How Much Can You Save on Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, and Other Streaming Subscriptions?

Even if it’s worth your time, there are instances when streaming TV might be expensive. It seems sense, given the endless array of TV series and films at our disposal. Your monthly streaming costs may easily top $100, especially considering Netflix’s additional membership fees and the growing costs of Peacock, Disney Plus, Hulu, and other services. You can manage your budget, though, so don’t worry.

Are you tired of paying a lot of cash on multiple subscriptions that you rarely ever watch? Should you leave all those accounts open even if you’re not using them to view anything?

Check out this approach to reduce your streaming TV costs.

Rotate all your streaming subscriptions

For cord cutters, switching from cable to streaming can be a wise financial decision. You can subscribe to monthly plans, making it easy to use a streaming service and drop out if the cost gets too high or the content gets boring. However, according to the Deloitte Media Trends 2023 report, the top reasons people cancel streaming subscriptions are financial constraints and lack of new content. Media companies call this behavior “churn.” This is called the rotation method, so please give it a try.

What about incentives? Save money and avoid content exhaustion. For example, let’s say a series like “Percy Jackson” or “Reacher” is scheduled to premiere on a streaming service. Get the total number of episodes and wait until all episodes are available on his one platform at once. Cancel Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, or any other service and resubscribe when all episodes are up to date. Alternatively, you can start streaming shows mid-season to reduce costs.

What are the disadvantages? You won’t have instant access to all the shows you want to watch, and you’ll have to wait until the entire season airs. Also, many streaming services release new episodes every week, so you may not be able to keep up with the latest episodes at the same time as your friends. If you want to watch episodes as soon as they’re published, you might decide it’s worth getting multiple subscriptions at once. However, if you are patient, you can save some money.

This strategy also works if you have a live TV streaming service to watch certain sports or major events like the Super Bowl. Once the season is over, cancel your service or switch to a cheaper platform with fewer channels, like Sling TV.

Need help finding the best rotation method? Follow these tips to learn how to switch between streaming platforms until your wallet is happy.

Tip #1: Cancel your subscription before you are charged.

Set your calendar to remind you of billing cycles and upcoming TV show and movie release dates. Please provide sufficient advance notice to start or end your subscription. Apps like JustWatch, TV Time, and Hobi allow you to track when and where TV shows and movies appear on streaming services. And JustWatch has added a sports-specific tracker. If you have smart home devices from Google or Amazon, you can set reminders for specific events and allow voice assistants like Alexa to notify you of upcoming bills or streaming release dates.

Tip #2: Sign up for deals on streaming services

Look out for discounts on streaming services. For example, Starz regularly offers one-month deals that reduce prices by $10 per month. You can also take advantage of the Disney Bundle, which offers access to Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus in one package at a discounted price. Eligible Hulu subscribers can also add Disney Plus for $2. Finally, be on the lookout for student discounts and check with your carrier to see which providers offer free streaming subscriptions.

Tip #3: Choose one or two standard streaming services.

Subscribe to one or two essential services per year and choose only one or two other options to fit your monthly budget. Rotate between bonus services depending on what you want to watch so you don’t miss out on your favorite shows while staying within your monthly spending limit

Tip #4: Use monthly billing only

Even if you end up using one of these tracking apps, avoid annual subscriptions and be aware of auto-renewing payment dates. Even if you just signed up for a free trial, your billing cycle can help you determine the best time to cancel your service. The only benefit to signing up for an annual plan is that you get a huge discount on the price.

Tip #5: Pause your subscription without canceling it

Hulu allows you to pause your subscription for up to 12 weeks. Sling offers a similar option with terms and conditions. Check with your streaming provider to see if you can take a break without canceling.

If you try it and don’t like it, you can always subscribe again. For more great tips for streaming TV, check out this guide to Netflix’s hidden tricks and picks for the best VPNs.