Prime Video vs ZEE5
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Prime Video
Amazon's streaming service with original series, films, live sports and rentals.
ZEE5
Indian streaming service from Zee Entertainment with shows, films and originals in many Indian languages.
The short answer
Prime Video suits Amazon Prime members who want international originals, licensed films, sports in some markets and the option to rent new releases, all bundled with shopping benefits. ZEE5 suits viewers who want Zee TV serials, Hindi and regional films and live Indian channels, with cheaper single-language packs. In India the two are often used together rather than as substitutes.
Prime Video or ZEE5: our take
Prime Video comes bundled with an Amazon Prime membership in most countries, so the price you pay also covers Amazon shipping and other benefits. In India that is ₹299/month or ₹1,499/year, with a Prime Lite plan at ₹799/year; in the US it is $14.99/month or $139/year. The catalogue mixes Amazon originals, licensed films and series, live sports in selected markets and channel add-ons, and you can rent or buy titles that aren't included. Included content shows ads in many countries unless you pay for an ad-free upgrade.
ZEE5 is a standalone streaming service from Zee Entertainment Enterprises built around Indian-language content: Zee TV daily serials, often available before or alongside broadcast, Hindi and regional films, ZEE5 originals, kids' shows and live news and entertainment channels across seven Indian languages. Some content is free with ads. Paid options include a regional plan at ₹199 a month, a Movies, Series, Live TV plan at ₹299 a month and a sports and all-content plan at ₹1,699 for 12 months covering the FIFA tournaments Zee streams in India. Its international version reaches South Asian viewers in 190+ countries.
On devices, Prime Video has apps for the web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, smart TVs and consoles, with offline downloads on mobile, desktop and Fire tablets, though downloaded titles can't be cast. ZEE5 runs on the web, Android, iOS, smart TVs and streaming devices. Prime Video's weak spot is browsing: the mix of included, add-on and paid titles can be confusing. ZEE5's is breadth, with few international series.
Choose Prime Video if you already pay for Amazon Prime or want a broad international mix with rentals. Choose ZEE5 if Zee serials, live Indian TV or films in a specific regional language matter most. Households that want both international and Zee content commonly keep both.
Which should you pick?
Choose Prime Video if…
- Amazon Prime members who want films, series and sports bundled with their membership
- You need Windows and macOS, which ZEE5 doesn't list
- Included with an Amazon Prime membership
- Rent or buy titles that aren't in the subscription
Choose ZEE5 if…
- Viewers who want Zee TV serials and films in Hindi or a regional Indian language
- You want a free option (Prime Video is paid only)
- Large library of Zee TV serials and regional-language films
- Language-specific packs cost less than the full plan
About each app
What is Prime Video?
Prime Video is Amazon's video streaming service. Most people get it as part of an Amazon Prime membership, though it's sold standalone in some countries. It mixes Amazon originals, licensed films and series, live sports in selected markets and channel add-ons such as premium networks you can subscribe to inside the app. You can also rent or buy individual titles that aren't included, which is useful for new releases. Included content shows ads in many countries unless you pay for an ad-free upgrade. Titles can be downloaded for offline viewing on Fire tablets and in the iOS, Android, macOS and Windows apps, and it has apps for most smart TVs, consoles and streaming devices. The catalogue varies widely by country, and the mix of included, add-on and paid titles can make browsing confusing.
What is ZEE5?
ZEE5 is the streaming platform of Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It is built around Indian-language content: the Zee TV family's daily serials (often available before or alongside their TV broadcast), Hindi and regional films, ZEE5 originals, kids' shows and a set of live TV news and entertainment channels. It leans heavily on regional languages, with dedicated sections and language packs for Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada and Bengali alongside Hindi. Zee also holds FIFA tournament rights in India, which it streams on the service. Some content is free with ads, while most premium films and originals need a paid subscription, with cheaper single-language packs available. It runs on the web, Android, iOS, smart TVs and streaming devices, and the international version reaches South Asian audiences in more than 190 countries.
