Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

• Credit: Shudder

  Best Dedicated Horror Streamer

  Shudder

  3.5 Good

  Pros & Cons

  • • Large collection of horror films and shows
    • Charming interface and style
    • Inexpensive
    • No ads
  • • Missing some classic movies
    • Not all content is available in 1080p
    • Lacks offline downloads on mobile
    • Non-customizable closed captions

  Why We Picked It

  If you're looking for a scare, Shudder is an excellent option. The streaming service is home to a diverse array of horror films, ranging from the bloodiest slashers to psychological thrillers. In addition, the library includes Carrie, Grave, The House of the Devil, Jug Face, and They Look Like People.

  Shudder offers many titles in 1080p, though some content is limited to 480p. You cannot download titles for offline viewing, but you can watch Shudder via your web browser. The service is also available on Android and iOS, Roku and Fire TV streaming devices, and Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

  Who It's For

  Shudder is ideal if you want high-quality niche horror. The service has many exclusives, original series, and podcasts, including Creepshow, Discovery of Witches, and The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs. A podcast called Visitations with Elijah Wood and Daniel Noah is of particular interest. The show features the titular pair visiting the homes of famous people, such as Guillermo del Toro or Taika Waititi, and learning about the things that scare them the most (and how they've managed to turn their fears into art).

  Specs & Configurations

  Concurrent Streams	None
  On-Demand Movies and TV Shows
  Original Programming
  Starting Price	$8.99 per month

  Learn More Shudder Review
• Credit: Screambox

  Best for International Horror

  Screambox

  3.0 Average

  Pros & Cons

  • • Many low-budget and foreign-language flicks
    • 24/7 horror broadcasts
    • Free, ad-supported plan
  • • Relatively small movie and TV show catalog
    • Missing popular and classic horror films
    • Lacks parental controls

  Why We Picked It

  Screambox's selection isn't as vast as some of the competition, but it is highly specialized. No thrillers are masquerading as horror films here. There's even a category called Only On Screambox that highlights scary movies not available on major streaming platforms. An English Haunting, It's Here, Mortuary Massacre, and There is No Door are some of the flicks you'll find there. 

  Screambox offers a wide selection of HD content, but some movies are capped at 720p resolution. You can watch Screambox via a web browser or download the Screambox app for mobile platforms (Android and iOS) and media streaming devices (Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku). Currently, Screambox does not offer an app for game consoles.

  Who It's For

  Screambox is a service for hard-core horror fans looking for titles they can't find anywhere else. Cult favorites, such as Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell, Satan's Slave, and The Terror of Hallow's Eve, all live on the platform.

  Specs & Configurations

  Ads
  Concurrent Streams	3
  On-Demand Movies and TV Shows
  Original Programming
  Starting Price	$6.99 per month

  Learn More Screambox Review
• Credit: Shout! Factory

  Best for Free, Schlocky Horror

  Shout! TV

  3.0 Average

  Pros & Cons

  • • Varied retro library
    • Curated live channels and events
    • Free with minimal ads
  • • Some genres are better represented than others
    • Ho-hum premium subscription
    • Lacks parental controls

  Why We Picked It

  Shout! TV is a free streaming service that covers many genres, from classic late-night talk shows to 1970s Japanese superhero dramas. However, horror is its biggest genre by far, especially the gloriously low-budget, cheesy, and schlocky horror that has filled drive-in movie theaters throughout history. You can watch Shout! TV for free using a web browser, an Apple TV, or an Android device. 

  Who It's For

  Shout! TV caters to horror fans who love schlock. Browse through the horror section to find an assortment of movies you never heard of, including And Now the Screaming Starts, Army of Frankensteins, and Attack of the Crab Monsters. The Scream Factory live channel broadcasts these movies 24/7. Shout! TV also includes Mystery Science Theater 3000 to help get the mockery started.

  Specs & Configurations

  Ads
  Anime
  Concurrent Streams	Unlimited
  On-Demand Movies and TV Shows
  Original Programming
  Starting Price	Free

  Learn More Shout! TV Review
• Best for Diverse Horror Films

  Netflix

  4.5 Outstanding

  Pros & Cons

  • • High-quality original programming
    • Excellent apps and features
    • Offline downloads on mobile
    • Free mobile games
  • • Ad-based tier doesn't include the full library
    • Little to no information about changes to content availability

  Why We Picked It

  Netflix is home to an exceptional content catalog, with new titles debuting on the platform every month. The platform's horror library features a diverse range of frightening options, from blockbuster hits to indie darlings. Netflix's catalog features titles such as His House, Insidious, and Pet Sematary Two. In addition, the lineup includes many foreign horror titles, from the Korean period zombie drama Kingdom to the modern-day Norwegian vampire series Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes. Domestic titles include Supernatural's full run (yes, all 15 seasons) and Midnight Mass.

