Since the genre really took off some 20 years ago, reality TV has become an integral part of the entertainment industry. From competition series like Survivor to fascinating explorations into group dynamics with The Real World and even shows that involve skills like fashion or baking, it's clear that the genre is here to stay.
With the rise of streaming services, it's no wonder why so many viewers are taking their love of reality TV from traditional network television to watch-when-you-want (and binge if you want) streaming platforms. But not all streaming platforms offer the same amount of reality content, so it's important to choose wisely.
Apple TV+
The struggling Apple TV+ has found some success with series like The Morning Show and Ted Lasso. However, in the reality department, the streamer is slightly lacking.
While they have a few big-name hits like Project Runway and The Bachelorette, it certainly wouldn't be the first pick for any reality fan. However, with its lower subscription price, it's a great additional streaming platform to have to supplement one of the more prominent and expensive services.
Tubi TV
Tubi is an excellent streaming service for fans of reality TV, especially those who are just getting into the genre. The website (and app) are completely free to watch thanks to a few commercial breaks during its TV shows and movies, making it perfect for audiences of all budgets.
The upside and downside of Tubi is that it has a large selection of reality shows, but many of them are older. Viewers can watch classic episodes of Dance Moms, Fear Factor, Flavor of Love, and more. It's perfect for first-time viewers and anyone who wants to rewatch old classics for a good dose of nostalgia.
Disney+
For its price, Disney+ is actually quite affordable considering how much content it provides. Also, thanks to Disney's acquisition of FOX, it gained the rights to the National Geographic channel. That means Disney+ audiences can watch famous NatGeo reality shows like Life Below Zero, Wicked Tuna, Dog Whisperer, and more.
In addition to that, Disney+ has launched its own reality shows too, including Encore, especially for those who want a large library of family-friendly series.
HBO Max
HBO was once considered the pinnacle of television, being the only contender in the ring. However, they soon saw competition from Showtime and Starz, and later, streaming juggernauts like Netflix. To stay on top, HBO released its streaming service last year and has since dropped its price.
HBO Max had two critically praised reality shows at launch. Legendary, which focused on ball culture, and We're Here, which centered around putting on drag shows in small towns across the country. Since then, it's launched even more original reality programming, including FBoy Island. Plus, HBO Max streams all the shows from Turner networks, like Impractical Jokers, The Carbonaro Effect, and more.
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime is a bit of an overlooked streamer when it comes to reality shows, but it actually has produced tons of original content. For starters, it's home to the Project Runway sequel, Making the Cut, hosted by Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn.
Prime also launched the spiritual sequel to Top Gear, with The Grand Tour, starring Jeremy Clarkson. The Grand Tour proved so popular, that Prime has even launched numerous spinoffs, including Lochdown and Clarkson's Farm. They also have lots of syndicated reality shows like Ghost Hunters, Hoarders, Pawn Stars, and more.
Peacock
Peacock has struggled to find an audience. NBC isn't releasing hard numbers, but reports from Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal say there are only about 3-10 million paying subscribers, as reported by The Wrap. This is largely due to the fact that Peacock had hardly any exclusive content for its entire first year of operation.
However, for fans of reality TV, the streamer is great because it contains the library of reality shows from all of NBC's networks, including E!, Bravo, and Syfy. On Peacock, audiences can watch some of the best reality TV shows, including Below Deck, Real Housewives, Vanderpump Rules, Face Off, Hell's Kitchen, and more. A lot of shows are even free to watch, and for those that aren't, subscription plans are fairly cheap.
Paramount+
The short-lived CBS All Access turned into Paramount+, which combined all the CBS, Paramount, and Viacom content in one place while adding a hoard of original content, as well. Because Paramount+ is the home of Viacom networks, this means it has all of the popular MTV and VH1 shows, including The Real World, RuPaul's Drag Race, The Challenge, and more.
And thanks to CBS, it's also the streaming home for legacy franchises like Survivor and The Amazing Race. Paramount+ will also be launching Queen of the Universe in December, a drag queen singing competition from the production company that created Drag Race.
Netflix
Netflix is currently the king of streaming, with over 213 million subscribers according to hilarious guilty pleasures like Too Hot to Handle.
Other popular Netflix reality shows include Love is Blind, Selling Sunset, The Circle, and Glow Up. The great thing about Netflix is that since they focus on original programming, they offer up shows you can't find anywhere else, which has helped them amass (and keep) their giant base of subscribers.
Hulu
Hulu is a great choice for audiences because it has content from a wide variety of networks. Viewers can binge reality TV shows from Master Chef, Jersey Shore and The Hills to Storage Wars and more. Hulu's reality section is so big that they have an entire page dedicated to it. It truly is an impressive library of content, spanning almost every major network, including VH1, MTV, History, ABC, FOX, NBC, and more.
Plus, Hulu has released a good amount of its own reality shows, especially in the food genre, including The Next Thing You Eat, Eaters Guide to the World, Taste the Nation, and more.
Discovery+
For fans of unscripted series, Discovery+ is the ultimate streaming service. The platform brings together all the Discovery networks, including TLC, Travel Channel, HGTV, Food Network, Animal Planet, and more. That means there's literally something for every type of reality fan. Some of the best reality TV shows on Discovery+ include paranormal series, like Ghost Adventures and Portals to Hell.
Foodies can enjoy other shows like Chopped and Guy's Grocery Games, and HGTV's wildly popular House Hunters is a series that has attracted a huge audience since its premiere back in 1999. Also on offer is all of TLC's popular romance shows like 90 Day Fiance and Sister Wives. Since its premiere less than a year ago, Discovery+ has already gained over 18 million paying subscribers, according to The Wrap.