Netflix vs Amazon prime vs hulu vs vudu

So what does the family use when it comes to video apps for their tablets/pc's/televisions???

I recently purchased a Roku3 and am trying to decide what to subscribe to.  I am already a subscriber of hulu plus but I know that is mainly a television show type of app and does not have a great movie selection.  Vudu says they have new releases and you just pay for what you watch?  I don't fully understand what amazon prime lets me do either because it is a pay for what you watch and a sub fee......  Netflix is the old standby tried and true but doesn't have much in the way of "NEW" releases.

So what are all of your experiences and what apps do you use, pay for, don't pay for, etc.  Would love to get some info on all the different options... :))

I have Amazon Prime for the shipping deals; the video on demand stuff they offer as part of the subscription is limited but ocassionally useful.

I've had Hulu Plus since it launched and use it to watch almost all my current television.

I'm also subscribed to Netflix but it's terrible for new releases. I use it to watch the tv shows I missed or that I want to watch again. It's also nice to have because it plays on just about every device known to man, so I can watch it on my tablet/phone on the go, on my Xbox, on my "smart" dvd player, and even right from my LG GoogleTV for big-screen goodnees.

And I have a $100 a month package with DirecTV for the shows I can't find on any of the others.

I'm finding it very hard to find a subscription service that has it all.

They all have drawbacks.

I have Amazon Prime but I have had it for years because of the free 2 day shipping and it saves me money since I order a lot through them - one year all of my Christmas presents were purchased through them and for $80 dollars a year I can't complain.   They have free videos with prime but it isn't the newest stuff.

They seem to carry a lot of Canadian and British TV shows which I actually like but few are "family" oriented.

I also have Netflix and for the $8 dollars a month just for streaming it is well worth it to me.  They get an abundance of American TV shows - but of course nothing in the last 1 1/2 years usually.  They also carry a lot of foreign movies that are subtitled - Korean, Japanese, French, etc.... but I also know my daughter has it and her 7 and 9 year old are always watching the "kids" stuff on there.  

Neither carry current movies with their subscription - but Amazon does have some that aren't on Prime that you do have to pay for.... better off going to a RedBox though - much cheaper.

I have Amazon prime for the free shipping, but their selection isn't half bad and its nice to rent a movie if you're too lazy to go out. I also have netflix streaming and hulu plus. I am debating canceling hulu plus because of their new "must be an authorized user of select cable company" or wait 30 days, even as a plus member. Considering only 1 of my shows requires prime, I may just stop watching that show, we will see....I used to watch all of this and a few other apps on Roku, but my original generation box finally died and I discovered I could do all the same stuff on my ps3 with less lag. Plus I really like the ps3 interface for netflix.

Just a side comment on this about Amazon Prime -

If you do standard shipping and buy at least 25 dollars per order the shipping is free anyway.  Only time you might get shipping is if you are getting an item from a company that works through Amazon, but is shipping it rather than an Amazon wearhouse.  I've spent maybe 8 bucks this year on shipping so far, tops of 30 in the past year and a half.  It's being smart on organizing your orders and knowing the tricks to free shipping, because prime really isn't saving you money unless you do so many order that can't wait the extra few days and are always under 25 bucks.

I have one word for Prime just for the shipping savings - Gimmick.  ::chuckles::

I used to have Netflix when it was$10 but included 1 dvd by mail and infinite streaming. I cancelled it however when they told me my bill was going to nearly double to keep the same  features mainly because the streaming selection was rather poor, but was sometimes nice to have. I hear this issue has been addressed somewhat and they have done a fairly good job increasing their selection since then.

After leaving netflix I immediately tried Hulu plus and was very happy with it because I personally prefer to watch tv shows at home rather than movies. A couple years later I still pay for plus even though I think all the shows I watch don;t require plus, mainly because I use my xbox to run the hulu app.

I have had amazon prime for a long time for the shipping. They gave it to me for free in college and said I only had to pay $30/year when I left so I was all over that and have no intentions of ever cancelling it. So for me the streaming on their is just an added bonus. We have used it a handful of times to watch free things and once to rent a movie. Some of their new original shows appear to have some merit so that is cool too.

