India has more streaming services than most people have patience for. Netflix, Prime Video, JioHotstar, Sony LIV and Zee5 all want a monthly subscription, and very few households want to pay for all five. So which one should you choose?

This guide compares them by what matters most: what you can actually watch on each. We have left out prices on purpose. Plans, bundles and offers change so often in India that any figure would be out of date within weeks, so check the current plans on each service before you subscribe.

One more thing to know: catalogues move. Films and shows arrive and leave, and deals differ by region. Every title page on Cinearium shows live, region-specific availability, so use that as the final check.

The short answer

  • Best for international series and films: Netflix
  • Best all-rounder for Indian films and series: Prime Video
  • Best for sport, Disney and Hollywood franchises: JioHotstar
  • Best for grounded Indian dramas: Sony LIV
  • Best for regional films and Zee TV shows: Zee5

Now the details.

Netflix: the global library

Netflix is the strongest choice if you watch widely beyond India. Its international catalogue is the deepest of the five, from Korean dramas and Squid Game to Spanish thrillers and animated series like Arcane.

It also made some of India’s defining streaming originals. Sacred Games was its first Indian original series, and Delhi Crime won an International Emmy. Kota Factory and the YRF-produced The Railway Men are among its most-loved Indian titles. Many Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films also land on Netflix after their theatrical run.

Choose it if: you want the widest mix of international content alongside a solid set of Indian originals.

See what is streaming: Netflix on Cinearium

Prime Video: the Indian all-rounder

Prime Video has arguably the strongest line-up of Indian original series. Panchayat, Mirzapur, The Family Man and Paatal Lok all come from here, alongside shows like Made in Heaven, Farzi and Dahaad. It also has a very large library of Indian films across languages, including many recent theatrical releases.

Its international selection is decent but less deep than Netflix. A practical plus: in India, Prime Video is included with an Amazon Prime membership, which many households already have for shopping.

Choose it if: Indian series and films are your main diet, especially if you already have Amazon Prime.

See what is streaming: Prime Video on Cinearium

JioHotstar: sport, Disney and big franchises

JioHotstar was formed in 2025 when JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar merged. It is the home of Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars in India, carries shows from the Star network, and has streamed HBO series in India. It is also the service most people think of for live cricket, including the IPL, though sports rights are renegotiated from time to time.

Its Indian originals include Aarya, Special Ops, Criminal Justice and the Malayalam series Kerala Crime Files.

Choose it if: you follow cricket, have kids who love Disney and Pixar, or want big Hollywood franchises.

See what is streaming: JioHotstar on Cinearium

Sony LIV: grounded Indian drama

Sony LIV has a smaller catalogue but an excellent record with Indian originals. Scam 1992 is one of the most acclaimed Indian series ever made. Rocket Boys, Maharani and Gullak show its range, from period drama to politics to gentle family comedy. It also carries Sony TV shows and a growing selection of regional films.

Choose it if: you care more about a few very well-made Indian series than about a huge library.

See what is streaming: Sony LIV on Cinearium

Zee5: regional films and TV

Zee5 is strongest for viewers who follow Zee TV serials and regional cinema. Its film library spans Hindi as well as Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, and it often gets digital premieres of regional releases. Its originals have been more uneven than those on Sony LIV or Prime Video, but it is good value if its TV shows and regional films are what your family watches.

Choose it if: your household watches Zee TV shows or regional-language films more than international content.

See what is streaming: Zee5 on Cinearium

How to choose (and save money)

  1. Start with what you actually watch. Look at the last five things you enjoyed and check where they stream. That tells you more than any comparison.
  2. Rotate instead of stacking. Most services are monthly. Subscribe to one, binge what you wanted, cancel and switch. You do not need all five at once.
  3. Check bundles. Mobile, broadband and DTH plans in India often include one or more of these services. You may already have access without knowing it.
  4. Watch the timing. Big series finales, cricket seasons and major film premieres are good moments to subscribe. Quiet months are good moments to pause.

Where to go next

Our 50 Best Indian Web Series guide ranks the best originals across all these services, and New OTT Movie Releases in India tracks what has just arrived, refreshed every week. To browse any platform’s catalogue for your region, start at Streaming.