Best Streaming Services in Singapore 2023: Netflix vs Disney Plus vs Prime Video vs HBO vs Viu & More
Netflix and chill?
Jokes aside, video streaming services have become so integrated into our lives today that it has made traditional TV obsolete. It’s even gotten to the point where people have made Netflix into a verb, just like when we “Google” something on the web.
These days, however, there are plenty of streaming services available in Singapore and plenty more amazing series/titles like Squid games, the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe, Attack on Titan, and so on.
So, which is the best video streaming service right now?
And more importantly, are there any free trials?
TL;DR: Best Streaming Services and Their Fees in Singapore 2023
Streaming services have wisened up recently and have begun cracking down on password sharing in 2023 starting with Netflix. There are also many titles that are exclusive to a specific streaming service. So if you’re a fan of Marvel, for example, you don’t really have much of a choice but sign up for Disney+.
That said, streaming services allow us to pick and choose what we want rather than the old cable TV subscription which made us pay for everything even if we didn’t use them!
So here are all the major streaming services and their fees in Singapore, as well as some notable series/titles to help you with your decision (click to jump):
| Video Streaming Service | Basic Subscription Fee (Monthly) | Free Trial? | Notable series | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | $12.98 | None | Squid Game, Stranger Things, Wednesday | Netflix Originals, popular movies and shows |
| Prime Video | $2.99 | 30 days | The Office, Top Gun, Jack Ryan | Amazon Originals, popular movies and shows |
| Apple TV+ | $6.99 | 7 days | Oprah’s Book Club, The Morning Show, The Last Thing He Told Me | Apple Originals with new shows and movies every month |
| Crunchyroll | $5.49 | 14 days | Demon Slayer, Attack On Titan, Naruto | Anime |
| Disney+ | $11.98 | None | Star Wars, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Disney series | Disney shows Marvel movies Pixar movies Star Wars movies 20th Century Fox movies |
| hayu | $4.99 | 7 days | Keeping Up With The Kardashians, The Real Housewives, Top Chef | Live telecast of Reality TV shows |
| HBO GO | $13.98 | None | Game of Thrones, Watchmen, The Last Of Us | HBO HBO Family HBO Hits HBO Signature HBO Originals Red |
| iQiyi | $6.98 (with ads) $10.98 (no ads) | 1 month with Starhub TV+ | With You, Legend of Awakening, Sword Art Online | Chinese and Korean drama series, anime, blockblusters, variety shows and iQiyi originals |
| meWATCH Prime | $9.90 | None | The Little Nonya, Holland V, The Price of Peace | Watching Mediacorp dramas in advance |
| Viu Premium | $8.98 | Up to 3 months free trial with Singtel CAST | Descendants of the Sun, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo, Hotel Del Luna | Korean & Chinese dramas & variety shows |
| Video Streaming Service Consolidation | ||||
| Singtel TV GO Plan 1 | $6.97 | None | - | 120 live channels and 40 catch-up channels including Discovery, HBO, Fox, KBS World, and tvN |
| Singtel CAST | $13.98 (HBO GO) $12.98 (Netflix) $5.90 (Viu Premium) | None | - | Consolidating streaming subscriptions all into one app |
| StarHub TV+ | $5.04 | None | - | Latest Asian dramas and variety programmes Hong Kong movies starring all-time favourite actors BBC First dramas with high production value |
Jump to:
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to charge the subscription fee to your credit card to maximise your spending!
Netflix
Netflix is the video streaming service that pretty much made free-to-air TV obsolete.
And it’s not surprising given their diverse catalogue of award-winning TV series, movies, dramas, and Netflix Originals like Squid Game, Stranger Things, and Wednesday.
