6 best streaming apps for Android phones: our picks for TV, anime, film, and more

There are a ton of options for watching your favorite movies and TV series on an Android phone.

If you’re of a certain age, you might recall a time when using a phone to watch video, regardless of its length or quality, was completely new. It’s never been simpler to keep up on the newest must-watch entertainment from the comfort of your pocket computer, though, in a world where streaming services rule the day. However, this abundance of options can often lead to feelings of overload.

While Netflix, Disney Plus, and Prime Video are the major players, there are also many smaller options, like as Paramount Plus, that are worth checking out because they are exclusive to particular franchises. Having access to different libraries according on your location is an additional issue, but you should be covered by our article on how a VPN can assist with streaming.

Therefore, we’ve separated out the best six streaming applications that you should definitely have installed on your Android phone so that you can go right to the material that’s truly worth viewing.

1. Netflix (best overall)

It would be impossible to begin this list, or any conversation about the top streaming applications, without first giving a nod to the industry titan. Because it was the first platform to truly capitalize on the idea, Netflix has virtually become associated with streaming. With such a long lead time, the firm has been able to load up its library of original material and perfect the whole app experience.

As of right now, Netflix has produced several enormous exclusives, some of which have become global sensations. The site still features low-key hits like the recently released four-part series Adolescence, but shows like Squid Game, Stranger Things, and Bridgerton have become cultural icons.

Netflix’s extensive collection of licensed content complements its exclusives and is ideal for background viewing and binge-watching. Friends, Gilmore Girls, and The Office are just a few of the shows that make people want to have their Netflix subscription open at all times, even if they occasionally watch other streamers.

Although Netflix has a respectable selection of movies at any given moment, except from a few, it hasn’t had much luck with original films that truly make an impression and take center stage. Fortunately, there is an additional benefit for Android users in the form of Netflix games, which include free games like Game Dev Tycoon and Civilization VI.

In relation to pricing, Netflix offers a variety of subscription levels, from entry-level to premium. Currently, the starting price for Netflix with advertisements is $7.99 / £5.99 / AU$7.99. While the $24.99 / £18.99 / AU$25.99 premium tier raises the quality to Ultra HD, the ordinary tier, which costs $17.99 / £12.99 / AU$18.99, removes the advertisements and permits two devices to stream concurrently.

2. Disney Plus (best for kids)

Disney Plus had a huge advantage when it first launched, despite being a little late to the game in comparison to Netflix: decades’ worth of well-known movies and TV series with a sizable fan base.

Disney, in contrast to Netflix, was well-known from the start, which has helped its streaming service grow over the past few years. The Mandalorian’s early availability was a huge triumph for the site and paved the way for several additional Star Wars-related series, such as Andor and Ahsoka.

Having exclusive access to everything Marvel, one of the most popular properties in the world at the moment, is another advantage for Disney Plus. Disney Plus is a clear winner for superhero fans who love to keep up with everything Marvel, thanks to new shows set within the MCU and being the first streaming service to release Marvel films after they’ve been released. For new fans who haven’t caught up, there’s also a ton of legacy content from 20th Century Fox.

But what sets Disney Plus apart from Netflix is its wealth of kid-friendly content, which may make it a must-have subscription for any parent who needs some quiet time and something interesting to keep their kids entertained. Not to mention the Pixar collection, which includes beloved characters like Buzz, Woody, and Lightning McQueen, you have classics like Alice in Wonderland and contemporary blockbusters like Encanto and Moana 2.

Similar to Netflix, the service offers a three-tiered subscription structure, but it is now far more reasonably priced, particularly in the UK. Those on a budget may find the ad-supported tier more intriguing because it costs only $7.99 / £4.99 / AU$15.99, while the Premium plan, which includes 4K Dolby Atmos streaming, is only $13.99 / £12.99 / AU$20.99.

3. BBC iPlayer (best free)

When discussing streaming services, it’s easy to get sidetracked by well-known brands like Disney and Netflix, but BBC iPlayer is one platform that has consistently offered outstanding value. Although the service isn’t officially accessible outside of the UK, there is a workaround in our tutorial on how to watch BBC iPlayer from overseas. If you live in the UK and already have a TV licence, you can access iPlayer for free.

The striking thing about iPlayer is how extensive its library of diverse content is for a free service. Classic BBC series like Top Gear, The Royle Family, and Planet Earth are available, as you might expect, but they are all surrounded by a ton of programming from other production firms. You can dig into popular US shows including Suits, Dopesick, and The Dropout at the time of writing.

But what really makes iPlayer stand out is the kind of programming that isn’t actually available anywhere else. You can watch a lot of sporting events on live TV, like Wimbledon and several football matches, which other streamers haven’t taken advantage of as much as you have.

