The 60th anniversary of Star Trek is here, and a stunning new box set is arriving this fall to mark it. If you’re building a home rewatch pipeline, or trying to figure out which subscription actually earns its slot on your desktop, this is the list of best sci-fi streaming apps to check first. All eight run on Windows and macOS, and each covers a different corner of the genre.
What to look for in a sci-fi streaming app
- Franchise depth. Star Trek, Star Wars, Marvel, DC, and Amblin catalogs live on specific services. Nobody carries all of them.
- Original series bench. Which service is producing genre TV right now, not just licensing it.
- 4K and Dolby Atmos support. Sci-fi lives on VFX. If your PC drives a 4K monitor, you want a service that delivers.
- Offline downloads on Windows. Long trips need a plan. Most desktop apps limit downloads to the Microsoft Store client.
- Ad-free option. Bumper ads mid-episode kill the mood on genre TV.
- Included in a bundle. Disney+/Hulu/Max, Prime Video with Prime, and Peacock with Xfinity are common price cuts.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | 4K + Atmos | Windows downloads | Standalone from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paramount+ | Star Trek library | Yes on Premium | Yes | $7.99/mo |
| Apple TV+ | Prestige originals | Yes | No | $9.99/mo |
| Netflix | Volume and variety | Yes on Premium | Yes | $7.99/mo |
| Prime Video | Amblin-adjacent originals | Yes | Yes | $9.99/mo |
| Max | HBO sci-fi | Yes on Premium | Yes | $9.99/mo |
| Peacock | NBC classics | Yes on Premium Plus | Yes | $7.99/mo |
| Hulu | Current-season TV | Yes | No | $9.99/mo |
| Disney+ | Star Wars and Marvel | Yes | Yes | $9.99/mo |
The apps
1. Paramount+, Best for Star Trek library
Paramount+ carries every Star Trek series ever produced. TOS, TNG, DS9, Voyager, Enterprise, and every animated variant sit next to Discovery, Picard, Lower Decks, Strange New Worlds, Prodigy, and the upcoming Starfleet Academy. That’s 900-plus episodes in one app. Add Halo, The Twilight Zone, and the entire Star Trek film library and the sci-fi slot alone earns the $12.99 Premium tier.
Where it falls short: Non-Trek originals are inconsistent. The essential tier does not include CBS live streaming.
Pricing:
- Essential (with ads): $7.99/mo, $59.99/yr
- Premium (ad-free, offline downloads, Showtime): $12.99/mo, $119.99/yr
Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, smart TVs.
Download: Paramount+ also on Microsoft Store
Bottom line: If Star Trek matters to you, no other service compares. Skip if you don’t care about the franchise or the NFL.
2. Apple TV+, Best for prestige originals
Apple TV+ owns the current prestige-sci-fi crown. Silo, Severance, Foundation, For All Mankind, and Invasion all live here, produced with theatrical-tier VFX budgets. Every original streams in Dolby Vision and Atmos on capable playback stacks.
Where it falls short: No back catalog. Windows app is browser-only with no offline downloads.
Pricing: $9.99/mo, $99/yr. Included with any Apple One bundle.
Platforms: Web on any browser, native Mac app, no Windows app.
Download: Apple TV+
Bottom line: The strongest slate of new sci-fi TV in the industry. Skip if you want a bigger library.
3. Netflix, Best for volume and variety
Netflix owns a lot of sci-fi ground: 3 Body Problem, Stranger Things, Sandman, Black Mirror, Love Death + Robots, and the Sandman animated spin-off. The Premium tier delivers 4K on desktop through the Windows app.
Where it falls short: Cancellations. Sci-fi originals often get pulled after two seasons.
Pricing:
- Standard with ads: $7.99/mo
- Standard: $17.99/mo
- Premium (4K, four screens): $24.99/mo
Platforms: Windows (Microsoft Store), macOS (web), iOS, Android, smart TVs.
Download: Netflix also on Microsoft Store
Bottom line: The widest sci-fi bench overall. Skip only if you already have three other subscriptions.
4. Prime Video, Best for Amblin-adjacent originals
Prime Video carries The Boys, Fallout, Rings of Power, Reacher, and licensed sci-fi films that rotate monthly. The Fallout show renewal for a second season is done and shooting, and Rings of Power’s remaining seasons are locked in.
Where it falls short: Rental catalog mixes into the included one. Ads on the default tier.
