With streaming services, we can consume entertainment in a whole new way. From music to video to sports, streaming services offer a wide range of content at our fingertips. In India, there are several popular streaming services that cater to different preferences and needs.
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Types of Streaming Services
There are several types of streaming services available to people.
There are a variety of things to watch, like sports, movies, news, shows and so on. So based on these, we can divide streaming services into a few categories:-
- Certain streaming services are created to just view sports. So these channels come under the category of sports streaming channels.
- Most streaming channels are created to stream popular and not-so-popular movies and TV shows and web series. These are the most popular and most used streaming services to exist. They come under the category of movie/TV streaming services.
- Then comes another popular category of streaming services, music streaming services. The days of downloading your favorite songs and storing them in your SD card so that you can listen to them whenever they are gone.
- Nowadays people do not download songs as there are music streaming services available. With the help of these streaming platforms, and with a minimal internet connection, you can stream any song of your choice in any language, on that platform.
- Last but not least are those streaming services that stream movies, tv shows, originals, sports, and more.
- These streaming services are also extremely popular.
- Why would they be not popular when they offer you everything on just one platform with one subscription?
- Because of these platforms, most people would not have to subscribe to one streaming service for sports and another streaming service for entertainment.
- This saves money and time and decisions. So of course, they are one of the most popular types of streaming services.
Here are some of the most popular streaming services in India:
Music Streaming Services:
- Gaana: Gaana is one of the most popular music streaming services in India. It offers a vast collection of songs in various languages including Hindi, English, and Tamil. It also offers a wide range of features such as personalized playlists, radio stations, and offline listening.
- JioSaavn: JioSaavn is another popular music streaming service in India. It offers a vast collection of songs in various languages including Hindi, English, and Tamil. It also offers a wide range of features such as personalized playlists, radio stations, and offline listening.
- Spotify: Spotify is a global music streaming service that is also popular in India. It offers a wide range of songs in various languages and personalized playlists.
Video Streaming Services:
- Netflix: Netflix is one of the most popular video streaming services in India. It offers a wide range of TV shows and movies in various languages including Hindi, English, and Tamil.
- Amazon Prime Video: Amazon Prime Video is another popular video streaming service in India. It offers a wide range of TV shows and movies in various languages including Hindi, English, and Tamil.
- Disney+ Hotstar: Disney+ Hotstar is a popular video streaming service in India. It offers a wide range of TV shows and movies in various languages including Hindi, English, and Tamil. It also offers live sports streaming.
- ZEE5: ZEE5 is a popular video streaming service in India. It offers a wide range of TV shows, movies, and live TV channels in various languages including Hindi, English, and Tamil. The service is known for its extensive collection of Indian content, including original programming and exclusive rights to popular shows and movies.
- Voot: Voot is a popular video streaming service in India. It offers a wide range of TV shows and movies in various languages including Hindi, English, and Tamil. One of the standout features of Voot is its live TV section, which offers over 40 channels from various genres such as entertainment, news, and sports. The service also offers a wide range of features such as personalized playlists, offline downloads, and the ability to watch content on multiple devices.
Sports Streaming Services:
- Disney+ Hotstar: Disney+ Hotstar is a popular sports streaming service in India. It offers live streaming of various sports including cricket, football, and kabaddi. The service also offers a wide range of features such as personalized playlists, offline downloads, and the ability to watch content on multiple devices.
- SonyLIV: SonyLIV is a popular sports streaming service in India. Sony Liv is a streaming service owned by Sony Pictures Networks India. It offers livestreaming of various sports including cricket, football, and wwe.
- JioTV: JioTV is a live TV streaming service offered by Reliance Jio, a telecommunications company in India. It provides access to a wide range of live TV channels, including news, sports, entertainment, and regional channels.
- Airtel Xstream: Airtel Xstream is a streaming service offered by Airtel, a telecommunications company in India. It provides access to a wide range of live TV channels, TV shows, movies, and original web series. It offers live streaming of various sports including cricket, football, and kabaddi.
- YuppTV: YuppTV can be accessed via the YuppTV website or mobile app and is available worldwide, but the content availability varies based on the region. It offers live streaming of various sports.
It’s worth noting that the availability of content and pricing may vary depending on your location.
These are some of the most popular streaming services in India. With the increasing demand for streaming services, there are likely to be more options available in the future. So, it’s worth keeping an eye out for new streaming services and features that may become available.
Let’s look into the top 15 streaming services right now in India.
Top Fifteen Streaming Services In India
Netflix
There is not a single soul living across the entire world who has not heard of Netflix.
I mean, the term “Netflix and Chill” that is so used by every person has originated from the popular streaming service known as Netflix.
Netflix is so famous and one of the best streaming services because of the popular shows like Friends, La Casa De Papel aka Money Heist, Dark, Stranger Things, Mindhunter, The Vampire Diaries, You, Sex Education, and so many more.
