Streaming services have transformed how we watch movies and TV shows, but the experience varies significantly depending on where you live. The United States and the United Kingdom, despite sharing a language and many cultural touchpoints, have markedly different streaming libraries, pricing structures, and release schedules. This article examines the key differences between US and UK streaming services as of early 2026, covering Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Max, Apple TV+, and Hulu (which is US-only). We also look at how licensing deals, regional rights, and local production affect what you can watch.
Netflix: Library Size and Content Rotation
Netflix remains the largest streaming platform in both countries, but the library composition differs. As of January 2026, Netflix US offers approximately 6,300 titles, while Netflix UK has around 5,800 titles, according to data from streaming tracking sites. The difference stems from regional licensing agreements: US Netflix has a deeper catalog of classic American TV shows and movies, while UK Netflix often retains more British content, including BBC and Channel 4 productions.
For example, The Office (US) is available on Netflix US but not on Netflix UK (where it streams on Prime Video). Conversely, Peaky Blinders is on Netflix UK but not on US Netflix (it streams on BBC iPlayer in the UK and is on Netflix in the US only for certain seasons). New Netflix originals like Stranger Things and The Crown are available simultaneously in both regions, but third-party licensed content can appear months apart. A movie released in US theaters may arrive on Netflix US after a 90-day window, but in the UK, the same film might go to Sky Cinema or Now TV first.
Pricing also differs: Netflix’s Standard with ads plan costs $6.99/month in the US vs £4.99/month in the UK. The Standard plan (no ads) is $15.49/month in the US and £10.99/month in the UK. The Premium plan (4K, 4 screens) is $22.99/month in the US and £17.99/month in the UK. Currency conversion and VAT (included in UK prices) account for some of the gap, but US prices are generally higher in absolute terms.
For a full guide on finding specific movies, see our complete guide to finding any movie on legal streaming services.
Amazon Prime Video: Content and Add-On Channels
Amazon Prime Video is included with a Prime membership, which costs $14.99/month in the US or £8.99/month in the UK (or £95/year). The UK Prime subscription is notably cheaper, partly because it includes fewer shipping benefits (US Prime includes Amazon Fresh and other perks).
The Prime Video library in the US is larger, with about 28,000 titles versus 22,000 in the UK. However, UK Prime Video users get access to a strong selection of British TV shows like Doctor Who (older seasons) and Fleabag, which are not on Prime Video US. US Prime Video has more Hollywood blockbusters and a larger selection of anime.
Add-on channels (called “subscriptions” in the UK) also differ. In the US, you can subscribe to HBO (via Max), Showtime, Starz, and others through Prime Video Channels. In the UK, the add-ons include Discovery+, BritBox, and MGM+, but not HBO Max (which is a separate service). Pricing for these add-ons varies: BritBox is £5.99/month in the UK, while the US version costs $6.99/month.
Prime Video also offers a selection of free ad-supported movies. In the US, these are labeled “Free with ads” and include titles like Clueless and Runaway Bride. In the UK, the free ad-supported section is smaller but includes some British classics. For more on free movies, see our guide to free movies with ads on Prime Video.
Disney+: Star vs. No Star
Disney+ launched in the UK with a different content structure than the US. In the UK, Disney+ includes a brand called “Star,” which hosts more adult-oriented content from ABC, FX, and 20th Century Studios. This content is not available on Disney+ US (it remains on Hulu). As a result, Disney+ UK has a larger library (about 1,500 titles) than Disney+ US (about 1,200 titles).
For example, UK Disney+ subscribers can stream Grey’s Anatomy, Family Guy, and Die Hard, which are not on Disney+ US. In the US, those titles are on Hulu. Conversely, US Disney+ has some exclusive content like The Simpsons (all seasons) that is also on UK Disney+, but the UK version has a slightly different selection due to regional rights.
Pricing: Disney+ with ads costs $7.99/month in the US and £4.99/month in the UK. The ad-free plan is $13.99/month in the US and £7.99/month in the UK. The UK price is significantly lower, even accounting for VAT. Disney+ also offers a bundle with Hulu and ESPN+ in the US, but no equivalent exists in the UK (ESPN+ is not available).
For a detailed look at Disney+ content, see our Disney+ streaming guide.
Max (formerly HBO Max): US Only
Max is only available in the US. In the UK, HBO content is licensed to Sky Atlantic and Now TV (via a Sky subscription). This is a major difference: UK viewers cannot subscribe to Max directly. Instead, they need a Sky TV package or a Now TV Entertainment pass (£9.99/month) to watch shows like House of the Dragon and The Last of Us.
Max in the US costs $9.99/month with ads or $16.99/month ad-free. The library includes all HBO originals, Warner Bros. movies, and content from Discovery+. In the UK, the same content is spread across multiple services: Sky Atlantic for HBO shows, and Discovery+ for reality TV. This fragmentation means UK viewers often pay more to access the same content.
For more on Max, see our Max streaming guide.
Hulu: US Exclusive
Hulu is not available in the UK at all. Its content is partially available on Disney+ UK (via Star) or on other platforms. For example, The Handmaid’s Tale streams on Hulu in the US, but in the UK it is on Channel 4’s All 4 (free with ads) or on DVD/Blu-ray. Hulu’s library of current-season TV shows from NBC, ABC, and Fox is largely missing from UK streaming services, though some shows appear on Netflix UK or Prime Video UK after a delay.
Hulu pricing: $7.99/month with ads, $17.99/month ad-free. It also offers a bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+. For UK viewers, the closest equivalent might be Now TV, which offers similar live TV and on-demand content from Sky channels.
For Hulu-specific releases, see our Hulu new movies 2026 article.
Apple TV+: Same Content, Same Price
Apple TV+ is one of the few services with identical content and pricing in both countries. The library of original series and movies is the same, and the price is $9.99/month in the US and £8.99/month in the UK (roughly equivalent after VAT). New releases like Severance and Ted Lasso drop simultaneously worldwide. However, Apple TV+ does not have a large back catalog, so regional differences are minimal.
For Apple TV+ releases, see our Apple TV+ new movies article.
Other Regional Differences: Free Services and Live TV
Free ad-supported streaming services also vary. In the US, Pluto TV, Tubi, and Freevee offer hundreds of channels and movies. In the UK, Pluto TV and Freevee are available but with different content: UK Pluto TV has more British channels like BBC Player (on-demand) and Sky News. Tubi is not available in the UK; instead, the UK has services like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and Channel 4’s All 4, which are free with ads and offer strong local content.
Live TV streaming is another area of divergence. In the US, services like YouTube TV ($72.99/month) and Hulu + Live TV ($76.99/month) bundle live channels. In the UK, live TV is primarily accessed through Freeview (free over-the-air), Sky (satellite), or Now TV (streaming). The UK also has a TV licence fee (£169.50/year) that funds the BBC, which is not required in the US.
Conclusion: What Should You Choose?
If you live in the US, you have access to a wider variety of streaming services, including Hulu and Max, and generally larger libraries on Netflix and Prime Video. However, you pay more per month. In the UK, you get better value on Disney+ (thanks to Star) and cheaper Prime Video, but you miss out on Hulu and Max directly. UK viewers also benefit from strong free-to-air services like BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
For travelers or expats, using a VPN can sometimes bridge the gap, but it violates terms of service and may result in account suspension. The best approach is to choose services based on the content you love most. Use our streaming availability calendar to track releases in your region.