Stream, rent or buy: what the options on a title actually mean

On every Where to Stream page you'll see titles sorted into Stream, Rent and Buy. They sound obvious, but the details matter when you're deciding whether to sign up for something, so here's exactly what each one means.

Stream: included with a subscription

These services include the title in a monthly or yearly subscription: Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Max and so on. If you already subscribe in that country, you can watch it at no extra cost for as long as the service keeps it. This is what the site shows by default, because it's what most people mean by "where can I watch it?".

Free, ad-supported services such as Tubi or Pluto TV also appear under Stream. You don't pay, but you watch adverts, and the catalogue is usually smaller or older.

Rent: pay once, watch for a limited time

Digital stores such as Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube Movies and Amazon let you rent a title for a one-off fee. You typically get a few weeks to start watching and then a short period, often 48 hours, to finish once you press play. The exact window varies by store and country. Renting is often the quickest legitimate option when a film isn't on any subscription service near you.

Buy: pay once, keep it in your library

Buying gives you a digital copy in that store's library. "Keep" comes with a caveat: you're buying a licence to watch it through that store, not a file you own. If the store loses the rights, which is rare, titles can occasionally become unavailable. TV shows are often sold by the episode or by the season.

Why does one service appear several times?

You might see entries like Paramount+ Amazon Channel or Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel next to plain Paramount Plus. These are channels: the same service, sold as an add-on subscription through Amazon Prime Video or the Apple TV app rather than directly. The content is usually the same; what differs is where you pay and which app you watch in. If you already pay for a channel through Amazon, you don't need a separate direct subscription, and vice versa.

Which should you choose?

• Already subscribed? Check the Stream results for your own country first; it costs nothing extra.
• Just one film? Renting is usually cheaper than a month of a new subscription.
• A whole series, or several titles on one service? A month's subscription can beat renting or buying episode by episode. Many services let you cancel any time.
• Something you'll rewatch for years? Buying may be worth it, especially in a sale.