Major streaming services have increased their monthly prices in the past year. Additionally, Netflix and Disney Plus have introduced new, cheaper plans supported by ads. This rise in TV viewing costs applies to both cable and exclusive streaming. Subscriptions to services like Netflix, HBO Max, Disney Plus, or YouTube TV can make it seem like you’re spending as much if not more than you did for cable alone.
Fortunately, there are ways to lower your streaming expenses without making significant sacrifices. Somewhere you can buy a cheap subscription instead of a more expensive tariff plan; some services offer free trial versions with sufficient functionality. We’ll help you find the perfect balance between costs and the amount of content available.
How to Save Money on Subscriptions to Streaming Services?
#1 Choose Bundles’
Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and similar platforms offer the flexibility to cancel and resume subscriptions at your convenience, making it easy to await the return of your favorite shows. Given that many series have long gaps between seasons, taking a break and saving money is a wise choice. Following an annual subscription is not recommended, even with potential discounts, as opting for a monthly basis is likely to yield greater savings.
To maximize your savings, create a rotation schedule. Instead of subscribing to multiple services simultaneously, focus on one at a time to catch up on all your beloved shows before moving on to the next. For instance, enjoy Netflix in July, switch to Hulu in August, and explore Disney Plus in September.
#2 Switch to a Cheaper Region
Many streaming services price their songs based on your location. If you live in a rich country, the price may be many times higher than in a neighboring poorer country. With a powerful VPN like VeePN, you can spoof your location. This applies to Kodi, Netflix, Prime Video, and some other services. You just need to connect to the remote VPN server, but if you need more detailed instructions on how to use VPN with Kodi, please refer to the link. Some services have their own peculiarities of bypassing regional binding.
#3 Choose a Cheaper Subscription
Streaming services used to offer only one pricing option not long ago. However, many companies have now introduced cheaper plans that include commercials, allowing users to save money, especially when prices are increased. In my household, we subscribe to the ad-supported versions of Hulu and Paramount+. Disney, Max, and Netflix now also provide lower-priced, ad-supported options ($8, $10, and $7 per month, respectively).
The great news is that ad-supported services are less likely to be affected by price hikes. For instance, Disney recently announced that it will raise the prices of the ad-free versions of Disney+ and Hulu by over 20 percent each in October. On the other hand, the price of the ad-supported services will remain unchanged.
#4 Use a Free Trial Whenever Possible
Almost all major streaming services, except for Netflix, provide a free trial. This means that with careful planning, you can binge-watch a couple of series without spending a penny. Basically, such offers are given to new users, so you can register a new account. Just use the free VPN Edge extension first so that the service does not identify your real identity. Just remember to set a cancellation reminder on your calendar, or you’ll start getting billed once the trial period ends.
#5 Choose Subscription Options with Advertising
The price difference between watching content with or without ads has become increasingly prominent.
Netflix, for instance, has discontinued its $9.99 monthly option and now offers its cheapest ad-free subscription for $15.49 in the United States. However, if you don’t mind enduring commercials, you can pay just $6.99 per month.
In October, Disney will raise the price of its ad-free Hulu subscription to $17.99 from $14.99, while the cost of the subscription with commercials will remain at $7.99 per month in the United States.
Other streaming services like Peacock, Max (formerly HBO Max), Disney Plus, and Paramount Plus (which includes Showtime) also provide subscription tiers that include commercials, often at half the cost compared to ad-free options.
#6 Share Subscriptions with Family
Streaming services have varying policies regarding password-sharing, which can be hard to enforce and ambiguous. For instance, you can split the bills between family members. You can pay for Netflix, and your relative or friend can pay for HBO Max. Then you simply exchange passwords for these services and use them without any problems. However, it is important to be aware of streaming services like Netflix actively taking action against password sharing.
Conclusion
With careful planning and budgeting, you can find ways to save money on streaming subscriptions. You may have to put up with ads somewhere or exchange passwords, but a few tens or even a hundred dollars are worth it.