The best streaming services in New Zealand started off 2025 started off with a bang, and February isn't slowing down. 2024 provided new shows like The Penguin, Baby Reindeer, Fallout and Shogun, added new seasons of Shrinking, The Boys and House of the Dragon and Apple TV Plus, Disney Plus and Neon got 2025 off to a strong start with Paradise, The Pitt and Lockerbie: A Search For Truth.
While the three services above dominated January, the rest of Australia's best streaming services are in on the action this month. Led by Prime Video and Netflix, February is looking even better. Things start with Apple Cider Vinegar, Invincible season 3 and The Order landing on February 6. Cobra Kai season 6 part 3 lands on the 13th and Invisible Boys drops on the 14th, though its only available to watch on TVNZ Plus.
Here's where things get exciting, though. Season 3 of The White Lotus lands on Neon on Feb 17, the same day that Pixar adds its first-ever TV series Win or Lose on Disney Plus. Perhaps the biggest day of the month is February 20, as Zero Day – a mini-series starring Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons – comes to Netflix. Lastly, on February 27, Nickel Boys – an Oscar best picture nominee of the best movies of 2024 – and Running Point starring Kate Hudson land on the 27th.
New Zealand's best streaming services are almost showing off in February, but subscribing to multiple gets expensive quick. To watch the content you want without breaking the bank (or breaking the law), using one service at a time – watching all the content that interests you – then moving on to the next is the best way to do so. However, it can take a frustrating amount of time and energy to analyse each service to find the content that matters to you – which is why we've studied the best streaming platforms in New Zealand for you, so all you have to do is choose.
No matter what you’re into, we've got you covered in this guide to Australia's best streaming services – starting with this month's best streaming service.
Recent updates
February 13, 2025: updated the introduction, our monthly pick and refreshed each a service with relevant content throughout to ensure the latest information.
Streaming service of the month (February 2025)
Best TV streaming service 2025:
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What is the best TV streaming service you can get right now?
Netflix came to New Zealand and Australia in 2015, and it has seen massive changes since then – price-increases in May and the password-sharing crackdown that New Zealand was at the front of, being the most recent. Even still, thanks to its massively diverse library, best-in-class user experience and consistent influx of original content, Netflix continues its reign as king and is still the best streaming service in New Zealand for most people.
Since its inception to NZ, Netflix has delivered hit series and movies in the form of Netflix Originals, offering a variety of highly entertaining Netflix-exclusive content. It all kicked off in 2016 with the smash-hit launch of Stranger Things and continuation of Black Mirror. In the few years following, Netflix added The Witcher, The Umbrella Academy, Bridgerton, Emily in Paris and Big Mouth, while more recent hits like Beef, Wednesday, 3 Body Problem, Supacell, That 90's Show, Bodkin, Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Gentlemen have continued that legacy to varying degrees.
It's not all sunshine and rainbows. Lots of Netflix's content is underwhelming, and we're still feeling the impact of the 2023 writer's strike – and how Netflix handled it – today. It's now been more than two years since the second part of Stranger Things season four released, and Stranger Things season 5 not expected until sometime in 2025 – nearly ten years after season one.
Netflix also has a reputation for cancelling series, even when it seems it was met with satisfaction by fans. 1899 was cancelled early in 2023, as were Inside Job and Firefly Lane, adding to a list that includes Lockwood and Co., Travelers and Altered Carbon. Then there's Mindhunter, one of the best shows of this century, cancelled due to high production costs – while Netlflix put $166 Million into Rebel Moon that was panned by fans and critics alike if Rotten Tomatoes and word of mouth is any metric.
One thing New Zealand Netflix subscribers do have, though, especially over Aussies, is a lack of an ad-supported plan on Netflix NZ, remaining strictly ad-free for the time being. However, Kiwi prices did increase for the first time since 2021, with Basic now NZ$14.99p/m, Standard costing NZ$20.99 and Premium, which provides 4K, coming in at NZ$27.99. All plans allow downloads on one to six different devices, and the two more expensive plans allow you to add people living outside your household to your plan at an additional cost of NZ$7.99 per person.
Even with all of that, Netflix's deep library, high-quality originals and supremely snappy app makes it the easy answer to "what's the best streaming service?". While it's not our choice for August, there's still several new additions worth checking out.
