Which Video Streaming Service Is Best for Your Budget?

With the push of a button, video streaming services provide you with hours of entertainment — often with few to no ads — at your convenience. For a set monthly premium, you can choose what streaming services you’d like to subscribe to, such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and Disney+. However, determining what’s worth your time and money can be challenging.

While the cost of most streaming services are affordably priced, they can quickly add up. To avoid overspending on multiple providers, take a step back from the remote and assess what services offer the best value for your wallet.

Among the many video streaming services available, Netflix has the largest user base at 204 million in 2020, but other services like Disney+ and Amazon Prime are quickly gaining ground. Beyond offering popular, on-demand shows, most streaming services now have exclusive shows and extra features, such as having more users or watching shows in 4K.

Finding the best streaming service from the multiple offerings will depend on what you like to watch, your budget, your needs and more. Basic plans range monthly from $4.99 to $64.99.

For example, if you’re looking to channel surf, live streamed TV may be best for you. But if you only want a specific title, consider one of the many popular on-demand services. Or, if you're a sports fan and your family members are not, keep in mind what type of sports you're interested in and consider if there is a streaming service that could work with everyone's needs. Some services provide sports while others do not.

To help you decide, the following are the top video streaming services on the market today.

Prices as of April 2022.

With over 200 million subscribers, Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services around the world. Streaming in more than 190 countries, Netflix has made a name for itself as the first and foremost provider of digital video streaming services.

Starting at $9.99 a month, their basic plan lets you stream a number of old, new and original content across various genres with no limit. Netflix also boasts a sleek interface and various consumer-friendly features, such as having different audio and subtitle options and letting you pick up where you left off in a movie or show. These many features contribute to a great consumer experience, making it the go-to entertainment platform for many.

Netflix also offers a standard plan at $15.49 a month, which lets you stream from two screens, have downloads on two devices and is available in HD. For families, it has a premium plan at $19.99 a month and lets you stream from sour screens, have downloads on four screens and is available in Ultra HD.

*According to Netflix, you may be charged taxes with your subscription depending on where you live.

Launched in November 2019, Disney+ has grown to more than 500 films, 15,000 episodes and 80 originals to date. From popular Marvel movies to classic favorites, such as “The Simpsons,” viewers can watch content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and even National Geographic at $7.99 per month.

If you have an existing ESPN+ or Hulu subscription, you can opt to purchase the Disney Bundle instead. It includes subscriptions to Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ at only $13.99 a month, which is $8 cheaper than the cost of subscribing individually to all three.

Subscribers can also benefit from a user-friendly interface and offline playback features. One downside: Not all titles are optimized for today’s modern screen and some older content may only be available in certain resolutions.

While Disney+ is quickly growing its user base, the streaming service still has to polish its offers in a few areas.

Apple TV Plus features 4K HDR resolution and mobile downloads at a low monthly cost of $4.99, making it the lowest-priced, ad-free premium streaming service available. The streaming service currently has more than 50 exclusive shows and movies, a sharp decrease compared to Netflix or Amazon Prime. Unlike its competitors, Apple TV does not have any back catalog or other production company under its umbrella.

Despite having a small gallery of shows, Apple TV+’s star-studded shows and affordability make it one of the top video streaming services in the industry.

Similar to other streaming services, Amazon Prime Video gives users access to a host of movies, series and Prime original content. While Prime Video typically comes with your standard Prime membership, users can get Prime Video solely for $8.99 monthly compared to Prime’s $14.99 monthly subscription fee. Unlike other competitors, users can also buy or rent content on a pay-per-title basis.

In terms of streaming, Prime Video subscribers can stream 4K HDR videos and create user profiles for up to six people. However, not all videos are free even with a Prime Video subscription — some need to be bought or rented.

*Amazon offers a prime membership for students and EBT and Medicaid recipients. You must qualify for these discounted plans.

Hulu, one of the most popular streaming services outside of Netflix, offers popular content for $6.99 per month. It has a growing catalog of familiar shows that are consistently updated and released in near real-time, so you don’t have to wait for a full season to be produced before you can watch an episode.

Unlike competitors, Hulu’s most affordable plan includes ads, which may decrease its value and deter some users. However, Hulu offers a basic, ad-free experience starting at $12.99 per month. The price bumps up to $12.99 a month if you want to go ad-free.