Netflix Subscription Fees in Singapore
| Netflix Subscription | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix Basic (Monthly) | $12.98 | Unlimited ad-free movies, TV shows, and mobile games Watch on 1 supported device at a time Watch in HD Download on 1 supported device at a time |
| Netflix Standard (Monthly) | $17.48 | Unlimited ad-free movies, TV shows, and mobile games Watch on 2 supported devices at a time Watch in Full HD Download on 2 supported devices at a time Option to add 1 extra member who doesn't live with you |
| Netflix Premium (Monthly) | $21.98 | Unlimited ad-free movies, TV shows, and mobile games Watch on 4 supported devices at a time Watch in Ultra HD Download on 6 supported devices at a time Option to add up to 2 extra members who don't live with you Netflix spatial audio |
Recently, Netflix has started cracking down on household password sharing. This means that only “Netflix Family” users who are using the same internet connection will be able to access the account.
In other words, if you have set your home WIFI network as the main connection for your Netflix account, you cannot go outside and use your mobile data for example to watch Netflix.
Those who wish to use Netflix on a different internet connection will have to pay for an extra member slot at $6.98 each per month unless they have a Netflix Standard or Premium subscription which includes extra member slots.
How to Get Netflix for Free
Unfortunately, there’s no legal way to watch Netflix for free and their free trial feature has been discontinued since 2020.
Prime Video
At $2.99 a month, Amazon’s Prime Video is the cheapest video streaming subscription in this list.
So I guess you can’t really complain if Prime Video does not offer as many TV shows and movies as say… Netflix does.
However, you’ll still find a healthy library of Amazon Originals like The Grand Tour, The Man in the High Castle, The Expanse, and Jack Ryan.
There are also some classics like The Office and Top Gun as well.
Prime Video Subscription Fees in Singapore
| Amazon Prime Video Subscription | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Prime (Monthly) | $2.99 | Exclusive Amazon Originals, popular movies and shows |
When you sign up for Amazon Prime Video, you’ll essentially have an Amazon Prime subscription which entitles you to free international delivery on Amazon.sg, 2 hours delivery from Amazon Fresh for groceries, and a Prime gaming subscription that gives you free games and in-game loot and more!
This is the best bang-for-buck subscription service if you use Amazon.
How to Get Amazon Prime Video for Free
While there is an easily accessible 30-day free trial for new users, make sure to check around for other deals too! In my case, I got a free one-year Amazon Prime membership with a home broadband promotion with Singtel.
If you sign up for any StarHub TV+ pass, you’ll also get three months of Amazon Prime for free!
Apple TV+
Apple TV+ may have a much smaller library compared to the big players, however, it packs a punch when it comes to high-quality streaming
Some notable Apple Originals include Oprah’s Book Club, The Morning Show (starring Jennifer Aniston), and The Last Thing He Told Me.
Apple TV+ Subscription Fees in Singapore
| Apple TV+ Subscription | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Apple TV+ (Monthly) | $6.99 | Stream Apple Originals with new shows and movies every month |
How to Get Apple TV+ for Free
If you buy a new Apple device, you can get a three-month subscription of Apple TV+.
You just need to activate the subscription after setting up your device.
Other than that, the other way is to get a free seven-day trial, after which you have to pay $6.99 to continue your subscription.
Pro Tip: to save big, you can share the monthly subscription of $6.99 between five different family members or friends — each with their own unique Apple IDs — through Family Sharing.
Crunchyroll
Love anime like Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, and Naruto?
As any anime fan would know, Crunchyroll is not very up-to-date and doesn’t have the latest titles such as the recently popular Oshi no Ko.
Sadly, Crunchyroll would be one of the few legal ways to watch anime without resorting to streaming sites.
Crunchyroll Subscription Fees in Singapore
| Crunchyroll Subscription | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Crunchyroll Fan (Monthly) | $5.49 | No ads Unlimited access to the Crunchyroll library New episodes one hour after Japan Access to digital manga (manga is only available in English) Stream on 1 device at a time |
| Crunchyroll Mega Fan (Monthly) | $6.99 | No ads Unlimited access to the Crunchyroll library New episodes one hour after Japan Access to digital manga (manga is only available in English) Stream on 4 devices at a time Offline Viewing |
| Crunchyroll Mega Fan (Annually) | $69.99 (save 16%) |
How to Get Crunchyroll for Free
For new Crunchyroll users, there is a 14-day free trial.
