How We Test Products and Services
Our reviews provide expert, unbiased advice you can trust. Here’s how we do it.
Trust. Standards. And Our Mission.
When we started TheStreamable.com in 2017, ditching cable for a live TV streaming service was still not the norm. The big companies that you see doing it today, like DIRECTV, Sling, or Fubo, were all in their infancy and most people didn’t have a smart TV yet in their home. But as more of our favorite shows and movies – and later, live channels, news, and sports – went online, it became more complicated to find if something was streaming. And on top of that, if was streaming, there wasn’t any information that compared services, TV and app compatibility, or prices. We set out to change that.
Our streaming reviews utilize side-by-side comparisons | © Matt Tamanini / TheStreamable
As of today, we’ve extensively reviewed over 300 video-on-demand services (or “VODs” as we call them) – everything from the Netflix and Disney+ apps you are well aware of down to niche platforms like Pangolo Next for telenovelas, Qello for symphonic concerts, or BYUtv for conferences and for-the-whole-family programs. We’ve published thousands of articles on VODs and are often contacted first when something changes – either by other readers or the companies themselves. It’s a big reason why hundreds of thousands of people come to The Streamable every month.
But as cord-cutting expanded into live TV streaming, so did our coverage. Nowhere else will you find where to watch your favorite team, urgent weather events, or local television information as complete as we have. We’ve spent years building out technology that, in addition to our reviews, informs our writers and readers of when and where to find what’s on TV – whether that is a game, a movie, or a new original series.
The past five years have shown that the streaming landscape will only become more complex. That’s why our mission is stronger than ever: to simplify streaming decisions. That simplicity only comes through our years of testing, reporting, and expertise with service intricacies, channels, and devices. And we’re happy to do it because it means we get to watch some of the best shows, exciting games, and heart-wrenching movies in the process.
Why You Can Trust The Streamable Reviews and Recommendations
Trusted, Honest, and Timely Reviews
We value our editorial independence above all else. All of our reviews, buying guides, and roundups are written by built off thorough research, real-world testing and use, and our expert knowledge of the streaming industry. We do not let advertisers or affiliate partners influence our coverage. When a partner has provided information or content, we will clearly state where that information has come from.
Our team of professional writers not only covers sports, entertainment, and streaming news every day but are constantly updating and verifying information to make sure that we are providing up-to-date articles. One of our biggest frustrations before starting The Streamable was finding an article with outdated information or expired coupon codes, so we built a proprietary technology that automatically updates all of our articles with the correct prices, promotional offers, and channels to ensure that all our articles are true. These two things (experts and real-time data) are the reason why we are able to produce the reviews and recommendations so quickly and why we are often first to publish any changes that may affect our readers.
How We Test Streaming Services
All of our writers are hands-on when it comes to covering, testing, and reviewing streaming services. This is why you will often see pictures and screenshots within articles from our own living rooms or computers. Streaming subscriptions are paid by each writer and reimbursed by The Streamable to a certain limit. This allows our writers to balance their wallets just as our readers do – capitalizing on deals, canceling services when no longer needed, and understanding the ins and outs of the service on their own TVs, phones, and laptops.
The Streamable reviews include a mix of quantitative and qualitative testing and are based on prior reviews and tests we have completed, accompanied by data at our disposal. Depending on the service, we run different benchmarks depending on the type of platform, device, or app we’re testing, but we always approach our reviews as consumers because we are the consumers of these platforms’ content. We’re sports fanatics, cinephiles, and business reporters who are genuinely interested in the streaming industry. And while we definitely spend more time than most with more popular platforms, teams, and titles, our team is spread across the US which allows us to dig more into local and market specifics – such as distribution rights, additional regional sports fees, market blackouts, and local programming. The biggest questions we ask ourselves are: Does it deliver on all of its promises? Is it better than the next best thing out right now? Who should subscribe to it or, more importantly, is it worth subscribing to at all? Are there cheaper alternatives available for this?
Our streaming tests go beyond available content | © TheStreamable
Affiliate links
Some of our news stories, reviews, and programming information include affiliate links. These links are dynamically inserted into these pages without the input of our writers. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn a commission.
Deals posts
Because we have been covering these platforms for years, we have historical data on what is a typical discount and what is an amazing deal. Our team strives to put as much context into our deal coverage as possible to help readers make an informed buying decision.
The deals we highlight are centered on companies we believe to be reputable. We aim to only include good deals on The Streamable. Furthermore, the deals we highlight are only for platforms we have already reviewed or evaluated for buyer guides and will link to those respective platform pages or will include the platform’s review within the deal alert. The only exception to this is price drops in TV sets, surround sound systems, and projectors; our team relies on verified purchase reviews and historical pricing to help us determine if those items should be included in a deal or not.
Sponsored content
The Streamable may write sponsored content in partnership with an advertiser or other third party. Readers can find this content clearly marked as “Supported by:” at the top of the article such as this article. Such content may include terms, phrases, images, or data that are provided to our writers and may not reflect 100% on the views of our editorial staff. The Streamable may earn a commission on products bought through sponsored articles.