Which Streaming Service Is Winning (And Losing) 2023… So Far?

We’re only halfway through 2023, but with major rebrands, price increases, unexpected series cancellations, disappearing content, and more, streaming services have already taken subscribers on a wild ride.

Sure, the year has given us a number of groundbreaking Emmy-nominated originals, convenient network collaborations and live TV options, and a standout non-subscription, ad-supported streamer that created Decider’s favorite show of the year so far. But looking back on the first six months of 2023, streamers have also caused a whole lot of chaos.

In addition to a deluge of television and films at our fingertips, we watched HBO Max merge with Discovery+ and drop the “HBO,” just like it dropped a number of beloved series from its streaming library to cut costs. We saw Netflix’s password policing tear families apart. We looked on in pain as some of our favorite series were canceled without warning. And with writers and actors on strike in the long-overdue fight for fair pay, working conditions, and future protections, 2023 is shaping up to be one of the most contentious years for streaming yet.

As the streaming wars wage on and platforms continue to change (for better or worse), we asked Decider’s writers which streaming services are winning — and losing — 2023 so far. After each writer weighed in, we shared the verdict on each platform below, as well as some overall thoughts on the winners and losers.

Behold: Team Decider’s favorite (and least favorite) streaming services of the year.

• Samantha Nungesser, News Reporter

  Which service won the year so far?: Peacock

  As a Bravo-enthusiast, Peacock holds a special place in my heart. Not only does it drop new episodes the day after they premiere, but it also holds exclusive content — like the uncensored, extended versions of the Vanderpump Rules Season 10 reunion. Not to mention, The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip premieres on Peacock long before it goes to network television. So for someone like myself, who can’t get enough of shows like The Real Housewives of New Jersey and Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake, Peacock is my go-to streaming platform. Plus, it’s home to plenty of scripted content like Kaley Cuoco’s Based on a True Story and Natasha Lyonne’s Poker Face.

  What to Watch on Peacock: Vanderpump Rules, The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake, Based on a True Story, and Poker Face

  Which service lost the year so far?: Paramount+

  Paramount+ comes in last place on my list. While it holds one of my favorite daytime talk shows — The Drew Barrymore Show — I never find myself needing to use the platform for much more than that. 

• Alex Zalben, Managing Editor

  Which service won the year so far?: Apple TV+

  This is a tough call, but I’m going to give it to Apple TV+. While other streamers are scrambling to rebrand, juggle around confusing ad tiers, and disappearing shows left and right, Apple TV+ is over here still doing its thing. And while not every show is a runaway hit, the service’s focused cadence of releases means you always have something to watch, but not too much to watch; and what’s being released is usually pretty good – if not great. The comedies in particular have been consistent stand-outs of Apple TV+, built partially around the massive success of Ted Lasso. But post-Severance they’re starting to figure out their drama strategy, too. Turns out, creating a reliable brand identity not built on flooding the zone with unrelenting waves of garbage, and instead focusing on an experience that surfaces quality work is important? Huh! Who knew?

  What to Watch on Apple TV+: Shrinking, Platonic, Silo, The Afterparty (Season 2)

  Which service lost the year so far?: Max

  The change from HBO Max to Max has been a net negative. Critically, due to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav seemingly walking through a yard full of rakes on a daily basis. And from a consumer perspective thanks to the bungled roll-out that saw millions of users unsure how to transfer their account from HBO Max to Max, or even unaware that the “new” service was not actually new. Plus, adding in Discovery content has led to less, er, discovery thanks to a now unfocused browsing experience that throws home reno shows on the same level as HBO content. Max still does have those buzzy HBO shows, mind you, but all of these stumbles took Max from a service that was a critical darling six months ago to one that has some serious catching up to do.

• Josh Sorokach, Senior Reporter

  Which service won the year so far?: Max

  I’m going with HBO Max. Look, was it a perfect year for the streamer? No. Especially when you factor in that it technically no longer exists in the United States. But that’s a real glass-half-empty perspective, ya know? You can still stream it in select European countries?! What more do you monsters want!? 

  HBO Max (now just known as Max) is the home of four of my top ten favorite shows of 2023 (Succession, The Last of Us, Barry, The Other Two) and is still a must-visit destination for exceptional legacy content (Curb, The Sopranos, The Wire). Do I agree with the decision to drop “HBO” from the title? LOL. No. No, I don’t. But when it comes to quality programming (and a truly staggering amount of well-deserved Emmy love), Max, by any name, is my favorite streamer of 2023.

