Mr. Beast hosted a global competition that millions probably agree is cooler than the Olympics. The winner (I won’t spoil it) took home a gold medal worth $250,000.
7 ways to stop paying so much on streaming every dang month
Five years ago, Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu with Live TV would cost you around $56 a month. Not bad! Today, the exact services will run you over $106. How’s that for outrageous?
New research shows we’re more cutthroat than ever about what we pay to stream. Let’s look at some clever ways people save so you can, too!
It’s all about the Benjamins
If it’s not clear by now, we’re all scaling back on streaming primarily because of how dang expensive these services are. Sure, some people hit their TV limit during the pandemic (🙋♀️ raising my hand), but costs are still out of control.
Here are a few recent increases in monthly prices:
- Ad-free Netflix plan: From $13.99 to $15.49
- Ad-free Disney+ premium: From $11 to $14
- Ad-free Hulu with Live TV: From $70 to $77
- Ad-free Amazon Prime Video: From $0 to $2.99, plus you need to pay $14.99 per month for Prime
Over the last two years, roughly 25% of American streaming subscribers have canceled at least three services. Yup, I’m in that category, too!
OK, I’m ready to save
I feel you. You don’t need to cut all your streaming to save significant cash, either.
- Get creative. What do you pay for that you don’t need all the time? Looking at you, sports add-ons. Cancel those once specific events or seasons are over.
- Focus on what you watch most. If we’re not watching anything on Netflix, it goes away until our show returns. A couple of active services are usually more than enough for one family.
- Watch ads. Streaming companies are desperate to keep you, and you can get free or cheaper options if you’re willing to put up with commercials.
- Get a grip. Sometimes, you forget what you’re even paying for. I use Rocket Money (a sponsor of my podcast) to do it for me. You can also comb through your bank and credit card statements to find all your streaming charges.
- Consider an antenna. This is a no-brainer if you’re a sports fan and your favorite games are on local channels. Here’s a solid option that includes a DVR, and this one gets the job done on a budget. Try this site to see what channels you can get at home.
- Test the freebies. Pluto TV, Tubi and plenty of others still cost absolutely nothing. Ads? Yes. Free? Yes. Big list of freebies here!
- Sharing is caring. Not everyone has banned this yet. Amazon lets up to six people share. Through Apple’s Family Sharing feature, six folks get Apple TV+. Disney+ started cracking down on password sharing for Canadian users, but it’s still OK here in the U.S. — for now.
My husband, Barry, is a serial subscriber
If there’s a paid app or service, he somehow finds it. I regularly go in and cancel stuff he’s not using, and then every few months, he’ll yell, “KIM! Did you cancel this?” I just laugh.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Ahoy, matey! Streaming costs are bringing back piracy
How much do pirates pay for corn? A buck-an-ear! How much do they pay for streaming services? Uh, they don’t.
On a recent Friday podcast, Andrew mentioned all the services he subscribes to to watch football. A reader sent a note with a suggestion: “Just watch on an illegal streaming site. Oh, and be careful what you click.”
🏀 This takes balls: Finally, we won’t need to pay a bunch of different streamers for sports. ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery announced an all-in-one sports streaming service, packing 14 networks and ESPN+. Coming this fall, priced above $40 monthly.
Ask a tech expert: How can I make it easier for my mom with dementia to find her shows?
What a pain, Todd. You’re a good son to try to make this easier for her. I found an excellent solution for you: the SofaBaton X1 universal remote control.
It’s a programmable universal remote that simplifies life with one-touch activities. Press a single button and control your TV, stereo, whatever.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
How to watch Sunday’s Falcons vs. Jaguars NFL game animated in the style of ‘Toy Story’
This is so cool, and it’s happening this Sunday. ESPN and Disney are teaming up for a one-of-a-kind NFL experience.
While you’ve got your usual Falcons vs. Jaguars action from London happening in Week 4 on ESPN+, local channels and the NFL+ mobile app, a new twist comes from the magical world of “Toy Story.”
Grandpa's YouTube channel gains nearly 500,000 subscribers due to act of kindness
Every Sunday after family dinner, a Utah grandpa would grab the comics and read them to his grandkids. When COVID hit, he needed a distanced way to do it, so he took to YouTube.
