If you’re a wannabe Yellowstone cowboy or Game of Thrones loyalist, here’s what you need to know about how some of the biggest streaming platforms in New Zealand compare.
HBO’s House of the Dragon. Photo / Supplied
HBO Max
Most of this big American studio’s content has been hosted on Neon up until now. HBO Max is regaining control of its original content and is the newest player in the local streaming market when it launches on June 16.
Fan favourites like the Game of Thrones spin-off series House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will now shift from Neon to Max, and the highly anticipated Harry Potter TV series will launch exclusively on the platform on Christmas Day.
Like superheroes? DC content like Peacemaker will also switch to Max, and upcoming Green Lantern detective series Lanterns starts later this year.
Hotel hijinks in The White Lotus, doctor drama from The Pitt, and space-age satire of Rick and Morty will also continue on Max, switching over from Neon and delivering new seasons in the coming months. Back catalogue true crime documentaries like The Jinx and The Staircase will also carry over.
The extensive movie library is also a drawcard. Oscar winners Sinners and One Battle After Another will be available, along with a host of other exclusives.
Price: HBO is starting with some deals and a two-tier pricing system.
The launch price offer for its standard plan (content in Full HD 1080p resolution, 30 downloads to watch content offline) is $10.99 per month for the first six months, or $109.99 for the first year. The regular price after the promotion will be $15.99 per month or $159.99 per year.
The premium plan (Full HD or 4K resolution, 100 offline downloads) starts at $15.99 per month for the first six months, or $159.99 for the first year and increases to $20.99 per month or $209.99 per year when the promotion ends.
Ad-free? Yes (for all subscriptions).
Multiple devices? Yes. Two devices simultaneously for standard plans, four devices for premium plans.
Best for? Big, bold, award-winning US film and watercooler TV moments.
Kelly Reilly with Cole Hauser in Yellowstone, which has become a key series on Neon.
Neon
Neon is one of the older horses in the streaming stable – and it used to be the one-stop shop for HBO content. But with HBO branching out, it’s now trying to ride its own race as Neon has confirmed all HBO content will leave its platform on June 16.
Fans of Yellowstone and Dexter, as well as their respective spinoffs, will need to maintain their subscription, especially because these series are set to have more seasons.
Special children’s TV offerings through an agreement with Nickelodeon mean there are multiple options for family viewing, and a BBC deal sees many of your favourite UK crime shows, such as Broadchurch and Happy Valley, remaining on Neon. Don’t discount exclusive Kiwi content either, like the gripping Dark City: The Cleaner and buddy cop comedy Bust Up.
Price: A basic plan is $14.99 per month, and the monthly standard plan is $23.99 per month. There is also the option to purchase an annual plan for $239.99.
Ad-free? Yes for standard, no for basic.
Multiple devices? While five devices can be registered, only two can be used to watch content at the same time.
Best for? British serial lovers…. and cowboys.
‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ was streamed on Disney+ as well as being released in cinemas. Photo / Disney+
Disney+
A hit for Gen Z and millennials who want to re-live childhood favourites like Lizzie McGuire and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, this streaming behemoth is packed full of exclusive content. Because of a deal with US service Hulu, your Disney+ subscription also gets you plenty of highly acclaimed shows like The Bear, Shōgun and Only Murders In The Building.
Love Star Wars? This is the platform for you, with hours of galaxy-spanning adventures from the original series to the newer animated ones. There’s also an Indiana Jones and Pixar agreements, so grab your whip and fedora and get ready travel to galaxies far, far away.
Nostalgia is the main driver for Disney Plus, and those who want to relive quality films and series from their childhood will find themselves right at home. You can also grab a bargain when it comes to price if you’re willing to deal with a barrage of ads.
It’s also a strong option for sports fans, with ESPN also coming as part of the platform, meaning access to top international coverage of basketball, baseball, football, (the other) football, hockey, tennis and a whole lot more.
Price: Standard with ads is $9.99 per month, while standard is $18.99 per month or $189.99 a year. A premium subscription with 4K streaming is $25.99 per month or $259.99 a year.
Ad-free? Not for the $9.99 subscription, but yes for the others.
Multiple devices? Two streams simultaneously for standard with ads and standard. Four screens simultaneously for premium.
Best for? Kids, kids at heart and sports nuts.
Adolescence became one of Netflix’s biggest series in 2025.
