Streaming services have become a popular way for people to access entertainment ranging from classic films and TV shows to original programming. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose which services to subscribe to and how to save money on them.
In this article, we will discuss various ways to save money on streaming services. We will also explore the benefits of digital subscriptions during the pandemic.
Saving Money on Streaming Services
1. Look for Free Options
Many streaming services offer a free tier or trial period.
Here are some services that offer a free option:
– Peacock: This streaming service from NBC Universal offers a free tier with limited content. – Roku Channel: Roku offers a free ad-supported channel with movies, TV shows, and news.
– Tubi: This ad-supported streaming service offers movies and TV shows for free. – Vudu: This service offers a selection of free movies with ads.
– YouTube: YouTube has a variety of free content, including music videos, documentaries, and short films. – Kanopy: This service offers free access to movies and documentaries with a library card from a participating library.
– Libby: This app offers free access to ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines from a local library. 2.
Seek Cheaper Packages with Existing Subscriptions
If you already have a subscription to a streaming service, you may be able to save money by choosing a cheaper package. Here are some options to consider:
– Spotify: If you have a Spotify Premium subscription, you can add Hulu and SHOWTIME to your account for a discounted price.
– Netflix: Netflix offers three subscription tiers, with the basic tier being the cheapest. Consider downgrading to the basic tier if you don’t need HD or multiple screens.
3. Cancel Account and Return
If you’re thinking about canceling your subscription, reach out to the streaming service’s customer service team.
They may offer a discounted price or a free trial to keep you as a customer. 4.
Share with Family
Many streaming services allow multiple users to share an account. Here are some services that allow family sharing:
– Netflix: Netflix allows multiple users to create profiles under one account.
– Amazon Prime: Amazon Prime allows two adults to share an account. – Hulu: Hulu offers a family plan that allows multiple users to share the same account.
5. Consolidate
Combining multiple services with similar content can result in a cheaper overall cost.
Here are some examples of services that have crossover content:
– Amazon Prime: In addition to its streaming service, Amazon Prime offers a variety of benefits, including free two-day shipping and access to a large music library. – Hulu: Hulu offers live TV, original content, and access to shows from networks like NBC, FOX, and ABC.
– Netflix: Netflix offers original content and access to shows and movies from various networks. 6.
Track and Manage with Apps
There are various apps available that can help you track your subscriptions and manage recurring charges. Here are some apps to consider:
– Bobby: This app allows you to track your subscriptions and notifies you when payments are due.
– Subby: This app shows you a complete overview of all of your subscriptions and allows you to cancel them from within the app. – Truebill: This app tracks your subscriptions and cancels any services you’re not using.
– Trim: This app tracks your subscriptions and negotiates bills on your behalf. 7.
Rotate Subscriptions
If you don’t mind missing out on some content, rotating your subscriptions can be a cost-effective option. Cancel one subscription and start another every few months to save money.
8. Review Subscriptions on a Particular Date
Set a specific date to review your subscriptions every few months to reevaluate if you’re getting your money’s worth.
Some examples of dates to review your subscriptions include the end of each quarter or the start of the new year. 9.
Go Without
Finally, consider going without streaming services altogether for a short period of time. This evaluation can help you determine whether you’re truly addicted to the content and whether it’s worth the cost.
Benefits of Digital Subscriptions During the Pandemic
In addition to saving money, there are benefits to digital subscriptions during the pandemic. Here are a few:
1.
Entertainment, Health, Fitness, and Education
Digital subscriptions offer a variety of content for people stuck at home. Many streaming services offer documentaries, classic movies, and TV shows.
Additionally, health and fitness classes are available through services like Peloton and Yoga with Adriene. Educational resources like MasterClass and Rosetta Stone offer opportunities for learning.
2. Cost Awareness
Digital subscriptions provide transparency and control over the cost of entertainment.
This awareness can help people make informed decisions about which services to choose. 3.
