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October 11, 2024
Binge on a Budget: The Cheapest Plans from the Major Streaming Services
Like most families, you’re probably keen to find previously-unexplored ways to save money in an era of higher costs—and one area you may be particularly interested in trimming back is the costs of streaming entertainment. Given the huge number of streaming choices out there—and recent price increases for many streaming apps and channels—we don’t blame you for wanting to binge on a budget.
Thankfully, MyBundle can help you put together a package of streaming apps and channels you’ll actually use—while cutting out the apps you’re least likely to watch in the first place. And MyBundle can even help you discover the cheapest plans available on your favorite streaming channels, too. Keep reading to see the current cheapest plans offered by the major streaming services. With these plans, you’ll be able to stream just about all the content you and your family could want on RizzFiber’s high-speed fiber internet—and save money, too!
Netflix’s Plans
Let’s begin with Netflix’s plans, stemming from the streaming giant’s latest price increase in November 2023. As it has for a while, Netflix still offers three main plans to choose from. Its least expensive plan remains “Standard with ads” which costs $6.99 per month. Viewers will experience ads and are limited to streams on two devices simultaneously, but it is the most budget-friendly option Netflix provides.
The next level up is Netflix’s first ad-free plan, the “Standard” plan, which is $15.49 per month. However, the Standard plan also limits streams to just two at a time, which may be rather limiting to some families. The highest plan, “Premium,” costs $22.99, is ad-free, and permits four simultaneous streams. Its picture quality is also better than the other plans, as well, as it provides Ultra HD.
Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ Price Plans
Hulu and its streaming partners Disney+ and ESPN+ offer the biggest variety of streaming packages to choose from. The simplest plan for on-demand Hulu streaming is its original Hulu app plan costing $7.99 per month (or $79.99 per year for a savings of about $16), but you will see ads during the programs you watch. For $17.99 per month, you can watch Hulu’s on-demand content ad-free. It’s important to remember, however, that neither of these options offer live streaming television.
To get live TV through Hulu, you must select one of the four Hulu + Live TV plans below:
Live TV Only ($75.99 per month, without Hulu’s on-demand content library or access Disney+ or ESPN+ content);
Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (With Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) ($76.99 per month, with ads in all three services);
Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) ($81.99 per month, with ads for both Hulu and ESPN+, but without ads for Disney+); and
Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) ($89.99 per month, and with no ads on Hulu or Disney+, but with ads for ESPN+).
Max (Formerly HBO Max)
Max also offers tiered plans that can save you money. Each of Max’s plans have different features and limitations, and the cheapest option includes ads. Currently, Max offers three plans at three price points: “Max With Ads” ($9.99 per month or $99.99 annually for a 16% savings), “Max Ad-Free” ($15.99 per month or $149.99 each year with over 20% savings), and “Max Ultimate Ad-Free” ($19.99 per month or $199.99 annually valued at a 16% savings).
As the name suggests, “Max With Ads” will serve subscribers with ads, just like other ad-supported streaming services do. It also limits subscribers to just two simultaneous streams, which could be an issue for some families. “Max Ad-Free” contains no ads, but also limits its simultaneous streams to just two at a time.
Finally, “Max Ultimate Ad-Free,” the most expensive option, also doesn’t have ads. It does, however, allow up to four simultaneous streams, which may make this plan the best option for larger households. “Max Ultimate Ad-Free” also offers the best picture and audio quality on many titles, with 4K UHD with Dolby Atmos on many movies and series.
Peacock
Peacock, NBC’s streaming service, offers two plans for its subscribers. Its first option, “Peacock Premium,” is more budget-conscious ($5.99 monthly) but contains ads. An ad-free plan is also available, “Premium Plus,” which will cost you more at $11.99 per month. Some families may find added value in Peacock’s Premium Plus plan, however, as it also lets you download many titles for you to enjoy later.
Additionally, Peacock offers significant savings if you pay in advance on a yearly basis (instead of monthly). Indeed, you can get twelve months for the price of ten if you choose this payment option. For the Premium plan, paying annually will cost you $59.99 per year, while Premium Plus clocks in at $119.99.
Paramount+ Essential (formerly Essential) and Showtime Plans
CBS’s streaming platform Paramount+ also offers a few pricing plans you’ll want to consider. Its primary package (now known as “Paramount+ Essential”) is available at a monthly rate of $5.99 per month. You can also pay upfront annually at $59.99 and save yourself about $12.
Additionally, CBS has teamed up with Showtime for a streaming offer that fans of Showtime’s extensive programming will want to eat up. You can select “Paramount+ with SHOWTIME” (formerly known as Premium with SHOWTIME) for $11.99 per month. With this plan, you can stream Showtime’s movies, dramas, and documentaries in addition to Paramount+’s content. For even greater savings, pay $119.99 per year on an annual basis and save $24 with this package!
Through the plans we detail above, you may be able to save you and your family some money on your streaming budget this year. But don’t forget to explore MyBundle and its many time-saving search tools to look for even more deals. And for more tips on saving money while streaming the entertainment you love, follow RizzFibers’s social pages!
