Streaming in the US: How to Subscribe Smart

It’s rare to find someone in the US these days who isn’t subscribed to at least one streaming service. If you ever watch series, movies, or popular TV shows on your television, chances are your card is regularly charged by some Netflix or Disney+. The thing is, the number of streaming services has exploded in recent years. A lot of them. Current US streaming subscription rates. And each one tries to attract users not only with exclusive content but also with favorable subscription terms. Signing up for everything available would result in a hefty sum that not everyone can afford. In this article, we’ll explore promotions, discounts, and other ways to save on subscriptions.

1. For Students

Many streaming platforms offer special discounted rates for students. Verification usually happens through SheerID or UNiDAYS:

• Peacock Premium – $2.99/month instead of $7.99, discount valid for 12 months.
• Paramount+ Essential – 25% discount, final price $5.99/month.
• Spotify Premium + Hulu (with ads) – $5.99/month for both services.
• Hulu (standalone) – $1.99/month for students if you don’t use the bundle with Spotify.
• Amazon Prime Student – 6 months free, then $7.49/month (includes Prime Video and Music).
• Apple Music + Apple TV+ – $5.99/month for students, includes both services.
• YouTube Premium – $7.99/month for students.

2. For New Users

This is a great way to try a service you haven’t used before to see if it’s something you need in the long run. Plus, you save money initially:

• Peacock – Up to 70% off the first year with promo codes.
• Starz – $3/month for the first 3 months or $17.99 for 6 months.
• Sling TV – $10 off your first month, a free month of Max and AMC+, and unlimited DVR storage.

3. Shared Subscriptions

Almost all streaming services allow you to connect multiple devices at home under one subscription. But some let you share with other people, even if they live in a different city or state:

• Max – 3 simultaneous streams, from $9.99/month (with ads).
• Disney+ – 4 simultaneous streams, $7.99/month (with ads).
• Apple TV+ – 6 simultaneous streams via Apple Family Sharing, $9.99/month.
• Paramount+ – 3 simultaneous streams, from $5.99/month.
• Peacock – 3 simultaneous streams (one profile, but you can watch different things on different devices), from $5.99/month.
• Amazon Prime Video – 3 simultaneous streams (up to 2 on the same content), $14.99/month.

Less convenient options:

• Netflix – IP address verification, you need to pay for external users, $7.99/month.
• YouTube TV – Requires matching geolocation.
• Hulu + Live TV – Also checks for matching geolocation.

4. Bundles

• Disney Bundle (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+) – $14.99/month with ads, $24.99/month without.
• T-Mobile Go5G Next (Netflix with or without ads, Apple TV+, Hulu with ads) – from $85/month.
• Amazon Prime (Prime Video, Amazon Music, Twitch Prime, fast shipping, photo storage, etc.) – $14.99/month or $139/year.
• Apple One (Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, iCloud 200 GB) – $22.95/month.
• Verizon on Unlimited Welcome/Plus plans – Netflix & Max (with ads) for $10/month, Disney Bundle for $10/month.

How to save even more:

• Split bundles among 3–4 people – optimal in terms of price and convenience.
• Use one Apple/Amazon account and different profiles for others.
• Choose one large bundle + 1-2 additional services for everyone – cheaper than all subscriptions separately.

5. Cashback and Bonuses from Banks

Some credit cards offer cashback on subscriptions, for example:

• Amex Blue Cash Preferred – 6% cashback on streaming services.
• Capital One Savor – 3% cashback on entertainment and streaming.

And one last tip–promo codes. Look for current offers on official websites and trusted specialized promo code services. Please verify this and other information regarding promotions, special offers, and current prices on the official websites of the streaming platforms.

As you can see, if you don’t rush to sign up for the first plan you see and take a little time to understand the current offers, you can save a good amount of money on your bank card. And not miss the final season of Squid Game this summer. And other popular series and TV shows.