Cutting the cord was supposed to save you money. But with the major streaming services issuing price hikes in the past year, building a digital entertainment library now rivals the cost of a traditional cable package.
The landscape has shifted. Most platforms have introduced ad-supported tiers to keep entry prices low while aggressively raising the rates for commercial-free viewing. This “ad-flation” means the cheapest way to watch often involves sitting through ads — a trade-off many viewers accept to keep monthly bills in check.
We analyzed the current U.S. pricing for the most popular streaming platforms (based on subscriber count) to see how they stack up. This ranking is based on the lowest available standalone monthly price for each service.
1. Netflix
- Starting price: $7.99 per month (Standard with ads)
- Ad-free price: $17.99 per month
Netflix was once the most expensive option, but its aggressive pricing strategy for the ad-supported tier now makes it the cheapest entry point among the giants. While the company has eliminated its Basic plan, the “Standard with ads” plan offers full 1080p definition and works on two devices at once.
The catch? You cannot download content for offline viewing on the ad tier, and the library is slightly more limited due to licensing restrictions. If you want the classic ad-free experience, you will pay significantly more — more than double the entry price.
2. Paramount+
- Starting price: $8.99 per month (Essential)
- Ad-free price: $13.99 per month (Paramount+ with Showtime)
Paramount+ remains one of the more affordable options, even after a price increase in early 2026. The “Essential” plan includes NFL on CBS and 24/7 live news, making it a strong value for sports fans who don’t want to pay for a full live TV bundle.
To ditch the ads, you have to upgrade to the “Paramount+ with Showtime” tier, which unlocks the premium Showtime library and allows for offline downloads.
3. Amazon Prime Video
- Starting price: $8.99 per month (Standalone)
- Ad-free price: $11.98 per month
Most people access Prime Video as a perk of their full Amazon Prime membership ($14.99/month), but you can subscribe to the video service separately. In 2024, Amazon made headlines by introducing ads to its default plan.
To go ad-free, you must pay an additional fee on top of your base subscription. While the standalone price is competitive, the real value proposition here is usually the wider Prime shipping benefits rather than the video library alone.
4. Max
Warner Bros. Discovery’s rebranded service, Max, holds the middle ground. It combines the prestige drama of HBO with the reality TV catalog of Discovery.
The entry-level plan is ad-supported but grants access to the same massive library of hits like “The Last of Us” and “House of the Dragon.” However, the ad-supported tier does not allow for offline downloads or 4K streaming — features strictly reserved for the higher-priced tiers.
5. Peacock
- Starting price: $10.99 per month (Premium)
- Ad-free price: $16.99 per month (Premium Plus)
Peacock has seen some of the steepest price hikes recently, jumping from its previous $7.99 price point following a successful run of exclusive sports broadcasts.
NBCUniversal’s platform is heavy on next-day airing of current network shows, live sports (including the Premier League and NFL games), and a deep back catalog of fan favorites like “The Office.” The “Premium Plus” plan removes ads for on-demand content and includes your local NBC channel live.
6. Hulu
Hulu was the original ad-supported streamer, but it is no longer the budget option. Following price increases in late 2025, its entry-level cost has risen significantly.
Hulu remains the go-to for next-day network TV episodes and FX originals like “The Bear.” Because it is owned by Disney, the best way to get Hulu value is often through the “Disney Bundle,” which packages Hulu and Disney+ together for little more than the price of one standalone subscription.
7. Disney+
- Starting price: $11.99 per month (Basic with ads)
- Ad-free price: $18.99 per month (Premium)
Disney+ is no longer the cheap add-on for families it was at launch. After raising prices in October 2025, the House of Mouse now sits near the top of the price bracket for entry-level access.
The Basic plan includes the full library of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars content but subjects you to commercials. Like Hulu, the standalone price is steep enough that Disney is clearly steering customers toward its bundled options.
8. Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is the outlier. It typically does not offer a cheaper, ad-supported tier, making its barrier to entry the highest on this list. While the library is smaller than its competitors — focusing on high-budget originals like Ted Lasso and Severance rather than a back catalog of licensed reruns — the quality ratio is high.
The price jumped to $12.99 recently, cementing its position as a premium, boutique offering rather than a volume-based utility.
Is bundling the answer?
If you subscribe to more than two of these services, paying standalone prices is likely a financial mistake. The market has circled back to the cable model, where bundling is the only way to find efficiency.
- The Disney Bundle: Combining Disney+ and Hulu (both with ads) costs significantly less than buying them separately.
- Cross-Company Bundles: New partnerships, such as the Peacock and Apple TV+ bundle or the Netflix and Max bundles often offered by Verizon and other carriers, can shave 30% or more off the total bill.
Before you renew next month, audit your subscriptions. If you aren’t actively watching a specific platform, cancel it. In 2026, loyalty to a streaming service is a luxury you pay for dearly.