Verdict: 5/5
Best new content coming to Netflix in February
Netflix is offering plenty of value to subscribers this month with a whole heap of interesting content like Shrek 1 and 2, Gladiator, MaXXXine, season 8 of Love is Blind and Cassandra, an interesting-looking German Sci-Fi thriller. However, there are seven key additions worth highlighting, with two specifically requiring extra attention. The first being Apple Cider Vinegar.
Dropping on February 6, Apple Cider Vinegar stars Kaitlin Dever as Belle Gibson, who – along with her friend Milla – used their platform to advocate for wellness remedies, claiming they can cure deadly illnesses – knowingly misleading the world. With a massive amount of money spent in advertising this new series, it's certainly worth checking out, even if only to judge Dever's Australian accent.
While it won't be available until February 20, the next big release on Netflix this month is Zero Day, starring Robert De Niro with a supporting cast that includes Jesse Plemons, Angela Basset, Connie Britton, Joan Allen and Matthew Modine. Zero Day is a political conspiracy thriller centering on the aftermath of American politics directly following a devastating global cyberattack.
The above series are worth checking out for anyone, but there's four more key releases that will be must-watches for some. Releasing on February 5 is Kinda Pregnant, a romantic comedy film starring Amy Schumer in which she puts on a fake baby bump, tells a lie and falls in love. Also on February 5 is Celebrity Bear Hunt, in which celebrities compete in a jungle while being hunted by Bear Grylls. Then, on February 11 is The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, an animated film in which sailors are attacked by a beast… and only Geralt of Rivia can stop it.
Last, but certainly not least, is Running Point. It stars Kate Hudson as Isla Gordon, a former party girl who wants to prove herself as a businesswoman when she's put in charge of her family's pro basketball team, the LA Waves. It also stars Max Greenfield and Brenda Song.
New to Netflix this month
- February 1: Shrek 1 / Shrek 2
- February 2: MaXXXine
- February 5: Celebrity Bear Hunt / Kinda Pregnant
- February 6: Apple Cider Vinegar / Cassandra
- February 11: The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep
- February 13: Cobra Kai season 6, part 3
- February 14: Love is Blind season 8
- February 16: Gladiator
- February 19: Grease
- February 20: Zero Day
- February 24: 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
- February 27: Running Point
Prime Video has a library of original content that can rival, if not beat, every other streaming service. Heck, between series like The Boys and Gen V, Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, Fallout and Invincible, they might have everyone else beat already. Then there's fun flicks like Ricky Stanicky and Road House, as well as actual fantastic movies like the Sound of Metal, The Tender Bar and The Burial. Add in the fact that Prime Video boasts the biggest library of any streaming service, and it should be the best streamer, right?
There's only one thing, really, that Netflix and every other service in this list barring Neon, has over Prime Video – its user interface. While it might not actually be bad, Prime Video is much more difficult to navigate than competitors, and especially when trying to differentiate between content you have access to and that which is for rent. It makes sense, given how big its library is and the amalgamation of content from services within like Britbox, AMC and Paramount Plus that is shown to you even if you don't own them. Still, it holds it back from knocking off Netflix as king.
Nevertheless, if you just want as much content as possible, Prime Video is the best streaming service. Amazon’s library spans everything from the classics and the latest and greatest, to trashy B-rated flicks and niche cult classics. A great movie or series is always just around the corner, even if it takes a bit of navigation to find. And, if there's nothing there for you, there's hundreds of movies available for rent or purchase, sometimes so fresh that they're still in cinemas.
While Prime Video is part of the Amazon Prime subscription in some countries, it's available as an independent service in New Zealand, setting you back NZ$9.99 a month after a semi-recent price increase, though you can still try before you buy with a 7-day free trial.
Verdict: 4/5
Best new content coming to Prime Video in February:
Prime Video rarely boasts the best output of the month. Sure, it might have the most new additions, and every now and then it offers a must-watch new show, but it's rare that it has the number of quality new shows that the likes of Apple TV, Netflix and Binge do in one month. February is Amazon Prime Video's month, though – even if Netflix is our #1 show.
February 6 is a serious day for Prime Subscribers, thanks to the release of the third season of Invincible, and The Order. Invincible needs no introduction, and fans of the gruesome animated superhero show will welcome its return, as well as the removal of a mid-season break and Mark's famous blue and black suit.
The Order, however, is one for the action fans, as a lone FBI agent investigates a series of bank robberies and car heists that he believes are the work of domestic terrorists; not financially motivated criminals.
