How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- On-demand services now start near $9 per month, while full live TV replacement plans sit near $83 to $100 per month, so the gap between a single app and a cable replacement is large.
- Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu all raised prices during 2026, which makes annual billing and bundles worth checking before you commit to a monthly plan.
- Live local channels are the main reason to pay for YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV or Sling TV, while viewers who only watch films and series can usually spend far less.
- 4K is still locked behind higher tiers on several services, so check the plan details if picture quality on a large television matters to you.
- Rotating one or two subscriptions through the year often costs less than keeping five or six services running at the same time.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Netflix | Largest original library | $8.99 per month | No |
 Hulu | Next-day network television | $12.49 per month | No |
 Disney+ | Family and franchise viewing | $12.49 per month | No |
 HBO Max | Prestige drama and films | $10.99 per month | No |
 Paramount+ | CBS, sports and SHOWTIME | $8.99 per month | No |
 Peacock | NBC, Bravo and live sports | $8.99 per month | No |
 Apple TV | Original series in 4K | $14.99 per month | Free trial |
 Prime Video | Prime members and film fans | $8.99 per month | Free trial |
 YouTube TV | Full cable replacement | $82.99 per month | Free trial |
 Sling TV | Cheapest live TV starter | $19.99 per month | No |
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The best streaming services
Starting price$8.99 per month
Free planNo
Netflix remains the default choice for many households because its catalog covers drama, comedy, documentary, reality and international titles in one place. The entry plan, Standard with ads, costs $8.99 per month and streams in 1080p on two devices at once. Standard, at $19.99 per month, removes ads but keeps 1080p and two streams. Premium, at $26.99 per month, adds 4K Ultra HD with HDR, four streams and downloads on six devices.
The honest catch is price growth. Netflix bills monthly only, so there is no annual plan, and 4K with four streams sits on the top tier. Extra members outside the household cost extra on Standard and Premium. If you rarely open the app, a cheaper rival or a rotation plan may suit you better.
What we like- Deep original catalog
- Strong global film and series library
- Downloads on paid plans
Watch out for- No annual discount
- 4K requires the most expensive plan
- Password sharing is restricted to a household
Starting price$12.49 per month
Free planNo
Hulu earns its place for viewers who follow current network television. New episodes often arrive the day after broadcast, and the library adds Hulu Originals, FX series and a broad film catalog. The ad-supported plan costs $12.49 per month, or $124.99 per year, while Hulu Premium, with most ads removed, costs $21.49 per month. Downloads are available on the premium plan, which helps for travel.
The tradeoff sits in the details. Hulu Premium is monthly only, so heavy viewers pay the full rate all year. A small number of titles still show brief ads because of licensing rules, even on the premium plan. Hulu + Live TV is a different product, starting at $99.99 per month with ads in October 2026 reporting. For current television fans, Hulu is hard to beat.
What we like- Next-day episodes from major networks
- Strong originals and FX titles
- Annual option on the ad-supported plan
Watch out for- No ads plan has no annual discount
- A few titles still carry short ads on the premium plan
- Live TV is a separate, much pricier plan
Starting price$12.49 per month
Free planNo
Disney+ suits households that watch animation, family films and franchise series again and again. The Basic plan with ads costs $12.49 per month, and Premium, without ads on most on-demand titles, costs $21.49 per month or $214.99 per year. Both plans support up to four streams, and Premium adds downloads. The catalog is narrower than Netflix, but for families it is deep where it counts, with decades of Disney and Pixar titles plus Marvel and Star Wars series.
Price is the main watch point after the September 2026 increase, which lifted Basic from $11.99 and Premium from $18.99. The Disney+ and Hulu bundle with ads, at $12.99 per month in recent reporting, is often better value than Disney+ alone if you will use both libraries. Adults who mainly want prestige drama may find the catalog thin between franchise releases.
What we like- Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic in one app
- 4K on both plans
- Strong bundle value with Hulu
Watch out for- Recent price rises
- Limited adult drama compared with Netflix or HBO Max
- Extra member rules add cost for sharing outside a household
Starting price$10.99 per month
Free planNo
HBO Max, still listed as Max in many places, is the pick for viewers who care most about high-end scripted television. House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, Succession and The White Lotus sit alongside Warner Bros. films, DC titles and Discovery lifestyle programming. Basic with ads costs $10.99 per month, Standard costs $18.49 per month, and Premium costs $22.99 per month, with annual options at $109.99, $184.99 and $229.99 respectively in recent reporting.
The structure rewards careful choice. Only Premium offers 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Atmos and four streams, while Standard keeps 1080p and two streams with downloads. Basic has ads and no downloads. If your viewing centers on one or two prestige series at a time, subscribing for a few months per series can keep the cost down.