People who like Disney+ or ESPN+ can opt for a bundled plan, which includes Hulu + Live TV, Disney+ and EPSN at $69.99 per month with ads or $75.99 per month with no ads. Live TV subscribers can also get an “Unlimited Screen Add-on,” which costs an additional $9.99 per month.

Sling TV is a live TV streaming service, which costs less than a typical cable bill and can be watched on most devices. It comes with limits, though — less DVR storage. And if you're a sports fan looking for a streaming service that could work for you and your non-sport fan family members, keep in mind that, Sling TV does have sports, but it is a limited selection.

Unlike competitors, Sling TV offers two basic plans at the same price: Sling Orange and Sling Blue. Aside from sharing many of the same channels, there are some exclusive channels to each plan and varying options for how many devices can stream at the same time. Sling Orange users have 32 channels, including ESPN and Disney, but can only stream on one device.

Conversely, Sling Blue can be streamed from three devices and has 42 channels, focusing on entertainment and news, such as Fox and NBC. To get more channels, you can purchase add-ons for customization or purchase their $50 Sling Orange and Sling Blue plan.

*You can take a look at what channels are included in each of these plans on Sling TV’s website.

YouTube TV offers live streaming TV services with little-to-no gaps. From old cable–TV favorites to your must-see major network, users can watch their desired channel on an easy-to-use interface on just about any streaming device.

For avid sports fans, it lacks regional sports networks. But sports fans can opt for YouTube TV’s Sports Plus add-on, which includes Fox College Sports, Stadium, TVG and more.

Beyond their complete lineup of channels, YouTube TV also features unlimited DVR. Users can save recordings and keep it in storage for up to nine months.

HBO Max features an impressive content library — current HBO shows, HBO originals (dubbed Max Originals) and show and movie collections from WarnerMedia's other brands. This includes Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, DC, CNN, Turner, Rooster Teeth, Looney Tunes and more.

HBO Max still requires some polishing. The basic plan, which has ads, comes at a higher price than its competitors and its content offerings may not be as versatile or worth the cost for some people. To remove ads, it would cost $14.99 per month.

Streaming services cost an average of $55 per month in 2021, up from $38 in early 2020. With on-demand content costing less than most activities out of the house, it’s no wonder why consumer spending almost doubled in the span of a year.

The cost of streaming services isn’t the only thing to consider: Internet bills and electricity-usage should factor in too. Internet services cost $68.38 per month on average, making the average total spending on internet and streaming services a whopping $123.38 a month.

How much you spend monthly on streaming services will depend on your subscription choices. For instance, basic plans range between $4.99 to $64.99 per month depending on provider, but add-ons and ad-free options can cost more. Review the graph below for the average cost of popular video streaming services on a monthly basis to get an idea of how much you might spend.

Not all streaming services will offer everything you want or fit your budget, which is why it’s important to evaluate your options before you subscribe. By avoiding subscribing to multiple services you don’t use, your budget planning will remain on track.

Being strategic about your video streaming subscriptions and finding the best deals can help you save a lot of money across the board — and it’s easier than you might think. Review the tips below to reduce your monthly spending.

Video streaming services are uber-popular, but it can be challenging to pick the best option with their various options and offerings. Below are a few frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help you find the best one for you.

Learning how to manage your habits and activities, from streaming to eating out, can ultimately help you with your finances in the long run. Find more tips, strategies and information on managing your day-to-day finances in the resources below.

• How to Live on a Low Income: Living on a low income is the reality for many — but it doesn’t mean you can’t stretch your earnings. Learn how to live even if money is tight.
• A Financial Literacy Handbook for All Life Stages: Regardless of where you are in life, this financial literacy handbook can help you make smart financial decisions.
• A Saver's Guide to Eating and Living Well: A healthy life is a balanced life. Learn how to manage your health and wellness on a budget.
• The Guide to Budgeting: Creating a budget can help ensure you don’t go overboard with your streaming services subscriptions. Understand how to make and maintain a budget in this guide.
• Understanding Credit Card Debt & How to Pay It Off: If you decide to put your subscriptions on a credit card, you have to understand what happens to those charges. Otherwise, you could stretch beyond your limits and into debt.