policy or lower prices for new customers. At this point, you need to sign up and pay for a monthly subscription to access the content.
Best Content Library: Starz vs Netflix
Netflix is a clear and dominating winner in this category. If it’s any consolation for the competitor, Netflix will come out on top against almost any other VOD. streaming service. That’s because the platform offers over 40,000 hours of content and thousands of titles. The actual library depends on the location, but you’ll find a massive mixture of originals and third-party content.
Starz library has about 1,400 titles, including approximately 30 original TV shows and movies. The platform has 17 channels, including Starz Cinema, IndiePlex, and other topic-based channels.
What to Watch on Starz
Starz has well-balanced content in its library. It’s growing steadily, and you can find over 1,400 titles in it. Starz has a range of TV channels offering movies and TV shows covering specific genres, such as westerns or comedy. You can even find a couple of channels in Spanish.
As for the content library, Starz has a decent range of third-party premium titles. Here are some you shouldn’t miss:
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes
- The Duchess
- Pan’s Labyrinth
- Gangs of New York
- Babe
- Amistad
- Rachel Getting Married
Starz works on producing original content, too. Gaslit and Blindspotting are among the limited titles available in this category.
What to Watch on Netflix
If you start viewing content on Netflix now, it will take you years of non-stop watching to finish. The estimation is the platform has over 40,000 hours of content in movies, TV shows, and other categories.
Most fans consider Netflix originals to be the biggest platform’s advantage. You can find some truly memorable titles, such as:
- Squid Game
- Bridgertone
- The Witcher
- Stranger Things
- The Haunting of the Hill House
- The Crown
- Ozark
Netflix also has Oscar-winning films, such as A Beautiful Mind, and other great titles like Uncut Gems, Wedding Crashers, House of Cards, etc.
Best Home Theater Features: Starz vs Netflix
Netflix has some fantastic features, making this service the winner in this category. You’ll get 4K UHD support for most titles, including all Netflix Originals. Dolby Atmos surround sound support contributes to the overall viewing experience, too. On the other hand, the problem is you need at least the Standard package to access titles in HD and Premium for ultra HD resolution.
Starz has an important advantage since it has 4K support in its single package. The support covers the entire original programming and selected third-party titles. You can’t choose the resolution yourself, but the platform adjusts it automatically based on the detected connection speed.
Best Offline Viewing: Starz vs Netflix
Netflix takes a close victory in this category. You can download the majority of the library to your mobile apps. It’s possible to adjust the settings to automatically download the next episode of the show while you are watching the previous, which is convenient. The only limitation is that the number of devices where you can have downloads depends on the package. If you have the Basic plan, you can only download to one device. The maximum number is four with the Premium subscription. Here’s a detailed guide on Netflix offline viewing.
Starz offers a simpler approach since you get unlimited downloads for select titles. You also need to download the mobile app. The offline viewing supports original titles and chosen third-party content from the library.
Best Device Support: Starz vs Netflix
It’s another category where Netflix takes the win. The platform has impressive device support for smart TVs, mobile devices, streaming media players, gaming consoles, etc. You’ll find everything works flawlessly regardless of the device you select for streaming. Learn more about Netflix device support in our dedicated guide.
Starz isn’t much behind when it comes to supporting different streaming methods. However, the trick is it doesn’t have official support for Chromecast. The good news is you can watch using internet browsers, smart TVs, mobile phones, tablets, and other devices. Check out this Starz device support guide to see if your desired gadget is among the supported ones.
Best Simultaneous Streaming: Starz vs Netflix
Starz is the winner in this category since it’s simple to remember. Once you sign up, you can watch the desired content on four different devices simultaneously. You won’t face any limitations, even if you are all watching the same movie.
Netflix also offers support for up to four devices, but only with the Premium package. If you choose Standard, that number decreases to two. And if you go with the basic plan, you can only stream content on one device. It’s a bit limiting, and you need to pay more for additional devices. Here’s detailed simultaneous streaming on Netflix guide for more information.
Which Is Better: Starz vs Netflix in 2022?
The overall winner is Netflix because it all comes down to content. Netflix doesn’t only has over 40,000 hours of content but also offers a huge original programming library. The platform produced many fantastic TV shows and movies and also secured numerous fantastic third-party titles for its service. Although it’s a bit more expensive, especially since pricier plans unlock additional features, Netflix is still worth every penny.
Starz also provides excellent value for money. It has 1,400 titles and counting in the library, and that sounds attractive, especially since the selection is impressive. Apart from superhero movies, great comedies and thrillers, you can find entertaining original programming. Starz also has a selection of TV channels and offers a free trial to try the service.
Finally, it all depends on your preference. Starz and Netflix both have plenty to offer, so choose the platform that fits your expectations better!