Disney+
After Netflix, Disney+ is probably the next biggest household name.
It’s got tonnes of movies and shows from Disney, Marvel (meaning ALL the Marvel movies…), National Geographic, Pixar, Star Wars, The Simpsons, and 20th Century Fox.
And on top of this, you’ll also get access to original content like Soul, which is a very wholesome movie with various teachable moments.
Disney+ Subscription Fees in Singapore
| Disney+ Subscription | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Disney+ (Monthly) | $11.98 | 12,000+ movies and 16,000+ episodes from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and Star Exclusive Disney+ Originals Download any series or movie Watch on the go, or enjoy a cinematic experience at home with 4K/UHD Watch concurrently on 4 screens Watch with your friends with GroupWatch |
| Disney+ (Annually) | $119.98 (save over 15%) | |
| Starhub - Disney+ Add-on subscription (Monthly) | $8.99 | For StarHub TV+/Broadband Customers who subscribe on the StarHub App. Valid with a 12-month contract. |
How to Get Disney+ for Free
Disney+ does not offer any free trials, but you can get a free subscription from bundle deals offered by other subscriptions, such as Starhub’s Fibre Broadband package.
hayu
If you love trashy reality TV, then you’ll love hayu.
You can choose from over 300 shows which are available on the same day as they are available in the US.
From The Real Housewives to Keeping Up With The Kardashians, hayu is sure to give you your daily dose of gossip and drama.
hayu Subscription Fees in Singapore
| hayu Subscription | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| hayu (Monthly) | $4.99 | Watch over 300 shows, any time, anywhere. Available on the same day as the U.S. telecast |
| hayu (Every 6 months) | $23.98 (save 20%) | |
| hayu (Anually) | $43.98 (save 25%) |
How to Get hayu for Free
The only way to watch hayu for free is through the seven-day free trial.
HBO GO
HBO GO is an on-the-go streaming version that gives you access to the latest Hollywood blockbusters and movies through Cinemax, HBO, HBO Family, HBO Hits, HBO Signature, and Red by HBO.
And it’s available through Singtel, StarHub, or meWATCH, without needing to get a cable TV subscription.
HBO GO also gives you access to HBO original series such as Game of Thrones, Watchmen, The Last Of Us, and Westworld.
If you’re not into those, then you’ll probably be catching up on blockbusters you missed throughout the years or rewatching old favourites like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.
HBO GO Subscription Fees in Singapore
| HBO GO Subscription | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| HBO GO (Monthly) | $13.98 | Unlimited access to thousands of hours of award-winning HBO and HBO Asia original series and movies, Hollywood blockbusters and Asian content Every episode, every season of every HBO Original series – uncut The latest Hollywood blockbusters before other streaming services New HBO Original episodes same time as the U.S. on-demand Multi-language subtitles to go with the series/movies Downloading your favourite shows to watch offline 2 concurrent streams |
| HBO GO (Every 3 months) | $29.98 (save ~28%) | |
| Singtel CAST - HBO GO (Monthly) | $13.98 (pay with credit card) $14.12 (pay with Singtel bill) |
|
| Singtel CAST - HBO GO (Every 3 months) | $29.98 (pay with credit card, save ~28%) | |
| meWATCH - HBO GO (Monthly) | $14.11 | |
| Starhub - HBO Pak (Monthly) | $14.12 | Get HBO Pak to enjoy the upsized entertainment on 6 TV+ channels as well as on-the-go, anytime anywhere with HBO Go. |
How to Get HBO GO for Free
Sadly, HBO GO no longer offers free trials. Luckily, you may still catch some free episodes on MeWatch!
iQiyi
iQiyi is a platform that is well-loved by fans of Chinese and Korean dramas and movies.
