[Latest in 2022] VOD comparison popularity ranking TOP 10!The most recommended video distribution service is this!

momoka
Updated on 2022-11-24
In this article, we carefully select the recommended video streaming services and compare each service. After explaining how to choose, we will introduce a summary of their features.

Video on Demand (VOD: Video on Demand) services offer unlimited access to movies, TV dramas, animations, and more for a fixed monthly fee. There is a wealth of original content available from each service, including Disney Plus and Netflix, and some people may wonder which video distribution service to choose.

In this article, we carefully select the recommended video streaming services and compare each service. After explaining how to choose, we will introduce a summary of their features.

How to choose a video distribution service (VOD) and points to note

There are currently over 30 video distribution services in Japan. You have to figure out which delivery service is right for you.

The appeal of video distribution services is infinitely different, so the first shortcut is to apply for a free trial first. Therefore, from here, we will introduce "points to pay attention to when applying for a free trial of a video distribution service" and "how to choose when finally narrowing down to one".

How to choose a video distribution service and points

♦ Number of videos distributed/lineup
♦ Monthly fee for service content
♦ Free trial period and content
♦ Ease of use of site/app
♦ Service availability other than video

① Number of video distributions / lineup

Any video distribution service distributes a lot of videos, but no matter how many works are distributed, it is meaningless if there are few works in the genre you are interested in. If you use a video distribution service that specializes in your favorite genres, such as anime, domestic dramas, overseas dramas, and Korean works, you will be much more satisfied.

Recently, the number of limited distribution works and original works that can only be viewed on specific video distribution services is increasing. Make a list in advance of the movies you want to see and check in advance whether they are included in the distribution work.

 
People who are not so particular about the works they want to see will experience a service with a small number of distributions rather than a service with a large number of works, and if they are not satisfied, they will move to a richer service. There is also.

②Monthly fee for service content

The price of the video distribution service is around 500 yen to 2,000 yen per month.

Since the content and volume of services are different, of course, the more the service is enhanced, the higher the price tends to be. Let's consider the budget that you can spend on the video distribution service and make a contract.

One thing to keep in mind is that it's not just cheaper . Depending on the service, in addition to the video distribution service, you may be able to get a discount service for movie theaters, free shipping when shopping online, and other advantageous benefits.

Depending on your lifestyle, it is entirely possible that using a service with a high monthly fee will reduce the total cost.

 
For example, U-NEXT and NETFLIX can be viewed on four devices at the same time, so you can cover the usage fees of your family and partners at once.

③ Free trial period and contents

The quickest way is to use the free trial period rather than looking into various things. Not all video distribution services have a free trial period, but basically most of them are set for 14 to 31 days.

I don't have a lot of money, but the only works I want to see are here! Anyone may be able to enjoy the work efficiently by using this free trial period.

(4) Ease of use of the site/app

What is unexpectedly important is the UI and UX of apps and websites... In other words, the usability part. The ease of searching when looking for a work, the recommendation function, etc. are completely different depending on the video distribution service.

How to display thumbnail images, button placement, player functionality, etc.. It's something you use frequently, so it's worth paying attention to.

Also, performance may vary depending on the video distribution service, such as the WEB version, smartphone version, and app version, so be sure to control the behavior on the device you use often.

 
As expected, it is difficult to know in advance without using the free trial period, but I recommend that you refer to people who actually use it and word of mouth!

⑤ Satisfaction of services other than video works

It was a fleeting moment when the work I was aiming for was delivered and it was safe. Depending on the video distribution service, there are differences in performance such as subtitle switching, opening skip function, image quality, and recommendation function. Depending on the service or plan, only low image quality is delivered, making it difficult to enjoy videos comfortably.

Other than that, it would be nice to pay attention to services other than video distribution. It is also important to know what functions and benefits other than video distribution are available, such as movie theater discounts, unlimited magazine reading, and monthly points!

 
For example , if you are an Amazon Prime member, you can use Amazon Music, and you can receive free shipping services on Amazon's mail order. It's done.

[Comparison] Top 10 recommended video distribution services (VOD)

From here, we will introduce what features each video distribution service has, and what advantages and disadvantages it has.

Although it is a ranking, as mentioned above, the lower service may be more suitable, so please refer to the points for choosing and find the video distribution service that suits you.

