What Does The Best Streaming Service in Malaysia Mean To You?

It was 2016. The year Netflix arrived in Malaysia. Since then, Malaysians have drastically evolved in the way they consume entertainment. By 2020, 14.1 million Malaysians were registered as subscribers to streaming platforms. Naturally, other major streaming services landed in Malaysia to compete for your valuable attention. You now have many options to enjoy watching quality-produced content. So, how can you decide which is the best for you?

What Does “The Best Streaming Service” Mean?

Let’s start with a simple definition. The best streaming service provides you with seemingly endless content, with variety, accessible on any device, at a comfortable price.
Ask yourself the following questions:

• Is the content library huge and routinely updated?
• Is it accessible on devices I use to watch content?
• Is it known for quality original content?
• Is the price comfortable for me?
• Is it easy to navigate?

In the following sections, we’ll explore these questions to guide you in choosing the best streaming service for your needs.

Top Streaming Services in Malaysia Compared

Netflix: Leading the Pack The first streaming service to land in Malaysia. Since 2016, Netflix has provided Malaysians with amazing content around the world. Beyond that, Netflix introduced Malaysians to award-winning original content such as Stranger Things, The Queen’s Gambit, Kingdom, and many more. Netflix created a “For You” feature where content will be suggested based on your watch history. This major streaming service will tell you if a show is close to genres you love based on a percentage. Besides that, Netflix experiments with different cover images for shows you haven’t watched before. A thoughtful attempt to introduce you to new shows you may like. Netflix in Malaysia offers multiple plans. Their basic plan is priced at RM17. Netflix’s most premium plan, which is considered their family plan, is priced at RM55.
HBO GO: Premium Content For long-time consumers of TV, HBO is no stranger. Now, all of its popular and award-winning content is available through its streaming service called HBO GO. However, some shows may be restricted here in Malaysia due to licensing issues. Besides a large library of movies and iconic serials, HBO GO has recently produced captivating originals like Game of Thrones, Watchmen, The Last of Us, and many more. HBO GO in Malaysia is priced at RM23.30 per month.
Amazon Prime Video: Global Entertainment The potential for streaming services grew so enormous that Jeff Bezos decided to launch one too. Amazon Prime Video (a.k.a Prime Video) is a streaming service integrated into Amazon Prime’s ecosystem. Amazon Prime Video provides content around the globe including critically acclaimed originals. Fan favourites such as The Boys, Fallout, Reacher, Vikings, and Invincible are great shows you can spend your time feasting on. You can subscribe to Amazon Prime Video for as little as RM25 per month.
Viu: Regional Favourites Unlike the previous entries, Viu is a streaming service focused on stories across Asia. Launched in 2015, Viu focuses on Malaysian, Korean, and Chinese serials. It also houses the most popular variety show, Running Man. Of course, Viu is famous among Korean entertainment fans. Viu offers two plans. One is a freemium plan, while the other is Viu Premium. With the freemium plan, you can sign up for free and begin watching shows on Viu. The shows are limited and supported by ads. With Viu Premium, you can skip the ads and have full access to their content library. In Malaysia, the Premium plans are broken into 3 tiers. The first tier is RM50 for 3 months access. The second tier is RM95 for 6 months access. And the third tier is RM180 for 12 months access.

Price Comparison Of Popular Streaming Services

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Content Library And Exclusives

Since the success of Stranger Things, Netflix has taken a bold approach to new projects.
For example, the recent breakout hit Netflix’s One Piece is adapted from the manga of the same name. One Piece is a story no one would expect to have a live-action adaptation given its over-the-top elements – a major part of its story.

However, Netflix managed to do the impossible. The live-action One Piece became a global phenomenon, breaking records and blowing the minds of fans everywhere. Netflix has now greenlit other projects within the same genre. If you love stories from the world of anime, gaming, and action-packed fantasy, then Netflix is one to consider.
But be warned, not all of their originals are fan-favourites.
Disney+ Hotstar is home to all the best stories you grew up watching. You have access to all the Disney and Pixar classics. Plus, you can watch all your favourite movies from the Marvel Cinematic universe.
If you’re a nostalgia buff, Disney+ Hotstar is a top choice. Regarding their new content, it has been a hot topic of debate among fans.

HBO GO is known for a few things. It’s where you watch Game of Thrones, The Last of Us, The Harry Potter series, the DCEU, The Sopranos, and The Newsroom.

Most of its original series have won multiple awards and are a huge part of American pop culture. It’s a good platform for fans of heavy drama revolving around American culture.

For fans of Korean drama, Viu is the streaming service for you. What makes them stand out is they air popular Korean shows 8 hours after it officially airs in Korea. Almost all aspects of the Korean shows are kept originally without any issue with licensing. Korean dramas that appear on other streaming services may be heavily edited or changed due to licensing issues. Also, Viu provides popular shows across the Asian region. So if you’re curious about the best drama serials from Malaysia, Indonesia, to the Philippines, then Viu is a platform to consider.

User Experience

Each streaming service is easy to navigate. These platforms are routinely updated to improve your streaming experience. All of them offer offline viewing. You can download your favourite shows to your device and access them anytime. For the case of sharing accounts, refer to the table below.

Which Streaming Service Fits You Best?

When it comes to choosing the best streaming service, it’s a point of preference. The streaming service you’ll enjoy the most should match your watching habits. If you’re a new user, Netflix is a good streaming service to start with. They have a huge content library and great localisation. They have countless projects in the pipeline, both international and domestic. Plus, their plans are quite flexible for your wallet. HBO GO and Amazon Prime Video are choices you can consider if you’re looking for something new. The majority of their content library is American productions. Arguably, their localisation is quite limited. If you’re a huge fan of Korean drama with an appetite for Asian productions, we’d recommend Viu as your streaming service. Viu is slowly growing its original serials, which are focused on Asian productions.