Starz Review
Everything you need to know about Starz
Getty ImagesStarz is a popular cable network that's home to original titles including Outlander, P-Valley, and more. Similar to other such premium subscription services as Showtime, you can tack Starz onto your regular cable plan or purchase it as a standalone that can be rolled into other streaming services you currently have — from Hulu, to
, and Netflix. Starz functions as both a premium channel on your cable plan as well as a subscription app that you can stream on your favorite device.Starz stands out for its original titles and large streaming library, including plenty of shows and movies that the whole family can enjoy together. Starz is the place to watch Becoming Elizabeth, Gaslit, Blindspotting, and so much more. If you're still curious about whether or not you should subscribe to Starz, though, keep reading for everything you need to know.
Starz
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Starz compared to other TV streaming services
Streaming service package information accurate as of 08/11/2022.
Starz is cheaper than both HBO Max and Showtime, but it is more expensive than Paramount+. Showtime is perhaps the most closely related streamer to Starz, but Starz offers twice as many titles — for a lower price. And while Paramount+ is cheaper than Starz, that plan includes ads. If you want to get rid of the ads and get a similar experience to Starz (which is ad-free), you're paying $10, making Starz the cheapest option.
As far as a Starz free trial, the streamer allows some subscribers to sample the service for one week. There is a Starz free trial on Prime Video, a Starz free trial on Hulu, and a Starz free trial on Philo. However, a seven-day trial is considerably shorter than Showtime's 30-day free trial.
How much does Starz cost?
Starz has a monthly price of $9/mo. You can either sign up for Starz as a standalone service, or you can add it to your roster of streaming services. It pairs perfectly with Netflix, the Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ bundle, and even Prime Video to round out your streaming experience for a full collection. The benefit of signing up for Starz as a standalone service is that you can take advantage of the current deal allowing you to pay just $5/mo. for your first three months of use — if you are a new subscriber.
One thing you might notice about Starz is that, unlike such streamers as Netflix or Hulu, it doesn't have multiple plans to choose from. There is no ad-supported tier or the option to add more screens and users. Instead, there's just one plan: the ad-free Starz streaming.
Starz channels
While Starz started as a single premium channel, it has since grown to feature more than a dozen genre- and other interest-specific channels under the Starz Inc. umbrella. When you sign up for the Starz subscription, you'll have access to Starz shows and movies from each of the company's channels. The current Starz channels include:
- Starz
- Starz Edge
- Starz in Black
- Starz Comedy
- Starz Cinema
- Starz Kids & Family
- Starz Encore
- Starz Encore Action
- Starz Encore Classic
- Starz Encore Black
- Starz Encore Family
- Starz Encore Suspense
- Starz Encore Westerns
- Starz Encore Espanol
- Movieplex
- Indieplex
- Retroplex
Starz features
Streaming library
Wondering what to watch on Starz? The major feature of Starz is its impressive streaming library. First, you'll have access to the entire collection of Starz originals, which include Outlander, P-Valley, Shining Vale, and Gaslit. You can also choose from a large library of blockbuster hits and other popular movies. You can also watch any of the Starz channels live, where hundreds of titles stream per week.
User profiles and simultaneous streams
Starz allows you to create up to five user profiles in your account so that each family member can customize their viewing experience. Additionally, Starz allows you to stream on up to four devices at once, meaning everyone in the family can enjoy their shows at the same time. It's worth noting, though, that unlike some other streaming services, including Netflix and Hulu, you can't upgrade the plan to include more streams or user profiles.
Offline viewing
Starz allows you to watch titles from its service even when you're not connected to the internet. First, you can download any titles you want when you're connected. Then you can go back and watch them when you're offline. This feature is great for travel and other times when you won't have access to Wi-Fi.
Starz supported devices
You can stream Starz from all of your favorite devices, including:
- Apple iPhone and Apple iPad
- Amazon Fire tablets
- Amazon Fire TV
- Android smartphones and tablets
- Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K
- Android TV (Google TV)
- Roku
- Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
- Sony TV
- Samsung Smart TV (Tizen)
- LG TV (webOS)
- Microsoft Windows or Apple macOS
- Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari browsers
Is Starz worth it?
Starz has a wealth of titles for viewers to take advantage of — more than 1,200 of them. You can watch them on demand or tune into Starz channels live, which is not something you can do with a Netflix or Disney+ subscription. As long as you have your Starz login, you can access titles on all the compatible devices and take Starz with you wherever you go. Starz comes at an affordable price, meaning it isn't difficult to add to your existing streaming collection to have even more movies and TV shows at your fingertips. And since it can serve as an add-on to other streaming services, including Hulu and Prime Video, it's easier than ever to watch.
That being said, Starz doesn't have nearly as many movies as HBO Max or Paramount+, nor does it have as many original titles as such services as Netflix and Hulu. While it is the only place you can watch titles including Gaslit and BMF, many of the other Starz originals can be found on other streaming services. As a result, it may not be at the top of some streamers' lists.
Ultimately, it could be worth it for you if you love any of the Starz original series or you want access to even more popular movies.