  What to Watch on Max: Succession, The Last of Us, Barry, The Other Two

  Which service lost the year so far?: Quibi

  I gotta go with Quibi. I feel like they haven’t released a new show in months!

• Alex Vena, News Reporter

  Which service won the year so far?: Hulu

  For me, Hulu immediately comes to mind. If it weren’t for Hulu, I wouldn’t have been able to stay up to date on the final season of A Million Little Things, while also discovering the classic How I Met Your Mother and then directly proceeding to binge its spinoff How I Met Your Father. Hulu provides a nice balance of new hit favorites like the latter and The Bear (thanks to its collab with FX), while offering a solid collection of oldies and access to next-day streaming of ABC originals. However, I must acknowledge that a close second for me has to be Max, primarily due to the Sex and the City spin-off And Just Like That….

  What to Watch on Hulu: A Million Little Things, The Bear, How I Met Your Father

  Which service lost the year so far?: Prime Video and Paramount+

  Although I do not have much experience with Prime Video, I never hear as much buzz surrounding it as I do its competitors. While I have heard it’s home to popular series like Jack Ryan, I have never been too intrigued by the platform, but I may have to check it out now that Asteroid City is being released there. I feel the same about Paramount+, which despite drawing me in with the iCarly spinoff and the canceled Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies series, never convinced me to purchase a subscription.

• Anna Menta, Senior Film Reporter

  Which service won the year so far?: Amazon Freevee

  If you’d told me at this time last year that my favorite streaming service of 2023 (so far) would be Freevee, I would have laughed in your face. Mostly because it’s a pretty funny name for a streaming service. Free-vee. Teehee! But, seriously, Amazon’s free, ad-supported streaming service is having a moment, and it’s all thanks to their brilliant new comedy Jury Duty. I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve now personally walked through someone not only what Freevee is, but how to access it, all in the name of forcing friends and family to watch regular-non-actor-guy Ronald Gladden endure the most bizarre jury duty of all time. Getting me to use a new streamer in the year 2023 is nothing short of a miracle. Also—it’s free. In the 2023 economy, that’s crucial. As studios are bleeding money thanks to the profit-less Netflix model, Freevee is paving the way for non-subscription, ad-supported streamers to win big.

  What to Watch on Amazon Freevee: Jury Duty (That’s it, that’s the list—but it’s more than enough.)

  Which service lost the year so far?: Netflix

  I’m going to be boring and go with the obvious choice: Netflix. From the extremely unpopular crackdown on password sharing to the deluge of less-than-inspired original content, it’s getting harder and harder for subscribers to justify that $15-a-month price tag. Also, you can thank Netflix’s “disruption” of the film and TV industry for the current writer’s strike. Pay your writers residuals, already!

• Karen Kemmerle, Director of Social Media

  Which service won the year so far?: Peacock

  As a Bravoholic, TV junkie, and movie fan, Peacock gives me all that my heart desires and more. From its extended and uncensored versions of the explosive three-part Vanderpump Rules finale to its stellar original programming (Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, Traitors, Bel-Air, Killing It, etc.) to its smart theatrical windowing model, NBC Universal’s streaming service continues to elevate what subscribers can expect from a  streaming platform. With his vast library of modern (The Office) and vintage (Columbo) TV classics to boot, there’s simply something for everyone on Peacock. 

  What to Watch on Peacock: Vanderpump Rules, Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, Traitors, Bel-Air, Killing It

  Which service lost the year so far?: Netflix

  The only things that keep me subscribed to Netflix are my job, water cooler conversation, and Selling Sunset. I mean, why am I paying 15 bucks a month to lose precious brain cells watching whatever new Happy Madison project they’ve cheaply cobbled together as so-called entertainment? I expect better from the Sand Man and the once-prominent streaming pioneer service. While their growing library of foreign titles is impressive, the platform seems to be buying all these movies and shows with no real strategy, praying for another unexpected mega-hit like Squid Game.

