# The Cheapest Streaming Services in 2026, Ranked

discovery+ is the cheapest streaming service we track, at $5.99/mo. But the cheapest service is rarely the real question. It's common to pay for three or four at once, and the bill adds up fast: Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ and Hulu on ad-free plans cost $977.52 a year. This guide ranks every service by price, then shows how to pay a fraction of that without watching less. US list prices, checked October 2026.

Updated 2026-10-13. https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/blog/cheapest-streaming-services

- **$5.99/mo** Cheapest service (discovery+)
- **$86.92/mo** Big eight, cheapest plans ($1,043.04 a year)
- **$977.52** Four services, ad-free (per year)
- **$134.88** Same four, rotated (per year, cheapest plans)

## Every streaming service, cheapest first

This is the price you pay each month on monthly billing, for the cheapest plan anyone can buy. Ad-supported tiers count, because for most services that is now the entry price. Several services are cheaper again on a yearly plan; those are covered further down.

**Cheapest monthly plan, on-demand streaming**

| Item | Value |
| --- | ---: |
| discovery+ | $5.99/mo |
| AMC+ | $7.99/mo |
| Shudder | $7.99/mo |
| Netflix | $8.99/mo |
| Prime Video | $8.99/mo |
| Paramount+ | $8.99/mo |
| Peacock | $8.99/mo |
| Crunchyroll | $9.99/mo |
| HBO Max | $10.99/mo |
| Disney+ | $12.49/mo |
| Hulu | $12.49/mo |
| ESPN | $13.99/mo |
| Apple TV | $14.99/mo |
| MUBI | $14.99/mo |
| DAZN | $29.99/mo |

US list prices, checked October 2026. Prices exclude tax.

| Service | Cheapest plan | Per month | Per year |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [discovery+](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/discovery-plus) | With ads | $5.99 | $71.88 |
| [AMC+](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/amc-plus) | With ads | $7.99 | $95.88 |
| [Shudder](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/shudder) | With ads | $7.99 | $95.88 |
| [Netflix](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/netflix) | Standard with ads | $8.99 | $107.88 |
| [Prime Video](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/prime-video) | Standalone | $8.99 | $107.88 |
| [Paramount+](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/paramount-plus) | Essential | $8.99 | $107.88 |
| [Peacock](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/peacock) | Select | $8.99 | $107.88 |
| [Crunchyroll](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/crunchyroll) | Fan | $9.99 | $119.88 |
| [HBO Max](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/max) | Basic with ads | $10.99 | $131.88 |
| [Disney+](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/disney-plus) | Basic | $12.49 | $149.88 |
| [Hulu](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/hulu) | With ads | $12.49 | $149.88 |
| [ESPN](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/espn-plus) | Select | $13.99 | $167.88 |
| [Apple TV](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/apple-tv) | Monthly | $14.99 | $179.88 |
| [MUBI](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/mubi) | Monthly | $14.99 | $179.88 |
| [DAZN](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/dazn) | Standard | $29.99 | $359.88 |

Subscribing to every one of these 15 on-demand services at once would cost $177.85/mo. Nobody needs that, and the rest of this guide is about the much smaller set you actually watch.

## The big eight, from cheapest to priciest

These eight are the big on-demand names. Here they are with their cheapest monthly plan and their most expensive one. All eight on their cheapest plans cost **$86.92/mo**, or $1,043.04 a year. All eight on their top plans cost $153.91/mo, or $1,846.92 a year. The gap between those two numbers, $803.88 a year, is the price of no ads and the top tier everywhere.

