Starz vs. Showtime: Which Amazon Prime Add-On Is the One for You?

Last week, Amazon unveiled a series of over-the-top streaming options for Prime subscribers which allows for additional access to programming from Showtime and Starz. For an additional $8.99/month per network, Prime members will be able to watch original programming, movies, and specials from the pay-cable networks.

So the question then became: is it worth it? The thing about a-la-carte streaming options has always been that while one service is a bargain, the accumulation of multiple services — Netflix + Hulu + Amazon + add-ons — adds up. Is shelling out extra for this premium programming worth it? And if you’re only looking to spring for one $8.99 subscription, should you spring for Starz or Showtime? Allow us to help you decide with our handy decision tree!

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Some findings:

• If you’re in this for the original series — and both Showtime and Starz have plenty of original series to make it worth it — it’s mostly a matter of what you’re in the mood for.
• Do you like shows with strong female characters set in Manhattan? Flesh and Bone says go with Starz. If you’d rather your strong women on Long Island or in, say, Germany, Showtime has The Affair and Homeland for you.
• If you’re into shows about men that are no fun? Showtime’s Ray Donovan. (If you are looking for some fun, there’s always Ash vs. Evil Dead on Starz.)
• Showtime’s your spot if you’re into shows with explicit sex scenes, with everything from Penny Dreadful to Masters of Sex and Shameless; if you want explicit sex in a period setting with a nod to romance, Starz will scratch that itch with Outlander.
• Both subscriptions offer access to the respective channels’ older series. This means more for a Showtime subscription, because Showtime has been making original programming for a lot longer. That said, if you’re already a Netflix member, you already have streaming access to all of Showtime’s old series, from Dexter to Weeds to Nurse Jackie to Queer As Folk. On the flip side, Starz only has a handful of old shows to offer, but one of those shows is Party Down, a series that was once available on Netflix but hasn’t been for years, and I for one have been missing it hardcore.
• In addition, Starz offers some deep cuts on TV series that weren’t Starz originals. So if you’re in the mood for some Magnum P.I. or Diff’rent Strokes, Starz is your pick.
• The movie offerings are where Starz really surges ahead. It’s just no comparison: Starz has a roster of better, bigger movies than Showtime does. The big ones at the moment: Guardians of the Galaxy, Big Hero 6, Whiplash, Foxcatcher, 22 Jump Street, Still Alice …
• Even if the volume of movies is comparable, or even in Showtime’s favor, Starz just has the better selection. You know this if you’ve ever been a Showtime subscriber for TV. At some point, you’ve watched the three good movies they’re running that month (Boyhood, Silence of the Lambs and Pulp Fiction this month!), and you’re left unhappily scrolling past poorly reviewed filler like Sin City: A Dame to Kill For and Need for Speed.
• Certain directors show up more often on certain networks. Starz has the edge if you’re into Scorsese or James Cameron or John Carpenter. Showtime’s cornered the market on Richard Linklater. They’ve split up the Wes Anderson movies (Royal Tenenbaums and Bottle Rocket on Starz; The Life Aquatic and Rushmore on Showtime).
• Showtime is definitely where it’s at if you’re looking for anything beyond series and movies. Like, for example, sports. Showtime’s subscription includes a bunch of sports documentary programming as well as boxing and stand-up comedy specials, neither of which you’re going to get on Starz.

Of course, you could always just subscribe to both. Then you don’t have to miss anything ever again! Outlander AND Homeland could be yours at last. But if you’re feeling picky and just want the one, we hope this decision tree has helped make your decision a bit easier.