Gone are the days of unlimited free trials and ad-free subscriptions for all subscription membership levels.
Now, it seems like every year our favorite subscription services are either raising the price of their membership plans or threatening to take away benefits that were previously available based on their membership level. Streamers claimed they were struggling with costs as well as growing their subscriber base.
Even as people give up expensive cable bundles for cheaper streaming services, more expensive monthly subscription services are now actually on the rise.
It's a good idea to take a good look at what services you already subscribe to, how you can stop overpaying, and take a clear look at the different plans and how they compare to each other. Let’s take a look at which services went up and which ones are worth keeping.
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Stream from your computer (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
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How to Avoid Overpaying for Streaming Services
According to Nielsen, “Americans have streamed 21 million years’ worth of content. [in 2023]This is a 21% increase from 2022. When you add up all your monthly streaming costs, you'll likely end up spending more than you realize.
99% of American households subscribe to at least one streaming service. On average, Americans spend about $46 per month on streaming services. Other people are paying more and sometimes don't know it. There's an easy way to deal with out-of-control spending on streaming.
![sticker shock](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/03/1200/675/2-How-to-stream-more-and-pay-less-by-lowering-your-monthly-streaming-costs-billshock.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1)
Couple looking at streaming prices (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
MORE: How to Protect Yourself from Streaming Hacks
Tip 1 – Check for hidden subscription fees
Audit your credit card bills to find out about recurring streaming charges. When you check your bills online, sorting by name across months will make recurring charges stand out. Then check your App Store settings for subscriptions you no longer use but are still paying for each month.
How to Verify Your iPhone Subscription
To check recurring app subscriptions on iPhone setting > your name > Tap and subscribe
How to check your Android subscription
SSettings may vary depending on your Android phone manufacturer.
To confirm a recurring app subscription on Android: setting > Google > Your care google account > Payment and subscription > Manage purchases, manage subscriptions or manage reservations
How to check your Amazon subscription
To check your Amazon recurring subscriptions on your smartphone, log in to Amazon and click the Account Settings tab > Membership and Subscriptions Check which recurring services you are subscribed to.
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Tip 2 – Switch to a cheaper tier
Last year, Netflix began offering ad-supported subscriptions at a reduced monthly rate of $6.99 per month (the standard ad-free tier starts at $15.49). Ad-supported streaming on Disney Plus costs $7.99 per month ($13.99 per month for ad-free playback).
Tip 3 – Start and stop your subscription
Most streaming services offer month-to-month subscriptions and the ability to cancel at any time, so there's no reason not to start or stop a subscription.
Tip 4 – Split and Share Subscriptions
Most streaming services now offer the ability to add users to their subscription plans. If you do it right, with the right people, you can save money by splitting your subscription.
amazon prime – $139 per year or $14.99 per month subscription that includes Prime Video; Can be shared by two adults at separate addresses.
Apple TV – It offers various tiers.
(1) When you purchase an Apple device, Apple TV+ is provided free for 3 months.
(2) Monthly subscription costs $9.99 per month after 7-day free trial.
(3) Apple TV+ is included in Apple One, which bundles up to five other Apple services into a single monthly subscription. Apple One plans start at $19.95 per month. You can choose a premium tier such as ‘Family’ ($25.95/month) or ‘Premier’ ($37.95/month), which allows you to share your account with up to 5 people.
(4) Apple Music student plans come with a free subscription to Apple TV+.
Some services allow you to share with friends and family who live outside of your home address, but other streaming companies, including Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Netflix, and Max, require people sharing the same plan to live under the same roof.
netflix has begun checking the locations of subscribers in some Latin American countries who may come into the United States in the future to enforce shared accounts at different addresses. Netflix has started charging a fee to subscribers who share the same account but do not reside at the same address. However, Netflix now has a subscription level that allows you to add users who can log in with their own username and password, so account holders don't have to share their master username and password with anyone else. Share your account, not your information.
Hulu rejects Texas church ad for violating 'religious indoctrination' policy: 'fundamentally unfair'
![movie streaming](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/03/1200/675/3-How-to-stream-more-and-pay-less-by-lowering-your-monthly-streaming-costs-choosingservice.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1)
A couple is streaming a movie on their laptop. (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
See more: The best streaming devices of 2024
Tip 5 – Bundle and save
Some streaming services, like Disney Plus, allow you to save money by bundling multiple platforms. For example, if you pay $9.99 per month for Disney Bundle Duo Basic, you'll get Disney Plus (with ads) and Hulu (with ads). Separately, each subscription level costs $7.99 per month. This means you save $5.99 per month. So, double-check to see if your preferred streaming platform offers a similar bundle to save money.
Tip 6 – Purchase an annual subscription
It may sound counterintuitive, but if you know you'll be watching the platform for a full year, purchasing an entire year in advance can save you money in the long run. For example, with Disney Plus, you can purchase a one-year premium tier subscription for $139.99. This saves you $27.89 (or 2 months free) compared to $11.66 per month or $13.99 per month for a monthly subscription.
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Tip 7 – Free Streaming Services
If you decide not to purchase a streaming service, you can watch free TV shows and movies on a variety of platforms. Fox Entertainment's Tubi, Amazon's Freevee, PlutoTV, and the Roku Channel are free channels that can be viewed with ads. Be sure to check out our selection of products. Best Sites to Stream Free Movies, TV Shows, and Live News in 2024.
Some ad-free streaming services, such as: Hoopla and canopy You can watch for free with an active library card membership.
![couple streaming](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/03/1200/675/4-How-to-stream-more-and-pay-less-by-lowering-your-monthly-streaming-costs-couplestreaming.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Couple Streaming Shows and Movies (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
See more: Hackers' latest trick looks like free streaming movies
Top Streamer Subscription Costs
To give you a glance at how much streaming services cost, here's a breakdown of the top streamers and their costs at the time of publishing. The streaming services market is very competitive, with different platforms offering a variety of plans and services. price.
- Among the major players, Paramount has the cheapest monthly plan with ads at $5.99, followed by Hulu at $7.99.
- Netflix, Amazon, AppleTV, and Max all offer ad-free plans that range from $9.99 to $22.99 per month.
- YouTube has three plans, with the Personal plan costing $13.99 per month.
- Annual plans are usually cheaper than monthly plans, except for Netflix and Hulu, which don't offer annual plans.
- The most expensive annual plan is Max's Ultimate Ad-Free plan ($199.99).
- Disney+ has two plans: one with ads and one without ads. The Disney+ Basic plan costs $7.99 per month, while the Disney+ Premium plan costs $13.99 per month or $139.99 per year.
Kurt’s Key Takeaways
Streaming services are adapting to economic challenges by shifting the burden onto consumers by increasing subscription costs or removing some benefits from basic subscription levels, but these services aren't going anywhere and remain a staple of most Americans' lives. But you can still come out ahead by being knowledgeable about the content you subscribe to and adopting a smart strategy.
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