Netflix has overtaken Prime Video as the top U.S. subscription streaming video for 2025, according to Parks Associates. Prime Video held the top spot for the past three years, marking a major change at the top.
Key Takeaways
- Netflix has overtaken Prime Video as the top U.S. subscription streaming service, ending Prime Video’s three-year reign.
- Hulu climbed to third place, replacing Disney+, largely due to a Charter deal that opened up access to Spectrum TV Select customers.
- The top 10 overall remains the same as it has over the past couple of years, although that could change next year, with the potential for mergers and acquisitions over the next 12 months.
Parks Associates‘ top 10 streaming services list each year is based on estimated subscribers. In this year’s case, the estimated number of subscribers through September 2025.
Last year, the top three in order were Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+.
The list for 2025 sees two changes to this top three with Netflix now leading the way, followed by Prime Video. In the third spot this year is Hulu, replacing Disney+ on last year’s list.
According to Parks Associates, Hulu’s overtaking of Disney+ is the result of its agreement with Charter, which resulted in Spectrum TV Select subscribers gaining access to Hulu at no additional cost.
“The Charter deal gave Hulu instant access to millions of households, reinforcing how vital partnerships between broadband providers and streamers have become in defining the new entertainment bundle, and the ability to scale,” said Michael Goodman, Senior Contributing Analyst, Parks Associates.
Here’s the full top 10 list for 2025
- Netflix
- Prime Video
- Hulu
- Disney+
- Peacock
- Paramount+
- HBO Max (Max)
- Apple TV+
- YouTube Premium
- ESPN+
While there are no major changes to the rest of the list, there were some movements. Paramount+, for example, jumpted to sixth (from seventh), while HBO Max dropped down to seventh (from sixth).
YouTube Premium also climbed up a spot to ninth, at the expense of ESPN+ (now ESPN Select), which dropped down to tenth.
Peacock saw no change in fifth, nor did Apple TV+ (now Apple TV) in eighth.
How the 2025 Top 10 compares to 2024 and 2023
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | Prime Video | Prime Video |
| Prime Video | Netflix | Netflix |
| Hulu | Disney+ | Hulu |
| Disney+ | Hulu | Disney+ |
| Peacock | Peacock | Max |
| Paramount+ | Max | Paramount+ |
| HBO Max (Max) | Paramount+ | ESPN+ |
| Apple TV+ | Apple TV+ | Peacock |
| YouTube Premium | ESPN+ | Apple TV+ |
| ESPN+ | YouTube Premium | YouTube Premium |
In the grand scheme of things, nothing much has changed here, with the top 10 over the past three years consisting of the same ten streaming services.
However, and as Parks Associates points out, there could be changes on the horizon that may impact how the list looks next year. Particularly in relation to Warner Bros. Discovery and the potential for a sale to a major streaming rival.
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