There are too many popular shows streaming on Netflix that to name them all would require another whole long article.
Other than streaming well-known shows, there are so many original shows and movies on Netflix across so many genres.
You will never get bored while streaming anything on Netflix.
Also, a piece of significant information for all the anime lovers out there is that Netflix also streams a good deal of Anime across various genres.
So yes, it is safe to say you will never get bored while even browsing through all the categories of movies and shows on Netflix.
Currently, Netflix has five subscription plans in India and each accommodates a different number of screens.
The subscription plans are:-
Netflix Rs 199 mobile only plan |
Netflix Rs 299 Mobile+ Plan |
Netflix Basic Rs 499 plan |
Netflix Basic Rs 499 plan |
Netflix Standard Rs 649 plan |
Netflix Premium Rs 799 plan |
Must read: Best Indian web series to watch on Netflix
Amazon Prime Video
After Netflix, on this list comes Amazon prime video. Amazon Prime Video is another name that is well known all around the world. From Movies, TV shows, kid’s shows to originals, you can stream everything here.
We knew Amazon Prime Video as Prime Video.
It is a subscription streaming service and rental service that comes under Amazon.com.
We can use this streaming and rental service as a standalone service or as a part of Amazon’s Prime subscription.
This streaming service distributes the films and TV shows or web series that are produced by Amazon studios or are licensed to Amazon such as Amazon Prime originals or Exclusives.
Other than these, this streaming service also hosts content from other providers, content add-ons, live sports events, and video rental and purchasing services.
This streaming service operates worldwide, but this may require a full Prime subscription to be accessed.
They launched it on the 7th of September 2006 in the United States as Amazon Unbox.
After that, the service grew with an expanding library, and then eventually Prime Video Membership was added after the development of Prime subscription.
Then the service was renamed on-demand as Amazon Instant Video.
The annual cost of the Amazon Prime subscription is Rs 999, and you can get a cashback of Rs 500 once you buy it. The 3-month plan is priced at Rs 329.
Check out: Top shows to binge-watch on Prime Video
Spotify
Next on our list of best streaming services in India comes Spotify. I hope you are not a stranger to this popular music and podcast streaming service.
Spotify is a Swedish audio streaming and media service provided which was founded in 2006 by Daniel Ek.
Spotify has its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, and has offices in seventeen different countries across the world.
It is one of the largest music streaming service providers, with over 356 monthly active users at the time of writing this article.
Spotify is expected to operate in 178 countries by the end of FY21.
Spotify offers its users a variety of subscription plans.
They have mini subscription plans for Rs. 7 for a day and Rs.25 for a week.
Then comes the family plans, those are, Rs. 129 plan that allows for only one account and the Rs. 199 plan that allows for six accounts under a single subscription.
Hotstar
Hotstar is a purely Indian subscription video streaming service that is owned and operated by Star India which is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company India.
This service mainly features all kinds of content from the networks of Star India and Fox.
These contents include film, television, sports, original content, and also content from other providers such as HBO, Showtime, and Sony Pictures.
In 2019, when Star India’s Parent Company 21st Century Fox was purchased by Disney, they officially renamed the streaming service Disney+ Hotstar recently.
The main content brands of this streaming service now include Walt Disney Studios, Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, National Geographic, and Pixar along with Hotstar’s previous existing content.
Hotstar operates its international services in Canada, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Disney Plus Hotstar has two kinds of subscriptions- Premium and VIP.
The Premium plan can be subscribed in both monthly and annual plans and is priced at Rs 299 per month or Rs 1,499 per year.
The lower tier subscription plan, Hotstar VIP, is priced at Rs 399 per year.
Also read: Best shows on Disney+ Hotstar that you shouldn’t miss
Zee 5
ZEE5 is an Indian on-demand Internet streaming media provider run by Essel Group via its subsidiary Zee Entertainment Enterprises.
They launched this service in India on February 14, 2018, streaming content in twelve languages. By December 2019, ZEE5 had 56 million monthly active users.
Except for the United States, they have launched this service everywhere.
Zee5 has its all-access subscription plan which is priced at Rs. 99 monthly, Rs.299 for three months, Rs. 599 for 6 months and Rs. 999 for a year.
Voot
Voot is an Indian subscription video on demand (SVOD) service. They launched it in March 2016.
It is the online arm of Viacom 18. Voot is available as an app for iOS, KaiOS (JioPhone), and Android users, and a website for desktop consumption.
Voot is available only in India. It contains over 40,000 hours of video content. This includes shows from channels like MTV, Nickelodeon, and Colors.
The content is also available in multiple languages like Kannada, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Telugu, and Tamil.
Voot introduced its paid service in February 2020 called Voot select.
Voot subscriptions cost Rs. 99 per month and RS. 499 annually.
SonyLIV
SonyLIV is an Indian general entertainment video on demand service owned by Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd.
