With 10+ major streaming services available, the average household now spends $50-100/month on subscriptions. This guide compares pricing, content, and the best bundles to help you cut costs while keeping the entertainment you love.
Quick Picks by Need
- Best Overall: Netflix ($7-23/mo)
- Best for Families: Disney+ Bundle ($10-25/mo)
- Best Movies/HBO: Max ($10-16/mo)
- Best for Sports: ESPN+ or YouTube TV
- Best Budget: Peacock ($6-14/mo)
All Streaming Services Compared
| Service | Ad-Free Price | With Ads | Streams | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | $15.49-22.99 | $6.99 | 1-4 | Original content |
| Disney+ | $13.99 | $7.99 | 4 | Families, Marvel, Star Wars |
| Max (HBO) | $15.99 | $9.99 | 2-4 | Premium movies, HBO |
| Hulu | $17.99 | $7.99 | 2 | Current TV, next-day |
| Amazon Prime Video | $14.99 | Included | 3 | Prime members |
| Peacock | $13.99 | $7.99 | 3 | NBC content, sports |
| Paramount+ | $11.99 | $5.99 | 3 | CBS, movies |
| Apple TV+ | $9.99 | N/A | 6 | Apple originals |
Best Streaming Bundles
BEST VALUE
Disney Bundle ($16.99/mo)
Includes Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ with ads. Save $6/month vs buying separately.
- Disney+ for kids and Marvel/Star Wars fans
- Hulu for current TV shows
- ESPN+ for sports
PREMIUM
Disney Bundle Duo Premium ($19.99/mo)
Ad-free Disney+ and Hulu. Best for cord-cutters who want no commercials.
What Each Service Offers
Netflix
- Content: Largest original library, international content
- Hits: Stranger Things, Wednesday, Squid Game
- Weakness: Movies rotate out frequently
- Best plan: Standard ($15.49) for most households
Disney+
- Content: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic
- Hits: Mandalorian, Marvel series, Disney classics
- Weakness: Smaller library than competitors
- Best plan: Bundle with Hulu for complete package
Max (HBO)
- Content: HBO originals, Warner Bros movies, DC
- Hits: House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, classic HBO
- Weakness: Higher price point
- Best plan: With ads at $9.99 if cost-conscious
Amazon Prime Video
- Content: Original series, licensed content, add-on channels
- Hits: The Boys, Reacher, Jack Ryan
- Bonus: Included with Prime membership ($14.99/mo)
- Note: Now shows ads unless you pay extra $2.99/mo
How to Save on Streaming
Cost-Cutting Strategies
- Rotate services: Subscribe for a month, binge, cancel, repeat
- Use ad-supported tiers: Save $5-8/month per service
- Get bundles: Disney Bundle, Paramount+ with Showtime
- Student discounts: 50% off Hulu, Spotify, and more
- Annual plans: Save 15-20% vs monthly
- Check your phone plan: T-Mobile has Netflix, Verizon has Disney+
- Use free trials: Most offer 7-30 day trials
Free Streaming Options
- Tubi: Large movie library, ad-supported, completely free
- Pluto TV: Live channels + on-demand, free
- Peacock (free tier): Limited content but includes some shows
- YouTube: Massive free content library
- Kanopy: Free with library card, great films
- Hoopla: Free with library card, movies/TV/books
Live TV Streaming (Cord-Cutting)
| Service | Price | Channels | DVR | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | $73/mo | 100+ | Unlimited | DVR, sports |
| Hulu + Live TV | $77/mo | 90+ | Unlimited | On-demand + live |
| Sling TV | $40-55/mo | 30-50 | 50 hrs | Budget option |
| fuboTV | $80/mo | 180+ | 1000 hrs | Sports fans |
Best Services by Content Type
Best for Movies
- Max: Warner Bros library, recent theatrical releases
- Netflix: Large selection, good originals
- Amazon: Rentals/purchases for new releases
Best for Kids
- Disney+: Disney, Pixar, kid-friendly content
- Netflix: Strong kids programming
- PBS Kids: Free educational content
Best for Reality TV
- Hulu: Next-day network reality
- Discovery+: HGTV, TLC, Food Network
- Peacock: Bravo, NBC reality