The big eight. Tap any logo for every plan and price.

| Service | Cheapest monthly | Top plan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Netflix](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/netflix) | Standard with ads, $8.99/mo | Premium, $26.99/mo |
| [Prime Video](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/prime-video) | Standalone, $8.99/mo | Standalone, ad-free, $11.98/mo |
| [Paramount+](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/paramount-plus) | Essential, $8.99/mo | Premium, $13.99/mo |
| [Peacock](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/peacock) | Select, $8.99/mo | Premium Plus, $19.99/mo |
| [HBO Max](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/max) | Basic with ads, $10.99/mo | Premium, $22.99/mo |
| [Disney+](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/disney-plus) | Basic, $12.49/mo | Premium, $21.49/mo |
| [Hulu](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/hulu) | With ads, $12.49/mo | No ads, $21.49/mo |
| [Apple TV](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/apple-tv) | Monthly, $14.99/mo | Monthly, $14.99/mo |

**Big eight: cost per year, cheapest monthly plan**

| Item | Value |
| --- | ---: |
| Netflix | $107.88 |
| Prime Video | $107.88 |
| Paramount+ | $107.88 |
| Peacock | $107.88 |
| HBO Max | $131.88 |
| Disney+ | $149.88 |
| Hulu | $149.88 |
| Apple TV | $179.88 |

Side-by-side breakdowns: [Netflix vs Hulu](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/compare/netflix-vs-hulu), [Netflix vs Disney+](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/compare/netflix-vs-disney-plus), [Netflix vs HBO Max](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/compare/netflix-vs-max), [Netflix vs Prime Video](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/compare/netflix-vs-prime-video), [Netflix vs Apple TV](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/compare/netflix-vs-apple-tv), [Disney+ vs Hulu](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/compare/disney-plus-vs-hulu), [Hulu vs HBO Max](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/compare/hulu-vs-max) and [Paramount+ vs Peacock](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/compare/paramount-plus-vs-peacock).

## Rotation: the single biggest saving

Streaming services make it easy to cancel and rejoin, and your watch history usually comes back with your account. That means you don't need every service all year. You need the one with the show you are watching this month. Paying for one service at a time and switching every few months is called rotating, and it is worth more than any discount.

Take four services that often end up stacked together: Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ and Hulu. On ad-free plans they cost $81.46/mo together. Here is what a year costs under five different approaches.

**Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ and Hulu: cost per year by approach**

| Item | Value |
| --- | ---: |
| All four, ad-free, all year | $977.52 |
| All four, cheapest plans, all year | $539.52 |
| Netflix all year + rotate three | $383.76 |
| Rotate all four, ad-free | $244.38 |
| Rotate all four, cheapest plans | $134.88 |

Ad-free plans: Netflix Standard $19.99, HBO Max Standard $18.49, Disney+ Premium $21.49, Hulu No ads $21.49. Cheapest plans: Netflix Standard with ads $8.99, HBO Max Basic with ads $10.99, Disney+ Basic $12.49, Hulu With ads $12.49.

Rotating all four on their cheapest plans costs $134.88 a year instead of $977.52: **$842.64 saved**, 86% of the bill. Even keeping Netflix ad-free all year and rotating only the other three saves $593.76.

### A sample 12-month rotation

| Months | Subscribed to | Plan | You pay |
| --- | --- | --- | ---: |
| Jan to Mar | [Netflix](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/netflix) | Standard with ads | $26.97 |
| Apr to Jun | [HBO Max](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/max) | Basic with ads | $32.97 |
| Jul to Sep | [Disney+](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/disney-plus) | Basic | $37.47 |
| Oct to Dec | [Hulu](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/hulu) | With ads | $37.47 |

1. **List what you actually want to watch** in the next six months, and note which service has each show.
2. **Group by service.** Whichever service has the most on your list goes first.
3. **Subscribe, then cancel straight away.** On most services you keep access until the end of the month you paid for, so canceling on day one means you can't forget. Check the confirmation screen to be sure.
4. **Binge, then switch.** When your list on that service is done, let it lapse and start the next one.
5. **Keep a short list.** One service at a time at about $11.24/mo is the goal. Two at once is still far cheaper than four.

Not sure whether a service earns a place in the rotation? The [cost per use calculator](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/tools/cost-per-use-calculator) divides the monthly price by how many times you actually watch.