With an iPlayer in hand, you can watch a plethora of game shows, so if you want to unwind with a few episodes of Richard Osman’s House of Games after a demanding workday, there’s nothing stopping you. In terms of pure value, BBC’s own-brand service is hard to top with the most extensive library at no cost (except from the license price).

4. Mubi (best for cinephiles)

Mubi is the ideal solution if you feel like you’ve been losing out on a connection with anything related to movies. As we discussed before on this list, Netflix hasn’t quite gotten its act together when it comes to providing engaging movies that truly spark a conversation.

Ironically, Mubi has been in business for nearly as long as Netflix, but its sole objective has been to provide cult movies from all over the world in the convenience of your own home.

Take our word for it: if you love Martin Scorsese and George Lucas’s non-Star Wars films and you consider yourself a movie buff, you have a lot to learn. Opening Mubi is an enlightening experience since you are displayed a variety of films from different genres and decades, such as 1990s underground queer cinema or 2010s Indian tragedies. Most of the movies on Mubi’s radar are probably unknown to you, but that’s part of the pleasure of using the service to find hidden gems that you wouldn’t find on services like Netflix or Prime Video.

Compared to other services, the entire experience seems more carefully chosen, as though each movie was chosen because it spoke to a Mubi team member. You may learn as much as you want because every movie has a thorough summary along with a paragraph that explains why it’s worth seeing, what it’s attempting to convey, and the circumstances around its creation.

Even in a crowded entertainment market, Mubi seems distinctive in what it’s attempting to provide. Its app design is also far more visually appealing than anything else you’ll find. Films are allowed to breathe on the screen of your phone rather than being compressed into small boxes that you can tap on. It almost has the feel of a museum exhibit, complete with descriptions of each artwork.

There is an enhanced option called Mubi Go that allows you to watch one movie per week that Mubi suggests, in addition to having access to the streaming service, if you don’t want to spend all of your time indoors watching movies. While Mubi Go costs $19.99, £18.99, or AU$19.99 per month, Mubi alone costs $14.99, £11.99, or AU$14.99, however student discounts are available.

5. Crunchyroll (best for anime)

It’s a little surprising that more streaming providers haven’t made an effort to accommodate anime given how well-liked the genre is worldwide. Netflix does provide certain popular series like Castlevania and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, but nothing compares to Crunchyroll’s ability to offer an anime library that is completely unrestricted.

You can practically be sure that Crunchyroll will have access to every anime series that is worth watching. Established series like One Piece, Naruto, and Dragon Ball Z are currently available on the service, but there are also many recent hits, such as Jujutsu Kaisen and Solo Leveling.

In addition to its constantly expanding content inventory, Crunchyroll is a must-have for anime enthusiasts because every episode is released on the same day as it airs in Japan. The app even includes a useful guide that lets you know the precise local time that a particular show’s next episode will be accessible for streaming. This is a huge game-changer, as anyone who has ever had to wait months to watch localized versions of popular anime episodes will understand.

Crunchyroll has also branched out into other entertainment sectors, much like Netflix. There are many mobile games with anime-inspired graphics, but in a brilliant marketing move, the app also has a store where you can purchase stuff from all of your favorite series. It’s a fantastic feature to have since it allows fans to easily express their fandom through apparel, accessories, and other items.

The most expensive tier, “Mega Fan,” only costs £59.99 a year in the UK and $15.99 / AUD $13.99 a month in the US and Australia, respectively. Fortunately, the service is rather less expensive than more well-known rivals.

6. Apple TV+ (best for original content)

Some people will be enraged by this, but please be patient. Although it wasn’t available on Android phones at first, aside from attempting to stream content randomly through a browser, Apple TV+ is now readily available through the Apple TV app for Android. Fortunately, Apple’s streaming service is among the best available for original content at the moment.

All of the episodes and movies on Apple TV+ are ones that Apple has produced, with the exception of a few licensed movies that are exclusively available on the US version of the service. This gives the viewer a little more assurance that the video they do choose to watch will be of a particular caliber, even though the drawback is that the service doesn’t see nearly the same number supplied by the competition.

The platform’s reputation has been shaped by megahits like Ted Lasso and Severance, but there are also many lesser-known series that are worth checking out, not least because they feature A-list stars. Among them are Gary Oldman in Slow Horses, Harrison Ford in Shrinking, and Seth Rogen in The Studio.

In addition to scripted entertainment, Apple TV+ also has the streaming rights to Major League Soccer, so if you want to watch well-known teams like LA Galaxy and Inter Miami battle it out, you can do so. However, in order to watch MLS matches, you will need to purchase an additional season plan, which costs £14.99 or $14.99 ($14.99 in Australia right now).

Apart from that, however, Apple TV+ only offers one subscription option, which costs $9.99, £8.99, or AU$12.99 a month. Student discounts are offered, and the Apple One bundle, which may include services like iCloud+ and Apple Music, grants access to Apple TV+.