What we like- HBO originals and Warner Bros. films
- Select live sports on ad-free plans
- Annual billing saves about two months
Watch out for- 4K requires the Premium plan
- Entry plan has ads and no downloads
- Library titles rotate out
Starting price$8.99 per month
Free planNo
Paramount+ offers one of the lowest entry prices among major services, and its sports coverage gives it a clear edge for some viewers. Essential costs $8.99 per month or $89.99 per year, with ads, while Premium costs $13.99 per month or $139.99 per year, without ads on demand. Both plans include live sports feeds such as NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League matches, plus CBS shows, Taylor Sheridan dramas, Star Trek and South Park.
Premium adds the live local CBS station, the full SHOWTIME catalog and downloads, . Essential viewers miss those perks, and both plans still show ads around live television. Paramount+ ended routine free trials in 2026 reporting, so new subscribers pay from day one.
What we like- Low entry price
- Live NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League feeds
- Full SHOWTIME on Premium
Watch out for- No free trial for new subscribers in 2026 reporting
- Essential lacks a live local CBS station
- 4K only on select Premium titles
Starting price$8.99 per month
Free planNo
Peacock divides its plans more sharply than most rivals, so reading the tier names matters. Select costs $8.99 per month or $89.99 per year and covers NBC and Bravo shows with ads, but it excludes movies, live sports and Peacock Originals. Premium costs $12.99 per month or $129.99 per year and adds those missing pieces, still with ads. Premium Plus costs $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year, removes most on-demand ads and adds downloads and the live local NBC channel.
Sports fans should start at Premium, not Select, because live events only appear from Premium upward. The student discount on Premium, at $6.99 per month for eligible students in recent reporting, is one of the better student deals in streaming. Even Premium Plus keeps ads on live events, so ad-free here means mostly ad-free.
What we like- Sunday Night Football and other live sports on Premium
- Strong Bravo and NBC back catalog
- Student discount on Premium
Watch out for- Select plan excludes movies, sports and originals
- Premium still has ads
- Premium Plus still shows ads on live events
Starting price$14.99 per month
Free planFree trial
Apple TV takes a different approach from its rivals. Instead of a vast licensed library, it offers a focused set of original series and films, including Severance, Ted Lasso and Slow Horses, plus select live sports such as Formula 1 and Major League Soccer coverage in 2026 reporting. The single plan costs $14.99 per month or $119 per year after the August 2026 increase, and it includes 4K Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos where available, six streams and a 7-day free trial. Buyers of qualifying Apple devices may receive three months free.
That simplicity is both the strength and the limit. There is no ad tier and no higher tier for 4K. The catalog is far smaller than Netflix or Disney+, however, and viewers who want older network series will run out of options quickly. Apple TV works best as a second service, or as a short subscription timed around a specific series.
What we like- Every title in 4K with no extra tier
- Fully ad-free originals
- Six streams and a 7-day trial
Watch out for- Small catalog with no licensed back catalog
- Price has risen four times since launch
- Live sports coverage is limited
Starting price$8.99 per month
Free planFree trial
Prime Video is the most confusing value in this list, because the price depends on how you buy it. Standalone Prime Video costs $8.99 per month with ads. Full Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year and adds shipping, music and other benefits alongside the same ad-supported video. Removing ads and getting 4K now requires Prime Video Ultra, a separate add-on at $4.99 per month or $45.99 per year in recent reporting.
For existing Prime members, the video library is effectively a bonus, with originals such as Reacher and The Boys plus Thursday Night Football. For viewers who do not shop on Amazon, the standalone plan is still competitive, but the headline price is not the full price for an ad-free 4K experience. Check whether you already pay for Prime before buying standalone video.
What we like- Large film and original library
- Included with full Prime membership
- Channels add-ons inside one app
Watch out for- Ads by default in 2026
- Ad-free 4K now needs the separate Ultra add-on
- Interface can feel cluttered with rentals and purchases
Starting price$82.99 per month
Free planFree trial
YouTube TV is the closest like-for-like replacement for cable in this guide. The base plan costs $82.99 per month and includes local broadcast stations in most markets, ESPN, news and entertainment channels, unlimited DVR storage and three simultaneous streams across six household accounts. Newer genre bundles lower the entry point, with an Entertainment plan from $54.99 per month and a Sports plan from $64.99 per month in 2026 reporting, both keeping unlimited DVR and local channels in most markets.
The price is the obvious barrier. At $82.99 per month, YouTube TV costs roughly nine times the entry price of an on-demand service, and add-ons such as 4K Plus at $9.99 per month and NFL Sunday Ticket push it higher still. Households that watch live news and sports daily often find it worth the cost. Households that mainly watch on-demand series should compare a $9 to $15 plan plus an antenna for locals first.