This streaming service has its headquarters based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. This app is available on all platforms like Android, iOS devices, Smart TVs, and other devices.
SonyLIV has its WWE subscription plan priced at Rs. 299 annually, they priced its special plan at Rs. 199 per year and its Special+ plan priced at Rs. 399 per year.
Eros Now
Eros Now is an Indian subscription-based over the top, video-on-demand entertainment, and media platform.
This service, owned and controlled by Eros Digital, the Indian digital media management arm of American multinational media company ErosSTX, was launched in 2012.
The network offers media streaming and video-on-demand services.
Eros now subscriptions are priced at Rs. 99 per month and Rs. 399 per year which allows the viewing of 1 screen from one subscription.
Wynk
Wynk is a music streaming service under Bharti Airtel.
It is one of the most popular music streaming services in India, with millions of active users this year.
We can stream music in all languages on this platform.
For Airtel users, a Wynk subscription costs Rs. 29 for Android and Rs. 60 for iOS. For non-Airtel users, a Wynk subscription costs Rs. 99 for Android users and Rs. 120 for iOS users.
Mx Player
MX Player is an Indian video streaming and video on demand platform developed by MX Media & Entertainment. Globally, it has over 280 million users.
The platform currently has a streaming library of over 150,000 hours across 12 languages. It is available on iOS, Android, and the web.
You can stream everything for free on MX player with no subscriptions.
Alt Balaji
ALTBalaji is an Indian subscription-based video on demand platform which is a completely owned subsidiary of Balaji Telefilms Ltd.
They launched this platform on 16 April 2017. This platform has around 34 million subscribed users.
Alt Balaji offers two types of subscriptions. One subscription is for three months and priced at Rs. 100 and the year-long plan of Alt Balaji cost Rs. 300.
Discovery Plus
Discovery+ is a streaming service owned by Discovery, Inc. This service hosts mainly factual programming content and original series and other acquired content.
This platform was first launched in India on March 23, 2020. It expanded into the UK and Europe via a rebranding of the existing Dplay platforms and launched in the United States the previous year FY21.
The monthly subscription of Discovery plus costs Rs. 99 and the yearly subscription of this platform costs Rs. 299.
Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is an ad-free subscription video-on-demand streaming television service of Apple Inc. This platform debuted on November 1, 2019.
Apple TV+ has a monthly subscription plan of Rs. 99 which allows viewers to operate six screens from one account.
It has no annual plans.
Hoichoi
Hoichoi is an Indian on-demand video streaming platform, owned and maintained by SVF Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
They launched this OTT platform on 20 September 2017. Hoichoi is currently available for the following devices- Android, iOS, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Roku.
Mi TV, LG Smart TV, and Samsung Tizen are the recent addition to the repertoire.
It is the first OTT platform from Bengal that focuses exclusively on Bengali language content worldwide.
Hoichoi does not have any monthly plan.
It has a yearly plan of Rs. 599 that allows up to five users to operate a single account.
JioSaavn
JioSaavn is an Indian online music streaming service and a digital distributor of Bollywood, English, Tamil, Telugu, and other regional Indian music across the world.
They found it in 2007 as Saavn. By today the company has acquired rights to over 5.5 crores (55 million) music tracks in 15 languages.
JioSaavn has a subscription cost of Rs. 99 monthly and offers its yearly subscription at Rs. 399.
Some FAQs related to video & music streaming services
What is the best streaming service in India in 2023?
If you are looking for the best streaming service in India, you would not find just a single name. There are several popular streaming services in India that are popular for either music or for movies and TV shows and web series.
Some top streaming services in India include Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar, Spotify, and more. Further details regarding these streaming services have been discussed above.
Do streaming services need the Internet?
The answer to this frequently asked question would be yes. Yes, all streaming services require the internet to run shows and movies.
Even to connect a streaming service to your smart TV, you would be in need of a reliable internet connection.
Do you need to pay for streaming?
Another frequently asked question regarding streaming services is that do you need to pay to stream on these sites?
Well, the answer to that would again be yes. Every streaming service needs a subscription that may be monthly or yearly.
The amount required for subscriptions always varies from site to site, but there is always a certain amount of money that you need to pay.
How do you use streaming services?
Using streaming services is very easy. To use a streaming service, you have to install the required app on your device.
After that, you have to create your own account and then go through the subscription details and select your subscription.
Now, after completing these steps, you are all set to begin streaming all the top shows and movies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like to say that out of all the streaming services, Netflix might be my personal favorite along with Disney+ hotstar, but if you are looking for low-cost subscription or free platforms, then MX player and Voot are the best ones for you.
Other than that for music, you can always opt for Spotify with its variety of subscription plans.
Also, you can decide against subscribing to Spotify and face no other woe except for the ads between music but that can’t hurt much right?
So all in all, you have basically a lot of options to choose from so yes, when it comes to entertainment, why compromise?
Go stream your favorite movies and shows on any of these platforms today.