Side by side
| Attribute | Prime Video | ZEE5 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free plan + paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Web, Android, iOS |
| Best for | Amazon Prime members who want films, series and sports bundled with their membership | Viewers who want Zee TV serials and films in Hindi or a regional Indian language |
| Status | Active | Active |
Verified facts, compared
Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.
| Fact | Prime Video | ZEE5 |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Amazon | Zee Entertainment Enterprises |
Prime Video vs ZEE5 pricing
Prime Video: paid
ZEE5: free plan + paid
- Starting price: ₹129 for 3 months (kids plan) source
- Regional plan: ₹199 a month (Hindi, Punjabi, Bhojpuri) source
- Movies, Series, Live TV plan: ₹299 a month source
- Sports + all content plan: ₹1,699 for 12 months source
Platforms
| Platform | Prime Video | ZEE5 |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Prime Video facts
8 of 8 verified- Content
- Movies, TV shows, sports, live TV
- Checked Nov 8, 2026primevideo.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Watch movies, TV shows, sports, and live TV”
- Offline downloads
- iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Fire tablets
- Checked Nov 8, 2026primevideo.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “you need a Fire tablet, or the Prime Video app for iOS, Android, macOS, or Windows 10 and 11.”
- Casting downloads
- Not allowed
- Checked Nov 8, 2026primevideo.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “The playback of downloaded content over Chromecast or AirPlay isn’t permitted.”
- Owner
- Amazon
- Checked Nov 8, 2026primevideo.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates”
- Amazon Prime plan (UK)
- £8.99/month or £95/year
- Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
- “Prime Monthly £8.99 per month after trial Prime Annual £95 per year”
- Amazon Prime plan (India)
- ₹299/month or ₹1,499/year
- Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.in(opens source in a new tab)
- “Prime ₹299 per month Prime ₹1,499 per year”
- Prime Lite plan (India)
- ₹799/year
- Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.in(opens source in a new tab)
- “Prime Lite ₹799 per year”
- Amazon Prime plan
- $14.99/month or $139/year
- Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Prime Monthly $14.99 per month after trial Prime Annual $139 per year after trial Prime for Young Adults $7.49 per month after trial Prime Access $6.”
ZEE5 facts
8 of 8 verified- Reach
- 190+ countries
- Checked Nov 8, 2026zee5.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “reaching viewers across 190+ countries.”
- Languages
- Seven Indian languages
- Checked Nov 8, 2026zee5.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “across seven languages; Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada, and Bangla.”
- Owner
- Zee Entertainment Enterprises
- Checked Nov 8, 2026zee5.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “As the digital entertainment destination of Zee Entertainment Enterprises”
- Sports rights
- FIFA tournaments in India until 2034
- Checked Nov 8, 2026zee5.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Through Zee Entertainment’s long-term partnership with FIFA till 2034”
- Starting price
- ₹129 for 3 months (kids plan)
- Checked Nov 6, 2026zee5.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “₹ 129 / 3 months”
- Regional plan
- ₹199 a month (Hindi, Punjabi, Bhojpuri)
- Checked Nov 6, 2026zee5.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “₹ 199 / 1 month”
- Movies, Series, Live TV plan
- ₹299 a month
- Checked Nov 6, 2026zee5.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “₹ 299 / 1 month”
- Sports + all content plan
- ₹1,699 for 12 months
- Checked Nov 6, 2026zee5.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “12 months ₹ 1699”
Pros and cons of Prime Video
- Included with an Amazon Prime membership
- Rent or buy titles that aren't in the subscription
- Offline downloads on mobile and desktop apps
- 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
Pros and cons of ZEE5
- Large library of Zee TV serials and regional-language films
- Language-specific packs cost less than the full plan
- Available to the South Asian diaspora in 190+ countries
- 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
Other apps to consider
StremioInstead of Prime Video
Brings your streaming services and add-ons into one app instead of separate subscriptions.
TubiInstead of Prime Video
Free, ad-supported streaming with a large film and TV library and no subscription at all.
HuluInstead of Prime Video
US streaming service with next-day TV episodes and an option to bundle Disney+ and live TV.
Prime Video vs ZEE5: common questions
Is Prime Video better than ZEE5?
Prime Video suits Amazon Prime members who want international originals, licensed films, sports in some markets and the option to rent new releases, all bundled with shopping benefits. ZEE5 suits viewers who want Zee TV serials, Hindi and regional films and live Indian channels, with cheaper single-language packs. In India the two are often used together rather than as substitutes.
Is Prime Video free?
No. Prime Video is paid, though it may offer a trial.
Is ZEE5 free?
ZEE5 has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Prime Video or ZEE5 open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Prime Video and ZEE5 support?
Prime Video: Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. ZEE5: Web, Android and iOS.