9 streaming service pro tips to save money
The whole streaming scene is confusing. DirecTV Now changed its name to AT&T TV Now and can’t seem to settle on plans and pricing. Tap or click here to parse the options. Disney+, Apple TV and HBO Max joined the party — and each one wants your money.
About 62% of all Americans subscribe to at least one streaming service, and that number will only grow. The problem with streaming is if you’re not careful, you can spend $10 a month here, $5 a month there, $15 for this one … You get the idea.
Sure, there’s a lot to look forward to when it comes to new streaming services and shows. But you need to look at your bottom line. How much is all this streaming costing you and how can you save money?
Remember, every dollar not in their pocket is another dollar in yours. So let’s get started with insider tricks to saving money that only the pros know, starting with digging up bundle deals.
1. Check for bundles
Some people still have cable or satellite subscriptions and add a streaming service or two for a wider selection of programming. But if you want a lot of streaming subscriptions, prepare for a mountain of research.
While researching different streaming services and channel apps, you will notice that not all services are created equal. Some offer live TV channels and others are strictly on-demand. Tap or click here to see our streaming services with live TV comparison chart.
Don’t forget exclusive content. Content providers are coming out with their own streaming services and eventually making the content they produce exclusive to their service.
For example, Disney+ owns the rights to everything in the Star Wars and Marvel universes. Once contracts with other services expire, Disney+ will be the only place to access these films. If you want a bigger selection of content, you’ll have to subscribe to more than one service.
Related: Which on-demand streaming service is best?
The good news is there are package bundles that will help you save cash. Right now, you can bundle Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ for $12.99 per month.
That’s a lot of content for under $13, and if you want to watch a random live MLB game during baseball season, ESPN+ is just the place. Tap or click here to learn more about this bundle.
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If you haven’t seen “Game of Thrones” or “The Sopranos” (where have you been?) and you own a Roku streaming device, we have some good news for you! HBO Max is finally available on Roku, and you can download the app right now. Tap or click here to see the top streaming devices compared.
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