Whether you’re already a Starz subscriber looking for a change or a new buyer thinking about signing up, you probably enjoy your TV and movies on-demand. In its 4th decade of delivering pay-TV, Starz must be doing something right. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t Starz alternatives worth looking at.
With a network of 17 channels as part of its single-tier plan, Starz offers a wide range of movies and shows to choose from. And on top of its extensive library of curated content, it’s got a growing list of original titles.
Without veering too far from what Starz does best—offer quality on-demand shows and movies—some other options worth considering are Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, MGM+, and Netflix.
Amazon Prime Video is best for add-on channels
While Starz itself is an add-on available through many services, a direct subscription with Starz doesn’t give you the option to add more channels. However, Amazon Prime Video stands out from the crowd and has plenty to offer.
On top of its extensive library of both original content and licensed shows and movies, Amazon also has the most add-ons available of an on-demand service. You’ll find a specialty channel for everything from British TV to Broadway at competitive prices. Some of the premium channels available on Amazon Prime Video are Cinemax, MGM+, Max, Showtime, Paramount+, and more.
Prime Video
- On demand content
- Stream on three screens
$8.99/month
As a standalone service, Amazon Prime Video costs just about the same as Starz. It’s also included with an Amazon Prime membership, which also gives you tons of other perks like free two-day shipping and more.
Check out our Amazon Prime Video Review for a deeper look at all the pros and cons.
Disney+ is the best for home theater features
One of the downsides of Starz is that almost all of its content is in HD (up to 1080p), and it offers none in 4K. And while most shows and movies are in 5.1 surround sound, it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos. Disney+, on the other hand, has it all and more.
There are 100+ titles in 4K UHD and HDR10, with select titles in the more dynamic Dolby Vision HDR format. You’ll also find nearly 800 titles in 5.1 surround sound, with 100+ being in Dolby Atmos.
If that’s not enough to put your home theater to the test, a handful of titles are available in IMAX Enhanced, including blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame, Black Panther, and both Guardians of the Galaxy films.
Disney+ offers two plans, one with ads and one without. If you’d like more diverse content and some sports, you can add Hulu and ESPN+ by getting the Disney Bundle.
Disney+ Basic
Get 3 HULU, DISNEY Plus, ESPN
- On demand content
- Stream on four screens
- HD and 4K video quality
$7.99/month
Disney Bundle Duo Basic
- Includes Disney+ and Hulu
- On demand content
- Stream on four screens
$9.99/month
Disney+ Premium
- No ads
- Stream on four screens
- HD and 4K video quality
- Offline viewing
$13.99/month
Disney Bundle Trio Basic
- Includes Disney+ Hulu and ESPN+
- On demand content
- Stream on four screens
$14.99/month
Disney Bundle Duo Premium
- Includes Disney+ and Hulu
- On demand content
- Stream on four screens
- Offline viewing
- No ads
$19.99/month
Disney Bundle Trio Premium
- Includes Disney+ Hulu and ESPN+
- No ads
- On demand content
- Stream on four screens
- Offline viewing
$24.99/month
For all the details, check out our full Disney+ Review. You can also take a look at our comparison of Disney+ vs. Starz, and see how these streaming services stack up head-to-head.
MGM+ is the cheapest Starz alternative
Just like Starz, MGM+, formerly Epix, was launched as a premium cable and satellite TV network, but is now also on-demand and is available through a variety of platforms, including its own app.
MGM+’s main attraction is its library of 15,000+ films, from classic hits to modern day blockbusters. However, if TV shows are more your thing, there are better choices out there. MGM+ has just one plan, which you can pay for monthly for $5.99 or yearly for $49.99.
You can subscribe to MGM+ through numerous TV providers, such as Comcast and Cox, and even other streaming services, like DirecTV Stream and Sling TV. Just keep in mind that prices may vary unless subscribing directly to the streamer.
Netflix has the best original content
While Starz has been improving its lineup of original content, it still doesn’t have as many big draw must-watch shows as other platforms. Netflix, however, is a long-running champion when it comes to original content among streaming services.
Since its first original TV show, House of Cards in 2013, Netflix has been making hit after hit. Its original shows and movies have received countless accolades and record-breaking watch numbers. Some of the popular Netflix originals you can watch include Stranger Things, All Quiet on the Western Front, Bridgerton, Ozar, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story, and plenty more.
Netflix offers three plans: Standard, Standard with ads, and Premium. Features vary based on your plans, but regardless, you’ll have access to a huge library of content that will keep you satisfied for a long time.
Netflix Standard with Ads
- Stream on two screens
- On demand content
- HD video quality
- Downloads on up to two devices
$6.99/month
Netflix Standard
- No ads
- Stream on two screens
- HD video quality
- Downloads on up to two devices
$15.49/month
Netflix Premium
- No ads
- Stream on four screens
- HD and 4K video quality
- Downloads on up to six devices
$22.99/month
For our in-depth matchup between the two services check out Starz vs Netflix.
Our takeaway: Find what works for you
Starz offers a fair amount of content. However, its limited home theater features, lack of options to add more channels, and modest slate of original content leaves a lot of room for improvement.
There are plenty of services that offer a little something for everyone, so it’ll be up to you to decide which of these alternatives will work as the best Starz substitute for you.
Eric Liston • Author
Eric Liston is a content writer based in Columbus, Ohio. Since 2015, he’s been writing about technology, cord-cutting, and helping everyday people save money. He also has expertise writing about medicine, dentistry, insurance, and a variety of other industries. No matter what he’s writing, his focus is always on simplifying complex concepts and making them approachable for everyone. When he’s not slamming away on his keyboard at his home office, you’ll find Eric reading sci-fi novels, improving his disc golf game (he just hit his first 400-foot drive) and playing video games on his gaming PC.
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.
How To Watch
Flixed.io's contributors and editorial team will often recommend products we believe to be useful for our readers. We may receive an affiliate commission from product sales generated through these affiliate links.