  You can watch Netflix on the web or download its app for mobile platforms (Android and iOS), media streaming devices (Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, and Roku), and up to the latest generation of gaming consoles (PlayStation and Xbox). Netflix's higher-priced plans unlock full HD and 4K streaming and the option to download content for offline viewing on mobile devices.

  Who It's For

  Netflix is one of our overall Editors' Choice picks, making it an excellent choice if you're interested in mainstream streaming video. It serves almost all audiences, including horror fans.

  Specs & Configurations

  4K Streaming	Requires Premium Plan
  Ads
  Anime
  Audio Descriptions
  Concurrent Streams	2 or 4
  Offline Downloads on Mobile
  On-Demand Movies and TV Shows
  Original Programming
  Parental Control Tools	Profile-based or Kids Mode
  Rentals and Purchases	DVD.com (Separate Plan)
  Sports Coverage	None
  Starting Price	$8.99 per month
  Supported Platforms	Media Streaming Devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), Microsoft Store, Mobile (Android and iOS), Game Consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), Smart TVs, and Web
  Top Original Movies	Beasts of No Nation, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, Extraction, I Care A Lot, Roma, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The Irishman, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and The Two Popes
  Top Original Shows	Black Mirror, Bojack Horseman, Dead to Me, Locke and Key, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Never Have I Ever, Orange Is the New Black, Ozark, Russian Doll, Stranger Things, The Crown, The Queen's Gambit, The Stranger, The Umbrella Academy, and The Witcher

  Learn More Netflix Review
• Best for Universal's Monster Movies

  Peacock

  4.0 Excellent

  Pros & Cons

  • • Many popular movies and network shows
    • Live sports
    • Flexible plan pricing
    • Supports multiple account profiles
  • • Constantly changing movie library
    • New users can't create a free account

  Why We Picked It

  Peacock is home to Universal Classic Monsters movies, such as 1935’s Bride of Frankenstein and other movies from Hollywood’s first century, including The Mummy, Night Monster, Phantom of the Opera, and Werewolf of London. If you’re looking for more modern films, there's Blade, Child’s Play, and Knock Knock.

  If you are a Premium Plus subscriber, you can download videos for offline viewing. Up to three simultaneous streams are allowed per account. Peacock does not support 4K/HDR streaming.

  In addition to watching Peacock with your web browser, you can also download dedicated apps on mobile platforms (Android and iOS), media streaming devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, and Roku), and gaming consoles (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One). Peacock also offers support for the entire Fire TV lineup.

  Who It's For

  Peacock offers a robust, low-cost tier ($7.99 per month), making it a more affordable option than many competing services. You can upgrade to more premium tiers, but Peacock is great for viewers on a budget who still want to sample some spookiness.

  Specs & Configurations

  Ads
  Concurrent Streams	3
  DVR Storage & Retention	None
  Live TV
  MLB Playoffs Coverage	None
  Monday Night Football	None
  Offline Downloads on Mobile
  On-Demand Movies and TV Shows
  Original Programming
  RSN Coverage	None
  Sports Coverage	International & National
  Starting Price	$7.99 per month
  Sunday Football	None
  Sunday Night Football	NBC
  Thursday Night Football	None
  World Series Coverage	None

  Learn More Peacock Review
• Credit: Tubi

  Best for Free Horror Programming

  Tubi

  4.0 Excellent

  Pros & Cons

  • • Free
    • Extensive library of movies and shows
    • Live TV
    • Modern apps and interfaces
    • Supports watchlists
    • Parental control features
  • • 720p streaming resolution cap
    • Lacks an ad-free option

  Why We Picked It

  Tubi is a free, ad-supported streaming service that offers access to modern horror classics, such as Candyman, Children of the Corn, Hellraiser, Slither, The Host, The Silence of the Lambs, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. You can also watch horror-themed television programming, including Bedlam, Being Human, Dracula, Most Haunted, and The Witching Season.

  Tubi is available on the web and mobile devices (Android and iOS). As for media streaming devices, it offers apps for Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, Android TV, and TiVo. Tubi even supports gaming consoles (PlayStation and Xbox) and select smart TVs from Samsung, Sony, and Vizio.

