Which platform is winning the streaming wars, with the largest share of viewers? Is it … A.) Prime Video, B.) Netflix, C.) Hulu or D.) YouTube?
This simple trick can save you hundreds of dollars a year on streaming
When cord-cutting was all the rage, the driving force was to save money. Why pay hundreds of dollars monthly for cable when you can get great shows and movies through streaming services?
The problem is the savings didn’t last long. Streaming services like DirecTV Stream, Netflix and Hulu always increase prices. Tap or click here for details on some recent price hikes.
But you don’t have to spend tons of money monthly just to watch your favorite shows. There is a super easy trick to the trade that will save you tons of money. Keep reading for a clever trick to save money on streaming costs.
Stream for free — here’s how
Many streaming services offer new patrons a free trial, allowing you to try them for anywhere from a week to a month without paying a monthly fee. The idea is to indulge in this short trial for your chosen platform and cancel the subscription before the monthly bill arrives in your inbox and charges your card.
RELATED: Free TV! Lots of free channels are coming to your Samsung TV
This strategy is fantastic because you can use your free trial to binge an entire series quickly. Seasonal movies are another enticing reason to consider doing this. Catch your favorite Halloween or Christmas movies in one place during a free trial. How cool is that?
Streaming service free trial pro tips:
- You have multiple email addresses, so use them all for free trials. Sign up to the same streaming service with another email address after your original free trial ends to get another free trial.
- Set an alarm to remind yourself to cancel before your first billing cycle. If you don’t cancel before the free trial ends, you’ll be charged for the service.
- Don’t just stick with popular streaming services. Take advantage of free trials for them all. You might fall in love with a service you hadn’t thought about before.
Are some of these practices devious? Of course. But they are not against the rules. This approach to free streaming lets you get the whole experience before committing. Why pay for something you’re not sure you’re going to love?
How to save money on streaming
Scheming in this way isn’t the only option you have to save big on entertainment. Most streaming platforms require no long-term contract, allowing you to come and go as you please.
Budgeting tip: An easy way to slash your monthly charges
Your dollars don’t go as far these days. Sure, things are more expensive, but “buy now” buttons and shiny new services add up much faster than we’d like to believe. It’s no surprise that subscription-based business models are so popular.
$1 to buy Dish
DirecTV is looking to buy its rival. If the deal goes through, they’d pay just $1 and take on Dish’s debt — about $9.75 billion. Why buy Dish? Separately, DirecTV and Dish are screwed. Together, they might be big enough to stand up to the streaming platforms.
Sharing your Netflix account? You may have to pay up soon
Many people take to social media to complain about how a company has treated them. This can be cathartic for you but probably doesn’t do much harm to the business. But chip into their revenue, and the corporate cogs spring into motion.
Easy trick to keep track of all your favorite shows and movies
There are lots of television channels and streaming options in the U.S. This makes it tough to keep track of what is showing and where. For example, DirectTV customers can access more than 330 channels that broadcast over 80,000 shows and movies.
Roku is cracking down on private channels (and banning porn streams)
Roku has been in a bitter tussle with Google over rights regarding YouTube TV being available to its users. If negotiations fail by December, it could see the disappearance of 85 channels from Roku.
But the platform is now bringing down the hammer on private channels. As part of the Independent Developer Kit (IDK) launch, Roku adds a beta channel to the list of available options.
Why it’s time to rethink cutting the cord (and 3 smart ways to save)
There are countless streaming solutions that can make movie night a breeze. If you’re a little late to the party, take the plunge and cut the cord once and for all. Tap or click here for our guide to quitting cable for good.
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