About Starz

Launched as a premium cable channel in 1994, Starz has since expanded into the streaming space, gaining recognition for its investment in original programming. The platform has found success with hit series like the Power universe, Mary & George, and The Serpent Queen. Popular shows such as P-Valley—which boasts a 100% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes—along with year-round Power spinoffs and the critically acclaimed Outlander have helped build a dedicated fan base. Plus, subscribers can enjoy an ad-free streaming experience.

Although Starz doesn’t offer the extensive catalog of competitors like Netflix, Disney+, or Hulu, it has a key partnership with Universal, allowing it to stream films after their theatrical runs. It also remains the go-to destination for Lionsgate movies—for now. But is it worth the $10 monthly subscription? Here’s why you might consider downloading the app.

Special Features

Content

Starz has provided a standalone streaming service for years, offering a library that goes beyond what’s available on its cable channel. Its robust movie collection sets it apart, though its selection of original series falls short compared to top competitors. On the plus side, Starz allows offline downloads on mobile devices and supports up to four simultaneous streams per account. However, its app experience could use improvements, and the lack of 4K streaming support is a notable drawback.

TV

Starz offers a full library of its original programming, both past and present. New episodes of currently airing shows become available for streaming simultaneously with their cable broadcast, and entire past seasons can be watched on demand. Some of its standout series include Blindspotting, Outlander, Hightown, Power Book II: Ghost, Run the World, P-Valley, The Girlfriend Experience, and The Gloaming.

While Starz’s selection of originals isn’t as vast as those of Netflix (Bridgerton, Stranger Things), Prime Video (The Boys, Invincible), or Max (Westworld, Mare of Easttown), the platform focuses on carving out a niche rather than competing purely on volume. Notably, Starz has made a concerted effort to develop content that resonates with female audiences.

At its peak, Power was one of the most-watched cable shows, second only to Game of Thrones, attracting an audience of around 8 million viewers, according to Deadline. Today, spin-offs like Power Book III: Raising Kanan and Power Book II: Ghost continue to break records and draw in dedicated fans.

Film

Similar to other streaming platforms, Starz updates its movie selection based on licensing agreements, meaning some films are only available for a limited time. Current offerings include John Wick: Chapter 4, 57 Seconds, Joy Ride, Casino, Retribution, and Maleficent.

The agreement with Universal also grants Starz access to films from Blumhouse and Focus Features, along with select titles from the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group library, including the Despicable Me and Minions franchises. This deal applies to theatrical releases from 2022 onward, allowing Starz to stream major Universal titles exclusively for about 18 months after their debut before they return to NBC/Universal’s Peacock platform.

Pricing

Starz is priced at $8.99 per month, making it a budget-friendly option for an on-demand streaming service. Subscribers can also opt for a discounted annual plan at $74.99 per year. A seven-day free trial is available, though it requires a payment method at sign-up.

For added convenience, Starz can be accessed as an add-on through various streaming platforms, including Prime Video, as well as live TV services like Hulu, Sling TV, AT&T TV, and YouTube TV—all at the same standard rate.

Starz’s pricing remains competitive among on-demand streaming services. For comparison, Peacock’s Premium plan is more affordable at $4.99 per month, while Netflix’s Standard tier—often considered the best value—costs $13.99 per month. Showtime comes in slightly higher at $10.99 per month. Meanwhile, HBO Max’s ad-free plan is priced at $14.99 per month, though a more budget-friendly, ad-supported option is available for $9.99 per month.

User Experience

Starz supports streaming on up to four devices at the same time, matching Disney+ in this regard. You can access Starz through its website or via its app, which is available for mobile devices (Android and iOS), streaming platforms (Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku), and select smart TVs (Samsung, LG, and Sony). Additionally, Starz is compatible with Xbox One and Series X, though PlayStation users are out of luck.

The homepage features a scrolling slider at the top highlighting select shows. Below, users can navigate through five main sections: Home, Series, Movies, Browse, and More. The “More” tab grants access to the same options as the main screen, plus a Playlist feature. However, unlike the desktop version, the mobile app lacks a “Schedule” section, which means you can’t watch the Starz channel live. That said, most of the scheduled content is available for on-demand streaming. The “Browse” section also offers a way to view all available movies and series in one place.