  Who It's For

  Tubi is for viewers who don't want to pay for frights. The downsides are that Tubi's maximum streaming resolution caps at 720p, and a lot of its content doesn't even hit that limit. You also cannot download videos from the service. 

  Specs & Configurations

  Ads
  Anime
  Concurrent Streams	Unlimited
  Live TV
  On-Demand Movies and TV Shows
  Original Programming
  Starting Price	Free

  Learn More Tubi Review
• Best for Classic Horror Movies

  Hulu

  4.0 Excellent

  Pros & Cons

  • • Excellent TV series selection
    • Extensive live TV channel lineup
    • Robust unlimited cloud DVR option
    • Available on nearly every media streaming device
    • Appealing bundle deals
  • • Base plan includes ads
    • Offline downloads require a premium account
    • Missing all Bally Sports and most SportsNet RSNs

  Why We Picked It

  Hulu is the streaming service where Disney puts its movies and shows too intense for Disney+, which means it includes a lot of horror movies. This "Huluween," enjoy everything from the Hellraiser remake to bite-size Halloween shorts.

  The service offers much of its programming in HD, and some of its recent originals are available in 4K on select media streaming devices. In addition, Hulu lets premium subscribers download select TV shows and movies for offline viewing, including its original programming. 

  You can stream Hulu on the web or download Hulu's apps for mobile platforms (Android and iOS), media streaming devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), smart TVs, and game consoles (PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S).

  Who It's For

  Hulu is the place to find a healthy mix of blockbusters and indie horror flicks. You can watch anything from Academy Award-winner Parasite to the latest adaptation of Stephen King's Pet Sematary. Child's Play, It, Psycho, The Ring, and Spell are all on the service, too. Hulu originals, such as Bad Hair and False Positive, round out its horror offerings. 

  Specs & Configurations

  Ads
  Anime
  Concurrent Streams	2 or Unlimited (at home) and 3 (mobile devices)
  DVR Storage & Retention	Unlimited; 9 Months
  Live TV
  MLB Playoffs Coverage	FOX, FS1, and TBS
  Monday Night Football	ESPN
  NBA Finals	ABC
  Offline Downloads on Mobile
  On-Demand Movies and TV Shows
  Original Programming
  Regular Season National NBA Coverage	ABC, ESPN, and TNT
  Regular Season National NHL Coverage	ABC, ESPN, TBS, and TNT
  RSN Coverage	NBC Sports
  Sports Coverage	International*, National, & Regional
  Starting Price	$11.99 per month; $88.99 per month
  Sunday Football	CBS and FOX; NFL RedZone (via Add-On)
  Sunday Night Football	NBC
  Thursday Night Football	FOX and NFL Network
  World Series Coverage	FOX

  Get It Now

  Today’s Best Deal
  Learn More Hulu Review
• Best for High-Quality Horror Movies

  Amazon Prime Video

  4.0 Excellent

  Pros & Cons

  • • Excellent original content
    • 4K and HDR streaming
    • Live Thursday Night Football and WNBA games
    • Supports offline downloads, multiple viewer profiles, and audio descriptions
    • Lets you rent or buy movies and TV shows
    • Streams select movies currently in theaters
  • • Continues to lose third-party content to other services
    • Not as many high-quality TV shows as competitors

  Why We Picked It

  Just as Amazon's online store sells just about everything, its streaming service Prime Video offers just about everything, including many horror movies. Smaller filmmakers in the horror scene can't resist the enormous audience Amazon provides. Alongside streaming, users also have the option to purchase or rent movies and TV shows from the Amazon Store section. 

  Prime Video supports up to 4K streaming and lets you download content for offline viewing on mobile devices. You can watch Amazon on the web, mobile platforms (Android and iOS), game consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), smart TVs, and media streaming devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, TiVo, and Nvidia Shield).

  Who It's For

  Amazon Prime Video is for viewers who want high-quality original content in the horror category. Films such as The Neon Demon and Suspiria are two recent examples. In addition to those originals, Amazon offers an impressive number of well-known horror flicks, such as Hellraiser, Jennifer's Body, Midsommar, Secret Window, and We Need to Talk About Kevin. Prime Video also offers excellent horror shows, including American Horror Story, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Grimm, and Lore.

