In a world overflowing with streaming platforms, choosing which ones to keep often comes down to a balance of budget, convenience, and content that actually makes you excited to press play.
Like many Filipino households, we’ve bounced between apps—Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO, Apple TV, and Disney+. Each one has its strengths, its quirks, and its “why am I paying for this again?” moments.
Today, our family keeps only two subscriptions: Disney+ and YouTube Premium.
It wasn’t always that way.
For a while, we juggled multiple subscriptions, trying to figure out which platforms offered real value and which ones were just draining our monthly budget.
But after months of trial and error—and a lot of late-night scrolling—we realized that the simplicity of keeping just one entertainment app (Disney+) and one practical everyday app (YouTube Premium) made the most sense.
Here’s a deep dive into how we made that decision.
Netflix: Great Variety, But Overwhelming and Hit-or-Miss
Netflix is undeniably the king of content volume.
It offers everything—series, films, anime, documentaries, local shows, comedy specials. That massive selection is its biggest strength… and also its biggest weakness.
Pros:
- Huge library with something for every mood.
- Strong originals like Stranger Things, Money Heist, The Witcher, and Wednesday.
- Easy-to-use interface with good recommendations.
- Wide selection of Filipino content.
Cons:
- Quality control is inconsistent.
- Many shows get cancelled after one or two seasons.
- The amount of “filler” content makes it hard to find gems.
- Increasing subscription prices.
- Some of our personal favorites kept disappearing due to licensing shifts.
Netflix is great if you like exploring and constantly trying new titles. But for us, we noticed we were spending more time scrolling than watching. And when you’re trying to simplify life and cut unnecessary monthly expenses, that’s a sign.
Amazon Prime Video: Affordable, But Lacking in Must-Watch Titles
Amazon Prime Video is one of the most budget-friendly options out there. And in fairness, it has some standout originals—The Boys, Invincible, The Wheel of Time, Jack Ryan, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
Pros:
- Very competitive subscription price.
- Good selection of action and sci-fi originals.
- Some hidden gems not available elsewhere.
- Occasionally offers early-access rentals.
Cons:
- UI/UX is messy compared to other apps.
- Mixed content quality.
- Library feels limited when you browse regularly.
- Some movies require separate rental or purchase.
For casual or budget-conscious viewers, Prime Video is a solid pick. But for us, we realized we weren’t using it enough to justify keeping it. The big titles we wanted to watch came only once in a while.
Of the ones we let go, this is the one I miss the most. And frankly, I would really love to get back our subscription with.
HBO (HBO GO / Max): Fantastic Quality, Limited Quantity
If we were ranking streaming apps purely by quality of storytelling, HBO would easily be top-tier. Their lineup is legendary: Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, Euphoria, The Last of Us, Succession, Chernobyl, Barry, The White Lotus—all top-level writing and production.
Pros:
- Consistently high-quality shows and films.
- Award-winning originals.
- Big-budget productions with mature themes.
- Good selection of DC films and titles under Warner Bros.
Cons:
- Much smaller library compared to Netflix.
- Long gaps between major releases.
- UI sometimes lags or feels outdated.
- Not ideal for kids or family viewing.
We loved HBO, but after catching up on the major hits, there weren’t enough titles to keep us subscribed month after month. It’s one of those platforms you turn on only when something big drops—and then you turn it off again.
Apple TV+: Beautiful Quality, But Very Limited Selection
Apple TV+ was an experiment for us. My sister actually gave us our subscription to it and I believe we’re still subscribed to it but just not actively watching it.
The shows are stunning—visually, thematically, emotionally. Titles like See, Foundation, Ted Lasso, For All Mankind, and The Morning Show prove that Apple cares about quality.
But the problem is simple:
There’s just not enough content.
After watching the titles we were interested in, we had nothing left to explore. When you’re paying monthly, that hurts the wallet.
So Apple TV+ didn’t make the cut.
Even if we’re also not actively paying for it.
Why Disney+ Became the Only Streaming App We Kept
Disney+ launched in the Philippines in November 2022, and we have been subscribed ever since. Not once have we canceled or paused our subscription.
And honestly?
It has been the only platform that consistently gives us value.
Here’s why.
1. The Best Collection of Blockbusters and Beloved Franchises
Disney+ has the strongest lineup of well-loved, high-quality franchises. You can’t beat having all these in one place:
Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Avengers: Endgame
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Iron Man Trilogy
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Black Panther
- Doctor Strange
- Plus series like Loki, WandaVision, Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, What If…?, Secret Invasion, etc.
As a Marvel True Believer from childhood to second childhood, this is definitely the reason why I was eager to jump on this streaming platform. ‘nuff said.
Star Wars Universe
- The Mandalorian
- Ahsoka
- Obi-Wan Kenobi
- The Book of Boba Fett
- Andor
- The Bad Batch
- All nine saga films + spin-offs like Rogue One and Solo.
To be honest, my wife is the one who is more of a Star Wars fan than I am. I’ve watched it all as part of my childhood but… this might cause an outrage… I was never really totally into it. Call me a casual fan. More of a Trekkie here.
Disney Animated Classics
- The Lion King
- Beauty and the Beast
- Aladdin
- Mulan
- Tarzan
- Hercules
- The Little Mermaid
- Pocahontas
- Frozen 1 & 2
- Moana
- Zootopia
- Other timeless collections from our childhood
If there’s another reason why I chose to stick with Disney+, it’s gotta be the classics. And every year that my son is growing up, I’d like to share with him films I grew up with. And make it part of his core memories too.
Pixar Films
- Toy Story (1–4)
- Inside Out
- Up
- Finding Nemo
- WALL-E
- The Incredibles
- Coco
- Soul
- Elemental
National Geographic
Perfect for documentaries, wildlife, travel, and science—great for kids, education, and family bonding. My kid definitely loves this. And I am so glad that he does!
2. Family-Friendly and Perfect for All Ages
Whether you want a superhero movie, a funny Pixar film, or a documentary, Disney+ has something safe and uplifting for the entire household.
It’s the kind of app you can leave running while doing chores or bonding with your son—without worrying about inappropriate recommendations.
3. We Get Consistent Use Out of It
Unlike other apps where we sometimes scroll more than we watch, Disney+ is the one streaming platform where we can always find something familiar, comforting, and worth our time.
It became the only one we needed.
Why We Also Subscribed to YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium isn’t really “entertainment”—it’s a lifestyle tool.
- No ads (which drastically reduces stress)
- Background play (essential for music, podcasts, guided workouts)
- Offline downloads (great for travel)
- Access to YouTube Music
- Perfect for tutorials, reviews, education, and everyday learning
Compared to paying for multiple streaming apps, YouTube Premium gave us practical value every single day. No wasted pesos.
Cutting down to just Disney+ and YouTube Premium made our entertainment setup simpler, cheaper, and more enjoyable.
Disney+ gives us all the blockbuster content we actually love—from Avengers to childhood classics, from Star Wars to Pixar. And YouTube Premium gives us daily practicality, convenience, and ad-free sanity.
In the end, it wasn’t about having the most apps. It was about keeping the ones that genuinely make life better.