Netflix
Another one of the “old guard” streaming services, this behemoth effectively normalised, and monopolised, the streaming market right in its early stages.
Its library feels endless, but that can also be its downfall. But if you dig in you’ll find some big shows and films, and some hidden gems too. Think hit shows like Adolescence, Stranger Things, Squid Games and Ozark. There are a slew of docos covering everything from true crime (Making a Murderer, The Staircase) to sport (Beckham, The Last Dance) and pop culture (Kylie, Being Gordon Ramsay) and a full catalogue of films, both Netflix originals and older blockbusters. Plus the occasional free sporting event and even games are welcome drawcards.
If you’re bored and not picky, Netflix is the streamer for you, plus having no ads is always a bonus.
Price: A basic plan (watch in 720p HD) is $17.99 per month, the standard plan (watch in 1080p Full HD) is $25.99 per month, and premium (watch in 4k Ultra HD) $33.99 per month.
Ad-free? Yes, on all tiers.
Multiple devices? Yes, one screen on Basic, two on Standard and four on Premium.
Best for? Unfussy people who are not easily overwhelmed by too much choice.
Jason Sudeikis in Ted Lasso, which became a hit for Apple TV. Photo / Supplied
Apple TV
Severance and Ted Lasso catapulted this late-uptake streamer into the big leagues, and now it’s on a roll.
Recent comedy horror Widows Bay and the Elle Fanning star vehicle Margo’s Got Money Troubles continue to cement it as a frontrunner in original content, and its foray into film has produced award winners like Killers of the Flower Moon and CODA. Pluribus is also worth a watch.
While there is less of a library here, there are also options to purchase and rent individual films that may be on other streaming services for free. So, if you’re willing to pay more, you can essentially kill two birds with one stone. There are also major league sports offerings like the NFL on the table.
Price: $17.99 per month, with options to pay for additional one-off content.
Ad-free? Yes.
Multiple devices: Yes, up to six devices at a time.
Best for: Big families and those who like sleeper hits.
Jeremy Clarkson, of Clarkson’s Farm, is a Prime Video favourite.
Prime Video
Jeff Bezos’s behemoth has pumped big bucks billions into original content but has also bought up streaming deals left, right and centre.
As an addition to your base subscription, you can also purchase an HBO Max subscription and an Apple TV+ subscription in one big bundle, meaning all your content is effectively in one place.
When it comes to Prime content, you’re looking at shows like the no-holds-barred superhero dark comedy The Boys, Billy Bob Thornton’s Landman and doco-series Clarkson’s Farm. Like other platforms, there’s an option to purchase additional extras like sports games, music and movies.
Price: $10.99 per month with ads, $14 a month without them. They offer some bundles that include the option to buy HBO Max and Apple TV+.
Ad-free? Yes, for a cost.
Multiple devices: Three at a time.
Best for: Those who want all their content in one place.
Love Island UK host Maya Jama.
TVNZ+
New Zealand’s big free streamer is the go-to if you want local favourites, international and local reality TV, and free sport. Of course there’s all the content that screens on linear TV, but the platform-first shows like Love Island, Tip Toe and Lord of the Flies are a real drawcard.
While free sport is an option on TVNZ+ because of the local rights they hold, right now you can also buy a Fifa World Cup event pass for full access to all games in the world’s biggest sporting competition. The pay-per-view option is already available for some UFC fights.
The big catch with the free content is you’ll be stuck with constant ads, which, for those with short attention spans, can be a challenge.
Price: Free. $44.95 for the TVNZ Fifa event pass.
Ad-free? Nope.
Multiple devices? No limit for TVNZ+. Two at a time for TVNZ event pass content.
Best for: Those on a budget, and those who love local TV.
Married at First Sight Australia experts Alessandra Rampolla, Mel Schilling and John Aiken.
ThreeNow
Like TVNZ+, ThreeNow is free and has a lot of local content. However much of it’s platform-only shows lean to internationals, with a mix of quality.
There is a huge amount of what they call factual shows, but you might call them middle-of-the-day TV like Cake Masters, American Chopper and Crikey! It’s the Irwins.
The real value is in the international drama content – whether you want something like A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, the award-winning Big Mood or the locally-shot Spartacus series. ThreeNow is also the only place you can watch Married At First Sight Australia and the local, American and UK versions of The Traitors.
Price: Free.
Ad-free? No.
Multiple devices? Yes.
Best for: Those who think they would make a good Traitor.