  Specs & Configurations

  4K Streaming	Yes
  Ads
  Anime
  Audio Descriptions
  Concurrent Streams	5
  DVR Storage & Retention	None
  Live TV
  Monday Night Football	No
  Offline Downloads on Mobile
  On-Demand Movies and TV Shows
  Original Programming
  Parental Control Tools	Device-based or Kids Mode
  Rentals and Purchases	Built-in options
  Sports Coverage	Thursday Night Football, plus National sports (via Channel add-ons)
  Starting Price	$8.99 per month
  Sunday Football	None
  Sunday Night Football	No
  Supported Platforms	Media Streaming Devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), Microsoft Store, Mobile (Android and iOS), Game Consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), Smart TVs, and Web
  Thursday Night Football	Prime Video
  Top Original Movies	Blow the Man Down, Honey Boy, Manchester by the Sea, My Spy, Troop Zero, The Aeronauts, The Big Sick, The Sound of Metal, and The Report
  Top Original Shows	Bosch, Catastrophe, Electric Dreams, Fleabag, Good Omens, Hanna, Homecoming, Hunters, Jack Ryan, Tales From The Loop, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Patriot, The Boys, Undone, Upload, and Utopia

  Get It Now

  Today’s Best Deal
  Learn More Amazon Prime Video Review
• Best for Mainstream Horror

  HBO Max

  4.0 Excellent

  Pros & Cons

  • • Huge catalog of popular shows and movies from many sources
    • Attractive apps
    • User profiles and parental control tools
    • Ad-free tier lets you download content for offline viewing
    • Live sports
    • Ultimate tier includes far more 4K content
  • • Relatively expensive
    • Ad-supported tier doesn't support offline downloads
    • Potentially dramatic library changes

  Why We Picked It

  HBO Max has a massive catalog of popular titles, including many horror movies and shows. Zombie horror movie 28 Days Later is on the service, along with Annabelle: Creation, Doctor Sleep, and The Shining.

  Most of HBO Max's content is available in 1080p, but select new titles are available in 4K and HDR (and support the Dolby Atmos and Vision standards). HBO Max supports up to four simultaneous streams. You can also download up to 30 episodes or movies from the service to watch offline.

  HBO Max is available on a web browser, and you can download the service on mobile devices (Android and iOS), media streaming devices (Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, and Fire TV), Samsung TVs, and gaming consoles through the current generation (PlayStation and Xbox).

  Who It's For

  Some of HBO Max's best horror is for viewers interested in more international terror. For example, the Spanish-language mystery horror series 30 Coins lives on this streaming site, as well as the quirky comedy-horror series Los Espookys. HBO Max's interactive "House of Halloween" homepage also helps you find specific horror subgenres, like comedies or slasher movies, and lets you quickly tell if a movie is too scary for children.

  Specs & Configurations

  4K Live Streams
  Ads
  Anime
  Concurrent Streams	4
  DVR Storage & Retention	None
  NBA Finals	TNT
  Offline Downloads on Mobile
  On-Demand Movies and TV Shows
  Original Programming
  Regular Season National NBA Coverage	TNT
  RSN Coverage	None
  Sports Coverage	NBA, NHL, US Soccer, MLB, NCAA
  Starting Price	$10.99 per month

  Learn More HBO Max Review
• Credit: Criterion

  Best for Critically Acclaimed Horror

  The Criterion Channel

  3.5 Good

  Pros & Cons

  • • On-demand streaming of curated Criterion Collection films
    • Offline downloads on mobile devices
    • No ads
    • Tons of video extras, including interviews, features, and other commentary
  • • Not all Criterion Collection movies are available for streaming
    • Lacks parental controls or user profiles
    • Some aggressive DRM and HDCP restrictions

  Why We Picked It

  The Criterion Channel is home to many classic, critically acclaimed works, including films in the horror genre. Each month, the service delivers another curated list of films to appeal to movie scholars and casual watchers alike. At the time of publishing, you can watch Diabolique, Eyes Without a Face, House, Manhunter, Onibaba, and Night of the Living Dead on The Criterion Channel. The service does not offer horror television shows.

  The Criterion Channel supports offline downloads. Streaming resolution varies depending on the source and ranges from 540p to 1080p. You can download The Criterion Channel app on Android and iOS mobile devices; streaming media platforms like Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku; and the Xbox Series X/S. The Criterion Channel does not offer a PlayStation app.

  Who It's For

  The Criterion Channel teaches you that horror movies have plenty of artistic merit as works of cinema. It's great for students of film history. Each October, Criterion typically runs horror-themed events, from Japanese horror to 1980s slashers to Stephen King adaptations.

  Specs & Configurations

  Concurrent Streams	3
  Offline Downloads on Mobile
  On-Demand Movies and TV Shows
  Starting Price	$10.99 per month

  Learn More The Criterion Channel Review