There once was a time when Australians were scrambling for VPNs to access US Netflix but oh how times have changed. With so many pay TV streaming options available, it’s hard to know which one or ones could be right for you. So we've taken out the guesswork and compared each of Australia's most popular streaming services by weighing up their pros, cons, prices and content.
But first, here's how all the top Australian pay TV streaming services compare on price and inclusions:
| Inclusions | Details | |
|---|---|---|
|
Hayu
|
|
|
|
Flash
 |
|
|
|
BritBox
 |
|
|
|
Prime Video
|
|
|
|
Binge
 |
|
Link not supplied
|
|
Paramount+
|
|
|
|
Stan
|
|
Link not supplied
|
|
Apple TV+
|
|
|
|
Disney+
|
|
|
|
Netflix
|
|
Link not supplied
|
|
DAZN
 |
|
|
|
Foxtel Now
 |
|
|
|
Kayo Sports 
|
|
Best overall: Disney Plus
$13.99 per month
Your go-to hub for everything Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and more.
Pros & Cons
- With Star, there really is something for everyone
- Score two months free when you pay annually
- Perks and discounted subscription when bundled with OnePass
- Option to download and watch content offline later
- No free trial option
- Not the cheapest streaming option
View plan
Disney Plus is the exclusive home of Disney-owned movies and TV shows which includes Fox and FX. Titles include It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Futurama, The Simpsons, The Mandalorian and The Bear as well as Disney-original content like Andor, Echo and Just Beyond.
| Inclusions | Details | |
|---|---|---|
|
Disney Plus
|
|
|
|
Disney Plus
|
|
|
|
Disney Plus
|
|
|
|
Disney Plus
|
|
Runner up: Binge
From $10.00 per month
Foxtel's answer to rival streaming services, Binge is the home of HBO content and 25,000 hours of viewing overall.
Pros & Cons
- Affordable plan pricing
- The largest library of HBO content
- 14-day free trial period
- Compatible with a range of devices
- No 4K option
- No option to download and watch content offline later
- Only works within Australia
View plan
Chances are if you're looking for a show that's trending, it's on Binge. Titles like Outlander, Succession, The Last of Us, Euphoria, House of the Dragon and The White Lotus are all on Binge thanks to its Foxtel affiliations. The only downside is you won't make the most of your 4K devices and will have to settle for HD streaming, regardless of your speed tier.
| Inclusions | Details | |
|---|---|---|
|
Binge
|
|
Link not supplied
|
|
Binge
|
|
Link not supplied
|
|
Binge
|
|
Link not supplied
|
|
Binge
|
|
Link not supplied
|
|
Binge
|
|
Link not supplied
|
|
Binge
|
|
Link not supplied
|
Runner up: Netflix
From $6.99 per month with ads, or $10.99 without ads
The OG, Netflix, remains a streaming favourite with its original content and every genre imaginable.
Pros & Cons
- Huge content library with high-quality original films and TV shows
- Compatible with a range of devices
- Option to download and watch content offline later
- Viewable virtually wherever you travel
- Pricing changes and the introduction of a cheaper ad tier are worrisome
- A lot of filler and old content makes it difficult to choose anything
While Netflix is notorious for leaving viewers in an endless scroll loop, the high quality of its original content is hard to ignore. Addictive franchises like The Witcher, Black Mirror, Stranger Things, You, Bridgerton, and Squid Game are just a few that have taken households by storm and continue to deliver season after season.
If you're looking to save on Netflix, these Optus NBN plans include a free Standard subscription:
|
#1
|
Optus
Optus Plus Family Entertainer Fast nbn®
$110/mth
Min. cost $110
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
Optus
Optus Plus Family Entertainer nbn®
$110/mth
Min. cost $110
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Optus
Optus Plus Family Entertainer Superfast nbn®
$120/mth
Min. cost $120
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
Optus
Optus Plus Family Entertainer Ultrafast nbn®
$130/mth
Min. cost $130
Link not supplied
|
And here is Optus' 5G home internet plan that includes a Standard Netflix subscription:
|
Optus
Editor's Pick
Optus Plus Entertainer Superfast 5G
$89/mth
Min. cost $89
Link not supplied
|
Best cheap: Shudder
$6.99 per month
Calling all horror fans, this is the choice for you! Shudder is home to plenty of spine-tingling content and original titles.