• Meghan O’Keefe, Senior Critic

  Which service won the year so far?: Peacock

  To my eternal shock and awe, whenever I wanted to watch a major live event this year — be it the World Cup, Wrestlemania, or Eurovision — it could be found live on Peacock. In addition to an increasingly robust library of originals and classics, Peacock has stealthily established itself as one of the best streaming hubs for live sports. The struggles of buffering livestreams of Olympics past are no more. The service has figured out those kinks. Plus, it’s also the home to classic and contemporary Bravo hits, NBC faves like Parks & Rec, and groundbreaking originals like Paul T. Goldman. Peacock has earned its strut.

  What to Watch on Peacock: Live Sports (World Cup, Olympics), Eurovision, WWE PPVs, Poker Face, classic Bravo titles like Project Runway; Top Chef; and Real Housewives, Vanderpump Rules reunion specials.

  Which service lost the year so far?: Netflix

  While I was sorely tempted to razz on Max for its incomprehensible interface and cruel cancellations, I have to admit that HBO’s consistently excellent content is enough to keep me loyal. Netflix, on the other hand, has a quality control issue. As rival platforms steal back the rights to library titles and more and more fan faves get the axe, Netflix feels like an afterthought on my streaming menu. If I didn’t need to cover Netflix shows for a living, I wouldn’t have much use for the service outside of a handful of tentpoles I may or may not want to tune in for. That, plus the price increases and password lockdowns are making Netflix slip in my esteem.

• Brett White, Senior Reporter

  Which service won the year so far?: WOW Presents Plus

  The streaming service that Drag Race built, WOW Presents Plus, has enjoyed a sickening 2023 so far thanks almost exclusively to the international Drag Race franchises. I’ve been stunned by all of them, as they’ve all served stunts and gags that equal the mother franchise. Add returning seasons of the iconic UNHhhh and Alyssa’s Secret and WOW Presents Plus is maybe the only streaming service that hasn’t let me down this year.

  What to Watch on WOW Presents Plus: Drag Race Mexico, Drag Race France, Drag Race España, UNHhhh

  Which service lost the year so far?: Max

  The real answer is any streaming service that cut original content out of existence in order to get a tax break. I will never understand how this isn’t the equivalent of filing for home insurance while standing in front of your burning house, jug of gasoline still in hand. But specifically, HBO Max — excuse me, Max — blinking Legendary out of existence, taking with it the best examples of queer and trans-POC excellence on streaming at this moment in time? Not a good look.

• Angela Tricarico, Commerce Reporter

  Which service won the year so far?: Max and Apple TV+

  With Max carrying HBO’s Sunday night slates, there’s rarely been a miss in the bunch this year — we started with The Last of Us, had quite a few final season Succession/Barry double-headers, caught up with 100 Foot Wave, and jumped into The Idol, whether we liked it or not. And that’s all in addition to the noteworthy Max originals to have dropped in the past six months: The Other Two (which is, for my money, the funniest show on TV), Love and Death, And Just Like That…, and more. Despite the Discovery+/HBO Max merger, the service manages to stay in the conversation simply because the quality of content they’re cranking out is the kind that starts conversations. (Though, I’m interested to see where this service goes considering a significant amount of the shows I mentioned above were either limited series or aired series finales this year.)

  Apple TV+ has been growing steadily since its launch, and if 2022 is when the service really hit its stride, 2023 so far has been a continuation of that momentum. Their dramas can be hit or miss, with Silo emerging as the biggest hit of 2023. But historically, the service has produced really strong, engaging dramas like The Morning Show, Severance, and Bad Sisters. But it’s their comedy slate that had me firing up Apple TV+ so often this year. Between returning shows Ted Lasso, The Afterparty and Schmigadoon!, and new gems like Shrinking, The Big Door Prize, and Platonic, it’s safe to say that Apple TV+ might be a new go-to for comedy lovers everywhere. Add in original movies and documentaries like Tetris and Still: A Michael J. Fox Film, and Apple TV+ has a working recipe for success that’ll cost you less monthly than most other services.

  What to Watch:

  • Apple TV+: Shrinking, Schmigadoon!, The Big Door Prize, Tetris
  • Max: The Other Two, The Righteous Gemstones, Rock Hudson: All that Heaven Allowed, Barry

  Which service lost the year so far?: Netflix

  There’s really not much that can get me to open Netflix anymore, in terms of things they’ve released so far in 2023. Between a weaker 2023 slate than a lot of the other streaming giants, the fact that most Netflix originals won’t live longer than 3 or 4 seasons, and the password-sharing crackdown which led to many subscribers paying more every month or canceling their subscriptions altogether (I’m in the first camp, as my Netflix is shared with family members who don’t live with me). I’m sure this all might change when Heartstopper Season 2 drops in a few weeks, but right now? I’m not impressed. I pretty much only find myself heading over to Netflix when I want to watch a show from years ago that they canceled too soon (R.I.P Santa Clarita Diet — you were ahead of your time).