[1st place] UNEXT

U-NEXT Logo

Monthly fee (tax included) 2,189 yen
Free trial period 31 days
Unlimited viewing works 240,000 or more
image quality Full HD/4K
Number of devices that can be viewed simultaneously 4 units
Number of accounts that can be shared Unlimited
Download function Yes
Presence or absence of PPV Yes
original work Yes
Services other than video E-book/movie ticket coupon
Favorite genre ALL (including adults)
 

“U-NEXT” has a history of more than 10 years and boasts an overwhelming number of works compared to other video distribution services. The number of video content reaches 240,000, which is the largest number.

Not all works are unlimited, but 180,000 titles are eligible for unlimited viewing, and 1,200 points (1 point = 1 yen) are given to your account every month, so you can enjoy paid works without additional charges. You can also use

U-NEXT's unique points can be exchanged for movie tickets at Aeon Cinema, Shochiku, and United affiliated movie theaters at a great price within U-NEXT, so it's also attractive to be able to return to watching new movies. For those who watch many movies in a movie theater in a month, if you get a movie ticket via U-NEXT, you can quickly pay for the usage fee.

In addition to the video distribution service, it also distributes books, comics, and magazines, so even people who don't go to movie theaters but enjoy reading books and comics will find it worthwhile to use. If you are a member, you can read more than 80 magazines for free.

The monthly fee is 2,189 yen (tax included), which is a little higher than other video distribution services. However, since it is such a fulfilling content, if you blend it into your life well, it will not be a high price.

Movies, dramas, music, books, etc. A distribution service that covers many genres and is convinced that there is no entertainment . It is also one of the points that other companies do not have that adult works are also substantial.
 

[3rd place] Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video logo

Monthly fee (tax included) 500 yen (*4900 yen/year = 408 yen/month for annual payment)
Free trial period 30 days
Unlimited viewing works private
image quality SD/HD/4K
Number of devices that can be viewed simultaneously 3 units
Number of accounts that can be shared Unlimited
Download function Yes
Presence or absence of PPV Yes
original work Yes
Services other than video Music/e-books/online shopping and many more
Favorite genre ALL
 

Amazon Prime Video is a video distribution service provided by Amazon, the world's largest e-commerce site. The number of benefits is the most attractive.

By becoming an Amazon Prime member, not only can you use Amazon Prime Video, but you can also use Prime member benefits when shopping on Amazon, Prime Music, an all-you-can-listen music service, Amazon Photos, which allows unlimited photo storage, and about 1,000 Kindle e-books. Unlimited Prime Reading, etc. There are endless services available.

The price is only 500 yen per month. The annual membership fee is 4900 yen, which is quite reasonable.

Amazon Prime Video itself covers everything from relatively new works to classics of yesteryear . Original works such as variety works and animations that will be exclusively distributed are also substantial. Unfortunately, the previous work is not an unlimited viewing work, and there are many works that require an additional rental fee, but considering the cost performance, it is sufficiently high quality.

As a member program for students, Amazon also has Prime Student, which can be used at a student discount price for students at domestic universities and vocational schools. You can use the same benefits as Amazon Prime at a low annual fee of 2,450 yen (tax included).

 
 

[4th place] Disney+

disney+

Monthly fee (tax included) 990 yen (*9,900 yen per year (effectively free for 2 months) (tax included) in the case of annual payment)
Free trial period none
Unlimited viewing works private
image quality SD/HD/4K/Full HD
Number of devices that can be viewed simultaneously Unlimited
Number of accounts that can be shared 4 units
Download function Yes
Presence or absence of PPV Yes
original work Yes
Favorite genre ALL

Disney Plus is a new video distribution service. Disney works, of course, but also Pixar,
Marvel, Star Wars, National His Geographic, Star Channel are free. Other video distribution services are charged , so it is recommended for those who like these works.

Original spin-off dramas and movies are also distributed. Some of the original works are paid content, but most can be enjoyed for free. Original children's channels are also available.

It is also a point that you can register 4 devices with 1 contract. Simultaneous playback is possible up to 4 devices.

It also has a download function . If you download the work you want to watch in a Wi-Fi environment, you can watch the content without worrying about communication even on the go!

To use it, a docomo account is required, and docomo users can use the service at even better prices. If you join from DoCoMo, the monthly fee is 990 yen, but there is also a campaign where you can get a discount for up to 6 months.

[5th ​​place] NETFLIX

netfix logo

Monthly fee (tax included) 990 yen, 1,490 yen, 1,990 yen, 790 yen (Basic plan with advertisement)
Free trial period None (changes depending on the season)
Unlimited viewing works private
image quality SD/HD/4K/Full HD/UHD (basic is HD only)
Number of devices that can be viewed simultaneously 1 car, 2 cars, 4 cars (per plan)
Number of accounts that can be shared No limit
Download function Yes
Presence or absence of PPV none
original work Yes
Services other than video none
Favorite genre original work

NETFLIX is a video distribution service that boasts over 100 million users worldwide and is now having a major impact on the movie industry. The service has been available in Japan since 2015, and in 2020 it has become the No. 1 market share in Japan.

