The 7 Best Streaming Services for Comedy Fans

In need of a laugh? These comedy streaming services cover comedy movies, funny TV shows, and even live stand-up.

Are you a comedy fan who is fed up with watching repeats of Family Guy and Friends on regular cable TV? It might be time that you consider signing up for a streaming service.

But which is the best streaming service for comedy? Of course, you need to consider the usual big hitters, but there are also a few niche services that are specifically aimed at comedy lovers.

Let's take a closer look at the best comedy streaming services.

1. Paramount+

Comedy Central has struck a deal with Paramount+ and now airs its impressive back catalog of content on the service.

While you can still get the Comedy Central TV channel streamed live through several services (including Hulu and Sling), Paramount+ is the only service that provides on-demand access to the network's most popular shows throughout history.

You also get on-demand access to the latest episodes of current hits, including The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.

And, of course, Paramount+ offers plenty of non-comedy content for when your stomach can't take any more laughing, including live news channels and more than 30,000 episodes of hit shows from other networks.

The ad-free Paramount+ Premium Plan is $10/month. If you are happy to deal with ads, you can sign up for the ad-supported Paramount+ Essential service for $5/month.

2. Netflix

Netflix is no stranger to comedy series. There is a massive amount of content available from old comedy hits (though, in true Netflix fashion, the exact line-up of available shows at any given moment is in a constant state of flux.)

And the Netflix "secret codes" let you really drill down into the exact type of comedy you want to watch. Some of the most notable codes include:

• Comedies (6548)
• Dark Comedies (869)
• Foreign Comedies (4426)
• Late Night Comedies (1402)
• Mockumentaries (26)
• Political Comedies (2700)
• Screwball Comedies (9702)
• Sports Comedies (5286)
• Stand-up Comedy (11559)
• Teen Comedies (3519)
• Satires (4922)
• Romantic Comedies (5475)
• Slapstick Comedies (10256)

Related: The Best Dark Comedies to Watch on Netflix

Another reason to consider Netflix for your comedy fix is the Fast Laughs feature. Launched in early 2021, it offers a never-ending feed of short clips from the entire Netflix comedy catalog.

The feature is only available on iPhone at the moment, though an Android version is reportedly in the works. To start using it, tap on the Fast Laughs tab at the bottom of the app.

Netflix plans start at $9/month.

3. Britbox

It's well-known (!) that the Brits make the funniest comedies on TV.

Whether it's older classics like Only Fools and Horses, Porridge, and Yes Minister, or the newer hits like The Inbetweeners, The IT Crowd, and The Office, there is something special about UK comedy shows that other countries struggle to replicate.

If you are into British comedies, both new and old, then Britbox is a must-have streaming service.

Some of the shows currently available on the app include The Office, Peep Show, The Good Life, The Thick of It, Keeping Up Appearances, Benidorm, Hi-de-Hi, Fawlty Towers, The Vicar of Dibley, Spitting Image, QI, One Foot in the Grave, and many more. All absolute classics, we're sure you'll agree.

Britbox is available for $7/month.

4. Tubi

The three comedy streaming services we have looked at so far all require you to sign up for a subscription. If you prefer a free option, then check out Tubi.

Since the service is free, you cannot expect to find the latest shows and biggest hits. Despite that, there are still a solid number of recognizable comedy series and movies available. They include Shrek, Unfinished Business, Deuce Bigalow, Beavis and Butt-head Do America, The Flintstones, Daddy Day Care, and The Nanny.

5. HBO Max

While the Brits might hold the global comedy crown, there is still plenty of laugh-a-minute content coming out of American shores as well.

Arguably the best network for American comedy is HBO. It's behind masterpieces such as Silicon Valley, Veep, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Chris Rock Show, Extras, and Entourage.

HBO is a premium channel via cable TV providers. But luckily, you can access all of the network's comedies (and its other content) via the standalone subscription service, HBO Max.

In addition to HBO shows, you get series and movies such as Friends, South Park, The Wedding Singer, Elf, Austin Powers, Young Sheldon, and Tom and Jerry.

Another major benefit of HBO Max is access to all Warner Bros. movie premieres, released the same day as they hit the movie theaters. So, if there is an upcoming comedy from Warner that you have your eye on, it is definitely worth signing up.

The basic HBO Max plan is $10/month. An ad-free plan is $15/month.

6. NextUp Comedy

NextUp Comedy is a niche streaming service that specializes in comedy. Indeed, comedy is the only genre that is available on the entire platform.

It offers weekly live streams, exclusive stand-up comedy specials (from both rising stars and established comedians), and even has a unique revenue model that shares income directly with the comedians on its platform. It even goes as far as offering comedians free rehearsal spaces for them to practice their shows.

All that means you can be confident that you are supported artists directly, rather than paying your hard-earned cash to another faceless corporation.

You can watch five specials and 10 live streams for free each month. Thereafter, you will need to pay $5/month if you pay yearly or $10/month if you pay monthly.

7. Cinemax GO

If you are more into comedy movies rather than TV series and stand-up, you should consider signing up for a Cinemax GO subscription.

The service has a healthy mix of older films and newer movies available for you to stream, including Jojo Rabbit, Blades of Glory, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, 40 Days and 40 Nights, Showtime, and Six Degrees of Separation.

The only downside of Cinemax GO is that you need to be a cable subscriber in order to sign up. Once you add Cinemax to your plan, access to the Cinemax GO service is free. You cannot, however, sign up on a standalone basis.

Start Streaming and Laughing Today

These seven comedy streaming services will be more than enough to keep you laughing long into the night.

And remember, if you do somehow run out of things to watch, you can always fall back on YouTube. Most networks upload clips and even full episodes of their shows on their official channels.

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