You’re probably overpaying for streaming.
Monthly streaming service prices are getting high. Like, really high. But you can soften the blow a bit by taking advantage of annual discounts.
If you change your billing frequency from monthly to yearly, you’ll end up saving a good chunk of change in the long run. Annual billing prices tend to be a bit cheaper once you do the math. Actually, I’ve done the math for you, so you can figure out for yourself which services are worth the switch.
Check out my findings below!
Top streaming services that offer annual discounts
| Provider | Plan | Annual Price | Regular Monthly | Discounted Monthly (12 mos.) | Annual Savings | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Amazon Prime Video | Amazon Prime (with ads) | $139.00/yr. | $14.99/mo. | $11.67/mo. | $39.84/yr. | View Plans |
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AMC+ | No ads | $95.88/yr. | $9.99/mo. | $7.99/mo. | $24.00/yr. | View Plans for AMC |
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Apple TV+ | N/A | $99.00/yr. | $12.99/mo. | $8.25/mo. | $56.88/yr. | View Plans for Apple TV+ |
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Crunchyroll | Fan | $79.99/yr. | $7.99/mo. | $6.67/mo. | $14.40/yr. | View Plans for Crunchyroll |
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Discovery+ | — | — | — | — | — | View Plans for Discovery+ |
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Disney+ | Disney+ Premium | $159.99/yr. | $15.99/mo. | $13.33/mo. | $31.92/yr. | View Plans for Disney Plus |
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Hulu | Hulu (With Ads) | $99.99/yr. | $9.99/mo. | $8.33/mo. | $19.92/yr. | View Plans for Hulu |
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HBO Max | Basic with Ads, Standard, Premium | $99.99–$209.99/yr. | $9.99–$20.99/mo. | $8.33–$17.50/mo. | $19.92–$41.88/yr. | View Plans for HBO Max |
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MGM+ | N/A | $58.99/yr. | $6.99/mo. | $4.91/mo. | $24.96/yr. | View Plans for MGM Plus |
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Netflix | — | — | — | — | — | View Plans for Netflix |
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Paramount+ | Essential, Premium | $59.99–$119.99/yr. | $7.99/mo.–$12.99/mo. | $4.92/mo.–$10.00/mo. | $36.84–$35.88/yr. | View Plans for Paramount Plus |
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Peacock | Premium, Premium Plus | $109.99–$169.99/yr. | $7.99–$13.99/mo. | $6.67–$11.58/mo. | $15.84–$28.92/yr. | View Plans for Peacock |
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Shudder | N/A | $89.99/yr. | $8.99/mo. | $7.49/mo. | $18.00/yr. | View Plans for Shudder |
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STARZ | N/A | $69.99/yr.. | $10.99/mo. | $5.83/mo. | $61.92/yr. | View Plans for Shudder |
At the very least, I recommend switching to annual billing on Apple TV+, HBO Max, Paramount+, and STARZ. You won’t lose out on any high-tier perks and you’ll save a lot of money every year. However, some services, like Amazon Prime and Hulu, come with drawbacks.
You’re probably used to getting a lot of different options with monthly billing. Most streaming services let you choose between a more expensive plan without ads, or a less expensive plan with ads.
Unfortunately, annual billing plans don’t often come with that level of customization.
This means that you might have to settle for a tier you wouldn’t normally pick. Each service handles this differently: despite having the same parent company, Disney+ forces you to go with the “Premium” plan, and Hulu forces you to go with its “With Ads” plan.
(Rather than going the annual billing route with standalone Disney+ or Hulu, I recommend getting the Disney Bundle instead. It’s a much better value.)
But there are some services that are more flexible: Max, Paramount+, and Peacock all allow annual billing regardless of tier. With those services, you can save money without having to compromise.
Other streaming services that offer annual discounts
| Provider | Annual Price | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Arrow Player | $69.99/yr. | $13.92/yr. |
| BritBox | $79.99/yr. | $17.88/yr. |
| Dropout | $59.99/yr. | $13.92/yr. |
| Full Moon Features | $59.99/yr. | $24.00/yr. |
| Hallmark+ | $79.99/yr. | $15.84/yr. |
| HIDIVE | $59.88/yr. | $12.00/yr. |
| Lifetime Movie Club | $49.99/yr. | $9.84/yr. |
| Night Flight Plus | $49.99/yr. | $24.00/yr. |
| RetroCrush | $49.99/yr. | $9.84/yr. |
| Screambox | $59.99/yr. | $24.00/yr. |
| Sundance Now | $59.99/yr. | $24.00/yr. |
| Vix | $59.99/yr. | $48.00/yr. |
The math tends to be a little easier with smaller and more niche services, since they don’t usually have as many complicated plans. For example, you’ll save about $24.00 a year with most horror services. Spooky.
Annual discounts FAQ
How do I switch my plan to annual billing?
The best way to manage your streaming account settings is usually to log in to the service’s website on your internet browser (e.g., Chrome, Safari, or Firefox) on your computer or tablet. Then, check the top right-hand corner. You’ll usually see either a character user icon or a circle with the first letter of your name in it. Click or hover on that, and it should open a drop-down menu where you can access either Settings, Account, or Subscription. The option to change your billing will usually be under one of those three categories.
Is it better to pay monthly or yearly for streaming services?
Most streaming services offer discounts if you switch from monthly to annual billing. Typically, that discount will equate to about two free months per year, but this will vary from service to service. You’ll also see fewer customization options with annual billing, so you won’t always get to choose whether or not you want ads. The only major streaming services that don’t offer annual discounts are Netflix and Discovery+.
Is Hulu cheaper if you pay annually?
Yes, Hulu is cheaper if you pay annually, but only for the ad-supported plan. If you want to save money while getting rid of ads, I recommend switching to the Duo Premium Disney Bundle. You’ll get both Disney+ and Hulu for slightly less than you would pay for the annual discounts of both standalone services combined.
Why do we do this?
Here at CableTV.com, we’re passionate about getting our readers the best deals in entertainment. We’re obsessed with researching TV providers and getting deep into the fine print, so let us do the hard work for you! Feel free to bookmark our guides and refer back to them when you’re ready to make a change.
For more on our process, head over to How We Rank.
