Do you want to make your Airbnb a place guests rave about? The secret boils down to the fine details that set your rental apart, like the best streaming platforms for Airbnb guests. After all, most guests love to unwind with their favorite shows or spend their downtime discovering new ones. But with so many streaming services out there, how do you choose the best for your rental?
Here are our picks on streaming platforms to have ready for your guests:
- Netflix: Best All Around
- Disney+: Best for Family-Friendly Rentals
- ESPN+: Best for Sports
- Max: Best for Premium Content
- Hulu: Best for Tight Budgets
- Amazon Prime Video: Best for Variety
But before diving into the finer details, make sure the bigger picture is on point. That's where Summer's professional design services come in. We're all about making sure your space is cozy and stylish and packed with everything guests need for a great time. Let us help you create an Airbnb that truly stands out.
By choosing the right streaming platforms and investing in expert design, you'll provide a memorable experience that keeps your guests coming back. Are you ready for the positive reviews to start rolling in? Get started with Summer now.
How We Selected the Best Streaming Platforms for Airbnb
Choosing the best streaming platforms for your Airbnb isn't just about picking the most popular names. Instead, it's about understanding what will keep guests entertained throughout their stay. We looked into each option to determine which services would truly benefit your rental.
Here's how we made our picks:
- Variety: We looked for platforms with diverse libraries, both local and international, that cater to all tastes and age groups.
- Ease of use: A simple, user-friendly interface is crucial!
- Affordability: We considered the cost of each service to ensure it fits within a reasonable budget while still offering great value. Note: We give pricing below for each option, but these may change over time.
- Family-friendliness: Platforms that offer a strong selection of family-friendly content were given extra points, perfect for hosts catering to groups with kids.
- Quality of content: High-quality programming is a major draw, so we focused on platforms with standout shows and movies.
- Originality of content: Finally, we determined each platform based on their original content, opting for services with high-quality offerings.
After evaluating all these factors, Netflix emerged as our top pick. With its unbeatable mix of content variety, ease of use, and high-quality content (both originals and otherwise), Netflix is the ultimate choice to keep your guests happy throughout their stay.
Netflix: Best All Around
When you think of streaming, Netflix is probably the first name that comes to mind, and for good reason. It's a household name with a huge library of thousands of shows and movies, catering to just about every taste and preference.
Offering Netflix in your Airbnb will keep your guests entertained for hours. Whether they're in the mood for a thrilling drama, a binge-worthy original series, or a heartwarming movie, Netflix will have something for them.
With Netflix, you can be assured that your guests will never be short on options. Plus, the prices are pretty reasonable too, starting at $6.99 per month.
While the Basic plan with ads starts low, for a smoother, ad-free experience, the Standard plan will be a better fit for an Airbnb. But, for a luxurious experience, try the Premium plan–its 4K max quality will go well with a premium TV. With multiple screens and HD streaming in all, guests can watch what they want, when they want, on any device.
Easily sign up and manage your subscription on Netflix.
Disney+: Best for Family-Friendly Rentals
If your Airbnb is marketed towards families (like one in Orlando!), Disney+ is a must-have. With a collection of content that appeals to both kids and adults, from animated classics to the latest Marvel blockbusters, Disney+ is perfect for creating a family-friendly atmosphere.
When you mention Disney+, most people will automatically think of the timeless Disney films, but Disney+ has so much more than that: Disney+ also has content from National Geographic and other international brands. With hundreds of different titles, it's a hit with all age groups.
Disney+ also sets itself apart by offering bundles with other streaming services. For example, Disney+ (Basic) with Hulu (with ads) will set you back $10 per month, while Disney+ (Premium), with ad-free Hulu will set you back $20 per month.They currently have bundles with Hulu/Live TV, HBO Max, and ESPN+. Their most expensive bundle, at $90 per month, will give you Premium versions of Disney+, Hulu with Live TV, and ESPN+.