Select the “Settings” option to adjust app and account preferences. Here, you can manage your subscription details, access FAQs directly within the app, or contact Starz support via a form email. The “Application Preferences” section allows you to configure streaming settings for cellular networks and modify parental control settings for different profiles.

On the home page, selecting any of the main content categories brings up a more dynamic browsing experience, resembling what you’d find on platforms like Netflix or Prime Video. During our testing, categories included Starz Originals, Black Cinema, and Throwback Hits. The Series and Movies sections are further organized into genres such as Action, Comedy, Just Added, and Popular, mirroring the layout of the web interface.

When you select a specific show or movie, you’re taken to a detailed page with options to play, download, share, or add it to your Playlist. The offline viewing feature is especially useful for travelers, commuters, or anyone with limited Wi-Fi access. Starz was an early adopter of this capability, and it functions similarly to other platforms that later introduced it. Most titles are available for download, though they automatically delete after two weeks or may be removed earlier if licensing agreements expire.

Web Interface

On the right side of the screen, you can switch between profiles or navigate to the settings menu. From there, you can check your subscription details, adjust parental controls, browse the FAQs, or contact Starz support. However, one noticeable omission is the lack of accessibility options, which we address later.

Mobile App

For our test, we installed the Starz app on an Android 11 device and logged in without any trouble. While the app’s interface is simpler than those of competitors like HBO Max and Netflix, it functions well. Playback was smooth this time around, an improvement over our previous test. We also liked the app’s dark theme and the occasional playful language in certain sections.

Playback Experience

We tested Starz’s streaming performance on both its web and mobile apps across different Wi-Fi connections, including a 300Mbps home network. Streams launched reliably, and there was no noticeable lag when skipping through videos. On the same connection, downloading an hour-long episode of *Outlander* took about two minutes. To avoid unexpected cellular data charges, ensure you’re connected to Wi-Fi before downloading. Also, check the app settings, as cellular downloads are enabled by default.

One downside to Starz is the unskippable pre-roll ad that plays before a show or movie. While these ads promote content from Starz’s own library rather than external brands, they still interrupt the viewing experience. Other streaming services like Prime Video and HBO Max also include self-promotional ads, but they at least offer the option to skip them on some titles. Unfortunately, Starz requires you to sit through a full 30-second ad every time.

Accessibility

Starz provides only basic accessibility features. While closed captioning is available, users cannot customize the appearance of subtitles, unlike on services such as Hulu and Netflix, which offer options for text size, font, and positioning. Some content allows playback language adjustments, but the platform lacks more advanced accessibility features like audio descriptions, which provide additional narration for scene changes and character movements that are not conveyed through dialogue.

Starz provides a solid range of content across different ratings, including NC-17 and TV-MA, making its parental control options a useful feature. Setting up restrictions is straightforward—just create a PIN and choose the maximum rating each profile can access for both TV shows and movies. Similarly, Netflix allows users to set viewing restrictions on a per-profile basis, offering added control over what different users can watch.

VPN

A VPN is a great way to protect your online activity, but many streaming platforms block access when a VPN is detected. This is often due to licensing agreements or regional restrictions on content. Starz, for example, is only available to viewers in the U.S. and select Middle Eastern countries, so it actively prevents VPN and proxy use to stop users from bypassing these limitations.

When we tested Starz with a U.S.-based VPN server on both mobile and desktop, the service refused to log in. The mobile app even signed us out when we activated the VPN after logging in normally. The Starz website displayed the same behavior, reinforcing its strict stance on VPN usage.

Choosing a VPN that consistently works with all your favorite streaming platforms can be challenging, especially since most services actively block VPN traffic. While some VPN providers offer specialized servers designed for streaming, this shouldn’t be the primary factor in your decision. Instead, prioritize strong security features and robust data privacy policies when selecting a VPN.

Final Thoughts

Starz boasts a large movie catalog, along with useful features like four simultaneous streams per account and offline downloads on mobile. However, its selection of original programming falls short compared to competitors. Additionally, the service could enhance its accessibility options and improve its app experience. Still, if Starz’s content appeals to you, its affordable pricing might make it a worthwhile choice.