They offer on-demand streaming services for pan-Asian entertainment, including iQiyi originals, variety shows, and anime.
iQiyi Subscription Fees in Singapore
| iQiyi Subscription Fee in Singapore | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| iQiyi Basic VIP (Monthly) | $6.98 | Advanced viewing Blockbusters Exclusives Watch anywhere, anytime |
| iQiyi Standard VIP (Monthly) | $8.98 | Watch on 2 devices 1080P Advanced viewing VIP content download VIP skip ads Watch anywhere, anytime Blockbusters Dolby Cinema |
| iQiyi Standard VIP (Yearly) | $70.98 (Save 20%) | |
| iQiyi Premium VIP (Monthly) | $10.98 | Watch on 4 devices 1080P + 4K Advanced viewing VIP content download VIP no ads Watch anywhere, anytime Blockbusters Dolby Cinema |
| iQiyi Premium VIP (Yearly) | $86.98 (Save 20%) | |
| Starhub TV+ - iQiyi Standard VIP (Monthly) | $6.98 | Free for one month as an add-on to any TV+ pass sign-up |
How to Get iQiyi for Free
iQiyi does not offer any free trials, and the only way to get it for free would be by signing up for any StarHub TV+ pass, which offers a one-month free trial as an add-on.
meWATCH
If you’re wondering what’s meWATCH, it’s basically Toggle, only it has been renamed since 30 January 2020.
With a meWATCH subscription, you can also add-on subscription plans like HBO GO.
meWATCH Subscription Fees in Singapore
| meWATCH Subscription Fee in Singapore | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| meWATCH (Basic Tier) | $0 | Catch up with Mediacorp dramas and shows that you missed |
| meWATCH Prime (Monthly) | $9.90 (or $35.64 upfront for 6 months, $5.94 per month) | Enjoy priority and ad-free access to the latest Mediacorp dramas before TV release Unlimited download of shows for on-the-go viewing without data |
| meWATCH + Animax + GEM (Monthly) | $1.99 | Includes Japanese entertainment such as anime series, dramas and popular variety programmes |
| meWATCH + Animax + GEM (Annually) | $13.99 (save over 40%) | |
| meWATCH + ROCK 24/7 (Monthly) | $3.02 | Catch Live and Express programs from the U.S. and U.K. and programs that are airing for the First Time Exclusively in Asia. Be spoilt with choices from ROCK Entertainment, ROCK Action, Global Trekker, Smithsonian Channel & Makeful. |
| meWATCH + ROCK 24/7 (Annually) | $25.35 (save over 30%) | |
| meWATCH + ShemarooMe (Monthly) | $6.05 | Bollywood selection, including black & white classics, mega blockbusters and new premieres every month |
| meWATCH + ShemarooMe (Annually) | $43.39 (save over 40%) | |
| meWATCH + Simply South (Monthly) | $4.95 | South Indian movies, including latest blockbusters and classic movies |
| meWATCH + Simply South (Annually) | $40.27 (save over 32%) |
How to Get meWATCH for Free
I’m not a big fan of local TV but it’s nice that meWATCH is available for free.
But if you can’t wait till the next episode of whatever Mediacorp drama it is that you’re chasing, pay for meWATCH Prime and you’ll be able to catch it in advance.
Viu
Ah… the Asian equivalent of Netflix.
Here you can find Korean dramas like Hotel Del Luna and Korean variety shows like Running Man.
Viu Subscription Fees in Singapore
| Viu Subscription | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Viu Basic | $0 | 1 download As fast as 72 hours after Viu Premium Limited access to selected dramas and variety shows Watch on phone, tablet or PC only SD resolution (480p) With ads |
| Viu Premium (30 days) | $8.98 | All dramas No video ads Priority viewing Unlimited Download Smart TV Full HD |
| Viu Premium (90 days) | $25.59 (save 5%) | |
| Viu Premium (180 days) | $48.49 (save 10%) | |
| Viu Premium (365 days) | $80.82 (save 25%) | |
| Singtel CAST - Viu Premium (Monthly) | $7.98 | First 60 days free |
| Singtel CAST - Viu Premium (180-Day Pass) | $23.60 | One-time charge |
| Singtel CAST - Viu Premium (6-month contract) | $5.90 per month | First 2 months free |
| Singtel CAST - Viu Premium (12-month contract) | First 3 months free |
How to Get Viu for Free
The basic tier can be assessed for free.