In addition to overseas movies and dramas, there are plenty of Japanese TV animations and movies, and many original works that can only be seen on NETFLIX are being distributed. This original work has been highly evaluated, and we are producing high-quality works all over the world with surprising funds. Of course, Japan is also included in it, and it has a fairly rich lineup from live-action works to animation works, all of which are unlimited viewing without additional charges.

It is also nice that there are 3 patterns of price plans according to usage . If you just want to enjoy using your smartphone alone, the cheapest basic plan of 990 yen (tax included) per month is fine. If you want to enjoy it on your own device, we recommend the premium plan of 1,990 yen (tax included) per month that supports high image quality and allows simultaneous viewing on multiple devices.

There are no services other than video viewing that are available in other video distribution services, but conversely, when it comes to video viewing, they offer generous treatment according to usability.

 

[6th place] Hulu

hulu

Monthly fee (tax included) 1,026 yen
Free trial period 14 days
Unlimited viewing works Over 100,000 bottles
image quality SD/HD/Full HD/Half HD/4K/UHD
Number of devices that can be viewed simultaneously Two
Number of accounts that can be shared Unlimited
Download function Yes
Presence or absence of PPV can be
original work Yes
Services other than video Channel
Favorite genre Foreign drama/Nippon TV series
\ 2 weeks free trial in progress /

Hulu is a video distribution service from the United States that started service in Japan in 2011 and has a relatively long history of operation.

Boasting a lineup of American dramas that are highly rated overseas, you can enjoy unlimited viewing of popular works such as "Game of Thrones" and "The Walking Dead".

As the parent company is NTV, it is also worth noting that many NTV dramas, variety shows, and special programs are distributed. Among the video distribution services that have strong tie-ups with TV stations, we distribute domestic and foreign content in the best balance without bias.

Don't forget the live TV that is delivered on its own time schedule like the day before, which is a feature of Hulu. You can enjoy TV-like channels such as National Geographic, BC World News, Nippon Television NEWS24. The FOX channel and other channels are delivering topical works without a big time difference from local broadcasts, which will be a nice factor for fans of overseas works.

Since all content is delivered in HD image quality, it is also nice to have quality that can withstand enough in terms of image quality even when viewing on a large screen TV. You can also enjoy old works with high image quality that surpasses DVD.

 

[7th place] dTV

dtv

Monthly fee (tax included) 550 yen
Free trial period 31 days
Unlimited viewing works 120,000 or more
image quality SD/HD/4K
Number of devices that can be viewed simultaneously One
Number of accounts that can be shared 5 pieces
Download function Yes
Presence or absence of PPV Yes
original work Yes
Services other than video none
Favorite genre ALL
 

dTV is a video distribution service jointly operated by NTT DoCoMo and Avex Communications Broadcasting. The appeal is the relatively reasonable monthly fee of 550 yen (tax included) compared to the number of contents . Some works require additional payment, but it can be said that the lineup is sufficient.

Of course, you can use d points because it is affiliated with Docomo , set contracts with unlimited viewing services of dTV channels, and set contracts with DAZN, a sports video distribution service for Docomo users . We also offer affordable plans.

From the end of 2020, we will also carry out a campaign where you can get d points in a double subscription campaign with Disney +, which has not been decided yet. The monthly fee is cheap, so it's fun to combine it with multiple services.

By the way, although it is a docomo-affiliated service, it can also be used by people using carriers other than docomo.

In addition, there is a system in which the membership rank increases according to the membership period. In addition to being able to become a platinum member, which is the highest rank in half a year from the first enrollment, there are also benefits such as being able to apply for limited gifts depending on this rank.

[8th place] TSUTAYA DISCAS

TSUTAYADISCAS

Monthly fee (tax included) 1,008 yen
Free trial period 30 days
Unlimited viewing works 1,008 yen
image quality SD/HD
Number of devices that can be viewed simultaneously One
Number of accounts that can be shared Two
Download function Yes
Presence or absence of PPV Yes
original work Yes
Services other than video none
Favorite genre ALL (including adults)
\ 31 days free trial in progress /

"TSUTAYA DISCAS" is a home delivery rental service for DVDs and CDs provided by TSUTAYA, a well-known rental video store . It's appealing that it covers a wide range of domestic and foreign movies, dramas, animations, and even adult works, just like looking for works at a rental video store .