• Raven Brunner, Reporter

  Which service won the year so far?: Hulu

  If The Bear is the show of the summer, then Hulu is its streaming counterpart. The streamer has consistently offered a hearty catalog of movies and shows through its original programming and deals with studios. The Bear, Fleishman Is In Trouble and Tiny Beautiful Things – all of which are Emmy nominated this year – remain standout originals, and its next-day streaming partnerships with Fox and ABC add to the onslaught of entertaining watches with shows like Bob’s Burgers and Abbott Elementary. From nail-biting documentaries to heartbreaking dramas to laugh-out-loud animation series, Hulu has a lot to offer.

  What to Watch on Hulu: The Bear, Tiny Beautiful Things, Fleishman Is In Trouble, Bob’s Burgers

  Which service lost the year so far?: Netflix

  Netflix truly lost its cool this year. Once praised for being a pioneer in the streaming industry, the streamer has epically fallen from grace. Not only has it been a crucial factor in the ongoing Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes, but it also turned off viewers by enacting a strict password-sharing protocol. While Netflix houses a few fan-favorite shows like Never Have I Ever, I Think You Should Leave and Heartstopper, many of its programs are forgettable and unchallenging – and, if you do find yourself in awe of an original release, chances are it’ll be canceled within the next few months.

• Nicole Gallucci, Senior Reporter

  Which service won the year so far?: Apple TV+, Hulu, and Amazon Freevee

  What can I say? I love TV! Though some of my favorite shows of 2023 (The Other Two, Barry, Succession, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) were on Max and Prime Video, they all wrapped their final seasons, and I’m judging my winning streaming service based on new or continuing shows. When I look back on the year so far, Apple TV+, Hulu, and Amazon Freevee filled me with the most joy. Fresh off 54 Emmy nominations, Apple TV+ gave us comedic and dramatic gems this year with Shrinking, Ted Lasso, The Big Door Prize, Silo, and Hijack. The platform values originality, doesn’t overwhelm with contest or waste resources, and features a compelling mix of fresh talent alongside some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

  With a library stacked with hits like Severance, Bad Sisters, Slow Horses, Trying, The Morning Show, The Afterparty, and more, Apple TV+ is easily the streaming apple of my eye. Hulu had another iconic start to the year (and summer) thanks to original programming, ABC and FOX next-day streaming, and FX exclusives like The Bear, Decider’s second-best show of the year so far. That brings me to Amazon Freevee, the 2023 underdog and surprising home of Decider’s top show of 2023’s first half: Jury Duty. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Freevee hit the streaming jackpot this year.

  What to Watch:

  • Apple TV+: Shrinking, Ted Lasso, The Big Door Prize, Silo, Hijack
  • Hulu: The Bear, Abbott Elementary, How I Met Your Father, A Million Little Things, The Company You Keep, 9-1-1
  • Amazon Freevee: Jury Duty, baby!

  Which service lost the year so far?: Disney+

  Sorry to Disney+, but when writing this article I realized it was the only major streaming service I haven’t used to watch a single new show or movie this year. That’s not to say Disney+ hasn’t delivered new content (The Mandalorian, American Born Chinese, Secret Invasion) for subscribers — just that my attention has been elsewhere. Thus Disney+ doesn’t make my 2023 so far cut. But who’s to say that can’t change over the next six months?

• The Verdicts

  Decider’s staff has spoken, and with five votes against it, Netflix was crowned our biggest loser of 2023 (so far). In second place were Max and Paramount+ with two votes each. And tied as Decider’s big winners were Hulu, Apple TV+, and Peacock with three best of (so far) votes each. Though I’d be remiss not to note that Amazon Freevee came in second place with two votes. (Good for you, Freevee!) If you’re in the market for a new streaming subscription — or looking to drop a platform or two — here are the factors to consider halfway through the year.