Pricing:
- With ads (standalone): $9.99/mo
- Ad-free upgrade: $2.99/mo
- Included with Prime: $14.99/mo, $139/yr
Platforms: Windows (Microsoft Store), macOS (web), iOS, Android, smart TVs.
Download: Prime Video also on Microsoft Store
Bottom line: Best if you already pay for Prime. Skip if you don’t want an ad tier by default.
5. Max, Best for HBO sci-fi and Warner films
Max carries Westworld, His Dark Materials, Dune (the film), and DC properties. The Batman, Dune Prophecy, and Warner theatrical films land here within a few months of release.
Where it falls short: Every rebrand shuffles the library. Some HBO originals were removed permanently in cost-cutting.
Pricing:
- With Ads: $9.99/mo, $99.99/yr
- Standard: $16.99/mo, $169.99/yr
- Premium (4K, Dolby Atmos): $20.99/mo, $209.99/yr
Platforms: Windows (Microsoft Store), macOS (web), iOS, Android, smart TVs.
Download: Max also on Microsoft Store
Bottom line: Best for cinematic HBO-quality sci-fi drama. Skip if HBO tone isn’t your genre.
6. Peacock, Best for NBC classic sci-fi
Peacock hosts the whole Battlestar Galactica reboot, Quantum Leap old and new, the Twilight Zone in various forms, and the Universal film catalog including Back to the Future and Jurassic Park. The Traitors is not sci-fi, but Twisted Metal is close enough.
Where it falls short: Ads on Premium. Originals have thinned since 2024.
Pricing:
- Premium with ads: $7.99/mo, $79.99/yr
- Premium Plus (offline, ad-free): $13.99/mo, $139.99/yr
Platforms: Windows (Microsoft Store), macOS (web), iOS, Android, smart TVs.
Download: Peacock also on Microsoft Store
Bottom line: Great NBC-Universal sci-fi archive. Skip if you already have Prime and Netflix.
7. Hulu, Best for current-season sci-fi TV
Hulu is where Alien: Earth, The Handmaid’s Tale, and next-day episodes of FX genre shows air. If you follow Fargo or Shogun, Hulu is where you catch up on Monday.
Where it falls short: US-only. Downloads limited to mobile.
Pricing:
- With Ads: $9.99/mo
- No Ads: $18.99/mo
- Disney+/Hulu bundle from $10.99
Platforms: Windows (Microsoft Store), macOS (web), iOS, Android, smart TVs.
Download: Hulu also on Microsoft Store
Bottom line: Best for keeping up with FX sci-fi. Skip if you’re outside the US or don’t watch cable-era TV.
8. Disney+, Best for Star Wars and Marvel
Disney+ carries every Star Wars film, the Mandoverse (The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, Andor, Skeleton Crew), the whole MCU, and Amblin classics like E.T. It’s the second-largest single-franchise sci-fi archive on this list, after Paramount+ with Star Trek.
Where it falls short: Franchise fatigue. Non-Star-Wars non-Marvel originals often get lost.
Pricing:
- Basic with ads: $9.99/mo
- Premium: $15.99/mo
- Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle from $16.99
Platforms: Windows (Microsoft Store), macOS (web), iOS, Android, smart TVs.
Download: Disney+ also on Microsoft Store
Bottom line: Essential for Star Wars and Marvel completionists. Skip if you have no interest in either franchise.
How to pick the right one
If you want the simplest option and only one service: Netflix. If you need Star Trek: Paramount+. If prestige new-drama is what you watch: Apple TV+. If you already pay for Prime: Prime Video is nearly free. If you love Star Wars or Marvel: Disney+. If you follow HBO or DC: Max. If you’re an NBC-Universal fan or a Premier League viewer: Peacock. If you want next-day network sci-fi: Hulu.
FAQ
What is the best sci-fi streaming app in 2026? Paramount+ if you’re a Star Trek fan, Apple TV+ if you want the strongest slate of new prestige series, and Netflix if you can only have one and need the broadest catalog.
Which service has the most Star Trek? Paramount+ carries every Star Trek series and film. Nobody else comes close.
Do any of these support 4K on Windows? Netflix Premium, Max Premium, and Disney+ Premium stream 4K through their Microsoft Store apps. Apple TV+ streams 4K through supported browsers.
Can I bundle any of these? Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ is the biggest bundle. Max sometimes bundles with Netflix through carrier promotions. Apple TV+ is included with Apple One tiers.
Are ads always required? No. Every service on this list except Apple TV+ has an ad tier as the default entry price. Apple TV+ is ad-free by default.
