7 Ways to Determine If a Streaming Service Is Worth Your Time and Money

Many people are always looking for a new streaming service to use regularly, but to make that list, it has to be truly worth the time and money. So when evaluating a streaming platform, here are the requirements it should meet.

7. Is navigation tedious?

Let's start with one of the most important factors in a good streaming service: Navigability. If the UI is frustrating to navigate, it's not a streaming service worth paying for, plain and simple. Something as annoying as a weird side menu toggle can hurt the likelihood of users returning. Also, pay attention to the right menu density — too many options on screen only make it harder to choose.

6. Behind the scenes content

What really hinders memorability is when streaming services lack additional content, like behind-the-scenes footage and deleted scenes. People want to get the most out of their money, so when they can't access that content, many feel like they're not getting the most value.

The appeal of a streaming service is having something that resembles a physical media library. That's one of the reasons people continue to buy and accumulate physical movie collections.

5. Information about the actors and creators

One feature that only a few streaming services have is the ability to select an actor's name and see a list of all the movies they've appeared in. It's surprising that this hasn't become more popular sooner. Both Netflix and Prime Video have this feature, and thanks to both platforms, cast information is becoming increasingly important.

4. Categorize unique media content

The importance of interesting, easy-to-understand labels when categorizing content into groups cannot be overemphasized. When searching for something to watch, a short but punchy description goes a long way in helping users focus. Netflix does this well, with titles like 'Boredom Busters,' 'Casual Watching,' and 'Because You Watch X,' because emotion is at the forefront.

Like music, many people choose movies based on emotion, not something obscure. What kind of movie falls into that genre? Is it set in Florida? Romance? You can immediately tell from the word "Boredom Busters" that you're going to find something exciting, like action and comedy.

3. Does the service have its own identity?

People's preferences for streaming services have changed over time. For example, Netflix may have a huge library with a wide variety of genres, but what is Netflix's content identity? More than ever, many people want streaming services to focus on a few genres or a specific type.

2. Compatible with multiple platforms

Many people use multiple operating systems, like Windows, macOS, and Android. If a streaming service is available on all of those platforms, it's easier to decide whether it's worth your time and money. It's also a bonus if the service is also available on consoles.

This largely depends on the time investment and reach. When you can access that content in multiple ways on multiple devices, you'll be more inclined to use it. Otherwise, as the saying goes, "out of sight, out of mind."

1. Download content for offline viewing

Data allowance on many phones is pretty low—10GB isn't much. You can use up that by sending a few videos, photos, and especially streaming movies. Downloading content for offline viewing is a lifesaver when you're on a short family trip.

First of all, many people don't want to connect to any public Wi-Fi network, including the Wi-Fi at a hotel, and risk having their personal information stolen. Second, having a movie at hand is one of the favorite ways to relax on vacation instead of scrolling through social media .

Jessica Tanner

Update 31 July 2025