The short answer
Streaming prices in the US start at $8.99 a month with ads (Netflix, Peacock Select, Paramount+ Essential and Prime Video) and reach $26.99 for Netflix Premium, while YouTube TV costs $82.99 for live channels. No major service has announced a 2026 Black Friday deal as of November 7, 2026.
- Netflix prices: $8.99 with ads, $19.99 Standard, $26.99 Premium
- Best bundle math: Hulu with Disney+ costs just 50 cents more than either one alone
- All eight on-demand apps: about $91 with ads or $144 without, by our arithmetic
- Latest increase: Disney+ and Hulu, September 23, 2026
- Black Friday benchmark: in 2025, HBO Max with ads was $2.99 a month and Disney+ with Hulu was $4.99, each for 12 months
$8.99
Cheapest monthly on-demand plan
$144.41
All 8 on-demand apps, no ads (our math)
7 of 9
Raised a price in 2026 (our count)
Nov 27
Black Friday 2026
In this article
Streaming prices have climbed quickly enough that eight apps now cost about what a pay-TV package did a decade ago, after inflation. Fortune put the ad-free stack at $139.41 in September, and Disney has raised prices since then. This guide lists US list prices before tax from each service’s own page where we could open one, and it names the source where we could not.
What are streaming prices right now?
US streaming prices now range from $8.99 to $26.99 a month for on-demand apps, and from $54.99 to $82.99 for YouTube TV. Ad-free plans cost roughly $5 to $11 more than the ad tier, so paying to skip ads is usually the single largest cost choice you make.
| Service | With ads | No ads | Top tier | Annual | Price source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | $8.99 | $19.99 Standard | $26.99 Premium (4K) | None listed | Netflix help text, Fortune |
| Disney+ | $12.49 | $21.49 Premium | Same | Not confirmed after the increase | TVLine, TheWrap |
| Hulu | $12.49 | $21.49 Premium | Same | Not confirmed after the increase | TVLine, TheWrap |
| HBO Max | $10.99 Basic | $18.49 Standard | $22.99 Premium (4K) | $109.99 / $184.99 / $229.99 | HBO Max site |
| Peacock | $8.99 Select; $12.99 Premium | $19.99 Premium Plus (most content) | Same | $89.99 / $129.99 / $199.99 | Peacock help text |
| Paramount+ | $8.99 Essential | $13.99 Premium (except live TV) | Same | $89.99 / $139.99 | Paramount+ site |
| Prime Video | $8.99 alone; $14.99 with Prime | $13.98 alone; $19.98 with Prime (Ultra add-on) | Same | $139 Prime; $45.99 Ultra with annual Prime | Amazon, Reviewed |
| Apple TV | None | $14.99 | Same | $119, per How-To Geek | Apple site |
| YouTube TV | $71.99 Sports + News; $82.99 base (live TV) | N/A | $82.99 base | None listed | YouTube TV site |
Peacock Select is the catch in that table. Tom’s Guide describes Select as a limited-library tier, so the $12.99 Premium plan is the fairer comparison for most viewers. Likewise, Prime Video’s Ultra add-on may still show ads on live TV and sports, according to Amazon.
Which streaming prices changed most recently?
Streaming prices rose at seven of the nine services in 2026, by our count. HBO Max last moved in late 2025, and we found no 2026 increase to the YouTube TV base price.
| Service | When | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Paramount+ | January 15, 2026 | Essential $7.99 to $8.99; Premium $12.99 to $13.99 |
| Netflix | March 26, 2026 | With ads $7.99 to $8.99; Standard $17.99 to $19.99; Premium $24.99 to $26.99 |
| Prime Video | April 10, 2026 | Ad-free add-on $2.99 to $4.99, renamed Prime Video Ultra |
| Peacock | August 18, 2026 | Select $7.99 to $8.99; Premium $10.99 to $12.99; Premium Plus $16.99 to $19.99 |
| Apple TV | August 28, 2026 | $12.99 to $14.99 |
| Disney+ and Hulu | September 23, 2026 | With ads $11.99 to $12.49; no ads $18.99 to $21.49 |
| HBO Max | October 21, 2025 | Basic $9.99 to $10.99; Standard $16.99 to $18.49; Premium $20.99 to $22.99 |
What are Netflix prices in 2026?
Netflix prices in the US are $8.99 with ads, $19.99 for Standard and $26.99 for Premium, according to Netflix’s Plans and Pricing page as shown in search results and to Fortune. Netflix lists no annual plan in the sources we read, so yearly cost is simply 12 months: $107.88, $239.88 or $323.88.
