ZEE5 alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank All video streaming services

Top picks

Best overall
Prime Video
Amazon Prime plan: $14.99/month or $139/year
Best free option
YouTube
Free plan + paid

Common reasons people leave ZEE5: few international series compared with Netflix or Prime Video, and free tier is limited and carries ads. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces ZEE5, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Prime Video currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Verified price	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Prime Video	Paid	$14.99/month or $139/year	No	Web, Windows, macOS +2	8 of 8	76.8
2	YouTube	Free plan + paid	—	No	Web, iOS, Android	4 of 4	72.5
3	Sony LIV	Paid	₹1,499/year (₹399/month)	No	Web, Android, iOS	4 of 4	64.8
4	Netflix	Paid	$8.99 a month (Standard with ads)	No	Web, Windows, iOS +1	8 of 8	57.2
5	JioTV	Free plan + paid	—	No	iOS, Android	4 of 4	42.3

1. Prime VideoTop pick
Best for: Amazon Prime members who want films, series and sports bundled with their membership
PaidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
76.8
score / 100
Why switch from ZEE5
Strong regional-language films plus Amazon Prime shipping benefits.
Pros
Included with an Amazon Prime membership
Rent or buy titles that aren't in the subscription
Offline downloads on mobile and desktop apps
Cons
Ads on included content in many countries unless you pay extra
Mix of included, add-on and paid titles makes browsing confusing
Downloaded titles can't be cast to Chromecast or AirPlay
Visit Prime Video Compare with ZEE5 Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Prime Video a good ZEE5 alternative?
Verified facts
8 of 8 verified
Content
Movies, TV shows, sports, live TV
Checked Nov 8, 2026primevideo.com(opens source in a new tab)
Offline downloads
iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Fire tablets
Checked Nov 8, 2026primevideo.com(opens source in a new tab)
Casting downloads
Not allowed
Checked Nov 8, 2026primevideo.com(opens source in a new tab)
Owner
Amazon
Checked Nov 8, 2026primevideo.com(opens source in a new tab)
Amazon Prime plan
$14.99/month or $139/year
Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
Amazon Prime plan (UK)
£8.99/month or £95/year
Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
Amazon Prime plan (India)
₹299/month or ₹1,499/year
Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.in(opens source in a new tab)
Prime Lite plan (India)
₹799/year
Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.in(opens source in a new tab)
2. YouTube
Best for: Anyone who wants the widest range of free videos, tutorials, live streams and podcasts in one place
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android
72.5
score / 100
Why switch from ZEE5
Free option with many official Indian film and TV channels.
Pros
Huge free library covering almost every topic and language
Shorts, live streams, podcasts and long videos in one app
Runs on nearly every phone, TV, console and browser
Clear revenue share for creators in the Partner Program
Cons
Free tier carries frequent ads, including mid-roll
Background play and downloads need a paid Premium plan
Heavy tracking of viewing history to drive recommendations
Visit YouTube Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.363
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is YouTube a good ZEE5 alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Creator revenue share
55% of ad revenue to creators
Checked Nov 8, 2026youtube.com(opens source in a new tab)
Audience
2B viewers
Checked Nov 8, 2026youtube.com(opens source in a new tab)
Formats
Shorts, long videos, live and podcasts
Checked Nov 8, 2026youtube.com(opens source in a new tab)
Monetization
YouTube Partner Program
Checked Nov 8, 2026youtube.com(opens source in a new tab)
3. Sony LIV
Best for: Indian viewers who follow Sony TV shows, its originals, and the sports Sony holds rights to
PaidWeb, Android, iOS
64.8
score / 100
Why switch from ZEE5
Comparable price with acclaimed Indian originals and more live sport.
Pros
Well-regarded Indian originals and Sony TV shows
Live sports such as cricket tours and European football
Yearly plans are inexpensive by international standards
Cons
Sports rights change by season, so a favourite event may move elsewhere
Mobile-only plan is capped at 720p on a single device
Smaller film library than JioHotstar or Prime Video
Visit Sony LIV Compare with ZEE5 Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Sony LIV a good ZEE5 alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Premium plan
₹1,499/year (₹399/month)
Checked Nov 8, 2026sonyliv.com(opens source in a new tab)
Mobile-only plan
₹699/year, 720p, 1 device
Checked Nov 8, 2026sonyliv.com(opens source in a new tab)
Video quality
Up to 4K with Dolby Atmos on Premium
Checked Nov 8, 2026sonyliv.com(opens source in a new tab)
Content
TV shows, movies, live sports and originals
Checked Nov 8, 2026sonyliv.com(opens source in a new tab)
4. Netflix
Best for: Households that want a big library of original series and films on nearly every screen
PaidWeb, Windows, iOS, Android
57.2
score / 100
Why switch from ZEE5
Ad-free, with a much larger catalogue of international series.
Pros
Large catalogue of original series and films
Apps on almost every TV, console and phone
Offline downloads and mobile games included
Cons
Account sharing restricted to one household
4K and more simultaneous screens require the top plan
Library differs by country and titles rotate out
Visit Netflix Compare with ZEE5 Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.369
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Netflix a good ZEE5 alternative?
Verified facts
8 of 8 verified
Billing
Monthly only
Checked Nov 8, 2026help.netflix.com(opens source in a new tab)
Top quality
4K Ultra HD + HDR (Premium)
Checked Nov 8, 2026help.netflix.com(opens source in a new tab)
Account sharing
One household
Checked Nov 8, 2026help.netflix.com(opens source in a new tab)
Games
Included
Checked Nov 8, 2026help.netflix.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starting price
$8.99 a month (Standard with ads)
Checked Nov 8, 2026help.netflix.com(opens source in a new tab)
Standard plan
$19.99 a month
Checked Nov 8, 2026help.netflix.com(opens source in a new tab)
Premium plan
$26.99 a month
Checked Nov 8, 2026help.netflix.com(opens source in a new tab)
Extra member
$7.99 a month with ads, $9.99 without
Checked Nov 8, 2026help.netflix.com(opens source in a new tab)
5. JioTV
Best for: Jio mobile customers in India who want live TV channels on their phone at no extra cost
Free plan + paidiOS, Android
42.3
score / 100
Why switch from ZEE5
Live channels from many broadcasters at no extra cost on Jio.
Pros
1000+ live channels across many genres and languages
Seven-day catch-up on select channels
No extra fee for Jio customers
Cons
Only for Jio users in India
Mobile and tablet focus in the main app
Premium OTT content depends on your recharge plan
Visit JioTV Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.312
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is JioTV a good ZEE5 alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Live channels
1000+
Checked Nov 8, 2026jio.com(opens source in a new tab)
Catch-up
7 days
Checked Nov 8, 2026jio.com(opens source in a new tab)
Languages
10+
Checked Nov 8, 2026jio.com(opens source in a new tab)
Devices
Smartphones, feature phones, tablets
Checked Nov 8, 2026jio.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best ZEE5 alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best ZEE5 alternative for most people

