The Best Streaming Services in Australia Explained
Streaming simply means watching films and shows over the internet, whenever you like, instead of waiting for a set time on the telly. You pick what to watch from a menu on the screen and press play. There is no recording to set and nothing to miss.
The part that puts a lot of people off is the number of services and the jumble of names. Netflix, Stan, Disney+, ABC iview, SBS On Demand. It sounds like a lot. The good news is you don’t need all of them, and the most useful ones in Australia, the free-to-air apps, cost nothing. Here’s what each one is, in plain English, so you can pick what suits you. If you are choosing a new television too, our guide to the best smart TVs for seniors is a good place to start.
Quick answer
Start with the free ones. ABC iview and SBS On Demand, along with 7plus, 9Now and 10 play, carry Australian news, local shows and plenty of films at no cost, and the free Freeview app gathers them all in one place. If you want more, Netflix is the easiest paid service to begin with. Add Stan or Disney+ only if there is something specific you want to watch. You can cancel any paid service at the end of a month, so nothing locks you in.
The main streaming services in Australia
Here is a simple way to match what you want to watch with the service that carries it.
| What you want | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Free Australian news, local shows and catch-up TV | ABC iview, SBS On Demand and the Freeview app |
| A big, easy library of films and series | Netflix |
| Family films, Disney, Marvel and Star Wars | Disney+ |
| Australian drama plus a big back-catalogue of films | Stan |
| Live sport like the footy, cricket and tennis | Kayo Sports |
The free services worth having first
ABC iview and SBS On Demand
ABC iview is the free service from the ABC. It carries the ABC channels, the news bulletins, and a large back-catalogue of dramas, documentaries and local favourites, with no ads at all. SBS On Demand is the free service from SBS, strong on world films, foreign dramas with subtitles and documentaries, and it includes NITV. For most older Australians these two are the single most useful place to start, and they cost nothing.
7plus, 9Now and 10 play
These are the free catch-up apps from Channels 7, 9 and 10. They carry their channels live, the news, and the reality, lifestyle and drama you’d see on ordinary broadcast TV, again with short ads and no charge. Between the free-to-air apps you’ll find enough to watch most evenings without spending a cent. The free Freeview app brings all five together in one guide, so you don’t have to remember which channel a show is on.
The paid services, and what each one is for
Netflix
Netflix is the best known and usually the easiest to live with day to day. It has the widest mix of films, series and documentaries, and the layout is simple once you’ve used it a few times. There are cheaper plans with ads and dearer ones without, so you can pick the level that suits. If you only ever pay for one service, this is the one most people choose.
Stan
Stan is an Australian service and often the best value of the paid ones, starting cheaper than most. It has a broad mix of films and series, a good run of Australian drama, and many of the British shows older viewers enjoy. If Netflix doesn’t have something you want, Stan is the next place to look.
Disney+
Disney+ is built around Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars, plus a good range of nature documentaries. It’s the one to add when there are grandchildren visiting, or if those films are what you enjoy. Outside of that, the library is narrower than Netflix or Stan.
Binge
Binge, owned by Foxtel, is the home of a lot of acclaimed drama and recent films, and lets you watch much of Foxtel’s entertainment without a satellite dish or a long contract. There’s a cheaper plan with ads and a dearer one without. Add it only if there’s a particular series you want.
Kayo Sports
Kayo Sports, also from Foxtel, is for live sport, including the AFL and NRL footy, cricket, rugby and motorsport, streamed over the internet rather than through a dish. You can pay month to month and stop when the season ends, which suits people who only want it during a tournament. We cover this in more detail in our guide to watching sport online.
Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+ and Apple TV+ are also available here and have their own films and series. They’re worth a look later, but you don’t need them to get started.
How many do you really need?
Far fewer than the choice suggests. The costs add up if you keep them all running, so the sensible approach is to keep the free apps, add one paid service you’ll use most weeks, and treat the rest as occasional. Because there’s no contract, you can turn a service on for the month a particular show is on, then turn it off again. Nobody will chase you for it.
To watch any of these, you need an internet connection at home and a way to get the apps onto your screen. A newer television may already have them built in. An older set can be brought up to date cheaply with a small streaming device, which we explain in our guide to the best streaming devices for seniors. If the word internet itself is unclear, our plain guide to what Wi-Fi is is a good place to start.
How to choose, in five steps
- Set up the free services first: ABC iview, SBS On Demand and the Freeview app.
- Write down two or three shows or films you actually want to watch.
- Find which service carries them, and start with that one paid service.
- Pick the plan with ads if you’d rather pay less. The ads are short.
- Check your subscriptions every few months and cancel anything you’ve stopped using.
Before you finish
Download the free Family Tech Safety Checklist to help check phone safety, passwords, scam messages, emergency contacts and medical alarm details.
FAQ: streaming services in Australia
Do I need an aerial or a Foxtel dish to use these?
No. Streaming comes through your home internet, not an aerial or dish. As long as you can get online at home, you can use them.
Are the free-to-air apps really free?
Yes. You watch a few short ads and pay nothing, and ABC iview has no ads at all. You only need to set up a free account with your email address.
Can I cancel a paid service whenever I like?
Yes. There are no contracts. You can cancel at the end of the month you’ve paid for, and you keep access until then.
Will streaming use up my internet?
It uses data, but most home internet plans in Australia are unlimited, so it won’t matter. If yours has a limit, it’s worth checking with your provider.
Which one should I get if I only want one?
Set up the free ABC iview and SBS On Demand, and if you want a paid one as well, Netflix is the easiest and broadest choice for most people, with Stan a good-value alternative.
