Apple vs Amazon vs Google: Which Digital Movies Provider is Best Choice?

We are living in a digital world, today, we can enjoy all kinds of digital products: like streaming music, audio book, e-book, digital movies with multiple mobile devices. In 2001, while CD was still popular among music lovers, Apple released its first iPod. And soon, folks started to accept digital music and transfer to digital music from physical music which was not such convenient to carry. Many people have such a question: Will digital music completely replace the physical music, will CD disappear in the future? In fact, vinyl as a format has survived since many people like the option to own music while digital music has many restrictions in playback devices or once the unsubscribe the streaming service they will lose the access to the music files forever. As for this question, people’s opinion varies in different point, yet we can’t deny that digital products have filled up most people’s daily life. And also, this digital world will also eat our movie collection, but, which digital provider would be your best choice.

Nowadays, many world-famous digital giant company have been competing to be our movies provider, like Apple, Amazon, Google and even Microsoft is belatedly getting into the mix. They all have their perks, but one unsettling fact remains true with all of these providers: you can't simply download your movie and use it on any device you want. You are locked into using that particular company's app, which may not be available on every device.

Many factors will make up users final choice yet you would be better not to make too many choice since it would split your library, which means you need to install multiple apple to sync different library. Thus, the choice may be decided by what devices you use as much as which company you like the most, so we'll go over the pros and cons of each provider.

1. Apple iTunes

For Apple’s loyal customers, it may seem like a simple decision to do your shopping in iTunes. As you can imagine, Apple's ecosystem works great together. The TV app on Apple TV and iPad brings your collection together with various subscription services like Hulu and HBO Now, which makes browsing for what to watch much easier. You can also download movies to your desktop or laptop and well as your iPhone or iPad, so you can enjoy your collection off line.

What you can't do is watch anything on Android, Roku, your Smart TV, Blu-Ray player with all the streaming apps. You have no ability to watch iTunes movies basically anywhere besides a PC or an Apple device. That's enough to give even Apple Watch owners some doubts on whether or not to put all those eggs in Apple's basket.

Apple iTunes Pros:
One of the first to offer streaming video, movies, TV shows and rentals and still a leader in terms of stability and performance.
Works great with the iPad's and Apple TV's new TV app, which will let you browse and select movies and TV from various sources alongside of your own digital collection including Hulu, HBO Now, Starz, etc.
Allows offline downloads to both PC and mobile devices.

Apple iTunes Cons:
Compatibility limited to Apple's ecosystem (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV) and Macs and Windows-based machines. Users can’t watch iTunes movies at any devices at their will.

Actually, apple users can break this compatibility restriction easily by the means of third party professional video converter. You likely to notice that all purchased or rent movies are all in M4V format with DRM protection that is the answer why android device or other non-apple device can't support iTunes movies. In order to save the iTunes movies forever and watch them without limitation, TunesKit M4V Converter can offer a permanent solution. You simply need to legally convert iTunes M4V movies to MP4 files. With the help of TunesKit M4V converter, users can strip DRM protection from ITunes movies and convert them to plain MP4 files at one click. If you want to learn a step-by-step instruction, you can view this article: How to Remove DRM from iTunes Rentals without Quality Loss.

2. Amazon Instant Video

Amazon's biggest enemy is Amazon. It would be easy to recommend Amazon's Instant Video as one of the best digital provider's except for one crazy little thing: they refuse to sell the Apple TV. In fact, they kicked Apple TV out of the store. They also don't sell Google's Chromecast, although they happily sell other devices that use the same 'cast' technology.

Here's where it gets even crazier. Amazon kicked these products out of their store because they don't work with Amazon's Prime and Instant Video services even though the only reason those devices can't show Amazon's video is because Amazon hasn't put out an app (in the case of Apple TV) or modified their app (in the case of Chromecast) to work with those devices. Oddly enough, you can still watch Amazon's Instant Video and Prime streaming subscription on Apple TV if you use AirPlay.

While Amazon doesn't exactly play nice with others, Amazon Prime and Amazon Instant video are available on a wide range of devices, including the iPhone and iPad. Amazon also supports Android smartphones and tablets, Roku, XBOX, PlayStation, PC, most Smart TVs and (of course) Amazon's Fire devices, which run on top of Android. And while they don't have an Apple TV app, you can stream to Apple TV via AirPlay.

Amazon Instant Video Pros:
The tie-in with Amazon Prime video makes it easy to browse through available movies and TV from both Prime and your digital lockbox.
You can download to your mobile device for offline viewing.
Supports Disney Everywhere.

Amazon Instant Video Cons:
No downloads for the PC.
Amazon is known for not playing nice with others.

3. Google Play

Google Play streams their offerings on a wider range of devices than Amazon Instant Video or Apple's iTunes movies and television. Google's Android, Chrome and Chromecast platforms don’t exactly make them Switzerland, but they've played nice in the war for our living rooms. Google's philosophy is more about providing the opportunity to watch on the largest range of devices rather than battling it out for platform dominance.

You can stream Google Play on your iPhone, iPad, Android, PC, Roku, many smart televisions or through Chromecast. Google Play isn't available for Apple TV, but if you have an Apple TV, you can use AirPlay to stream your Google Play collection.

Google Play Pros:
Available on a wider range of devices than Apple and Amazon.
You can download video to your mobile device.
Offers an introductory $0.99 rental.
Supports Disney Everywhere.

Google Play Cons:
Doesn't work with your game console, so XBOX and PlayStation owners will have to stream from another device.
No offline downloads for the PC.

In conclusion, the best choice differs in different people since which company's products you used mostly will decide which digital movies provider you will choice.