Best app for TV shows

For the past 10-15 years, streaming apps have become the go-to place for the very best television series on the planet.

While Netflix was the first streaming service then went global, others have followed in its footsteps to the point now where there are a large amount of streaming services available to people in the UK, all offering unique and brilliant TV shows.

In this article we are going to look at the three best apps currently out there for TV shows and provide some series recommendations from each one.

Best apps for TV shows – Ranked

Netflix

Where else to start other than the King of the streaming services, Netflix. Ever since taking off in the late 2000s, the streaming app has been committed to providing its customers with the best television series there is to offer.

Whether this has been through series purchased from other production companies or series produced in-house, Netflix have been pretty good at keeping up with this commitment.

Whether you are using the app via a mobile/tablet, a web browser on laptop, directly through a smart television or via your games console the app works largely the same and is very easy to navigate.

They provide you with categories to help narrow down your search and have content that lovers of every genre imaginable will be able to enjoy.

Television shows that we’d recommend on Netflix

  1. Breaking Bad – If you haven’t seen this by now, then we can only assume you’ve been living under a rock for the past decade. This five season thriller was arguably what put Netflix on the map and tells the story of a High School Chemistry Teacher who becomes a multi-millionaire, crystal-meth-making, drug overload after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. It sounds ridiculous, and it kind of is, but it truly is box office television.
  2. Stranger Things – Arguably the most successful Netflix original series of all time. This story follows a group of kids in their teens tackle supernatural forces and a government conspiracy. Season 4 drops next year.
  3. Squid Game – The Korean phenomenon that took over the world in mid 2022 is all about a young man who enters a series of games in a bid to rid him of his gambling debt. The catch? If you lose any of the games, you die.

Though Netflix isn’t great for watching live TV, it’s the best option if you want to watch new television series.

Amazon Prime

When streaming took off, it was only a matter of time before Amazon got involved and created their own platform to rival the likes of Netflix.

This service actually works very similarly to Netflix in the sense that it categorises it content well and becomes more personalised to the user the more they use the app.

One thing that Amazon does do better than Netflix is documentaries, particularly when it comes to Sport.

They have been given access all areas to a variety of top sporting clubs around the world and followed them for a period of time, giving customers a rare insight in to what goes on behind the scenes within elite level sport.

While they do currently lag behind Netflix when it comes to original drama, they will look to bridge that gap in the coming years.

Television shows that we’d recommend on Amazon Prime

  1. All or Nothing – As mentioned above, Amazon really do excel when it comes to sports documentaries. The majority of their series’ under this umbrella are titled ‘all or nothing’ and has seen them follow Manchester City, the New Zealand Rugby Union team and Tottenham Hotspur amongst others. If you’re a sports fan then these documentaries alone are almost worth the subscription fee.
  2. The Boys – A series that takes a different approach to superheroes and looks at a group of heroes who are secretly corrupt behind the scenes. In a world that has been dominated by Marvel movies over the past decade, this fresh take on the genre is much needed and well worth a watch.
  3. The Handmaid’s Tale – Based on the book of the same name, this series follows life in the dystopian world of Gilead. Although set in the future, the world feels entirely backwards due to its treatment of, and attitudes towards, women. The series follows a young Mother who is trying to escape the oppressive regime.

Disney Plus

Disney Plus has only just turned two years old, and whilst it doesn’t compare to Amazon Prime and Netflix in terms of the volume of original/exclusive TV series, it’s getting there.

Disney own two absolute giants of the entertainment world in Marvel Studios and Star Wars.

Their inclusion in this list is arguably more to do with what’s to come as it is what’s already there but the future really does look incredibly rosy for the platform with a plethora of Star Wars and Marvel original series’ premiering over the next 18 months.

Most notably, an Obi Wan Kenobi series starring Ewan McGregor as the titular character and Hayden Christensen reprising his role as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader is set to be released in the middle of 2022.

As a huge Star Wars and Marvel fan myself, I’m perhaps a little biased and if you don’t like either of these studios then honestly, there’s no point in subscribing to Disney Plus.

Television shows that we’d recommend on Disney Plus

  1. The Mandalorian – The first Star Wars show to take the plunge into live action television and it hasn’t disappointed so far. The series follows a bounty hunter making his way across the galaxy, fighting enemies, making allies and protecting something very close to him. With cameos from familiar faces in the Star Wars Universe this is an enjoyable series for those who love Star Wars and for those who previously have no interest in the saga. Season 3 has been confirmed and will be released in the next 12 months.
  2. Loki – Everyone’s favourite villain got his own Disney plus show this year and it opened up the multiverse can of worms which will take over the MCU in the coming years. Well worth a watch for anyone interested in the upcoming Spider-Man blockbuster in December.
  3. The Simpsons – Arguably the greatest animated show of all time found a new home in Disney Plus when it launched in 2019. Watch every single episode in the shows history via the platform.

Conclusion

To conclude, there are a number of fantastic apps available here in the UK if you are looking to enjoy top tier television.

If you’re trying to save some cash, then you may want to check out the best Freeview app instead or simply check the TV guide app to find out if there’s anything decent on the telly.

However, Netflix takes the crown for drama, Amazon tops the pile when it comes to documentaries and Disney Plus holds a special place in my heart due to its affiliation with Star Wars and Marvel. All things considered, subscribe to them all!

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Author

Andy

Andy is a Professional Content Editor with expertise in a whole host of areas (or so he tells us anyway). His main interests are sports, tv/film and social media. He has reviewed over 100 apps so far for Apps UK.

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