Sustaining Boredom
Streaming services are a useful tool to stave boredom during the pandemic. The variety of content offered can ensure that people always have something to watch or participate in.
In conclusion, there are many ways to save money on streaming services, from finding free options to rotating subscriptions. Digital subscriptions have also offered benefits during the pandemic in entertainment, health, fitness, and education.
By using these tips and evaluating your subscriptions, you can make sure you’re getting the most for your money. As more people become dependent on streaming services for their entertainment needs, finding ways to save money on subscriptions has become a concern for many.
Fortunately, there are free streaming options available, as well as cheaper packages offered by some streaming providers. In this article, we will discuss the various options available for enjoying free content or cheaper streaming packages.
Free Streaming Options
1. Network Options
Several television networks offer a selection of free content through their streaming services.
These free options typically come with a limited selection of content, access to ads and are usually only available in the U.S. Here are some popular free streaming options provided by networks:
– Peacock: Launched by NBCUniversal, Peacock offers a free tier with limited access to content, including classic TV shows and movies. For those who want more extensive content, paid upgrades to $4.99 per month (Peacock Premium) and $9.99 per month (Peacock Premium Plus) are available.
– Roku Channel: This service from Roku offers a selection of free, ad-supported movies, TV shows, and news. It’s available on a variety of devices, including smart TVs, streaming sticks, and gaming consoles.
– Tubi: This streaming service offers access to hundreds of movies and TV shows for free. It’s available on a wide range of devices, including smart TVs, gaming consoles, and mobile devices.
– Vudu: This service offers over 10,000 movies and TV shows for free, with ads. It’s available on a variety of devices, including smart TVs, streaming devices, and gaming consoles.
2. Other Free Options
In addition to network options, there are several other free streaming services to choose from.
Here are some popular options:
– YouTube: YouTube offers a wealth of free content, including music videos, documentaries, and user-generated videos. Users can subscribe to content creators for a more personalized experience.
– Kanopy: This streaming service is free with a library card from participating libraries. It offers access to over 30,000 movies, documentaries, and TV shows.
– Libby: This service offers free access to ebook, audiobook, and magazine subscriptions from local libraries. It’s a great way to access popular titles without paying for them.
Cheaper Streaming Packages
If you are looking to lower your monthly streaming costs, there are several ways to save money. Here are two popular options:
1.
Lower-Priced Tiers
Many streaming providers offer lower-priced tiers that deliver content at a lower price point. Keep in mind that these lower-priced subscriptions may come with downsides such as limits on the number of screens you can simultaneously stream from or lower quality video.
Here are two examples of when selecting a lower-priced tier may be appropriate:
– Spotify: This music streaming service offers a Premium subscription for $9.99 a month. However, it also has a student discount that lowers the price to $4.99 per month and a Hulu bundle for $12.99 that includes access to Hulu and Showtime.
– Netflix: Netflix offers three different subscription plans, each with a different price point. The Basic plan, which provides access to standard definition streaming on one screen at a time, is the cheapest, while the Standard and Premium plans offer additional features like HD and Ultra HD streaming, as well as multiple screens to stream on at the same time.
2. Bundle Savings
Streaming providers often offer bundle packages that combine services for a reduced monthly fee.
Consider bundling multiple services under one provider or with a third-party company to save on monthly costs. Here are some examples:
– Prime Video: Amazon Prime members have access to its streaming service, Prime Video, as well as free two-day shipping, books, exclusive deals, and more.
Prime Video can also be bundled with other services like Music Unlimited and Kindle Unlimited, among others. – Disney+: This service offers Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars content at a lower cost than many other streaming services.
Users can bundle Disney+ with ESPN+ and Hulu for a lower price. In conclusion, finding free streaming options or cheaper packages can help you save money while still enjoying the entertainment you want.
From network options to free services like YouTube and Libby to saving money through lower-priced plans or streaming service bundles, there are plenty of opportunities to save money while still enjoying quality streaming services. With an overwhelming number of streaming services available, managing subscriptions can quickly become a hassle.
