Stan vs Netflix Australia: Which Is Better in 2026?

Stan vs Netflix Australia: Which Should You Choose?

It’s the great Australian streaming debate. You’ve probably got room in the budget for one or two services, and Stan and Netflix are almost certainly on the shortlist. Both have compelling catalogues, both are well-established in the Australian market, and both have their passionate defenders.

So which one actually deserves your hard-earned dollars in 2026? Let’s break it down.

Pricing

Netflix:

• Standard with Ads: $7.99/month
• Standard: $18.99/month (2 screens, Full HD)
• Premium: $25.99/month (4 screens, 4K Ultra HD)

Stan:

• Basic: $12/month (1 screen, SD)
• Standard: $17/month (3 screens, HD)
• Premium: $22/month (4 screens, 4K Ultra HD)

Winner: Stan (just). At the comparable HD tier, Stan ($17/month) is $2 cheaper than Netflix ($18.99/month). However, Netflix’s ad-supported tier at $7.99/month is the cheapest entry point if you don’t mind occasional interruptions. For 4K viewers, Stan’s Premium at $22/month beats Netflix’s $25.99/month.

Content Library

This is where it gets interesting, because the two services have quite different strengths.

Netflix’s strengths:

• Massive international original catalogue (Squid Game, Wednesday, Stranger Things, Adolescence)
• Strongest original film slate of any streamer
• Broad range of genres and formats, including reality, documentary, anime, and kids content
• Regular cadence of new releases — there’s almost always something fresh
• Global cultural moments (when Netflix drops a hit, everyone’s talking about it)

Stan’s strengths:

• Exclusive home of Yellowstone and the Taylor Sheridan universe in Australia
• The Office (US) and Seinfeld — two of the most rewatched comedies ever
• Strong Australian original content (Bump, Nine Perfect Strangers)
• Better Call Saul and the Breaking Bad universe
• RuPaul’s Drag Race
• Power franchise for crime drama fans

Winner: Depends on what you watch. Netflix has the breadth — more shows, more variety, more new releases. Stan has depth in specific areas and some killer exclusive titles. If you watch a lot of different genres and want a constant stream of new content, Netflix wins. If you’re all about Yellowstone, The Office, and quality over quantity, Stan has the edge.

Australian Content

Both services invest in Australian originals, but Stan has been more aggressive here. Bump, Bloom, and the various Stan Original films give it a distinctly local flavour. Netflix has Love Is Blind Australia and Surviving Summer, but its Australian catalogue is thinner overall.

Winner: Stan. It takes its Australian identity more seriously and has the stronger slate of local originals.

User Experience and Features

Netflix has the more polished app experience, with superior recommendation algorithms, better profile management, and features like “Downloads” that work seamlessly. The “Play Something” shuffle feature is handy when you can’t decide.

Stan has improved significantly but still feels a step behind Netflix in terms of interface polish and recommendations. That said, it gets the fundamentals right — searching, browsing, and playback all work smoothly.

Both services offer downloads for offline viewing and multiple user profiles.

Winner: Netflix. It’s been doing this longer and it shows. Stan is perfectly functional, but Netflix’s interface and features are more refined.

Streaming Quality

Both offer 4K HDR content on their premium tiers. Netflix supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos on compatible devices. Stan offers 4K and HDR10, with Dolby Atmos on select content.

Winner: Netflix (narrowly). Better Dolby Vision and Atmos support gives it the edge for home theatre enthusiasts.

Kids Content

Netflix has a significantly larger kids catalogue, with a dedicated kids profile and content from DreamWorks, Illumination, and its own originals. Stan has some kids content but it’s not a focus.

Winner: Netflix, easily. If you’ve got little ones, Netflix is far more useful.

The Verdict

Choose Netflix if: You want the biggest catalogue, the most new releases, strong kids content, a polished app experience, and you enjoy being part of cultural conversation when a big show drops.

Choose Stan if: You’re a Yellowstone devotee, you want The Office and Seinfeld on tap, you value Australian originals, and you’d rather pay slightly less for a curated catalogue of quality content.

Our recommendation: If you can only have one, Netflix edges it for most households thanks to its sheer breadth and reliability. But honestly? Stan at $12/month Basic plus Netflix at $7.99/month with ads gives you both for under $20/month total — which is less than Netflix’s Standard plan alone. If the budget stretches that far, the combination is hard to beat.

The real answer, as always, is that neither service alone has everything. The Australian streaming landscape rewards flexibility — subscribe, binge what you want, and rotate services as the content shifts. Your wallet and your watchlist will both be happier for it.