Then, on February 20 comes the third season of Reacher. There's not much to say here. Chances are he'll beat some people, shoot some people, somehow manage to start a relationship with an incredibly attractive woman, and he'll be victorious against the bad guys. All while being giant and fun to watch.
Last, on February 27, comes Nickel Boys. Based on the pulitzer-winning novel, and nominated for best-picture at the upcoming Academy Awards, Nickel Boys tells the tale of the power of friendship, as two young African-American men navigate the harrowing trials of reform school – an institution made for criminal children – together.
New on Prime Video this month
- February 1: 1923 season 1
- February 6: Invincible season 3 / The Order
- February 8: Newtopia
- February 13: My Fault: London
- February 20: Reacher season 3
- February 27: Nickel Boys
Coming to Prime Video this month
- January 1: Rain Man / Carrie / Jurassic Park / Teen Wolf seasons 1-6
- January 2: The Rig season 2
- January 7: Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
- January 9: On Call season 1
- January 10: Bad Boys: Ride or Die / The Creator
- January 15: Spider-Man: Far From Home
- January 16: Unstoppable
- January 30: You’re Cordially Invited
Disney Plus, much like Disney itself, has grown significantly since first arriving in Aotearoa way back in 2019. While it's still the home of all things Disney, its content library has grown massively, with a huge selection of content that covers more than just Marvel and Star Wars, it's undoubtedly the best streaming service for kids, while also improving its content aimed at adults with original series like Star's Only Murders in the Building and FX's Shōgun and The Bear.
Its bread and butter is still the franchises owned by Disney like Marvel and Star Wars. If you're a fan of either, Disney Plus is all-but a must-have. From the original trilogy, prequels and sequels to spin-offs like The Mandalorian, Ashoka and The Acolyte, there is no better streaming service for Star Wars fans. Same goes for fans of Marvel, with every film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as series like WandaVision, Loki and X-Men '97, and classics like the Toby McGuire Spider-Man films, 1994's Spider-Man cartoon and the 2015's beloved Fantastic Four.
Then there's the abundance of kids content from those franchises that make it easy to introduce the little ones to your favourites. Disney is the home of kid's content, after all. From Walt Disney Animation Studios classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Little Mermaid and The Lion King to newer favourites like Frozen, Moana and Inside Out 2 (which will arrive soon) – there is no better home for kid’s entertainment.
And family-friendly doesn't have to mean watching Aladdin five times a week. With National Geographic, Disney Plus offers a near neverending amount of documentaries to choose from, with animals and nature, exploration, space, history and mysteries all on the menu, with titles like Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, Running Wild with Bear Grylls, Free Solo and Limitless with Chris Hemsworth.
After an eye-watering price increase at the start of 2025, Disney Plus has increased its New Zealand prices, with both its Standard and Premium subscriptions getting in on the action. From February 19, new Standard subscriptions will cost AU$15.99p/m and AU$159.99 per year, from AU$13.99 and AU$139.99 respectively. Meanwhile, the Premium plan sees a considerably AU$3p/m and AU$30p/a increase to AU$20.99 and AU$209.99.
This increased cost will see you earn 4K resolution, Dolby Audio and four concurrent streams with a Premium subscription, while Standard only nets subscribers two concurrent streams, HD quality streams and standard audio.
As for current subscribers, Disney states that you "will be progressively notified of updated pricing". The changes will come into effect from March 26, in line with the next billing cycle.
Verdict: 4/5
Best new content coming to Disney Plus in February:
Disney Plus is coming off a very strong output in January, and while it doesn't quite match what saw in the first month of 2025, subscribers are still eating well in February. First and foremost, if you're a fan of Gilmore Girls, or have thought about watching it, the entire seven-season series is landing on Stan on February 1, quickly followed by The Kardashians season 6 on February 6, and Young Sheldon season 1-7 on February 16.
The first big addition to Disney Plus comes on February 19 in Win or Lose. Pixar's first original series, Win or Lose follows the intertwined stories of eight characters as they each prepare for their big championship softball game. Funny, heartfelt and unique like most of Pixar's animated films, this is a must-watch for adults, parents and kids alike.
Then, on February 21 is A Thousand Blows. In this historical drama, two best friends arrive in London from Jamaica and find themselves fighting for survival in the East End. Hezekiah grows in skill, and faces Sugar Goodson, a seasoned and dangerous boxer… a rivalry that spills far beyond the ring.
Lastly, on February 26, is a new documentary series called Scamanda. If you're familiar with the name, then you're ready to watch. If not, this series follows Amanda Riley — a wife, mother, blogger and Christian — whose tragic cancer tale captivates thousands… but she's called Scamanda for a reason.