But if you want HD viewing and an ad-free experience, then you’ll have to pay for Viu Premium.
And your best option would be the Singtel – Viu Premium (No Contract Plan) which gives you a 3-month free trial.
After that, it’ll cost you $7.98 per month.
If not, the 6-month contract will offer a 2-month free trial, and costs just $5.90 per month afterwards.
So… What About Singtel and StarHub?
Since there’re so many video streaming subscription options available.
Does it still make sense to subscribe to traditional cable TV with service providers like Singtel and StarHub?
Let’s find out!
Singtel TV GO
With Singtel TV GO you get access to over 120 live channels and 40 catch-up channels including Discovery, HBO, Fox, KBS World, and tvN.
Singtel TV GO Subscription Fees
| Singtel TV GO Subscription | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Singtel TV GO Plan 1 (Monthly) | $6.97 | Home View 1 device On-The-Go 1 device |
Singtel CAST
Singtel CAST consolidates all other video streaming platforms like HBO GO, Netflix, and Viu Premium in one app.
Customers can subscribe to curated CAST packs, including Sports Plus, Lifestyle Plus, and Chinese Plus.
Singtel CAST Subscription Fees
| Singtel CAST | Price |
|---|---|
| Singtel CAST - HBO GO (Monthly) | $13.98 (pay with credit card) $14.12 (pay with Singtel bill) |
| Singtel CAST - HBO GO (Every 3 months) | $29.98 (pay with credit card, save ~28%) |
| Singtel CAST - Netflix (Monthly) | $12.98 (Basic) $17.48 (Standard) $21.98 (Premium) |
| Singtel CAST - Viu Premium (Monthly) | From $5.90 (See Viu subscription fees above for full details) |
| Singtel CAST - TVBAnywhere+ (Monthly) | $5.02 |
| Singtel CAST - iQiYi (Monthly) | $6.98 |
| Singtel CAST - Amazon Prime (Monthly) | $2.99 |
| Singtel CAST - Sun NXT (Monthly) | $7.98 |
| Singtel CAST - BBC Player (Monthly) | $6.90 (pay with Singtel bill) $8.90 (pay with credit card) |
| Singtel CAST - Sports Plus (Monthly) | $20.09 |
| Singtel CAST - Lifestyle Plus (Monthly) | $5.95 |
| Singtel CAST - Chinese Plus (Monthly) | $5.95 |
| Singtel CAST - Education Plus (Monthly) | $5.95 |
| Singtel CAST - Entertainment Plus (Monthly) | $5.95 |
| Singtel CAST - Learning Plus (Monthly) | $5.95 |
| Singtel CAST - Astro Citra on Demand (Monthly) | $5.95 |
| Singtel CAST - Premier Sports (Monthly) | $24.90 |
| Singtel CAST - News Plus (Monthly) | $5.95 |
StarHub TV+
If you’re a StarHub customer, you can sign up for StarHub TV+ which gives you both live TV and access to a variety of streaming services.
StarHub calls its subscriptions a TV+ pass and you can pick and choose what suits you.
The most notable perk of using StarHub TV+ would be its free 3 months of Amazon Prime membership with any TV+ pass subscription and free Disney+ all the way till 31 March 2025 with any 2 TV+ passes! Now that’s insane value!
