How to Save Money on Streaming Services

You're not alone if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the cost of your numerous streaming subscriptions.

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Most American households subscribe to four or more streaming services, with almost 10% subscribing to nine or more.

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With continuous price hikes from platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Peacock, your streaming expenses could quickly stream out of control.

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Digital subscriptions also contribute to emissions as they require energy-intensive file storage on large servers. By managing these subscriptions, we can also control our digital carbon footprint.

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If you could cancel 3 monthly media subscriptions, it would reduce your annual carbon footprint by over 1%.

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Here are some ways to keep your budget and digital carbon footprint in check while enjoying your favorite shows:

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Streamline your streams

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For easy tracking, how about putting all subscriptions on one card or subscribing through a single platform like Amazon, Apple TV+, or Roku? Make it a habit to review your usage against the cost and keep an eye out for any price hikes. Identify the ones that you are using the least and remove them. For example, you might have signed up for Apple TV just to watch the first season of Severance. But why keep paying until the next season, which isn't coming out for a while?

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Binge, unsubscribe, repeat

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A lot of us sign up for streaming services just to catch that one buzz-worthy series and then it kind of just sits there racking up our bills. It's like that gym membership in January, right? But it doesn't have to be this way. You can binge-watch to your heart's content on one platform, say "thank you, next" like Ariana, and move on to the next one. And guess what? A whopping 36% of streamers are already playing this game of musical chairs with their subscriptions.

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Accept commercial breaks for your wallet

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Consider switching to ad-supported streaming plans to save money. Many streaming platforms offer cheaper versions with commercials, which are also less affected by price hikes. For instance, Paramount Plus and Hulu offer monthly ad-supported plans for $5 and $7 respectively. If you're not a fan of 4K and mostly watch on your phone or tablet, you might not need the pricier Netflix Premium plan. So, endure a few commercials, save some money, and use the ad breaks for snack runs, just like in the old days.

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Hit pause

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If you're not ready to fully cut ties with your streaming service, consider hitting the pause button. Many providers, like Hulu and Sling, won't charge you for up to three months if you pause your account and let you pick a reactivation date. Other services, including Fubo and YouTube TV, also offer membership pauses for a set timeframe. Remember, during this pause, you'll lose access to your services, including any bundled ones like Hulu and Disney Plus. Make sure to check your account page for specific details on how pausing impacts your billing cycle and the maximum length of your payment break.

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Stream and save with your cell carrier's signal

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Save on your streaming subscriptions by leveraging perks from your phone carrier. For instance, T-Mobile's Magenta Max plan offers a free Netflix Standard subscription. Cricket Wireless's unlimited plan gives free access to ad-supported HBO Max, and Metro by T-Mobile's Unlimited plan includes Amazon Prime. Verizon even offers the Disney Bundle with two of its Unlimited plans. As streaming services increase their prices, these carrier deals can provide significant savings.

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Apart from these strategies, you could also explore the world of free entertainment with platforms like Tubi and Kanopy, consider direct subscriptions to services like NBC's Peacock or CBS's Paramount+, and opt for monthly billing cycles instead of annual subscriptions to curb your streaming spend.

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