What the Major Streaming Services Cost Right Now
Current monthly prices for the most common streaming services
The cost of a single streaming service ranges from about $7 to $23 per month, depending on which service you choose and what tier of membership you pick. Most services now offer multiple tiers — a cheaper option with ads, and a pricier ad-free version. Some also charge extra for simultaneous streams on different devices or for access to new movies before they leave theaters.
The prices listed here are current as of early 2025, but streaming services change their rates regularly — sometimes once or twice a year. If you have an active subscription, your bill may differ from what new subscribers pay, because many services grandfather in older customers at their previous rate for a period of time. Check your own account to see what you are actually paying.
The table below shows the major services most households recognize. It does not include niche services (like Criterion Channel for film buffs, or BritBox for British television), regional services, or bundles that combine multiple services at a discount.
| Service | Ad-Supported Tier | Ad-Free Tier | Premium Tier (if available) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | $7 per month | $16 per month | $23 per month (extra member slots) |
| Disney+ | $8 per month | $14 per month | — |
| Hulu | $8 per month | $15 per month | — |
| Max (HBO) | $7 per month | $21 per month | — |
| Amazon Prime Video | Included with Prime | Included with Prime | — |
| Paramount+ | $6 per month | $13 per month | — |
| Apple TV+ | No ad tier | $10 per month | — |
| YouTube TV | No ad tier | $73 per month | — |
Key Takeaways
- Most major streaming services now offer an ad-supported tier between $6 and $8 per month, and an ad-free tier between $13 and $21 per month.
- Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu all raised prices in 2024, and most services increase rates annually or every other year.
- Amazon Prime Video is included in an Amazon Prime membership ($139 per year or $15 per month), so the cost per service is lower if you already use Prime for shipping.
- YouTube TV is a live television service, not a streaming library, and costs significantly more than on-demand services because it includes dozens of cable channels.
- Bundling Disney+, Hulu, and Max together costs less than paying for each separately, which is worth calculating if you want all three.
What you are paying for when you choose a tier
The main difference between ad-supported and ad-free tiers is exactly what it sounds like: the ad-free version has no commercials, while the cheaper tier shows ads before, during, or between shows. On most services, the ad-supported tier also limits how many people can watch at the same time on different devices — usually one or two streams instead of four.
Some services also restrict which content is available on the cheaper tier. Netflix's ad tier cannot download episodes to watch offline. Disney+ and Hulu's ad tiers have a smaller library of older content. Max's ad tier does not include some HBO movies until they have been available for a certain period of time. Read the fine print when you sign up, because these restrictions are easy to miss and frustrating to discover later.
Premium tiers — which only Netflix currently offers — add features like the ability to add extra household members to your account at a reduced rate, or to download more episodes at once. These are useful only if you share your account across multiple homes or travel frequently.
How often streaming services raise their prices
Most major services have raised prices at least once in the past two years. Netflix increased prices in late 2024. Disney+ and Hulu both raised prices in late 2024. Max raised prices in 2023. Paramount+ raised prices in 2024. These increases typically range from $1 to $3 per month per tier.
Services do not announce price increases far in advance. You usually find out when your next billing date arrives and your charge is higher than expected. Some services send an email a week or two before the increase takes effect, but not all do. If you want to know whether a service you subscribe to has raised prices recently, log into your account and look at your billing history — it will show you the exact amount charged each month.
There is no way to lock in a current price permanently. If you cancel and resubscribe later, you will pay whatever the current rate is at that time. Some people cancel services they do not actively use and resubscribe later to avoid paying for months they are not watching, but this means you will pay the new price when you come back.
Bundles that combine multiple services
Disney offers a bundle that combines Disney+, Hulu, and Max (HBO) at a discount compared to paying for each separately. The bundle with ads costs $15 per month. The bundle with no ads on any service costs $30 per month. If you want all three services, the bundle saves you money — paying separately would cost $29 per month (with ads) or $50 per month (without ads).
Amazon also offers bundles. If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you already have Prime Video included. You can add Paramount+ or MGM+ to your Prime membership for an additional monthly fee, which is cheaper than subscribing to those services separately.
No other major services currently bundle together. Netflix, Apple TV+, and YouTube TV are only available as standalone subscriptions. Paramount+ and Paramount+ with Showtime are separate tiers of the same service, not a bundle with other companies' content.
Tracking what you actually spend on streaming
The easiest way to see your total streaming cost is to list every service you pay for and add up the monthly charges. Many people subscribe to services, watch for a few months, and then forget to cancel — so you may be paying for something you have not used in months. Check your credit card or bank statement for recurring charges labeled with service names, or log into each service's website and look at your account settings to see your billing date and amount.
If you want to reduce your streaming costs, the most straightforward approach is to cancel services you are not actively watching and resubscribe to them later when you have time. You will not lose your saved shows or preferences — they stay in your account even after you cancel. Another option is to switch to the ad-supported tier on services that offer one, which cuts the cost roughly in half.
Some people share streaming accounts with family members or friends to split the cost. Be aware that most services' terms of service restrict account sharing to people in the same household, and some services now charge extra fees if you add members outside your home. Netflix and Disney+ both have features that let you add extra members for a fee, which is the officially permitted way to share an account across households.
Free and low-cost alternatives to paid streaming
Several services offer free, ad-supported streaming with no subscription required. Tubi, Pluto TV, Freevee (owned by Amazon), and The Roku Channel all have libraries of movies and television shows you can watch for free. The content is older or less popular than what you will find on paid services, but if you are flexible about what you watch, free services can reduce how many paid subscriptions you need.
Your local library may also offer streaming through services like Hoopla or Kanopy, which let you borrow movies and television shows the same way you borrow books — at no cost beyond your library card. The selection varies by library system, but it is worth checking what your library offers before you pay for a new subscription.
Some services offer free trials, usually for seven to 30 days. Apple TV+ frequently offers free trial periods. If you are interested in a service but not sure whether you will use it, a trial period lets you explore the library before you commit to paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do streaming services ever go on sale or offer discounts?
Rarely. Most services do not discount their monthly rates. Some offer discounts if you pay for a full year upfront instead of month-to-month, which can save you one or two months of charges. Apple TV+ occasionally offers free trial months if you buy a new Apple device. Beyond that, expect to pay the listed price.
If I cancel a streaming service, can I get my money back for the current month?
That depends on the service and when in your billing cycle you cancel. Most services let you cancel anytime and continue watching until the end of your current billing period, but they do not refund the month you already paid for. Check the specific service's cancellation policy before you sign up if this matters to you.
Why do streaming services keep raising prices?
Services raise prices to cover the cost of licensing content from studios, producing original shows, and maintaining their technology. As licensing costs increase and competition for viewers grows, services pass those costs to subscribers. Services also raise prices when they add new features or expand their content library.
Is YouTube TV the same as YouTube Premium?
No. YouTube TV is a live television service that includes dozens of cable channels and costs $73 per month. YouTube Premium is a separate subscription that removes ads from YouTube videos and costs $14 per month. They are different products with different prices and content.
Can I use the same streaming account on multiple devices at the same time?
It depends on the service and which tier you pay for. Most ad-supported tiers allow one or two simultaneous streams. Ad-free tiers typically allow four. Netflix's premium tier allows four streams, and you can add extra members for additional simultaneous streams. Check your service's account settings to see how many devices can watch at once on your specific tier.