Fortunately, there are several strategies for managing subscriptions so that you can keep track of your budget and watch the content you love without paying for unnecessary services. In this article, we will discuss the various subscription management strategies that you can use to help save money on streaming services.
Subscription Cancellation
One of the most straightforward ways to save money on streaming services is to cancel subscriptions that you’re no longer using. Here are some strategies for canceling subscriptions:
– Contact Customer Service: Reach out to the streaming service’s customer service team to see if they can offer you a discounted price or a free trial to keep you as a customer.
– Cancel Subscriptions: Use an app like Bobby, Subby, or Truebill to track your subscriptions and cancel any that you’re not using.
Family Sharing
Many streaming services allow for multiple users to share an account, which can be a great way to save money. Here are some examples of family-sharing services:
– Netflix: Netflix allows multiple users to create profiles under one account.
– Amazon Prime: Two adults can share an Amazon Prime account, allowing them to access streaming services, free two-day shipping, books, exclusive deals, and more.
Consolidation
Combining multiple services with similar content can lead to an overall cheaper cost. Here are some examples of services that have crossover content:
– Amazon Prime: In addition to its streaming service, Amazon Prime offers a variety of benefits, including free two-day shipping and access to a large music library.
– Hulu: Hulu offers live TV, original content, and access to shows from networks like NBC, FOX, and ABC. – Netflix: Netflix offers original content and access to shows and movies from various networks.
App Management
Apps can help you keep track of your subscriptions, recurring charges, and cancel subscriptions that you no longer need. Here are some popular subscription management apps:
– Bobby: Bobby allows users to track subscriptions and notifies them when payments are due.
– Subby: Subby provides an overview of all of your subscriptions and allows for individual subscription cancelation from the app. – Truebill: Truebill offers subscription tracking and the option to cancel subscriptions that are no longer being used.
– Trim: Trim tracks subscriptions and negotiates bills on your behalf to get you the best deal.
Content Rotation
Rotating subscriptions can be a cost-effective way to enjoy a variety of content without paying for every service year-round. Here are some examples of content rotation:
– Viewership: Monitor how often you watch specific services, and only subscribe to those services when new content becomes available.
– Original Programming: Consider subscribing to services based solely on their original programming and then cancel the subscription after you’ve finished watching that series.
Subscription Review
It’s important to review your subscriptions regularly to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Here are some strategies for subscription review:
– Quarterly
Subscription Review: Set a specific date to review your subscriptions every few months to reevaluate if you’re getting your money’s worth.
– Evaluate Wasted Money: Set a budget and track how much money you’re spending on streaming services. If you find that you’re not using some, cancel them.
Hiatus
Sometimes the best course of action is to take a temporary break or hiatus from streaming services altogether. Here are some examples of when a hiatus could be applicable:
– During Evaluation: Take a break from all services while evaluating which ones you truly value.
– Missing Services: If a specific service is no longer available, wait a few months or a year and check to see if it’s available again before purchasing a new subscription. In conclusion, managing subscriptions can be a tricky task.
However, using strategies such as subscription cancellation, family sharing, consolidation, app management, content rotation, subscription review, and hiatus can make it easier to manage your budget while still enjoying the streaming content you love. By monitoring your subscriptions and evaluating your usage, you can save money and get the most out of your streaming services.
Managing streaming service subscriptions can be overwhelming, but there are several strategies you can use to save money and make the most out of the services you use. These strategies include canceling unnecessary subscriptions, sharing accounts with family, consolidating services, using subscription management apps, rotating subscriptions, reviewing subscriptions regularly, and taking a pause from services altogether.
By understanding and implementing these strategies, you can take control of your streaming service subscriptions, keep costs low, and optimize your entertainment experience. Remembering to take a critical eye to your subscriptions and evaluating your usage can lead to increased cost savings and more enjoyment from streaming services.