Many people have already ditched their cable or satellite TV packages, and the trend continues. The pandemic has only fueled the surge in interest in streaming, making it bigger than ever. The streaming industry has become quite crowded, with lots of content exclusive to specific platforms. Additionally, many services offer original content that you won’t find anywhere else.
Trying to subscribe to every streaming service might not be the best idea. Do you know how much the average person spends on streaming services a month? About $48 and chances are, you won’t have enough time to watch all the content to justify the cost. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce your streaming expenses without compromising on content. Read about how to save on streaming services and do it the smart way.
Practical Money-Saving Tips on Streaming Services
#1 Alternate Subscriptions
If you have a specific reason for subscribing to a streaming service, you have the option to save money by rotating between different subscriptions.
By sticking to the monthly plan, you’re not committed to a long-term contract, giving you the freedom to cancel or rejoin whenever you please.
Interestingly, a survey revealed that 26.25% of respondents chose Disney+ primarily for The Mandalorian, while 25.57% opted for Netflix to catch the latest season of Stranger Things.
#2 Choose a Cheaper Tier
Recently, streaming services used to have only one pricing option. However, things have changed and now many companies offer cheaper plans that include commercials.
This is a great way to save money, especially when streaming services increase their prices. For instance, in my household, we subscribe to the ad-supported versions of Hulu and Paramount+. Hulu will be raising its prices across the board in October.
The monthly fee for ad-supported viewing will go up from $7 to $8, but we’ll still be saving $7 compared to the ad-free version. Additionally, HBO Max also offers an ad-supported option, and both Netflix and Disney+ are planning to launch their own versions this fall.
#3 Choose Something One
How can I get rid of my cable and still watch TV? You need a streaming service with access to TV shows. However, you must choose one. Even if some services offer unique access to broadcasts, you can sacrifice something, because each of them has enough content. For example, you can try Roku TV.
Just keep in mind that Roku TV is not available in all countries. You may need a VPN for Roku TV to unblock it. VPN on Roku allows you to bypass geo-restrictions. For stable and free access to the Roku library, you need a good VPN like VeePN. It has 2500+ servers, a no-logs policy, a choice of VPN protocols, and generally has everything you need for comfortable streaming.
#4 Ditch live TV
YouTube TV is ridiculously expensive at $73 per month. Hulu Plus Live TV is $70. Even a “budget” option like Sling costs a minimum of $40. If you’re already paying for a live TV streaming service, it’s time to seriously think about cutting the cord. Take a moment and think about it: how much live TV do you actually watch?
You can catch NFL games on Paramount Plus or Prime Video, and if you’re a news junkie, there are free services available to fill in the gaps. Numerous services like Pluto, ABC News Live, and CBSN stream live news for free. And if nothing else, consider a cheaper alternative like Philo, which offers over 60 channels for a more reasonable $25 per month.
Lastly, think about giving an antenna a try (remember those dinosaur devices?). You can pick up local TV stations for free, albeit without the ability to record unless you invest in additional hardware. Check out the best indoor TV antennas for 2023, starting at a mere $20!
#5 Grab a Bundled Deal
There are probably numerous other fantastic deals available as well. If you already have a cell phone plan or are considering getting one, making the most of the latest deals is an excellent way to save money in the long term.
Another option is to subscribe to the Disney bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Subscribing to these three services together costs as low as $12.99 per month, which is half the price compared to subscribing to each one separately. Additionally, you can even get the Disney bundle for free if you have a Verizon Unlimited plan.
Questions and Answers
Is Roku Cheaper Than Cable?
Roku is usually more affordable than cable for most individuals. However, if you load up several streaming subscriptions, Roku can end up being pricier than cable.
If you desire some premium channels, most of them range from $4 to $15 per month. These streaming channels operate in a fiercely competitive industry and thus offer excellent content.
On the other hand, even the most basic cable TV providers have subscriptions starting from $49 per month. Typically, the basic packages only include low-rated movies and TV shows. To access A-list movies and top-rated shows, you may have to pay over $100 per month.
What streaming service is the least expensive?
The most budget-friendly on-demand streaming services are the ad-supported ones such as Tubi and Vudu, which are completely free. Additionally, there are services available for around $5, including Apple TV+, Hulu with ads, Funimation, Topic, and a few others.
Conclusion
We hope this guide has provided you with valuable insights on saving money on streaming services. The key factors to consider are monitoring your subscriptions and sticking to a budget. Failing to do so can result in rapidly escalating streaming service bills.