Prime Video

Strong regional-language films plus Amazon Prime shipping benefits.

Best ZEE5 alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

YouTube

Free option with many official Indian film and TV channels.

Best ZEE5 alternative for Mac

Prime Video

Strong regional-language films plus Amazon Prime shipping benefits.

Best ZEE5 alternative for Windows

Netflix

Ad-free, with a much larger catalogue of international series.

Best ZEE5 alternative for iPhone and Android

Sony LIV

Comparable price with acclaimed Indian originals and more live sport.

Best ZEE5 alternative for working in the browser

Prime Video

Strong regional-language films plus Amazon Prime shipping benefits.

ZEE5 alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to ZEE5?

Prime Video ranks first right now. Strong regional-language films plus Amazon Prime shipping benefits. YouTube and Sony LIV follow it in our ranking.

ZEE5 vs Prime Video: what's the difference?

ZEE5 is free with paid plans; Prime Video is a paid product. Verified prices: ZEE5 ₹129 for 3 months (kids plan), Prime Video $14.99/month or $139/year. Only Prime Video runs on Windows and macOS.

Is ZEE5 free?

ZEE5 is free with paid plans. Starting price: ₹129 for 3 months (kids plan); Regional plan: ₹199 a month (Hindi, Punjabi, Bhojpuri); Movies, Series, Live TV plan: ₹299 a month; Sports + all content plan: ₹1,699 for 12 months. Checked on ZEE5's own site, November 2026.

How much do ZEE5 alternatives cost?

Verified prices for the top-ranked ZEE5 alternatives: Prime Video, $14.99/month or $139/year; Sony LIV, ₹1,499/year (₹399/month); Netflix, $8.99 a month (Standard with ads). Each price was checked on the app's own site; see each card below for the date and source.

Is there a free alternative to ZEE5?

Yes. YouTube (free plan + paid) and JioTV (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to ZEE5?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from ZEE5?

The complaints we hear most: few international series compared with Netflix or Prime Video; free tier is limited and carries ads; little live sport beyond the football rights Zee holds.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces ZEE5, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.

Top picks

Quick comparison

1. Prime VideoTop pick

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

2. YouTube

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

3. Sony LIV

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

4. Netflix

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

5. JioTV

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

The best ZEE5 alternative for…

Best ZEE5 alternative for most people

Best ZEE5 alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Best ZEE5 alternative for Mac

Best ZEE5 alternative for Windows

Best ZEE5 alternative for iPhone and Android

Best ZEE5 alternative for working in the browser

ZEE5 alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to ZEE5?

ZEE5 vs Prime Video: what's the difference?

Is ZEE5 free?

How much do ZEE5 alternatives cost?

Is there a free alternative to ZEE5?

Is there an open-source alternative to ZEE5?

Why do people switch from ZEE5?

How is this list ranked?