When streaming was first gaining popularity, platforms offered tons of content at a relatively low price. As the space has matured prices have steadily increased, leaving many cord-cutters wondering when savings will evaporate completely. Netflix, like others, continues to raise rates. They increased prices, on two of their four plans, in October 2023. The Basic plan rose to $11.99 a month, an increase of $2. The Premium plan increased to $22.99 a month, or a hike of $3. In its recent fourth quarter shareholder newsletter, Netflix teased another hike that analysts believe may take place in the very near future. Here are some more economical options if you want to maintain savings.
Table of Contents
Prices Are Going to Continue to Increase
Most streaming services are still losing money. Despite being backed by major media companies, they don’t like to lose cash. Prices are going to continue to increase, whether we like it or not.
The best way to save on streaming costs is to follow a binge-and-purge model. Subscribe to a service for a month or two, watch what you want, then move on.
Ads Are Going to Become More Pervasive
Other than price increases, ads are the other money-maker for streaming apps. In fact, they make more money via ads than anything else.
You’re going to see more ads, or you’re going to be paying significantly more to avoid them.
Paramount+
Paramount owns the Paramount+ app. It’s the home of the Paramount library, including next-day airings of most CBS shows. It also includes tons of live sports and is perfect for Star Trek fans.
You can get the ad-supported plan for $5.99 monthly or $11.99 without ads. The latter includes content from Showtime.
Peacock
Peacock is the streaming service from NBCUniversal. As such, you get next-day airings of NBC shows. It also has lots of live sports, including Sunday Night Football and Big Ten Saturday. You also get loads of original shows.
You can get the ad-supported plan for $5.99 monthly, or $11.99 without ads.
Hulu
Disney owns Hulu and is home to next-day airings of ABC and FOX shows. You don’t get sports, but it’s second only to Netflix for original content.
You can get the ad-supported plan for $7.99 monthly, or $17.99 without ads. It’s also possible to bundle it with Disney+ or ESPN.
Frndly TV
Are you typically more in the mood for live TV? Frndly TV is a perfect solution. The app has over 40 live channels, largely focusing on lifestyle and entertainment content.
Plans range from $7.99 to $11.99 a month.
Disney+
Disney+ is a fantastic choice for all kinds of Disney fans. The platform has content ranging from Disney classics, to the entire Star Wars library, and much more.
You can get the ad-supported plan for $7.99 monthly, or $13.99 monthly for the ad-free plan.
Max
If you love spellbinding originals and gritty dramas, Max may be the streaming service for you. The app houses much of the Warner Brothers Discovery universe. This includes lifestyle content from Discovery to live news from CNN.
Plans range from $9.99 monthly for the ad-supported tier to $15.99 and $19.99 monthly for ad-free plans.
Apple TV+
Apple may seem like an odd choice for streaming content, but its streaming app holds its own. It doesn’t have a ton of content, but its originals, such as Ted Lasso and Shrinking, are incredibly compelling. The app even has some MLB games and MLS Season Pass.
You can get the app for $9.99 a month.
Tubi
Do you want to cut your streaming costs down to nothing? Tubi is an excellent option. The platform has over 50,000 TV shows and movies, plus over 200 live channels.
You will have to deal with ads, but it’s free and no account is necessary.
FreeVee
FreeVee (formerly IMDb) is one of the top competitors to Tubi. It claims over four million movie and TV show titles. The Amazon-backed free streaming service doesn’t have live channels, but there are plenty of films and classic TV series to watch.
We watch it regularly in our home and it’s a fantastic option to have TV on in the background. The interface is a little clunky, but it’s free so it’s tough to complain.
Sling Freestream
Sling TV is a fantastic, and affordable, live TV streaming service. The company also owns Freestream. You don’t need a Sling subscription to use the free platform.
Furthermore, it has over 40,000 on-demand TV shows and movies as well as over 400 live TV channels. You do have to deal with ads, but all of the content is free to stream.
How to Cut the Cord on Cable or Satellite
Record numbers of Americans are cutting the cord on cable and satellite. This guide shows the best way to end your contract and replace it with a top streaming service.
How to Cut the Cord on Cable or Satellite
How to Watch Local TV Without Cable
Do you want your local networks, but don’t want to overspend for an expensive live service? You have options.
How to Watch Local TV Without Cable
13 Best Free Streaming Services
If you’re looking to cut back on your TV budget, these 13 top services will help you trim it way back, even all the way to zero if you use them exclusively.
13 Best Free Streaming Services
Peacock vs Paramount Plus: Which Streaming Service is Better?
If you’re looking to cut the cord on cable, one of these two services are a great option for meeting your entertainment needs. Find out which one has the most of what you’re looking for in this review comparing the two.
Peacock vs. Paramount Plus: Which Streaming Service is Better?
How to Watch ESPN Without Cable
Live sports keep many people in a cable contract. There’s no need for that. Here are six ways to watch live sports on ESPN without a nasty cable contract.
How to Watch ESPN Without Cable
I’m John Schmoll, a former stockbroker, MBA-grad, published finance writer, and founder of Frugal Rules.
As a veteran of the financial services industry, I’ve worked as a mutual fund administrator, banker, and stockbroker and was Series 7 and 63-licensed, but I left all that behind in 2012 to help people learn how to manage their money.
My goal is to help you gain the knowledge you need to become financially independent with personally-tested financial tools and money-saving solutions.
Leave a Reply