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Amazon Prime Video Review
Amazon Prime Video is Amazon’s on-demand streaming service, and while it doesn’t necessarily match up to Netflix, it has several strong points. First and foremost among these is its critically acclaimed original programming, including “The Man In The High Castle,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and Tom Clancy’s “Jack Ryan.” Amazon’s original series racked up 47 Emmy nominations in 2019, so the service is worth a look for that alone. It also includes a titillating variety of HBO originals such as “Boardwalk Empire,” “Deadwood,” and “The Sopranos.” Plus the full Amazon Prime bundle, which includes Prime Video and all the other perks of being a Prime subscriber, is a great deal.
Amazon Prime Video Packages at a Glance
How We Evaluated Amazon Prime Video
On-demand streaming services have come into their own in the entertainment marketplace over the last few years. These services are here to stay, and they’ve become tightly competitive. As such, they’re all very similar in functionality and experience, so our evaluation came down to content and the overall value of the service.
We took a look at user reviews, industry write-ups, and Amazon Prime Video’s terms, stats, and library to create a picture of the service as compared to rivals like Netflix and Hulu. In the end, Amazon’s service stacks up nicely. It boasts fewer originals than Netflix, but what it lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality.
Amazon Prime Video vs. Other Video Streaming Services
Key Amazon Prime Video Features
Award-winning original series
It really does come down to content when looking at a streaming video service, and Amazon Prime Video originals are worth the price of admission. While Amazon may not be spending what Netflix is on original content, it’s spending a lot, and that investment shows. The comedy series “Transparent” alone has garnered a slew of awards and nominations, and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” nearly swept the Emmys in 2018. Other standouts include “Fleabag,” “Good Omens,” and “Patriot.”
Access to HBO series
In addition to its emphasis on high-quality original series, Amazon has managed to procure quite a few of HBO’s stand out shows. While slightly outdated, the selection is still strong, and if you happen to have missed out on shows like “Six Feet Under” or “The Sopranos,” Amazon Prime Video will give you the opportunity to catch up. While you’re at it you can laugh with “Flight Of The Conchords” or immerse yourself in American history with “John Adams.”
Great deal with Amazon Prime
While Amazon’s originals may be its strongest sell, one of the biggest value adds with the service is the fact that you can add an Amazon Prime membership. At only $3 more per month (Prime is $12.99 per month and an Amazon Prime Video subscription on its own is $8.99 per month), it’s probably worth it to go ahead and sign up for a Prime membership. If you’re already a Prime member, then the decision is made for you — you might as well take advantage of the free access to this large entertainment library.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for an extended selection of content or already a Prime member, Amazon Prime Video offers a solid option. However, if you just need any old streaming service and you don’t want to be an Amazon Prime member, you might want to look elsewhere. Amazon Prime Video costs just a bit more than basic Netflix or Hulu, but you don’t necessarily get more for that added cost.
About the Authors
Aaron Trumm has been writing, creating content, and producing media, online presences and music for 25 years. He is the founder and head of NQuit Music, holds a master’s degree from Stanford University, and was once the 10th ranked slam poet in the world. He's written for publications like Recording Magazine, Linux Journal, Computer Music Magazine, and SonicScoop, to name a few. He also enjoys sports and fitness so much that he's a certified personal trainer and often writes in that area as well.
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