Pros & Cons
- The cheapest streaming service available
- The ideal choice for horror films
- 7-day free trial
- Save with a yearly subscription
- Very niche content
- Not child friendly
- Content differs between the Australian and overseas platforms
Exclusively just horror content, Shudder is the place to go when you just want a mind-bending thriller or suspenseful film. Shudder is one of the few streaming services still offering a free trial, albeit it's gonna die in seven days, and has discounted pricing if you commit to an annual subscription.
Runner up: Hayu
$6.99 per month
Hayu is where reality TV comes to roost. It has all the Real Housewives and Below Deck content you could ask for.
Pros & Cons
- Viewers can save 25% by subscribing annually
- Affordable, ad-free content
- 7-day free trial
- Its niche content makes choosing a breeze
- Limited to just reality content
- Not a huge range of reality content either
View plan
If you're obsessed with seeing how the other half live, Hayu is a must-have. Live vicariously through housewives, rising stars, and Kardashians all without enduring a Botched surgery. With one of the most affordable prices, Hayu has the potential to really grow, so why not jump on the bandwagon (I mean in the Range Rover) now?
| Inclusions | Details | |
|---|---|---|
|
Hayu
|
|
|
|
Hayu
|
|
|
|
Hayu
|
|
Best Perks: Amazon Prime Video
$9.99 per month
If you already have an Amazon account, it only makes sense to get all the perks that come with Amazon Prime Video.
Pros & Cons
- Cheaper yearly subscription
- Generous 30-day trial
- Access to plenty of channels like Hayu, Paramount Plus and AMC+
- 4K content is available
- Non-original movie and TV selections can be on the older side
View plan
With everyone jumping on board, it's no surprise Amazon also invested in the streaming game. Prime Video, however, rises above the competition with its multitude of perks, including a discounted annual rate, free trial offer, free expedited delivery on eligible Amazon items, access to exclusive Amazon discounts and early access to deals — not to mention the occasion bonus products offers.
And on top of all of this, its content library has grown rapidly since the early days — even added some big-name exclusive and original titles to the list like Good Omens, Jack Ryan, The Rings of Power and The Boys.
| Inclusions | Details | |
|---|---|---|
|
Prime Video
|
|
|
|
Prime Video
|
|
Runner up: Foxtel Now
$25.00 per month
Pick and choose the content you want with Foxtel Now from sports and entertainment to kids and documentaries both live and on-demand.
Pros & Cons
- Build your own bundle options with different price options
- Ten-day trial period
- Five devices can stream at once
- More new releases than any other streaming service
- Not the cheapest streaming option
- No 4K content
- Only works within Australia
- Sports, Dramas, Movies and Kids' content aren't available on a basic subscription
View plan
Classic Foxtel packages are still a favourite in Australian homes but now you don't even need to fork out for expensive installation or find a place for one of those dinky boxes. Its multitude of other perks includes its huge collection of HBO content, live sports, free trial offer, cancel anytime option and sharability to five, yes five, screens.
| Inclusions | Details | |
|---|---|---|
|
Foxtel Now
|
|
|
|
Foxtel Now
|
|
|
|
Foxtel Now
|
|
Best Unique Content: Apple TV Plus
$9.99 per month
Featuring award-winning series with big-name actors - Apple TV Plus is an affordable streaming service with a one-of-a-kind content library.
Pros & Cons
- A unique content library you can't see anywhere else
- Reasonable monthly subscription
- Seven-day free trial period
- Three months free with eligible Apple devices
- Its only content is Apple TV Plus originals
- Not Android-user friendly
- New episodes are drip-fed weekly
View plan
Apple TV Plus has produced some rising cult favourites and a number of Emmy-nominated content like Ted Lasso, Bad Sisters, Shrinking, For All Mankind and more. By attracting prominent actors like Idris Elba in Hijack, Taron Egerton in Black Bird and Tetris, Tom Holland and Amanda Seyfried in The Crowded Room and Seth Rogan and Rose Byrne in Platonic, it's no surprise Apple TV Plus is a must-have for its exclusive titles.
| Inclusions | Details | |
|---|---|---|
|
Apple TV Plus
|
|
Runner up: BritBox
$8.99 per month
Grab a cuppa and some bikkies, BritBox has all your British TV needs covered.
Pros & Cons
- Excellent collection of British dramas and comedies
- Affordable monthly pricing
- No tiered pricing structure, which means limited features
- No longer has Doctor Who
- Very niche content
BritBox specialises in a particular category of content, which may seem limiting but, in fact, makes it an unparalleled streaming service to have. Its exclusive collection of British crimes, dramas and comedies will have you laughing hysterically at Blackadder and Black Books and then puzzling to work out Midsommer Murders and A Confession.
| Inclusions | Details | |
|---|---|---|
|
Britbox
|
|
|
|
Britbox
|
|
Best Specialised Content: Kayo Sports
$25.00 per month
Cricket, basketball, footy, lawn mower racing, darts — Kayo Sports seriously has it all.
