The way we consume entertainment has changed drastically over the last few decades, with streaming our entertainment being the most popular way of consuming it. No matter what type of entertainment is your favorite (e.g., music, TV, podcasts, videos, etc.), here are some of the top platforms for all of your entertainment needs.
Games
Gaming has come a long way from you sitting in front of your game console with your siblings or your friends. Now you’re able to play with people from all over the world— and you can live stream your games for people to watch. Here are three of the most popular gaming platforms of 2022.
YouTube Gaming
YouTube is a good platform for those who aren’t too familiar with live gaming but want to get their feet wet. It’s a very user-friendly platform that allows you to easily manage your streams and videos.
Twitch
Twitch is still the number one gaming platform. Users can easily share their live streams to almost all social media platforms, and you can even stream from your smartphone. Although it’s most popular for its gaming content, users can also stream other types of content, such as music and podcasts.
Bigo Live
This is a new, yet fast-growing streaming platform. This free app allows its users to stream live or upload videos to their accounts. Like YouTube and Twitch, users are able to monetize their content, nor is content limited to video games.
Music
Streaming music over the internet goes all the way back to the early 2000s, but it was only in the 2010s when these platforms became more popular than playing the radio or CDs. Now, streaming is the most common way that people under the age of 55 listen to music. Here are four of today’s most popular music streaming platforms.
Spotify
Currently, Spotify is the most popular music streaming platform. Known for its music, Spotify is becoming a larger platform for podcasts as well. It’s free (with ads) and users can create their own playlists.
Pandora
Like Spotify, Pandora offers a free, ad-supported listening experience, but it doesn’t let you choose a specific song to listen to. Instead, it creates playlists based on songs you listen to and “thumbs up”.
iHeartRadio
This platform is very similar to Pandora, except that it also gives you the option to stream radio stations. This means that you can still listen to your favorite radio stations even when you’re traveling.
Apple Music
Apple Music is still a pretty popular music streaming platform, especially among Apple users. Unlike Spotify, Pandora, and iHeartRadio, there are no free options (except for the 30-day free trial period), with prices starting at $9.99 per month.
TV and Movies
Tv shows and movies are probably the most streamed type of media today. Streaming TV shows and movies started with Netflix back in 2007, and ever since then streaming has become the most preferred way of watching television. Here are some of the most popular streaming services.
Amazon Prime Video
Prime video is most popular among Amazon Prime members, mainly because they get access to the streaming platform for free. Non-Prime members must pay $8.99 a month to access the library of original series and some of the latest movies.
Disney Plus
Disney Plus is one of the most popular streaming services, especially among kids and older Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic lovers, as the platform features shows and movies from these brands as well.
HBO Max
HBO Max is quickly becoming the most popular streaming service— especially with Netflix recently raising its monthly subscription fee. You’ll get access to many of the network’s original TV shows and movies, as well as many classic and current movies.
Hulu
Hulu is another early pioneer of TV streaming and is still pretty popular today. Hulu’s library includes classic movies and TV shows, as well as current seasons of TV shows that you’d find on cable.
Netflix
Currently, Netflix is still the go-to when it comes to streaming television. It’s known for its many original series, lack of ads, and the ability for users to download content to watch offline.
Many other streaming platforms allow you to legally download content to watch later or when you don’t have internet access. Media hubs like Kodi allow you to keep all of your content in one convenient place, making it easier to access. You can install Kodi on Firestick, smart TVs, your computer, and even your smartphone.
Keep in mind that not all of these platforms are free, so subscribing to all of them can become pretty expensive. However, some platforms allow you to stream multiple types of media, such as Amazon (music and TV) and YouTube (gaming and music).