Cable TV has been the main source of entertainment for people dating back to the year 1948. Ever since then, it has grown and evolved exponentially to the point that there is hardly any home in today’s age that does not own a TV. But now, the preference of the audience has shifted from cable TV to OTT platforms, majorly in the last few years. Netflix was the game changer in this industry.

Over time, many new names have entered the market, the most popular ones being Amazon Prime and HBO Max. Although you cannot watch HBO Max in India, it’s a possibility to binge-watch its content while living in the US. Additionally, you can even access other local streaming services from India by simply using a VPN.

OTT has become such a huge industry that it has garnered around $3 billion in revenue in the year 2022.

What is OTT, you ask? Over The Top (OTT) platforms refer to media services that are offered to viewers directly via the internet. With technological advancements, faster internet speeds, and the increasing requirement for an array of media products on demand from sports to movies, OTT has replaced mainstream broadcasting in many countries and has become the main medium for screen-based entertainment.

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Listed below are the best online streaming services in India for the year 2022

1. Disney+ Hotstar:

Hotstar is owned by Start India. After Star India’s parent company, 21^st Century Fox, was acquired by Walt Disney Company, Hotstar became a subsidiary brand of it and was renamed Disney+ Hotstar. It has a subscriber base of over 50 million.

It streams IPL, which is one of the biggest sporting premier leagues in the world. On top of that, Disney+ Hotstar offers the best of both domestic and international content from Walt Disney Studios, Pixar, and Marvel Studios, among many others. They have a host of original shows as well, including Aarya, Eclipse, and Special Ops 1.5.

Subscription Plan:

Hotstar subscribers can choose from 3 tiers; mobile, super, and premium.

Mobile: Rs. 499/year. Supports only one device and offers a resolution up to 720p.
Super: Rs. 899/year. Supports two devices and offers a resolution up to 1080p.
Premium: Rs. 1499/year. Supports four devices and offers a resolution up to 4k.

2. Netflix:

Netflix is hugely popular all over the world. It was officially launched in 2016 but made its presence in India two years later, in 2018. Netflix India has a subscriber base of 5.5 million. It has a wide array of movies and shows, many of them being Netflix originals. They regularly cast many big names in the Bollywood industry, such as Saif Ali Khan, Pankaj Tripathi, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

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Subscription Plan:

Netflix subscribers get a free one-month trial, after which they can choose from 4 tiers; mobile, basic, standard, and premium.

Mobile: Rs. 149/month. Can be used only on smartphones or tablets and offers a resolution of 480p.
Basic: Rs. 199/month. Supports one screen and offers an SD resolution.
Standard: Rs. 499/month. Supports two screens simultaneously and offers a resolution of 1080p.
Premium: Rs. 649/month. Supports four screens simultaneously and offers a resolution of 4K.

3. Amazon Prime:

It is one of the highest-rated OTT platforms in India, having a subscriber base of a whopping 20 million. It has many original shows like Mirzapur, The Family Plan, and Four More Shots which were huge hits. Amazon Prime offers subtitles in multiple languages making it very user-friendly.

Subscription Plan:

Amazon Prime only has 3 subscription plans; monthly, quarterly and yearly.

Monthly: Rs. 179.
Quarterly: Rs. 459.
Yearly: Rs. 1499.

4. SonyLiv:

It has a huge collection of classic Sony serials such as Taarak Mehta ka Oolta Chashmah and CID. The shows we all grew up watching. With about 18 million paid user subscribers and 70 million active user subscriptions, it has everything from SonyLiv originals to Live Sports. You can also learn about keeping your online presence safe while streaming your favourite content.

Subscription Plan:

SonyLiv has 4 subscription plans; monthly, biannual, yearly, and WWE Network plan.

Monthly: Rs. 299.
Biannual: Rs. 699.
Yearly: Rs. 999.
WWE Network: Rs. 299/year.

5. Aha:

Although it was only founded in 2020, with the growing Telugu cinema, it quickly gained popularity in the country. It is the hub for all Telugu content, be it movies or shows.

Subscription Plan:

Aha subscription plans are very affordable and consist of a 3-month and an annual plan..

Quarterly: Rs. 199.
Yearly: Rs. 399.

6. Zee5:

It is an OTT platform launched by the Zee Channel. It is definitely in the top most famous in the country because it offers original content as well as music videos, regional shows from Zee Channel, and movies.

Subscription Plan:

The Zee5 subscription plan consists of two variations in the premium pack.

Quarterly: Rs. 299. Provides access to 2 screens.
Yearly: Rs. 499. Provides access to 3 screens.

7. Voot:

For fans of MTV shows like Roadies, Splitsvilla, etc, Voot is the go-to. It is a part of Viacom18 Digital Ventures. Users with a premium subscription have access to live channels, ad-free content, and 24 hours early premier of MTV and Color shows.