Tweet

College students don’t have infinite money to spend on streaming services, so Viewfinder set out to find which streaming services are best for college students on a budget. 

NETFLIX

Netflix is considered the pioneer of all streaming services because of its 13 years in the industry.

According to CNet, Netflix remains on of the top choices in the streaming market because of its large library of constantly-refreshed content and its easy accessibility across different devices.

Netflix offers three pricing plans: basic, standard and premium. The basic plan is $9, which doesn’t include HD quality, the standard plan is $14 and includes HD, while the premium plan is $18 and has both HD quality and UHD.

Quynton Younker, a freshman at Grand View University said the best option for a student on a budget is Netflix.

“I prefer Netflix because it’s pretty cheap to use per month and it has a lot of shows a college student would typically watch,” Younker said.

A senior, Noah Barr, also decided that Netflix is the right streaming service for him.

“I enjoy Netflix because of the sheer volume of content that Netflix provides,” Barr said. “I am enjoying Netflix’s original TV series and enjoy the variety of documentaries that they offer.”

Netflix is the right streaming service for those who are interested in original TV series, movies and documentaries. A person can watch as much as they want whenever they want without a single commercial, all for one low monthly price.

HULU

Another popular streaming service is Hulu. An advantage of Hulu is that it offers more when it comes to network TV programming. In addition to add-ons, Hulu also offers a plan with Live TV.

Hulu provides next day streaming of new shows from ABC, NBC and Fox. The pricing is just $6 per month and gives unlimited access to Hulu’s ad-supported content library. The next package is $12 a month and it’s ad-free. The last package includes live sports and TV channels for $65 a month.

This streaming service has become especially popular for college students because there is a package deal that includes Spotify and ShowTime for just $5 a month.

Liliana Sarvia Gomez, a junior at GV, said that she prefers Hulu because of the student deal.

“Majority of college students listen to music to clear their minds so why not combine the deal for a win-win?”

Liliana Sarvia Gomez

Another student who enjoys Hulu’s student deal is GV senior, Cam Maxfield. He recently purchased Hulu last fall.

“If I were a student on a budget, I would have to choose Hulu because you get your money’s worth by getting 3 for 1 because of the student discount,” Maxfield said.

DISNEY PLUS

The third streaming service is one of the newest to hit the scene in late 2019, Disney Plus. It primarily distributes films and television series produced by Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Television. There’s content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic.

Disney Plus is a great streaming service for people who grew up watching Disney Channel because they can experience that nostalgia. You can experience these shows and movies all over again for only $7 per month or $70 per year.

Ashlee Seaton, a junior at GV, is a huge fan of the Disney Plus platform.

“It’s cause I’m so obsessed with the Marvel movies and Pirates of the Caribbean,” said Seaton.

A senior, Brandon Flores, also has Disney Plus. He said that he enjoys the selection of Marvel films.

“I feel like it’s hands down the better (streaming service) choice because it makes me feel like a kid again,” Flores said.

For a college student who is interested in reliving your childhood TV shows, watching a Marvel movie marathon, or being updated with the newest Disney shows, this would be a great streaming service for them.