What we like- More than 100 channels in most markets
- Unlimited cloud DVR kept for 9 months
- Six household accounts and three streams
Watch out for- Highest base price in this list
- Smaller genre bundles still cost $54.99 or more
- Channel lineups vary by ZIP code
Starting price$19.99 per month
Free planNo
Sling TV is built for viewers who want some live television without paying for a full bundle. The skinniest plans, Essentials and Select, both start at $19.99 per month, with Essentials carrying ESPN and Disney channels and Select carrying NFL Network, FS1 and entertainment channels. The fuller plans, Orange and Blue, each start at $45.99 per month, or $60.99 combined, with prices rising in markets that include local stations. All plans include 50 hours of cloud DVR, with unlimited DVR available for $5 per month extra.
The limits are real and worth checking before signup. Sling carries no CBS stations at all, and local FOX and NBC stations appear only in select markets and only on Blue or Orange plus Blue. Orange allows only one stream, while Blue allows three and the combined plan allows four. For a household that needs every local channel, YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV will fit better despite the higher price.
What we like- Skinny plans from $19.99
- Pick ESPN or news and entertainment sides
- No long-term contract
Watch out for- No CBS stations
- Only 50 hours of DVR included
- Local channels limited to FOX and NBC in select markets and only on some plans
How we chose
We compared pricing pages and recent pricing reporting for each service, checked plan features such as streams, downloads, 4K and DVR limits, and weighed public reviews for details on ads, local channels and trial terms. Where prices changed during 2026, we used the most recent October 2026 figures found. Prices can change again, so confirm the total at checkout, including tax, before subscribing.
What to check before you pay
Start with viewing habits, not with brand names. List the five shows, teams or channels you actually watch each week, then match that list to one service. If every item sits on one on-demand app, a single $9 to $15 plan beats a live bundle.
Ads, 4K and downloads
Ads now appear on most entry plans, and removing them often costs $5 to $10 more per month. Check whether the ad-free plan also adds 4K, downloads or extra streams, since those perks differ by service. Netflix and HBO Max reserve 4K for their top tiers, while Apple TV and Disney+ include 4K more broadly. Downloads matter most for commuters and travelers, and they are usually limited to ad-free plans.
Bundles, annual billing and rotation
Bundles help only when you use every service in the bundle. The Disney+ and Hulu bundle is strong value for households that watch both. Annual billing saves roughly two months on several services, including Disney+ Premium, HBO Max and Peacock, but it locks you in, so use it only for a service you keep all year.
Frequently asked questions
Which streaming service is best overall?
There is no single best service for every household. Netflix suits the widest range of tastes, Disney+ suits families, HBO Max suits prestige drama fans, and YouTube TV suits households that want live television. Pick the service that covers the shows you watch most often, then add a second service only if a clear gap remains.
What is the cheapest way to stream television?
The cheapest route is usually one on-demand service at $8.99 to $12.99 per month, plus a free over-the-air antenna for local channels where reception allows. Sling Essentials or Select at $19.99 per month is the cheapest paid live option in this guide. Free ad-supported apps can fill gaps, but they rarely carry current premium series.
Do I need live TV to watch sports?
It depends on the sport. Some leagues stream on on-demand services, such as NFL games on Peacock and Paramount+, while others need a live bundle for ESPN, regional sports or local stations. Check the exact channel for your team before subscribing, since sports rights move between services and a plan that worked last season may not cover this season.
Is 4K worth paying extra for?
4K is worth it on a large television in a living room, where the difference over 1080p is visible, and when the service offers a good number of titles in 4K. On a phone or small tablet, the difference is harder to see, and the entry plan is usually fine. If several people watch at once, a higher tier may also be needed for extra streams, not just for picture quality.
Can I share a streaming account with family outside my home?
Most services now restrict sharing to a household, with paid extra member options on Netflix and Disney+. Terms differ by service and can change, so check the help page for the service you use before sharing a login. Sharing outside the rules can lead to extra charges or a blocked account.
How often do streaming prices change?
Prices have changed at least once a year for most major services in recent years. Review subscriptions every few months and cancel any service you have not opened in the past month.
Sources we checked (10)
- https://smarttvs.org/streaming-service-prices-2026/
- https://www.americantv.com/netflix-review-plans-pricing-and-more.php
- https://keepstreams.com/hulu-price-plan
- https://calculatorai.app/blog/disney-plus-hulu-price-increase-2026
- https://techdows.com/paramount-plans-and-pricing-which-plan-should-you-choose.html
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/learn/how-much-does-peacock-cost
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/learn/how-much-is-apple-tv-plus
- https://www.budgetseniors.com/streaming/amazon-prime-video/
- https://filmdaily.co/news/is-youtube-tv-still-worth-the-money-in-2026/
- https://www.cabletv.com/sling-tv
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.