If you love British content, BritBox and Acorn TV are two of the best streaming platforms you are probably considering subscribing to.
Both focus heavily on British and Commonwealth television. They offer ad-free viewing. Plus, they cost less than most major streaming platforms.
However, neither service is better for everyone. The right choice depends on what you watch most.
BritBox vs Acorn TV: Which service is best for you?
Below is a comparison of the two services alongside the platform that wins in each category to help you choose the best:
1. Price
Cost is one of the main factors you normally put into consideration if you are on a budget.
Acorn TV costs the following:
- $9.99 per month
- $99.99 per year
BritBox, on the other hand, is priced at:
- $10.99 per month
- $109.99 per year
Both services include a 7-day free trial. They also remove ads from their content. The yearly plans of the two reduce your monthly cost compared with paying every month.
The difference is only about $10 per year. So, price alone should not decide your choice. Getting your type of content is worth more than the small savings.
Winner: Acorn TV
2. Content library
BritBox is the best choice if you enjoy shows such as:
- Doctor Who
- Vera
- Line of Duty
- Broadchurch
- Midsomer Murders
- Father Brown
- Classic Doctor Who episodes
- British comedy series
The biggest advantage here is variety. You are not limited to one type of show. You could move from a detective drama to a comedy, then to a historical series, without leaving the service.
Acorn TV has a smaller library. However, it is more focused and does not try to be the complete home of British television. Instead, it focuses on carefully selected dramas, mysteries, and international series.
Winner: BritBox
3. Crime and mystery shows
This is where Acorn TV becomes competitive.
Acorn TV is designed for you if you love mysteries. Its catalogue focuses heavily on detective stories. They have crime dramas and character investigations from various countries. These include: Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
You will find shows such as:
- The Chelsea Detective
- Dalgliesh
- The Madame Blanc Mysteries
- Harry Wild
- My Life Is Murder
- Whitstable Pearl
- Murdoch Mysteries
The difference is not that BritBox lacks mysteries. BritBox has many popular detective shows too. It is that Acorn TV makes mystery its identity.
Winner: Acorn TV
4. Classic British shows
BritBox wins if you enjoy older British television.
Since this giant has connections with major UK broadcasters, it has a comprehensive and larger collection of classic programmes. The service is best if you want older BBC and ITV shows that are difficult to find elsewhere.
BritBox features lots of:
- Classic detective series
- Older BBC dramas
- British comedy
- Long-running TV favourites
- Nostalgic television
Acorn TV has classic titles too, but it is more focused on newer discoveries and international dramas rather than being a large British TV archive.
Winner: BritBox
5. Apps and Devices
You can watch both services on most major streaming devices.
Acorn TV supports:
- Roku
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
- Android devices
- iPhone and iPad
- Smart TVs
- Chromecast
- Web browsers
BritBox also supports major streaming platforms, including:
- Roku
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
- Mobile devices
- Web browsers
- Smart TVs
There is no major difference here. Your decision should be based on the shows, not the technology.
Winner: Tie
6. User experience
The difference becomes noticeable when you browse.
BritBox gives you a larger feeling catalogue. The downside is that finding something may sometimes take longer since there is more content to choose from.
Acorn TV feels more organised around a specific audience. If you already know what genre you like, you’ll find this site is much easier to find something you will enjoy.
Winner: Depends on your taste