His “Grandpa Reads the Comics” channel wasn’t getting much action — until an influential Instagrammer stumbled across his videos. The content was so heartwarming he had to share it. It wasn’t long until grandpa soared past 100,000 subscribers.
📺 Today, he has half a million subscribers and some of the sweetest videos you’ll see on YouTube. Watch his story here.
Shortcut to find where a show or movie is streaming
A friend is raving about a new show you just have to watch. You’re in, you’re excited and then you realize, “Oh, it’s on a streaming service I don’t subscribe to.”
The problem used to be there wasn’t anything to watch. Now, there are too many places to watch shows and movies. Here’s a fast, easy way to find out what’s available where.
Streaming costs are higher than ever - Take steps to save now
I think we’re all wondering the same thing. Am I really saving any money since I ditched cable for streaming? And about those commercials … they’ve come to streaming, too.
Just this week, Disney+ and Hulu said that come October, prices will increase. Ad-free Disney+ is going from $11 to $14 — ad-free Hulu from $14 to $18. You could pay less to watch some ads, but … they’re annoying.
“Hey Kim, what streaming device should I get?”
I get this question often enough that I thought I’d share it with you here. The answer, of course, is it depends. I’ll walk you through a few of the best options out there — and who they’re best for.
Your TV might be smart enough that all the apps you need are built-in. That’s not true for a lot of them, and honestly, streaming boxes and sticks are easier to use.
Streaming prices are out of control - See what services are charging
We’ve come a long way from the days of visiting Blockbuster Video on a Friday night to find a few movies to pass the weekend. These days, you don’t have to get off the couch to rent the latest Hollywood smash hit.
Now, you just fire up the smart TV and connect to your favorite streaming service to have fantastic content at your fingertips. Giants like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Paramount+ have emerged as dominant players, offering a vast array of movies, TV shows and original content.
10 of the best free games on Netflix
The big N has been making some major money moves lately. Some good, some unpopular, but all noteworthy.
One of the most significant moves? Getting into gaming. After acquiring several gaming companies and even launching a studio of its own, Netflix hopes to win the thumb war.
Livestream: Kilauea volcano erupting
Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, is on the Big Island of Hawaii. It’s been erupting constantly since 1983. Sometimes things are low-key. Right now, not so much. Watch it in action. Crazy stuff!
First 'livestream' of Mars
The European Space Agency marks 20 years of the Mars Express with a live look at what’s going down on the Red Planet. It takes up to 22 minutes for us to get “live” pictures of Mars down here on Earth, so not technically a livestream, but still pretty dang cool.
Grab the popcorn: Best movies streaming in June
If we’re going to pay through the nose for streaming services, we better get the most out of them. Here’s a look at classics and new releases coming to the big platforms this month.
Netflix: “Groundhog Day,” “Terminator 2,” Dunkirk,” “Spider-Man” 1 through 3, “The Breakfast Club,” “Jarhead.”
Best places to find movies, books, audiobooks and music without spending a dime
Money is tight for everyone nowadays, and it’s nice to stretch your dollar as far as possible. You may have free perks from your cell provider that you don’t even know about. Here’s what you can get from Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile.
Streaming services from most to least expensive
Wouldn’t it be great if all your favorite shows and movies were on the same platform? Sadly, all the good stuff is scattered across different apps, including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and HBO Max. If you’re juggling multiple subscriptions, these streaming services can burn a massive hole in your wallet.
Streaming service price rises are coming, but that might actually be a good thing
Don’t shoot the messenger! Paying more for what you watch is something no one wants to do. The good news is it might help make the content you actually want to watch more widely available.
Keep reading for details on streaming services that might be changing soon.
10 Roku app tricks to get the most out of your streaming services
When it comes to streaming services, you’re spoiled for choice: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Hulu, Apple TV, and Disney+ are just some of the more popular ones.
Do you mostly watch network TV shows? Are you a big sports fan? If you answered yes to those questions, you might want to consider switching back to cable. It could even end up costing you less in the long run. Tap or click here for our report.
Do you prefer YouTube or Netflix? It might come down to how old you are
It’s no secret that different age groups stream different content. But where’s the line in the sand that determines whether someone gravitates toward Netflix or YouTube?
According to new survey data presented by Publisher’s Clearing House, the magic number is 45.