Streaming services have risen in popularity over the past several years. Netflix, the perennial leader for so long, is no longer the runaway favorite among customers.
A recent study from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) shows that subscriber happiness with video streaming services remains stable, although the leaders in the space may surprise you.
ACSI’s Telecommunications Study 2021-2022 ranks video streaming services on a 100-point scale on several metrics, including mobile app reliability, number of movies and TV shows and the quality of original programming.
If you’re like me, you may have thought of Netflix as being king of the hill, but along with the recent news of mass subscriber losses, customer satisfaction metrics say otherwise.
Here Are the Top Video Streaming Services According to Customer Satisfaction
The Microsoft Store is #1 in the rankings. Now I know what you’re thinking: The Microsoft Store is not actually a streaming service in the traditional sense. An ACSI spokesperson tells us that the rankings group together subscription services along with platforms that offer pay-per-view content hence the inclusion of Google Play, the Apple TV app and the like.
Here are some key findings from the report:
- Disney+ ties for second place with a score of 78.
- Netflix finishes in the middle of the pack with a score of 74.
- Rounding out the bottom is Crackle, which is a free service, with a score of 69.
Although the price has slowly increased since its 2017 launch, money expert Clark Howard and his family subscribe to YouTube TV.
“What interests me about YouTube TV is the unlimited DVR and the versatility with how many people can be watching at the same time and how many individual accounts you can have,” Clark says.
Let’s take a look at the customer satisfaction rankings for the best video streaming services.
Best Streaming Services for Customer Satisfaction
| Name | Type of Service | 2022 Score | Point Gain/Loss From Previous Survey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Store | Content Marketplace | 79 | 3 |
| Disney+ | Video on Demand | 78 | 0 |
| Paramount+ | Video on Demand | 77 | 5 |
| YouTube TV | Livestreaming/ Video on Demand | 77 | 3 |
| DIRECTTV STREAM | Livestreaming/ Video on Demand | 76 | 6 |
| Apple TV app | Content Marketplace | 75 | 1 |
| Google Play | Content Marketplace | 75 | 1 |
| Hulu (all services) | Livestreaming/ Video on Demand | 75 | 0 |
| Amazon Prime Video | Content Marketplace | 74 | 0 |
| Netflix | Video on Demand | 74 | -1 |
| Twitch (Amazon) | Livestreaming | 74 | -3 |
| ESPN+ | Livestreaming/ Video on Demand | 73 | N/A (new to the survey) |
| HBO Max | Video on Demand | 73 | -3 |
| Peacock | Livestreaming/ Video on Demand | 72 | 1 |
| Showtime | Livestreaming/ Video on Demand | 72 | 0 |
| Sling TV | Livestreaming | 72 | 0 |
| Vudu | Video on Demand | 72 | -1 |
| Starz | Video on Demand | 70 | -5 |
| Apple TV+ | Video on Demand | 69 | -4 |
| Crackle | Video on Demand | 69 | 1 |
| Average Score of All Services | 74 | 0 |
ACSI’s Telecommunications Study 2021-2022 was conducted between April 2021 and March 2022, and is based on interviews from 23,605 customers.
Team Clark covers streaming services extensively to help you make the best decisions with your dollars.
Before you sign up for any streaming service, make sure you familiarize yourself with the following:
- The channel lineup: Use Clark’s Live TV Streaming Channel Tool.
- The length of the free trial period
- The number of simultaneous screens an individual account can use
Once you’ve done your research, make sure the streaming service you choose falls well within your budget.
Interested in saving money when you watch TV? Here’s how to cut the cord and leave cable for good.
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