## Ads or no ads: what you pay for quiet

The ad-supported tier is where most of the price gaps are. For the four services above, ad-free plans cost $81.46/mo together and the cheapest plans cost $44.96/mo, a difference of $438.00 a year. Plans differ in more than ads (video quality and the number of screens often change too), so check what each tier includes on the service's own site before switching.

| Service | Cheapest plan | Ad-free plan | Extra per year |
| --- | --- | --- | ---: |
| [Netflix](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/netflix) | Standard with ads, $8.99/mo | Standard, $19.99/mo | $132.00 |
| [HBO Max](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/max) | Basic with ads, $10.99/mo | Standard, $18.49/mo | $90.00 |
| [Disney+](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/disney-plus) | Basic, $12.49/mo | Premium, $21.49/mo | $108.00 |
| [Hulu](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/hulu) | With ads, $12.49/mo | No ads, $21.49/mo | $108.00 |

A simple rule: pay for no ads on the one service you watch most, and take the cheapest plan everywhere else.

## Check what you already pay for

Several streaming services come free with something else. Before you pay for one, make sure you aren't already getting it.

- [Amazon Prime](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/amazon-prime) includes Prime Video. If you pay $14.99 a month for Prime, a standalone Prime Video plan ($8.99/mo) is money spent twice.
- [Walmart+](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/walmart-plus) includes Paramount+ Essential. A separate Paramount+ Essential plan ($8.99/mo) on top is wasted.
- [Apple One](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/apple-one) includes Apple TV. See [whether Apple One is worth it](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/blog/is-apple-one-worth-it).
- [YouTube Premium](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/youtube-premium) removes ads on YouTube and includes YouTube Music, so it may replace a music subscription too.

## Live TV is a different price bracket

Live TV services replace cable, and they cost like it. The cheapest, Philo, starts at $25.00/mo, about 3 times the cheapest on-demand plan from a big name. The most expensive here costs $1,019.88 a year.

**Live TV: cheapest plan per month**

| Item | Value |
| --- | ---: |
| Philo | $25.00/mo |
| Sling TV | $45.99/mo |
| YouTube TV | $82.99/mo |
| Fubo | $84.99/mo |

Channel lineups and local channels differ by service and by ZIP code, and they change. Before paying for live TV, check that the channels you watch every week are on the plan, then compare: [YouTube TV vs Sling TV](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/compare/youtube-tv-vs-sling-tv), [YouTube TV vs Fubo](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/compare/youtube-tv-vs-fubo) and [Sling TV vs Philo](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/compare/sling-tv-vs-philo). If you only watch a few live events a year, an on-demand service plus one month of live TV during the season is usually cheaper than a full year.

## The cheapest setup for different viewers

### The light viewer

One service on its cheapest plan, rotated every few months. discovery+ at $5.99/mo is the cheapest overall, and among the big names Netflix starts at $8.99/mo. A year of one rotating service costs about $134.88.

### The couple

Two services, one each, with no ads on whichever you watch together most. For example Netflix Standard ($19.99) plus Hulu With ads ($12.49) is $32.48/mo. Rotate the second one.

### The family

Families usually need more screens at once, and that is what the higher tiers sell. Netflix runs from Standard with ads ($8.99/mo) to Premium ($26.99/mo), and the top plan costs $216 a year more than the cheapest. Check how many people stream at the same time in your house before paying for the top tier; many families find a middle plan is enough.

### The sports fan

[ESPN](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/espn-plus) runs from Select ($13.99/mo) to Unlimited ($31.99/mo), [DAZN](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/dazn) is Standard ($29.99/mo), and [Peacock](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/peacock) starts at Select ($8.99/mo). Sports rights move between services every season, so check which one carries your league before paying, and subscribe only for the months it plays. For full live TV with sports channels, Fubo ($84.99/mo) and YouTube TV ($82.99/mo) are the expensive end; Sling TV ($45.99/mo) and Philo ($25.00/mo) cost less; compare their channel lists before you choose.