StarHub TV+ Subscription Fees
| StarHub TV+ Subscription | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Starter (24-month contract) | $5.04 per month | Enjoy over 600 titles and 3,000 hours of entertainment Latest Asian dramas and variety programmes Hong Kong movies starring all-time favourite actors BBC First dramas with high production value Award-winning documentaries from Curiosity Stream and much more Free 3 months of Amazon Prime membership |
| Entertainment+ (24-month contract) | $30.28 per month | Enjoy free access to BBC Player Watch thousands of documentaries on the go with Curiosity Stream app Watch anytime, anywhere, on any device via StarHub TV+ app Free 3 months of Amazon Prime membership Dramas same day as the U.S./U.K. Global news LIVE and award-winning documentaries Inspirational food, home and travel programmes Favourite kid shows for all ages |
| Asian+ (24-month contract) | $30.28 per month | Watch anytime, anywhere, on any device via StarHub TV+ app Free 3 months of Amazon Prime membership Latest & top rated dramas across Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China & Japan Award-winning & blockbuster Asian movies LIVE award shows Popular Asian variety shows & Infotainment Highly rated Taiwanese Hokkien content |
| Sports+ (24-month contract) | $25.22 per month | FREE access to beIN SPORTS CONNECT Watch anytime, anywhere, on any device via StarHub TV+ app Free 3 months of Amazon Prime membership Unparalleled access to a wholesome lineup of sporting events LIVE broadcast of tennis, golf, and basketball, badminton, WWE and more |
| Indian+ (24-month contract) | $15.14 per month | Watch anytime, anywhere, on any device via StarHub TV+ app Best of Tamil dramas series, variety shows and talk shows from Vijay TV, Zee TV, Sun TV and many more! Award-winning Hindi and Tamil movies & dramas for the whole family Free 3 months of Amazon Prime membership |
| Malay+ (24-month contract) | $15.14 per month | Enjoy the best entertainment on the new Astro Sensasi (formerly Hub Sensasi) from 28 April onwards Watch anytime, anywhere, on any device via StarHub TV+ app Free 3 months of Amazon Prime membership Top-rated Malay & Indonesian dramas, movies and variety shows Latest and hottest Korean dramas and movies All-time favourite English movies and series, documentaries, news and more |
| Filipino+ (24-month contract) | $15.14 per month | Watch anytime, anywhere, on any device via StarHub TV+ app Free 3 months of Amazon Prime membership Top-rated drama series, variety shows and movies in Tagalog Around the clock news and lifestyle shows from the Philippines |
| Partner Content | ||
| Disney+ Add-on subscription (Monthly) | $8.99 | Valid with a 12-month contract. Free Disney+ till 31 Mar 2025 with 2 TV+ passes. |
| Amazon Prime (Monthly) | $2.99 | Free 3 months of Amazon Prime membership with any TV+ subscription, $2.99 per month after. |
| HBO Pak (Monthly) | $14.12 | Get HBO Pak to enjoy the upsized entertainment on 6 TV+ channels as well as on-the-go, anytime anywhere with HBO Go. |
| iQiyi Standard VIP (Monthly) | $6.98 | Free for one month as an add-on to any TV+ pass sign-up |
One thing that’s cool is that you’d get to enjoy data-free streaming on StarHub Mobile.
So…Which Is The Best Streaming Service?
When it comes to they all offer mostly the same thing. Multiple devices, 1080p, 4K, and all that Jazz.
Thus, the answer to this really depends on you and what you like to watch. I’d recommend you subscribe to a streaming service based on what exclusives they have.
If I could only pick one, I’d go for Disney+ because it has everything I love such as the MCU, Star Wars, and other Disney movies!
How Do I Get Even Cheaper Video Streaming Subscription?
Ran out of free trials? Well, there is a way to get even cheaper subscriptions by sharing accounts with others!
Sharing with your friends and family is a great way to reduce the cost per person. Otherwise, you may turn to websites such as shareit.sg to share with strangers!
However, with Netflix leading the charge on password crackdowns, other services may soon follow in its wake. So enjoy account sharing (on multiple networks) while it lasts!
What streaming services are you subscribed to or thinking of subscribing to? Tell us in the comments below!