The monthly fee is 1,008 yen (tax included), which is not that cheap compared to other services . I can do it.

For those who want to check out the video benefits of DVDs that cannot be viewed on video distribution services, it is attractive because it can be used together with video distribution services.

[9th place] Paravi

paravi

Monthly fee (tax included) 1,017 yen
Free trial period none
Unlimited viewing works private
image quality HD
Number of devices that can be viewed simultaneously One
Number of accounts that can be shared 5 pieces
Download function Yes
Presence or absence of PPV Yes
original work Yes
Services other than video none
Favorite genre Domestic drama/TBS series
 

Paravi is a video distribution service that declares that it is focusing on drama, as it says, "I don't want to lose drama alone" and "Japan's largest domestic drama archive" .

It is operated in collaboration with major domestic media such as TV Tokyo, TBS, WOWOW, and Nihon Keizai Shimbun.

There are some works that require payment, but basically it's nice to be able to watch as much as you want. In addition to original dramas that will not be broadcast, Paravi limited videos are also being distributed.

Of course, not only dramas but also Japanese variety shows, anime, and movies are distributed, but there are not many of them. However, even in overseas works, there are plenty of Asian works, mainly Korean ones.

In addition, the basic plan also has the benefit of granting a “Paravi preferential ticket” every month, and by using this ticket, you can watch paid content within 550 yen (tax included) every month. You can also cover the latest movies and topical works.

The price plan also has a unique plan that is different from other video distribution services, and there is also a "Nikkei electronic version Paravi set" that can use the Nikkei electronic version.

 

[10th place] FOD Premium

FODs

Monthly fee (tax included) 976 yen
Free trial period 2 weeks
Unlimited viewing works 50,000 or more
image quality SD/HD
Number of devices that can be viewed simultaneously 1 unit (simultaneous viewing is not possible)
Number of accounts that can be shared Unlimited
Download function none
Presence or absence of PPV Yes
original work Yes
Services other than video E-book
Favorite genre wisteria
 

FOD Premium is a Fuji TV specialized video distribution service provided by Fuji TV.

It is characterized by carefully selecting and distributing dramas, variety shows, and animations broadcasted on Fuji TV, from the past to the latest. You can miss programs that were broadcast on Fuji TV in the past that are difficult to watch, original programs that can only be seen on FOD, and even content that has just been broadcast for a limited time after the broadcast that you can watch without registration. Delivery is also done.

The number of devices that can be viewed at the same time is abundant at 5, making it ideal for situations where multiple people often use the device at the same time.

As an unexpected strength, the service includes “FOD Magazine”, which allows you to read over 130 magazines as much as you want. From weekly magazines to women's magazines to hobby magazines, we also have a rich lineup.

20,000 e-books are also available for an additional fee, and FOD premium members who pay a monthly fee have an unlimited reading manga frame as a limited benefit.

 

[11th place] TELASA

TELASA

Monthly fee (tax included) 618 yen
Free trial period 14 days
Unlimited viewing works 10,000 or more
image quality SD/HD/Full HD
Number of devices that can be viewed simultaneously One
Number of accounts that can be shared Unlimited
Download function Yes
Presence or absence of PPV Yes
original work Yes
Services other than video none
Favorite genre Tele morning series

TELASA is a video distribution service that started in April 2020 as a renewal of the old video pass . The service operated by KDDI and TV Asahi has added a large amount of TV Asahi content to the lineup that has been distributed by Video Pass so far.

In addition to watching TV Asahi-affiliated dramas, variety programs, animations, and movies that have just been aired from old works, we also cover Hollywood blockbuster movies and animations other than TV Asahi.

As a service of KDDI, if you are an au Smart Pass Premium member, you can watch unlimited works in the premium frame without registering as a member with TELASA. The usage fee may be included.

If you become a paid member, you will receive 550 yen worth of video coins every month, which is close to the monthly fee, so you can enjoy one new movie every month at no additional charge. In addition, you can rent the latest movies separately without becoming an unlimited viewing member, so in some cases you may use it as a non-member. The fact that you can use Ponta points for payment is also a nice charm.

Summary of video distribution service rankings

The above is a summary of the features, advantages, and disadvantages of the 10 representative video distribution services.

Of course, there is no need to narrow it down to just one, and it would be interesting to go from one video distribution service to another. Each service has its own charm, so let's experience the service in order from the service you are interested in, and use the best video distribution service that suits you at that time!