### The anime fan

[Crunchyroll](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/crunchyroll) has 3 tiers: Fan ($9.99/mo), Mega Fan ($13.99/mo), Ultimate Fan ($17.99/mo). The cheapest is $119.88 a year. If anime is most of what you watch, Crunchyroll alone can replace a general service; see [Crunchyroll vs Netflix](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/compare/crunchyroll-vs-netflix).

### The heavy streamer

If you really do watch something on four services every week, rotation won't suit you. Instead, put each service on the cheapest plan you're happy with, and move the ones you'll keep all year to yearly billing. All eight big services on their cheapest monthly plans cost $1,043.04 a year. Where a cheaper yearly plan exists, taking it brings the same eight to $899.60, saving $143.44 without giving anything up.

## Yearly plans that cut the price

12 streaming plans have a yearly option. Yearly billing only pays off for a service you'd keep all year anyway, because it stops you rotating. The biggest discount here is Apple TV Yearly at 34%.

| Service | Yearly plan | 12 x monthly | Yearly price | You save |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Apple TV](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/apple-tv) | Yearly | $179.88 | $119 | $60.88 (34%) |
| [HBO Max](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/max) | Premium yearly | $275.88 | $229.99 | $45.89 (17%) |
| [Disney+](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/disney-plus) | Premium yearly | $257.88 | $214.99 | $42.89 (17%) |
| [Peacock](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/peacock) | Premium Plus yearly | $239.88 | $199.99 | $39.89 (17%) |
| [HBO Max](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/max) | Standard yearly | $221.88 | $184.99 | $36.89 (17%) |
| [Paramount+](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/paramount-plus) | Premium yearly | $167.88 | $139.99 | $27.89 (17%) |
| [Peacock](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/peacock) | Premium yearly | $155.88 | $129.99 | $25.89 (17%) |
| [Hulu](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/hulu) | With ads yearly | $149.88 | $124.99 | $24.89 (17%) |
| [AMC+](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/amc-plus) | Premium yearly | $131.88 | $109.99 | $21.89 (17%) |
| [HBO Max](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/max) | Basic with ads yearly | $131.88 | $109.99 | $21.89 (17%) |
| [Paramount+](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/paramount-plus) | Essential yearly | $107.88 | $89.99 | $17.89 (17%) |
| [Peacock](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/subscriptions/peacock) | Select yearly | $107.88 | $89.99 | $17.89 (17%) |

To check one plan in seconds, use the [monthly vs yearly calculator](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/tools/monthly-vs-yearly-calculator). It tells you how many months you need to keep a service before yearly wins.

## What the typical stack costs over time

A monthly price hides how much streaming adds up to. Here are the same four services, ad-free, held for several years at today's prices, next to the same four rotated on their cheapest plans. The last column is what the difference would grow to if you invested it at 7% a year instead.

| Years | All four, ad-free | Rotated, cheapest | Difference | Difference invested |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| 1 year | $977.52 | $134.88 | $842.64 | $870.21 |
| 3 years | $2,932.56 | $404.64 | $2,527.92 | $2,803.89 |
| 5 years | $4,887.60 | $674.40 | $4,213.20 | $5,027.25 |
| 10 years | $9,775.20 | $1,348.80 | $8,426.40 | $12,154.02 |

If those four services kept rising 5% a year, the $81.46/mo you pay today would be $103.97/mo in five years. Try your own numbers with the [inflation calculator](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/tools/inflation-calculator) and see what the money could become with the [subscription investment calculator](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/tools/subscription-investment-calculator?monthly=81.46).