You can check out their offerings and manage your subscription here.
ESPN+: Best for Sports
Is your Airbnb located in a city known for sports? Or do you want to appeal to sports enthusiasts? For either, ESPN+ is the best choice. It has everything a sports buff might want to watch: live games, in-depth sports analysis, and exclusive coverage of events. Offering ESPN+ in your rental is a literal game-changer.
This service is packed with content that goes beyond what you'd find on regular cable. From live NFL, NBA, and MLB games to niche sports like UFC and college football, there's something for every kind of fan. Their plans start at $10.99 per month.
Do note that unlike the other services on our list, ESPN+ is very niche. We recommend pairing it with another streaming service, which will push the price up. For the best prices, check out the bundles offered by Disney+ (that include ESPN+).
Subscribe and manage your plan directly on ESPN+.
Max: Best for Premium Content
Upgrade your Airbnb's entertainment offerings with HBO Max. Known for its premium content, HBO Max brings the kind of quality that's hard to beat. It appeals to movie buffs, binge-watchers, or guests looking for something incredible to watch with its library of critically acclaimed shows, blockbuster movies, and exclusive content.
HBO Max is packed with some of the most talked-about series and films (Game of Thrones and Succession, anyone?). But it also has a huge selection of classic movies, documentaries, and exclusive Max Originals that can't be found anywhere else–made impeccably, as per the HBO way, of course.
Subscribe with one of their plans starting at $9.99 per month. Like ESPN+, Max also has a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for a discounted price. Max subscribers are also eligible for the B/R Sports add-on for an extra $9.99 per month.
You can explore all that HBO Max has to offer and subscribe here.
Hulu: Best for Tight Budgets
For hosts who don't have a large entertainment budget, Hulu is our pick. It's an affordable option that still delivers a ton of quality, making it perfect for guests who are looking for entertaining content without the hefty price tag.
Not only does Hulu not skimp on quality, but it has the quantity as well. It has thousands of movies and shows in its library, and offers a mix of current TV hits, classic series, movies, and exclusive originals, giving your guests plenty to enjoy during their stay.
Hulu's biggest draw is its affordability starting at $7.99 per month (with ads) combined with a robust content library. It also has yearly plans to make the price even cheaper per month.
But more than just its library, Hulu offers live TV options if your guests want to keep up with the latest news, sports, and events, as well as bundles with other popular streaming services. Check it all out on the Hulu website.
Amazon Prime Video: Best for Variety
Hosts looking to offer a little bit of everything need Amazon Prime Video in their Airbnb. It has a vast and diverse library with over 20,000 movies and thousands of TV shows, blowing every streaming service out of the water.
It has everything from award-winning originals and popular TV shows to blockbuster movies and niche content. It's truly the perfect option for guests who love to explore different genres and discover new favorites.
Prime Video has a different subscription scheme than other streaming services because it's part of the Prime ecosystem. With any of their plans, though, your guests will have access to thousands of titles, including hit series like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and The Boys, along with a rotating selection of movies, documentaries, and even live sports. Prime Video also offers access to the latest releases, so guests can watch the newest films right from your Airbnb.
But, while Amazon has a large selection of titles, keep in mind that many of them still need to be rented or bought. To protect yourself from any charges your guests may incur, you'll need to change your payment method on your Amazon account. You can find out more and manage your subscription on Amazon Prime Video.
Bottom Line
The right streaming platform can take your Airbnb to the next level. While we love each of these services, when it comes down to it, Netflix stands out as the clear choice. Its diverse library has got something for everyone, which means your guests are likely to find exactly what they're in the mood for. If you're aiming to offer quality entertainment, Netflix is, hands down, the one to go with.
Choosing the right products for your Airbnb is just the first step in maximizing your rental’s potential.
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Whether you're an individual host or managing a full vacation rental portfolio, Summer helps you make smarter decisions and boost your revenue. Explore SummerOS and Forecast today!