Pros & Cons
- Huge collection of sporting content
- Watch live and on-demand
- Includes features like pause and rewind on live events or just watch the highlights
- Built-in 'no spoilers' setting so you don't ruin content you may have missed
- Not the most affordable streaming service
- Only SD and HD quality content
- It doesn't have rights to all sporting events
Whether you're into good old-fashioned Golf and rugby league or far-out poker tournaments or ultra-competitive eSports, Kayo Sports has something for every kind of sports fan. It not only covers all types of popular and niche sports but has so many built-in features to truly enjoy every match including 'no spoiler' settings, SplitView to watch up to four screens at once, stats, key moments, fixtures and more.
| Inclusions | Details | |
|---|---|---|
|
Kayo Sports |
|
|
|
Kayo Sports |
|
Runner up: Flash
$8.00 per month
Whether it's Election Day or the Oscars are on, Flash News has all the breaking news live and on-demand for an affordable price.
Pros & Cons
- Covers news across 25+ news channels
- 14-day free trial
- Affordable all-round news service
- Only offers one price tier with one screen access
- HD content only
Flash News has access to some of the most popular news channels around the globe, including Sky News, BBC News, CNN, Fox News, CNBC and many more. It covers travel, celebrities, finance, sports, politics, business, local news, natural disasters — you name it and Flash will keep you in the loop.
Best Content Library: Stan
From $10.00 per month
Co-owned by Channel Nine, Stan is an underrated Aussie classic, like the original Tim Tam.
Pros & Cons
- Wide and excellent section of ad-free Australian movies and TV shows
- Generous pricing considering the quality and amount of content
- Compatible with a range of devices
- Option to download and watch content offline later
- Only works within Australia
- No HDR support
It's very easy to get bamboozled by all the titles Stan has in its arsenal. It's home to Stan Exclusives like Better Call Saul, New Amsterdam and Parks and Recreation to Stan Originals like The Handmaid's Tale, Wolf Like Me and Ru Paul's Drag Race Down Under. It even dips its toe into sports with Stan Sports covering ad-free live and on-demand events like the Grand Slam Tennis and UEFA Champions League.
Runner up: Paramount Plus
$8.99 per month
Paramount Plus' exclusive and original content library makes it a must-have for serious streamers.
Pros & Cons
- Affordable monthly pricing
- Plenty of channels all in the one place
- Compatible with a range of devices
- Not the largest selection of tv shows and movies
If you've wondered where you can watch 1923, 1883, Yellowjackets, Tulsa King or Star Trek Strange New World you'll find them on Paramount Plus. This streaming site has a whole host of fan favourites from channels like Comedy Central, CBS, Nick and Nick Jr, Showtime, MTV and more. It really has a vast library of content including sports, news, music and some of the latest blockbuster films like Top Gun: Maverick
Device compatibility chart
Want to get your favourite streaming service on your TV? Here is a quick overview of which devices are compatible with the major streaming and catch-up TV services available in Australia.
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Apple TV (2015+) | * | ||||||||||
| Telstra TV | |||||||||||
| Fetch TV | |||||||||||
| Chromecast | ** | *** | |||||||||
| Hubbl | |||||||||||
| Amazon Fire devices | |||||||||||
| PlayStation 4 | |||||||||||
| PlayStation 5 | |||||||||||
| Xbox One | |||||||||||
| Xbox Series X |
* Foxtel Now is only available through Airplay, and not as a standalone app.
** Chromecast 1st Generation is no longer supported by Kayo. For optimal streaming using Chromecast, Kayo recommends Chromecast Ultra and latest 3rd generation.
*** Foxtel Now is streamed through the Foxtel GO app.
Legend
Streaming Device Compatibility
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Apple TV (2015+) | ||||
| Telstra TV 3 | ||||
| Fetch TV | ||||
| Chromecast | ||||
| Hubbl | ||||
| Amazon Fire devices | ||||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| PlayStation 5 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| Xbox Series X |
Legend
-
Netflix
-
Stan
-
Amazon Prime Video
-
Disney +
Choosing the streaming services and which best suited each category came down to assessing a few key features:
Price: Making sure the streaming service we chose was value for money was incredibly important. There's no point recommending the most expensive streaming service if it didn't have plenty of content to choose from across a range of genres.