## Free and almost-free ways to watch

- **Free, ad-supported services.** Tubi, Pluto TV and The Roku Channel stream films and shows free with ads. Their catalogs rotate, but they are a good filler between paid months.
- **Your library card.** Many public libraries offer free streaming through apps like Kanopy and Hoopla. Check what your library supports.
- **Bundles you already have.** Prime Video with Amazon Prime, Paramount+ Essential with Walmart+, Apple TV with Apple One.
- **Free trials, used deliberately.** A trial timed for a show you want is a free month. Set the cancel-by date with the [free trial calculator](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/tools/free-trial-calculator) the moment you sign up.

## How to cancel and rejoin cleanly

1. **Cancel from the service's own account page,** or from Apple or Google Play if that's where you subscribed. Our cancel guides link straight to the right page.
2. **Keep watching until the end date.** Most services keep you on until the period you paid for runs out. The confirmation screen shows the date.
3. **Don't delete your account or profiles.** Many services keep your profiles and watch history for a while after you cancel, so rejoining picks up where you left off. Check the service's help pages for how long.
4. **Rejoin when there is something to watch,** not when an email offers you a discount for a plan you won't use.

## Pitfalls that quietly raise the bill

- **Free trials that convert.** A trial turns into a paid plan on a set date. The [free trial calculator](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/tools/free-trial-calculator) gives you the last day to cancel and a calendar reminder.
- **Price increases.** Streaming prices rise regularly, and the new price applies automatically. When the email arrives, run it through the [price increase calculator](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/tools/subscription-price-increase-calculator) and decide whether the service still earns its place.
- **Subscribing through an app store.** If you signed up inside an iPhone or Android app, you cancel in Apple or Google Play, not on the service's site. It's easy to cancel the wrong one and keep paying.
- **Paying for the same thing twice.** Prime Video with Prime, Paramount+ with Walmart+, Apple TV with Apple One. Check the list above.
- **Yearly plans you stopped using.** A yearly plan renews once a year and is easy to forget. Note the renewal date the day you buy it.

## What to do next

1. Add every streaming service you pay for to the [subscription calculator](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/build) to see the real monthly and yearly total.
2. Mark the ones you watched in the last 30 days. Anything you didn't is the first to go.
3. Cancel with our direct links: [Netflix](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/cancel/netflix), [Hulu](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/cancel/hulu), [Disney+](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/cancel/disney-plus), [Paramount+](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/cancel/paramount-plus), [Peacock](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/cancel/peacock), [Crunchyroll](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/cancel/crunchyroll), [Apple TV](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/cancel/apple-tv).
4. Pick one service to keep, and plan your rotation for the rest of the year.

> Streaming is rarely the only line. [Add everything you pay for](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/build) to see your total, or see [who spends the most on streaming](https://www.trackmysubscriptions.com/leaderboard/category/streaming).

## FAQ

### What is the cheapest streaming service in 2026?

discovery+ at $5.99/mo, followed by AMC+ ($7.99/mo) and Shudder ($7.99/mo). Among the big names, Netflix is cheapest at $8.99/mo.

### How much do Netflix, Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max cost together?

On their cheapest plans, $44.96/mo. On ad-free plans, $81.46/mo, which is $977.52 a year.

### How much does every major streaming service cost per year?

All eight (Netflix, Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock, HBO Max, Disney+, Hulu and Apple TV) on their cheapest monthly plans cost $1,043.04 a year.

### What is rotating streaming services?

Paying for one or two services at a time and switching every few months instead of keeping them all. Rotating four services on their cheapest plans costs $134.88 a year instead of $539.52 for keeping them all.

### Is a yearly streaming plan worth it?

Only for a service you'd keep all year. The best yearly deal here is Apple TV Yearly, which saves 34% on twelve monthly payments.

### Is the ad-supported plan worth it?

For services you watch occasionally, usually yes. On Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ and Hulu together, the cheapest plans save $438.00 a year against ad-free.

### Do I get Prime Video with Amazon Prime?

Yes. Amazon Prime includes Prime Video, so a separate Prime Video subscription ($8.99/mo) on top is unnecessary.