New on Disney Plus this month
- February 1: Gilmore Girls season 1-7
- February 6: The Kardashians season 6
- February 16: Young Sheldon season 1-7
- February 19: Win or Lose / Spartans: A true story
- February 21: A Thousands Blows
- February 26: Scamanda
Apple TV Plus's library might not stand up to the streaming services above, but boy oh boy does it make up for it with the quality of the content it does have. And, in 2024, its library isn't too small, either. While its library holds it back from consistently going head-to-head with Netflix as a main streaming service, if you haven't watched certain shows, Apple TV Plus is a must-have – as you can see by it winning our monthly award.
While an ad-based tier might be coming soon, Apple TV Plus is still cheaper than other services at just NZ$14.99 p/m despite an increase by AU$2 – undercutting the cheapest tiers of most other services, and adding to its value. That low cost is counteracted by the fact that it isn't compatible with Android devices (yet) but you'll find it on most streaming devices, Xbox and PlayStation consoles, Smart TVs and even Android TV.
Apple has more money than any other streaming service by a significant margin – even Amazon and Disney – and it’s been putting that money to good use with original and exclusive content that no other streaming service can compete with. Series like Ted Lasso, Slow Horses, Masters of the Air, Silo, Presumed Innocent, Black Bird, Severance and Shrinking are at a quality that other streaming services, with rare exception, just haven't matched.
Apple TV Plus also offers a 7-day free trial to test the service out, which is getting more rare, but with the purchase of new Apple products and even a PlayStation 5 can see you extend that free trial to at least three months, allowing you plenty of time to catch up on the best of Apple TV Plus without spending a cent.
Verdict: 4/5
Best new content coming to Apple TV Plus in February:
As is always the case, Apple TV Plus is lacking in quantity when compared to the other streaming services in this guide. But, it's not one of the best streaming services in Australia for its quantity, but for its quality – and February is much of the same.
While there's a few additions worth checking out, there is one big release in February – The Gorge. A film starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller, the two all-star actors play highly-trained operatives sent to guard different sides of a gorge, becoming closer as they work together. But, when evil emerges, they must work together to survive. Excellent actors, an intriguing premise, a welcoming PG-13 rating and an attractive two-hour runtime, this is a must-watch for subscribers when it drops on February 14.
Before that, on February 5, comes Love You to Death (or A muerte), a Spanish romantic comedy. A 7-episode series, Love You to Death follows the cautious Raúl, who reconnects with free-spirited and newly pregnant Marta following his cancer diagnosis, resuming their childhood friendship in a relationship that will test their love and beliefs.
Then, on February 21, are two releases that fans will want to check out. The first being the second season of Surface, following Sophie to London to unravel the secrets of her past after an injury robbed her of her memories. Then, for the football fans, is Onside: Major League Soccer, offering unparalleled access to the players and personalities in the MLS.
New on Apple TV Plus this month
- February 5: Love You to Death (A muerte)
- February 14: The Gorge / Goldie
- February 21: Surface season 2 / Onside: Major League Soccer
- February 26: Berlin ER
You’ve likely heard of HBO Max, the US streaming platform home to all the latest HBO shows including the 2022 hit House of the Dragon and the adaptation of the PlayStation exclusive video game franchise The Last of Us. Unfortunately, HBO Max isn't available here in New Zealand, but thankfully the platform Neon is here to give Kiwis access to all the latest and greatest from HBO, and more.
While Neon might be lacking 4K streams, it does come with a 14-day free trial so you can test the service out before fully committing, with pricing for the service starting at NZ$12.99 p/m for the Basic plan. From January, the Standard plan's price jumped to NZ$19.99 p/m or NZ$199.99 p/a. The Basic plan unfortunately does come with ads these days, and you can only download content on the Standard plan, but both tiers offer five profiles across two screens and HD video.
There’s a pretty decent compatibility list for this service, though Xbox consoles are the most noticeable omission. Still, between PlayStation, Smart TVs, computers, Android smartphones and more, it's more than likely going to have a device that you can access this service on. Depending on the plan you go for, you can connect up to five different devices and there’s selected content that you can download so you can view it offline too.
However, the user experience is lacking, especially when compared with even the worst of its competitors in this guide, with regular customer feedback of bugs like being stuck with one second left in an episode, being logged out of accounts randomly and just generally sluggish performance.