  Apple TV+: Winner

  Despite Apple raising its monthly subscription to $6.99 in 2022, it’s still one of the best deals you can get, especially considering the quality collection of unique award-winning shows and films it offers. (It’s also worth noting that Apple still offers customers who purchase an Apple device three free months of Apple TV+, which is a phenomenal opportunity to test-drive the platform.) New series like Shrinking prove the streamer continues to crush the comedy game, while Severance and Silo signal an extremely promising future for Apple TV+ dramas. And with reports that Apple plans to spend $1 billion a year on theatrical releases — with highly-anticipated films like Napoleon and Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon — Apple Original Films could end up changing the game.

  Amazon Freevee: Winner

  In one of the biggest streaming surprises of the year, Amazon Freevee, formerly IMDb TV, earned its first four Emmy nominations thanks to Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky’s hit reality mockumentary mashup series, Jury Duty. Watching a free, ad-supported service deliver such a remarkable, groundbreaking series really put Freevee on the map. There’s no doubt the streamer is making (yet another) name for itself in 2023, and we sincerely hope more smash hits are in Freevee’s future.

  Disney+: Loser

  Disney+ remains a favored option for families and Marvel fans, and on top of convenient package deals it has a beloved backlog of classic films and series. But like Max, Disney+ is guilty of disappearing content and reportedly took a $1.5 billion tax write down after removing more than 70 projects on Disney+ and Hulu. On top of all that, instead of bargaining in good faith and proposing solutions to that “groundbreaking” — er, mortifying — AI proposal, Disney CEO Bob Iger recently said writers and actors on strike are “not being realistic” in their expectations. OK, sir!

  Hulu: Winner

  Hulu had the show of the summer for a second year straight thanks to its brilliant collab with FX, which — in addition to The Bear — gave us other 2023 series like Class of ’09, Great Expectations, and more. However, with How I Met Your Father, The Kardashians, The Great, Tiny Beautiful Things, and more, it’s clear the streamer can still make its own magic. Hulu remains a must-have platform for many looking for access to 20th Century movies, Live TV, ESPN+, or next-day network TV streaming shows like FOX and ABC hits. The streamer’s ties to Disney add an air of uncertainty to its future, but with new seasons of popular series like Only Murders In The Building, Nine Perfect Strangers, and Tell Me Lies on the way the future looks bright.

  Max: Loser

  On top of a nonsensical name change, incomprehensible interface, and added Discovery content, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav also opted to remove a significant amount of content from the platform for a tax cut. With 127 Emmy nominations, HBO and Max are still flying high content-wise, but three fan-favorite prestige series — Succession, Barry, and The Other Two — all concluded this year, only for us to get  The Weeknd and Sam Levinson’s controversial series The Idol. So will Max be able to turn things around in the future, stay at the top of its game, and draw that coveted Sunday night crowd? Stay tuned!

  Netflix: Loser

  Netflix just earned 103 Emmy nominations, yet the consensus at Decider seems to be that the platform’s crackdown on password sharing, price increases, apparent embrace of quantity over quality, loose grip on top library titles like New Girl (which moved to Hulu this year in yet another win for Hulu!), and swift canceling of fan-favorite shows are all signs that it’s losing 2023. Add in the fact that Netflix has been a crucial factor in the ongoing Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and it couldn’t be clearer that the streamer has serious work to do this year.

  Paramount+: Loser

  Paramount+ did deliver some compelling original series in 2023 (including Criminal Minds: Evolution and Fatal Attraction) but when compared with the fierce, rapidly evolving competition, it continues to fall short. If Paramount+ were able to stream Yellowstone, perhaps that’d be a game-changer. But alas, it’s too big of an ask for a network’s biggest show to be streaming on its own platform.

  Peacock: Winner

  For reality TV enthusiasts, NBC diehards, sports fans, and live event lovers, Peacock is the must-have streaming service in 2023. The library is extensive, with popular sitcoms like The Office and classics like Columbo, it’s a hub for all things Bravo, and much like Freevee, Peacock hit the streaming jackpot with one of 2023’s best shows, Poker Face. The verdict seems to be there’s something for everyone on Peacock. And when you’re picking and choosing from an overwhelming number of platforms, that simple fact goes a long way.

  Prime Video: Loser

  Prime Video just snagged 42 Emmy nominations for two of its platform-defining series — The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan — that both wrapped in 2023. But aside from Swarm, the streamer hasn’t made much noise this year — especially when compared to 2023’s gem, Amazon Freevee. With recently premiered series like I’m A Virgo, The Horrors of Dolores Roach, and The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 there’s still half a year to change our minds, though!