From comedies to mysteries, British TV shows tend to have a sensibility that’s all their own. Whether you’re into classic Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes or newer shows like Death in Paradise and The Office (UK version), BritBox may be well worth looking into — even if you’ve already tried out Acorn TV’s British mystery-centric offerings.
It’s no secret that there are too many streamers to choose from, so selecting subscriptions that you’ll actually use and enjoy matters. With this in mind, we’ll provide an overview of the BritBox streaming app, subscription costs, and more, all of which can help you decide whether it’s right for you.
How Do I Get BritBox — and What Is It?
BritBox is similar to most other streaming apps in that it offers a large selection of shows and movies for your streaming pleasure. What makes it different, however, is that all of its content is from the U.K. In fact, BritBox was created by heavyweights BBC and ITV, and boasts “the biggest streaming collection of British TV ever.”
Offering a nice mixture of classics, newer series, and even exclusive content, BritBox really does have a little something for everyone. If you love PBS Masterpiece shows or pretty much anything ever written by Agatha Christie, then you’ll love the platform’s mystery and drama content. More into comedies, documentaries, or current British talk shows? BritBox offers those too.
Once you subscribe, you’ll be able to watch BritBox any time on your Smart TV, tablet, smartphone, and computer — or with the help of devices like Roku and Chromecast.
What Kinds of Content Does BritBox Offer?
One of BritBox’s biggest strengths is that, for a niche service, it offers an impressive amount of content. When it comes to old-school sleuths, BritBox offers access to beloved British classics like Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Miss Marple, and Midsomer Murders. But you’ll also find plenty of fun and colorful new detective shows as well.
Be sure to check out newer mysteries like The Mallorca Files, Shakespeare and Hathaway, and New Tricks. It’s also worth adding that if you love mysteries with truly mind-blowing endings, Jonathan Creek is quite possibly worth the subscription alone.
There’s also a great selection of comedies, such as Moone Boy, which is based on the childhood adventures of actor Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids). You’ll also find comedy classics like Faulty Towers alongside hysterical feature-length mystery-comedies like Murder on the Blackpool Express.
BritBox hosts plenty of dramas, ranging from period pieces like The House of Elliot to modern police dramas like Line of Duty. There’s also an entire lifestyle and documentary section that features everything from gardening shows to historical documentaries. Last but not least, you can stay on top of recently aired British morning shows when you visit BritBox’s “Now” section.
BritBox: Subscription Prices
When it comes to British TV shows and movies, BritBox is definitely one of the top streaming services, alongside competitor Acorn TV (more on that later). But how much is it going to run you? The good news is that even if you’re still on the fence, you can check out the service for a full seven days without paying a thing.
If you’re sold after that, you can remain a subscriber for a monthly fee of $6.99, or save a bit of money and commit to the whole year for $69.99. Whether or not it’s worth signing up for another streaming subscription will completely depend on how big a fan you are of British content. For those who love the satirical bend of of British humor or the grit of British crime dramas, it’s well worth the price of a subscription, especially considering that there are no pesky ads.
But if British TV isn’t really your thing, then BritBox might not be for you; it’s definitely geared towards a U.K.-content-loving niche audience. That said, BritBox is actually a lot of fun and may surprise you with its offerings. If you feel like you’ve already watched everything on Netflix twice over, then you may find a fresh, new show to liven things up a bit.
How Is BritBox Different From Acorn TV?
Perhaps no overview of BritBox would be complete without mentioning Acorn TV. BritBox and Acorn TV are kind of like the Netflix and Hulu of the British streaming world, so potential subscribers often wonder what the difference is between the two. The honest answer? Not a whole lot.
Recently, the subscription rate of Acorn went up by $1/month, bringing the cost of both BritBox and Acorn to $6.99/month. Each is focused exclusively on content from Britain, with the occasional Canadian or Australian show thrown in, too. Even their dashboards are very similar — simple and no-frills.
BritBox has a slightly larger content library, with a greater variety of offerings. This is due to the fact that Acorn TV is more specialized in the genres of crime/mystery. The biggest difference between the two streaming services comes down to the original series offered by each. Many of the shows you’ll find on Acorn and BritBox move back and forth between the two services every few months with the exception of the original series produced by each.
BritBox’s original programming includes series like The Pembrokeshire Murders, McDonald and Dobbs, and Wild Bill, which stars Rob Lowe (Parks & Recreation). Acorn, on the other hand, offers original series such as Agatha Raisin, Queens of Mystery, and My Life is Murder, which stars Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess). Honestly, each of the services’ originals is delightful in their own ways, so the best way to decide between BritBox and Acorn might be to compare what each is currently offering.
The Bottom Line
If you’re a fan of British TV shows, movies, or both, then you can’t go wrong with BritBox. It really does have streaming content for a variety of tastes and moods. Other than Acorn TV, you won’t find another streaming service that offers nearly the same amount of Britain’s best content all in one place.
BritBox also makes for a great gift if you’re not super into British TV but know someone who’d love a subscription. Look no further than a BritBox gift certificate to delight your mystery-series-obsessed pal.