- Standard with ads: 1080p on two devices at once; best for one or two light viewers
- Standard: 1080p on two devices, no ads; best for couples who watch nightly
- Premium: 4K and HDR on four devices; worth paying for only if you own a 4K TV and actually share the screens
- Extra member: $7.99 with ads or $9.99 without, for someone outside your household
- Student or senior rate: the Netflix sources we read list none, so treat third-party discount claims with care
People often arrive here looking for a cheaper Netflix, so here is the blunt version: the cheapest official route is the ad plan or a carrier perk. Verizon’s perk bundles Netflix with ads and HBO Max with ads for $13 a month on eligible plans, which Verizon says saves $6.98. For what to watch once you subscribe, see our best movies on Netflix.
Which streaming bundles actually save money?
Bundles are where streaming prices get confusing, and the Disney+ and Hulu bundle is the clearest bargain, because adding Hulu costs only 50 cents. Other bundles save less than their headlines suggest, since the real comparison is the next-best bundle.
| Bundle | With ads | No ads | Real saving (our math) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disney+ and Hulu | $12.99 | $21.99 | $11.99 with ads and $20.99 without, versus buying both separately |
| Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max | $21.99 | $34.99 | $1.99 with ads and $5.49 without, versus the Disney bundle plus HBO Max |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select | $21.99 | $32.99 | Worth it only for ESPN viewers |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited | $35.99 | $44.99 | ESPN Unlimited alone is $31.99 |
| Apple TV and Peacock Premium | $17.99 | N/A | $9.99 versus $27.98 separately |
| Apple TV and Peacock Premium Plus | N/A | $22.99 | $11.99 versus $34.98 separately |
| Netflix and HBO Max (Verizon perk) | $13 | N/A | $6.98, eligible Verizon plans only |
Apple adds one more option. Apple One starts at $21.95 for Apple TV, Apple Music, Apple Arcade and 50GB of iCloud+. If you already pay for Apple Music and iCloud, that plan probably beats paying separately; otherwise, $14.99 for Apple TV alone is cheaper.
Is an annual plan worth it?
An annual plan is worth it only for a service you would keep all 12 months. By our arithmetic, Peacock Premium saves $25.89 a year at $129.99, HBO Max Basic saves $21.89 at $109.99, and Paramount+ Essential saves $17.89 at $89.99. However, a year-long plan removes your ability to rotate, and rotation usually saves more.
What Black Friday streaming deals should you expect?
No 2026 Black Friday streaming deal has been officially announced as of November 7, 2026. Black Friday falls on November 27, so the table below shows 2025 offers as a benchmark only. Those 2025 prices have expired.
| Service | Black Friday 2025 deal (expired) | Black Friday 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) | 2025: $4.99 a month for 12 months | Not announced as of November 7, 2026 |
| HBO Max Basic with Ads | 2025: $2.99 a month for 12 months | Not announced as of November 7, 2026 |
| Apple TV | 2025: $5.99 a month for 6 months; new and returning only | Not announced as of November 7, 2026 |
| Paramount+ | 2025: $2.99 a month for 2 months, Essential or Premium | Not announced as of November 7, 2026 |
| Peacock | 2025: no direct deal reported; free with Walmart+, per MacRumors | Not announced as of November 7, 2026 |
| YouTube TV | 2025: $30 off the first 3 months, new customers | Not announced as of November 7, 2026 |
| Netflix | 2025: not in the roundups we read | Not announced as of November 7, 2026 |
| Prime Video | 2025: discounted add-on channels, not Prime itself | Not announced as of November 7, 2026 |
YouTube TV does have a current promotion, though it is not a Black Friday offer. YouTube TV’s site lists new-member pricing of $59.99 a month for 2 months on the base plan, and $49.99 for 5 months on Sports + News, ending November 16, 2026.
How do you judge a Black Friday streaming deal?
- Benchmark: 2025’s 12-month deals would save $96 a year at today’s Disney bundle and HBO Max Basic prices, by our math; anything well short of that is an ordinary promotion
- Eligibility: 2025 offers usually excluded current subscribers, so cancel only after reading the terms
- Ad tier: the deepest 2025 discounts applied to plans with ads
- Billing: offers bought through a third party may not qualify, and Apple excluded those customers in 2025
- Renewal: set a calendar reminder a week before the promo ends, because the plan renews at the full price
Watch out. Some sites already publish “2026 deal” lists built on last year’s prices. Unless the offer appears on the service’s own page or checkout screen, treat it as a forecast.