Content Library: Some streaming services specialise in just one genre, such as Shudder, Hayu and BritBox. This is completely fine and, if priced correctly is still worth investing in. However, we made sure before we recommended them that these niche pay TV services offered plenty of titles and regular new content to ensure they are worth purchasing.
Perks: A number of streaming services like to sweeten the pay TV deal by offering more than just access to content. Some, like Disney Plus, offer cheaper annual pricing for committing longer while others, like Amazon Prime Video, have generous benefits for its Amazon store, including discounts, free shipping on selected items and priority and exclusive access on sale days.
Features: There are a few aspects streaming sites can offer that may place them above the rest. These include free trials, high device compatibility, 4K compatibility and the ability to download content. We factored these in when choosing and ranking Australian streaming services.
Still don't know which streaming service to pick?
When it comes to actually picking a streaming service, there's no right or wrong answer; it all comes down to what you want to watch. You might go with Kayo Sports if you just want live sport, Netflix to keep up-to-date with The Witcher, or Stan for the latest season of Poker Face.
But if you can't make up your mind, your best bet is to sign up for a free trial to check out what each of the services has on offer — just make sure you cancel before you're billed automatically. And if you still can't choose, there's nothing stopping you from taking out two or more subscriptions.
None of these services requires you to sign a contract either, which can make subscribing just for one show a little easier. For example, it's possible to sign up to Binge for a few months while your favourite show is airing and then cancel as soon as the series is over, with no penalty or early exit fees.
If you're having trouble getting started, here's a short list of some of the reasons you might pick a particular streaming service.
You just want the cheapest streaming service:
Hayu is only $6.99 per month, which makes it the cheapest major streaming service available in Australia. Despite the budget price, you get access to thousands of reality titles.
You want to watch Futurama:
If you want to catch up on all the classic episodes or even the latest rebooted season, Disney Plus is the streaming service for you. Disney Plus is home to all Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, Disney and Star — for those who want a little less sci-fi and animation.
You want a streaming service you can use while travelling abroad:
If you want to keep on streaming while travelling outside of Australia, Netflix is your best option. Netflix is available everywhere in the world, except in China, North Korea, Russia, Syria and Crimea. The content you can watch will vary from country to country but the same login you use to watch in Australia will work almost anywhere.
Are you on the right internet plan for streaming TV?
Streaming is one of the most data-intensive things you can do online so it's important to consider what provider you're with and what plan is best for you. If you're not careful, Netflix, Stan, Foxtel Now or Amazon can make a serious dent in your monthly data allowance. But if you pick the right plan, you can binge endlessly without having to keep one eye on your bill.
Most services offer up to four quality settings for when you're streaming in your web browser, on your smart TV, or on your game console. These are as follows:
Streaming data usage
| Stream Quality | Data Usage Per Hour | Data Usage For 30 Hours |
| Low | 0.57GB | 17.1GB |
| Medium (SD) | 1.13GB | 33.9GB |
| High (HD) | 2.89GB | 86.7GB |
| Ultra (4K / UHD) | 7GB | 210GB |
If you're streaming on high, streaming a single feature-length film on Stan, Netflix, Foxtel Now or Amazon will use somewhere around 6GB. Most NBN plans are unlimited now, but you'll still want enough speed to ensure you're not buffering. NBN 50 plans are a great middle-ground option and are still quite affordable and widely available on all NBN connection types.
Below we have broken down the most affordable plans on each speed tier for comparison:If you just need a basic connection, it could be worth considering an NBN 25 plan. You can expect download speeds of up to 25Mbps and upload speeds of up to 5Mbps. Most online activities can still be done on an NBN 25 plan, but it will start to buckle if you have too many people using your connection.
|
#1
|
MATE
Crikey nbn 25/10
$40/mth
Min. cost $40
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
Southern Phone
nbn Basic
$45/mth
Min. cost $45
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Moose NBN
nbn 25/10 Value
$46.80/mth
Min. cost $46.80
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
Kogan Internet
Bronze Unlimited
$46.90/mth
Min. cost $46.90
|
|
#5
|
SpinTel
NBN Unlimited Entry 25
$47/mth
Min. cost $47
|
|
#6
|
Tangerine Telecom
Value NBN
$47.90/mth
Min. cost $47.90
|
|
#7
|
amaysim
Unlimited nbn Quick As
$50/mth
Min. cost $50
Link not supplied
|
|
#8
|
Exetel
Everyday nbn25
$50.99/mth
Min. cost $50.99
|
|
#9
|
Buddy Telco
Standard nbn - Unlimited
$53/mth
Min. cost $53
|
|
#10
|
Dodo
nbn25 Unlimited Plan
$53.90/mth
Min. cost $53.90
|
NBN 50 plans are your best bang for your buck option when it comes to the NBN. They are affordable and are a good option for households with between two and four people. An NBN 50 plan will ensure everyone in your household is able to partake in their favourite online activities, whether it's streaming movies and music, online gaming or video calling with overseas friends and family.