Unfortunately, it is the only place to (legally) watch HBO content in New Zealand, which makes it a must-have if you want to watch the best of the best. This does align perfectly with our message of choosiness, and we recommend you jump into Neon for a month or two, watch everything you have interest in, and opt out. If you need a few recommendations, here's more than a few incredible HBO series to get your started on Neon: Fantasmas, Ren Faire, The Sopranos, Love Has Won: The Cult Mother of God, House of the Dragon, Fargo, Mr Robot, Succession, The Last of Us and, for Masters of the Air fans, The Pacific and Band of Brothers.
Two awesome HBO additions wasn't quite enough for NEON to win our best streaming service of the month award, but it came darn close. Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos is a two-part documentary series in which the head writer and creator of The Sopranos discusses the creative process that brought the show to life. Most excitedly, though, and what bought NEON so close to being our monthly is the premier of HBO's The Penguin. This spin-off series follows Oswald Cobblepot (Colin Farrell) shortly after the events of The Batman as he tries to take advantage of mobster Carmine Falcone’s death.
Verdict: 3.5/5
The best coming to Neon this month
- February 4: Bad Boys For Life / Bad Boys: Ride or Die
- February 7: Limitless
- February 14: Law Abiding Citizen
- February 17: All the President's Men
- February 20: Swingers
- February 21: Collateral / Furiosa A Mad Max Saga
- February 23: The Informant
- February 24: Pineapple Express
Specialty streaming services
After something a little more specific? From sports content to horror and thrills, these streaming platforms offer you a curated collection of streams, shows and movies so you can find exactly what you’re after without shuffling through waves of content you’re not interested in.
Sky is known for its all-encompassing approach to sports coverage, however, signing up for a cable subscription or set-top box can be a bridge too far to cross for many people. It's with this in mind that Sky has introduced a dedicated streaming option in Sky Sport Now.
A subscription to Sky Sport Now will let you stream 12 Sky Sport and ESPN channels, with access to live and on-demand coverage, including the ability to rewind up to 24 hours if you miss an event. Additionally, you also get highlights, stats and the ability to access pay-per-view events (for an extra fee, of course).
In terms of sports, Sky Sport Now is a great place to stream all the action out of the Olympic Games, and it also provides coverage for cricket, rugby, netball, Rugby League, motorsport, basketball, football, tennis, golf and more. Furthermore, you also get access to beIN Sports Connect as part of your subscription, which gives you even more sports to sink your teeth into.
While Sky Sport Now's coverage is certainly impressive, it does come at a significant cost. A monthly subscription to Sky Sport Now will set you back NZ$49.99 per month, while a yearly subscription will cost you a somewhat staggering NZ$499.99. At these prices, you'll want to be a truly devoted sports aficionado.
That said, Sky Sport Now also offers a NZ$29.99 weekly pass that does not automatically renew, which is ideal for the occasional major sporting event like The Olympics. Sky Sport doesn't offer a free trial, but there is a selection of free content so you can still trial the service.
Given how expensive it is, it's truly perplexing that Sky Sport Now still only offers one concurrent stream at high definition, though we suppose its delivery of content at 60fps is worth appreciating.
A streaming service that's strictly for horror fans, Shudder offers a vast selection of fright flicks – old and new – along with a growing library of original films, TV shows, documentaries, podcasts and live-streams.
Shudder Originals include Greg Nicotero's classic series Creepshow, the blood-drenched cult flick Revenge, the indigenous zombie film Blood Quantum, and the critically adored movie Host, which sees a demonic presence infiltrate an online séance, as well as newer hits like Late Night With The Devil – though In a Violent Nature is still yet to come to Shudder.
Admittedly, Shudder has some work to do when it comes to competing with the big streaming players. For one, its maximum streaming resolution is 720p (with many older movies available in standard definition only), which just doesn't cut it compared to other services. And, while we give it props for improving its device compatibility offering since launch, it's still not on a range of important devices like the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, as well as many TV brands also lacking native support.
That said, Shudder still offers incredible value. Priced at a very reasonable NZ$7.99 per month, it's even cheaper if you lock yourself into a year's-worth of scares with Shudders NZ$79.99 annual subscription, which basically gives you more than two free months.
Best new content coming to Shudder in February
- February 1: Hellraiser
- February 3: The Breach / The Summoned
- February 14: The Dead Thing
- February 17: The Soul eater
- February 21: Little Bites / The Birthday