What is the cheapest way to watch?
The cheapest way to watch is one ad-supported service at a time, rotated monthly, for $8.99 to $12.99 a month. Streaming prices matter less than habits, so match these rules to how you actually watch.
If you want one app: Netflix with ads
At $8.99, Netflix has the lowest price among the largest catalogs, although Paramount+ Essential and the Prime Video plan tie it. Skip it if you hate ads and watch daily, since Standard is then better value.
If you want the most for a family: Disney+ and Hulu
At $12.99 with ads, this bundle covers kids’ shows, adult dramas and movies. Choose the $21.99 ad-free bundle rather than either single ad-free app, because the difference is just 50 cents.
If you already pay for Prime: use it first
Prime Video is included at no added cost, so paying for a second $8.99 app before finishing what Prime offers wastes money. Skip Ultra at $4.99 unless ads or the lack of 4K bother you.
If you watch one show at a time: rotate
Subscribe for one month, finish the season, and cancel. Worked example, our arithmetic: four ad plans held in turn cost about $138 a year, compared with about $552 for holding all four all year.
- Assumes: Netflix, Peacock Premium, HBO Max and the Disney bundle, three months each
- Best for: viewers who do not need new episodes on day one
- Skip if: you follow live sports, which run on fixed seasons
If you need live TV: compare before you commit
YouTube TV’s $82.99 base plan is a cable replacement, so buy it for sports and news rather than for shows. Press reports from February list slimmer plans: Entertainment at $54.99, Sports at $64.99 and Sports + News at $71.99. Check the site, since the live page shows $71.99 and $64.99 in different places.
Students have one more option, since Apple says its Apple Music Student Plan includes Apple TV, and Yahoo reports Prime for Young Adults at $7.49 a month after a six-month trial. Finally, remember that listed streaming prices are rarely the whole bill: sales tax may apply, and existing subscribers often see an increase a month or more after the announcement.
Will streaming prices at HBO Max and Paramount+ change after the merger?
No merger-related price change has been announced. Paramount says Skydance completed its Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition on October 6, 2026, and its October 29 update states that “No merger-related pricing or subscription changes have been announced.” That uncertainty is not yet a reason to cancel.
Our verdict
Streaming prices keep rising, but the fix is simple: pick ad tiers, use the 50-cent Disney+ and Hulu bundle, and rotate everything else month to month. For most households, that keeps the bill near $25 a month without losing the shows they care about.
Hold any new sign-up until Black Friday if you can wait three weeks, because 2025’s best offers were far below list price. Meanwhile, our Black Friday sale dates guide tracks when store sales begin, and we will update this page once services announce 2026 deals.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Netflix a month?
Netflix costs $8.99 a month for Standard with ads, $19.99 for Standard without ads, and $26.99 for Premium with 4K in the US, before tax. Netflix raised all three plans on March 26, 2026. Adding an extra member outside your household costs $7.99 with ads or $9.99 without ads.
What is the cheapest streaming service?
Among the nine services here, the lowest monthly price is $8.99, shared by Netflix with ads, Peacock Select, Paramount+ Essential and the Prime Video standalone plan. Peacock Select has a limited library, however. For most viewers, Netflix with ads or Prime Video, if you already have Prime, offers the best value.
Why are streaming prices going up?
Disney told subscribers its September 2026 increase would support investment in its platforms, according to press coverage. Across the industry, seven of the nine services here raised at least one price in 2026 by our count. Services rarely explain individual increases in detail, so expect further changes rather than a quick reversal.
Is there a Netflix Black Friday deal?
No Netflix Black Friday 2026 deal has been announced as of November 7, 2026, and the 2025 deal roundups we read did not include a Netflix offer. Your realistic savings are the $8.99 ad plan or a carrier perk, such as Verizon offering Netflix with HBO Max for $13 monthly.
Is the Disney+ and Hulu bundle worth it?
Yes, for most people who want either service. The bundle costs $12.99 with ads or $21.99 without ads, only 50 cents more than Disney+ or Hulu alone at $12.49 and $21.49. Skip it only if you are sure nobody in your home will watch the second app.
When do Black Friday streaming deals start?
Dates for 2026 have not been announced as of November 7, 2026. In 2025, some offers appeared in the week before Black Friday, and Paramount+ started on November 25, while Apple TV ended December 1. Black Friday 2026 is November 27, so start checking service pages around November 20.
