Remember when streaming was touted as a cost-effective alternative to cable TV? That now seems a long way away. Today, streaming prices are skyrocketing, and maintaining a subscription to all the biggest platforms without ads can cost more than $100 a month.
According to a study conducted by Reviews.org, Americans spend an average of $42.38 per month on their streaming subscriptions, or $508.56 per year. However, this represents a decrease of 23% compared to the previous year, a sign that more and more users are opting to cancel their subscriptions. With prices increasing and platforms removing content from their catalogs, it’s no surprise that some want to “jump ship” while they still can. Will contracts reappear soon?
While the big platforms appear to be maintaining their subscriber numbers, the reality is that consumers are becoming more astute. Many choose to no longer fully commit, but rather to “churn” by rotating different subscriptions in order to save money.
If 2025 is the year you want to take back control of your entertainment budget, knowing the exact cost of each service is essential. Here’s a quick overview to help you know where your money is going — and what you can live without.
Costs of streaming services
| Service | Cheapest plan price/Ads | Plan Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | 7$/Oui | 23$ |
| Pack Disney Plus/Hulu | 10$/Oui | 27$ |
| Prime Video (individual) | $9/Yes, $15 with Prime membership | $12, $18 with Prime membership |
| Max | 10$/Oui | 21$ |
| Paramount Plus | 8$/Oui | $13 with Showtime |
| Peacock | 8$/Oui | 14$ |
| Apple TV Plus | 10$/Non | N/A |
| Total | 62$ | 120$ |
Netflix prices in 2025
Netflix remains the most popular streaming service. If, like millions of people around the world, you consider that a subscription is essential, several options are available to you.
The cheapest tier, with ads, costs $6.99 per month. If ads aren’t for you, the Standard plan is $15.49, including two screens, and the Premium plan is $22.99, allowing access to four screens as well as enhanced HDR/4K quality .
Netflix implemented strict controls on password sharing in 2023, restricting the ability to watch content from different locations. However, the Standard plan allows you to add one more member, while the Premium plan offers the option to add two. In both cases, the additional slots each cost $7.99.
Hulu and Disney Plus prices in 2025
Currently, Hulu and Disney Plus are still separate services, although their parent company, Disney, recently integrated both into the Disney Plus app for subscribers with a single account with the same email address.
Currently, you can subscribe to Hulu with ads for $9.99 or $18.99 without ads. Similarly, Disney Plus costs $7.99 with ads, and $13.99 for the ad-free version.
However, for those who want to subscribe to both services, Disney’s Bundles Duo plan offers great savings at $10.99 per month (with ads) and allows for simultaneous streaming on two devices.
For those wanting an ad-free subscription, the Duo Premium Bundles plan is $19.99 per month and includes the ability to download content for offline viewing.
Prime Video prices in 2025
Amazon’s Prime Video service is included in the broader Amazon Prime membership, which costs $14.99 per month ($139 per year).
For those who don’t have Amazon Prime, a standalone video service with ads can be purchased for $8.99 per month. An ad-free subscription costs an additional $3.
Max prices in 2025
Max offers a three-tier pricing structure: a Basic plan with ads at $9.99 per month, an ad-free plan at $16.99 per month, and a third Ultimate plan without ads at $20.99 per month. offering features like 4K streaming and simultaneous downloads.
Paramount Plus prices in 2025
Paramount Plus offers two subscriptions. The Essential plan, with ads, is $7.99 per month or $59.99 per year and includes access to 45,000 episodes and movies from the library.
The more expensive Paramount Plus with Showtime plan is $12.99 per month or $119.99 per year, offering ad-free access to the library of Paramount Plus and Showtime, as well as the ability for offline downloads and streaming. access to live streaming of your local CBS station.
Peacock prices in 2025
NBCUniversal’s streaming service is relatively affordable compared to other options on this list, although it has seen a price hike since 2024. The old $5.99 ad-supported subscription now costs $7.99 for the new ones. subscribers, and the option with fewer ads went from $11.99 to $13.99.
Apple TV Plus prices in 2025
Apple TV Plus is unique because its library consists mainly of original content and does not have an array of licensed content to attract users. Yet with renowned series such as “Severance”, “Slow Horses” and “Silo”, as well as critically acclaimed films such as “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Napoleon”, the price is 9.99 dollars per month, allowing you to stream on six devices at once without any advertising.
More information from Tom’s Guide
In this ever-changing environment, managing your entertainment future becomes a real challenge. How will platforms adapt to changing consumer expectations? The reflection is open and could well redefine the streaming landscape as we know it.
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