Summary
On the surface, Amazon’s Prime Video Channels may seem like a convenient way to access all your favorite streaming services from one platform, but they come with a catch. In most cases, subscribing to a streaming service’s Prime Channel only provides access to its content on Prime Video, and not the streaming service itself.
That may not sound like a serious problem, but it creates a few subtle issues. Being forced to use Prime Video means dealing with the streaming service’s growing problems, and some Prime Channels don’t even include all the content from their respective platforms. Normally, this means you have to choose between the Prime Channel and its equivalent app. Thankfully, there are a few notable exceptions.
Some Prime Channels Include Direct Access to Streaming Services
Although it’s barely advertised, some Prime Channel subscriptions provide access to their content on both Prime Video and their respective streaming services. Not only does this give you more ways to watch their content, but it also means you can avoid the biggest drawbacks of using Prime Video.
For example, Prime Channels don’t always offer the same breadth of programs as their home platforms, with some missing large swaths of content that can only be found on their standalone platforms. Furthermore,Prime Video continues to shove adsinto every part of its platform. Unless you pay extra to remove ads, prepare to have your viewing experience interrupted by lengthy commercial breaks and to see adverts cover the screen whenever you pause a program.
Even without Amazon’s avalanche of ads, Prime Video’s continued push tomake you pay for higher-quality audio and videoorfully remove popular featureshas only worsened the viewing experience for all content on the platform, including the extensive libraries of movies and shows offered by each Prime Channel.
Prime Channels usually share the same price as their standalone equivalents, but routinely go formassively discounted prices during Prime Dayand Black Friday—sometimes dropping to just a few dollars during these sales events. Alternatively, you may begin a free trial for the Prime Channel to gain access to its official app. This method can also be beneficial if you prefer using Prime Video over the official streaming platform, but still want to access perks and programs that are only available through its streaming app.
Unfortunately, only a few channels are kind enough to include a bonus subscription, and none of them advertise this fantastic perk. Fortunately, we’ve compiled a short list of the Prime Video Channels that secretly double as full-fledged streaming subscriptions you can access from their respective apps or online.
Paramount+
As the name implies,Paramount+is the home of everything under the Paramount umbrella, which includes a lot more than you might expect. Along with an extensive catalog of new and old theatrical films from Paramount Pictures, Paramount+ also includes programs from Nickelodean, MTV, the Smithsonian Channel, and a few other major networks. There is an impressive variety of movies and series ranging from nostalgic ’90s cartoons to the newest binge-worthy dramas, with plenty of offerings for families and older audiences alike. The standard Paramount+ subscription starts at $7.99 per month, but you can upgrade to Paramount+ Premium for $12.99 monthly to access live channels and additional content from Showtime.
If there is any downside to Paramount+, it would have to be the service’s limited exclusives. Compared to competitors like Netflix and Amazon Prime, Paramount+ has very little original content to set it apart from other streaming services. That’s not to say it’s completely lacking in exclusives, asits library features original dramaslikeYellowstone,1883, andMayor of Kingstown, as well as animated comedies likeStar Trek: Lower Decksand the recentSouth Parkspecials. However, Paramount+ doesn’t come close to the sheer number of original programs and ongoing exclusives as most other streaming services. Despite this, the platform’s massive library of older hits and recent releases makes up for the shortcomings of its original offerings.
Thankfully, it’s easy to connect your Prime Video account to Paramount+. Simply launch the Paramount+ app or head to the website, select “Sign In”, and choose “Connect Provider.” You’ll be given a list of TV providers that offer Paramount+; select “Amazon Prime” and login to your Prime Video account (assuming you haven’t already) to finish connecting your Prime Channel subscription to Paramount+.
HBO Max
Max—formerly known as “HBO Max” andsoon to return to its former branding—is one of the best streaming services for watching recent releases and timeless cinema classics. Most new movies debut on HBO Max before any other streaming service, usually being added only a few months (or even weeks) after their theatrical premieres. HBO Max also features an eclectic selection of original series, HBO exclusives, and multiple live TV channels. These originals range from documentaries, animated series, historical romances, crime dramas, reality television, and plenty more. Even outside its exclusives, HBO Max still impresses witha collection of classic moviesand documentaries from throughout cinema history, making it the perfect streaming platform for both casual moviegoers and avid film buffs.
Unfortunately, HBO Max is also one of the pricier streaming services on offer. Subscriptions range from $9.99 to $20.99 per month, depending on the plan you choose. However, even the cheapest plan provides full access to HBO Max’s streaming library—albeit with ads and limited streaming quality options—and only live channels are locked behind the pricier subscription plans.
Linking your Prime Channel subscription to HBO Max is a short and simple process. First, sign in to an HBO Max account, or create a new one if you haven’t already. During either process, you will be given the option to connect your account to a third-party provider. Select “Prime Video Channels” from the list of possible providers, and click “allow” when prompted to provide your Prime Video account information. Afterward, you will have access to HBO Max on both Prime Video and its standalone app.
Crunchyroll
Crunchyrollboasts the largest catalog of anime films and series on any streaming service. Most modern anime series are only available internationally through Crunchyroll, with new episodes being added to the platform one day after they air in Japan. Crunchyroll also has exclusive streaming rights tohundreds of retro anime seriesand even a few live-action Japanese films, making for an impressive selection of modern classics and old-school gems. In recent years, other streaming services have been catching up with their own exclusive anime series, but Crunchyroll is still the best option for (legally) streaming anime. Although Crunchyroll subscriptions can get pricey—with plans ranging from $7.99 to $15.99 per month—the higher-end plans offer additional discounts and perks that ensure you’ll get your money’s worth.
Unlike HBO Max and Paramount+, which contain most of the same shows between their channels and standalone streaming services—barring a few app-exclusive exceptions—linking your Prime Channel subscription to a Crunchyroll account is essential to enjoying the bulk of its content. Numerous series and shows on Crunchyroll are mysteriously absent from its Prime Channel, and the ones that are included on Prime Videosuffer from terrible subtitles—many of which are obviously auto-generated. This is especially problematic for Crunchyroll, as a large portion of its anime library is only available in Japanese audio, making most of its shows practically unwatchable on Prime Video (unless you’re fluent in Japanese).
Fortunately, these issues don’t exist on the Crunchyroll app, but linking your Prime Channel subscription isn’t as straightforward as connecting to Paramount+ or HBO Max. To connect your Prime Channel subscription to Crunchyroll, create a Crunchyroll account (if you haven’t already) and go to “sso.crunchyroll.com/login/amazon”. From this page, enter your Crunchyroll account information and continue to the next page, where you will be prompted to share your Amazon account with the Crunchyroll website. Select “Allow” to complete the process, and you’ll finally be able to access the full range of Crunchyroll’s content.
While Amazon’sPrime Day salesare on, there’s a good chance Prime Channels will be receiving a deep discount during the event. If you want to try any of these streaming services but prefer using the standalone app over the limited content of Prime Video, you can get the best of both worlds by subscribing to these channels and taking advantage of their bonus subscriptions.
