Streaming entertainment is so ubiquitous that most of the movies and TV shows everyone is talking about these days are available via streaming. Streaming has not killed monoculture; it is monoculture.

With a smart TV or streaming device, you have access to thousands (millions) of hours of library content, from classic black-and-white series from the 1950s to blockbuster movies that played in theaters just a few months ago. You can cut the cord on cable TV and still watch your favorite sports teams live. And when everyone is buzzing about the latest season of a hit drama or comedy, you won't be left behind in the digital water cooler that is social media.

We've taken stock of all the streaming devices, services, and content available this year and selected the best of the (massive) bunch. For a complete list of this year's winners, see the full list of Tom's Guide Awards 2024 winners.

Just because something is new doesn't automatically make it better. While inexpensive streaming devices flooded the market last year, we still prefer the tried-and-true Roku Streaming Stick 4K+. Although it's a few years old, it offers fast performance, HD-quality video, crisp audio, and a rechargeable remote control at a very affordable price of under $50. When it goes on sale, it's an even better deal.

Roku's interface is easy to use, maybe not as elegant as the Apple TV 4K (2022), but certainly easier to use than the ad-filled navigation of the Fire TV Sticks. Back to the remote, I appreciate the Roku Voice Remote's sleek, yet hefty form factor and rechargeable battery; the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ is so reliable that I take it with me when I travel, and I've found the Roku Voice Remote to be a great tool to use when I'm on the road.

For the third year in a row, I have chosen Max as my favorite streaming service. Even after the silly name change, I still rated it #1 for Best Streaming Service. The addition of a large amount of Discovery content has further expanded its already extensive library.

To be honest, Max has HBO's prestige shows and Warner Bros. blockbusters. The Last of Us,” ‘House of the Dragon,’ and ‘White Lotus’ for Sunday night viewing, and access to movies like ‘Barbie’ and ”Dune: Part 2.” Max continues to be the streamer with the most successful combination of quality and quantity.

As you can see from this year's awards, we have no intention of changing what is working: for the third year in a row, Sling was voted best live TV streaming service. I myself cut the cord on cable TV with the help of Sling a few years ago and still use it today. It is the most affordable live TV service with a decent channel lineup.

Sling may not be as comprehensive as YouTube TV or Hulu With Live TV, but it strikes a good balance between cost and number of channels. In addition, the channel lineup is easy to customize, and you can add extras for a month or two when your favorite shows are airing.

YouTube TV is the best streaming service for sports fans. Sure, Fubo may offer the most sports of any streaming service or cable alternative, but YouTube TV's user experience and features give it a huge advantage.

The ability to watch up to four games simultaneously with multi-view and catch up on key plays is a must for sports junkies, and I used both frequently during the UEFA European Championships and Copa America tournaments this summer. I used both of these features frequently during this summer's UEFA European Championships and Copa America tournaments. Combined, these features ensure that you never miss a key moment of any major sporting event. Plus, at $72/month, YouTube TV is cheaper than Fubo's $79/month (plus additional fees). Regional sports networks are not cheap.

The field of free streaming services has improved dramatically in recent years, and services like Tubi and Roku Channel have much to offer users, but it is Amazon Freevee that I keep coming back to.

Perhaps it is due to my familiarity with the platform's interface, as it is technically a sister service to Amazon Prime Video, a premium service, but also due to Freevee's excellent selection of blockbuster movies and unmissable TV shows. It is the latter that Freevee impresses me the most. Right now, you can stream full episodes of such top-rated shows as “Jury Duty,” “Schitt's Creek,” “The Good Wife,” “Weeds,” and “The Twilight Zone.

The second season of “Traitors” is even better than the first. All reality shows are heavily influenced by casting, but whoever is in charge of The Peacock Show deserves a hefty bonus.

Season 2's cast was an electrifying mix of Bravolebrities, “Survivor” and “Big Brother” winners, and the also surprisingly cunning “Bachelor.” A few unreal stars also contributed greatly to the intrigue, notably former Speaker of the British House of Commons John Bercow. And host Alan Cumming was as deliciously campy as ever. The result was a show that one had to channel and talk about every week.

Both Season 2 and Season 3 of “The Bear” take the cake in this category (due to a slight change in the scheduling of the TG Awards this year). The drama has been a huge hit and a critical darling, even if it had a quieter second season and a more contemplative third.

Of course, there are still excruciatingly intense episodes--“Fish” in season 2 and “The Door” in season 3. But the show has evolved beyond the adrenaline rush with deeper character studies that focus on supporting characters such as Richie (“Fork”), Marcus (“Honeydew”), Tina (“Napkin”), and Natalie (“Ice Chips”). Still, the perilous master-disciple relationship between Kermie and Sidney remains the main dish, and it is as complex and nuanced as any of their dishes.

Netflix's track record in original films is a bit shaky, but “Hitman” (released on the streaming service in early June) is definitely a success, not only leaping to #1 on Netflix's Top 10 list, but also scoring very impressive critical and audience scores ( 95% and 91% respectively on Rotten Tomatoes). [Directed by acclaimed director Richard Linklater and starring “the biggest star in waiting,” Glen Powell (who also co-wrote the screenplay with Linklater), the film is a “real-life” drama about the police department's efforts to stop a man who is being held against his will by his own family and friends. Powell plays a man on a fake hitman contract as part of a police sting operation, which quickly becomes complicated when he falls for a woman (Adria Arjona) who is desperate to have her abusive husband killed. The Hitman is eerily funny, utterly charming, and seriously romantic.”