|
#1
|
Kogan Internet
Silver Unlimited
$59.90/mth
Min. cost $59.90
|
|
#2
|
Tangerine Telecom
Value Plus NBN
$59.90/mth
Min. cost $59.90
|
|
#3
|
MATE
Ripper nbn 50/20
$60/mth
Min. cost $60
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
Exetel
Extra-value nbn50
$60.99/mth
Min. cost $60.99
|
|
#5
|
Buddy Telco
Editor's Pick
Value nbn - Unlimited
$63/mth
Min. cost $63
|
|
#6
|
Moose NBN
nbn 50/20 Premium
$63.80/mth
Min. cost $63.80
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
Superloop
Extra-value nbn50/20
$67/mth
Min. cost $67
|
|
#8
|
Dodo
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$68.90/mth
Min. cost $68.90
|
|
#9
|
Swoop
nbn® Home Everyday
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
Link not supplied
|
|
#10
|
iiNet
nbn50 Liimitless
$69.99/mth
Min. cost $69.99
|
NBN 100 plans are the next logical step if you don't think NBN 50 will cut it for you. You get twice the download speed, meaning your connection will go as fast as 100Mbps. Most NBN 100 plans have upload speeds of 20Mbps, which is the same as what you get on NBN 50. We'd say NBN 100 plans are best for large households or anyone who regularly downloads large files, such as new release video games.
|
#1
|
MATE
No Worries nbn 100/20
$60/mth
Min. cost $60
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
Southern Phone
nbn Fast
$65/mth
Min. cost $65
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
SpinTel
Editor's Pick
NBN Unlimited Premium 100
$65/mth
Min. cost $65
|
|
#4
|
Moose NBN
nbn 100/20 Elite
$65.80/mth
Min. cost $65.80
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
Kogan Internet
Gold Unlimited
$65.90/mth
Min. cost $65.90
|
|
#6
|
Tangerine Telecom
Speedy NBN
$65.90/mth
Min. cost $65.90
|
|
#7
|
Exetel
Family nbn100/20
$65.99/mth
Min. cost $65.99
|
|
#8
|
amaysim
Unlimited nbn Fast As
$70/mth
Min. cost $70
Link not supplied
|
|
#9
|
Swoop
nbn® Home Fast
$72/mth
Min. cost $72
Link not supplied
|
|
#10
|
Buddy Telco
Speedy nbn - Unlimited
$73/mth
Min. cost $73
|
NBN 250 plans are another step up. These plans are a little more expensive than what you'd pay for an NBN 100 plan but are perfect if you've got the need for speed.
NBN 250 plans are only available to those who have a Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) or Hybrid Fibre Coaxial(HFC) NBN connection.
|
#1
|
Southern Phone
nbn Superfast
$75/mth
Min. cost $75
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
SpinTel
NBN Unlimited 250
$80/mth
Min. cost $80
|
|
#3
|
Exetel
Superfast nbn250
$80.99/mth
Min. cost $80.99
|
|
#4
|
Swoop
nbn® Home Superfast
$82/mth
Min. cost $82
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
Dodo
Editor's Pick
nbn Home Superfast Plan
$83.90/mth
Min. cost $83.90
|
|
#6
|
Vodafone
Home Superfast nbn®
$84/mth
Min. cost $84
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
Kogan Internet
nbn250 Platinum Unlimited
$84.90/mth
Min. cost $84.90
|
|
#8
|
Tangerine Telecom
SuperSpeedy NBN
$84.90/mth
Min. cost $84.90
|
|
#9
|
iiNet
nbn Home Superfast Liimitless
$84.99/mth
Min. cost $84.99
|
|
#10
|
TPG
nbn Home Superfast Unlimited Plan
$84.99/mth
Min. cost $84.99
|
Related Articles
Find a Better Pay TV Package
Compare options from Foxtel, Fetch TV, Netflix, Stan and more.
Sign up for telco news, money-saving deals and more.