I don't use any of them I go here - http://kickass.to/ to get all my shows

nobody has given vudu a try?

I use Hulu for TV and Netflix for Movies. Amazon Prime has everything that netflix has however you get free shipping on amazon which in my case pays for itself. 

Learn to torrent and your life will be so much better. ;)

I've had Netflix streaming +1 dvd for years and its kept me entertained.  If something awesome is out like Game of Thrones I go to a friends house to watch and/or  just buy the dvds when available.

I've watched videos on Amazon Prime and bought some there, and of course when I purchase a dvd I can usually watch instantly through their service until its physically delivered.

I love Netflix and the selection for the 8 dollars a month gives a very grand library. I watch allot of documentaries and if you like TV series they have alot of those. If you want the most current TV stuff then you'll be SOL.  The Netflix original series are very good as well excepting one that I don't care for much. My kids watch all the kiddo shows and they recently made a deal with Disney or something because they have a ton more Disney movies. Give Netflix their 30day free trail a spin to see if it fits. I like hulu occasionly when I can't find my show on a network. I go to nbc,abc,syfy and such to catch my favorite shows right from their web sites and it works well as long as you don't get to far behind as they sometimes only carry 5 or so of the most recent episodes sometimes. Hope that helps.

ty for all the input.  I went with netflix and hulu..my sister has amazon prime also for the shipping and I heard she can add people to it so I may give that a shot also.

so those of you with a roku what are some cool tips and tricks to make it an uber awesome device ??? :))

Fun project here: http://gigaom.com/2011/05/24/cord-cutters-how-to-turn-your-roku-into-a-dvr/

Hulu ip blocks me as I am not in the USA, but I can get around that.  What I cannot seem to do, is be able to block their ads.  Anyone know what will work for that as Adblock does not.

I use XBMC to watch hulu without the ads. I haven't seen a browser exploit for it though.

Yes, for Amazon, you get free shipping with $25 order.  But that never seems to be the case.  I will want to order something, then I have to try to find stuff I don't really need in order to hit $25.  The worst is when you get to $24.90.  And those stupid add on items don't count towards the $25.  I did that method for a long time.  Amazon Prime though, is free 2 day shipping.  Add on, you get to watch shows for around the same price as Netflix is a bonus.

Minus for Prime:  They don't have a dedicated app for android.  I guess they are trying to push the kindle on you.  They have an app for the ipad, but not android.  I heard there are workarounds by watching through certain browsers on your phone. Haven't tried it though.

Another alternative is if you have cable tv.  You can dl HBO GO, Showtime Anytime, Starz Play...and that covers most of the cable series.  Not sure is Cinemax has an app, but the only series I know they have is Banshee.

LOL Durav.  I know what you mean, but usually I lump my orders on a monthly basis so I'm not doing a lot of orders at all.  I'm also the internet ordering source for my mom, since she is not on the internet and isn't going to bother at this stage of her life.  She can just call me or come over to my house to do it.  =)  I can see it saving money if you do more than a couple orders a month, but beyond that there is nothing that I order that I need RIGHT now and can't wait to be combined with something else.  I guess its all in how you like to organize.  =)

How do you use XBMC for HULU?

I don't see an add-on for it in the list and when i googled it the i find bluecops repository but when i install it there is nothing in it.

there's a bluecops guide out there on how to install hulu plus and amazon prime. You have to refresh bluecops or something like that (from the xbmc menu) before it shows the bluecops addons. I remember it was kind of goofy getting it all set up.

Netflix redeemed themselves to me lately by their Netflix-only release of House of Cards. We use Amazon prime for the shipping but have found movies we like on it. Although usually, i am gaming for my video fun, of course.

I think what sells the free shipping on prime for me the most is that its 2-day and since I live in AZ that typically turns into 1 day because they have a big warehouse here. You would think without prime I would still get things faster because of the warehouse location, but no, it takes the 4 or 5 days without prime lol..