If there’s one thing entertainment companies hate, it’s losing customers. They’ll never admit it, but they’ll do anything to keep you paying regular bills and watching ads.
Luckily, you can take advantage of this desperation. Much like cable companies, streaming services often offer secret discounts to customers who are trying to cancel. Usually, you won’t know which services offer these discounts until you try, but my colleagues have been keeping an eye on their inboxes for a while now. I’ve asked them to share their experiences so I can pass along the best savings to you.
Quick disclaimer: Streaming services like to change up their discounts all the time, and it’s hard to keep track of promotions that they don’t advertise.
These discounts worked for us at the time, but they might not exist forever! I don’t know if you’ll receive the same offers. Cancel your current plan at your own risk.
I’ve compiled screenshots from our staff members below. Take a look!
HBO Max: 50% off the Standard plan for 6 months
Fair warning, this offer existed while the service was still called “Max,” so I’m not sure if it still stands under the new-old name “HBO Max.”
But if you’re willing to take a chance, HBO Max offers a 50% off discount in your inbox after you go through with cancellation. For the next six months after re-subscribing, you’ll get the Standard plan (without ads!) for just $8.49/mo.
That’s usually a $16.99/mo. charge. It really begs the question—why can’t HBO Max be that cheap all the time?
Peacock: $6 off for 6 months
Peacock’s cancellation deal is a little peculiar.
During the cancellation process, you’ll see a plea to accept an exclusive offer before you go. If you don’t leave, you’ll be able to shave off six bucks a month for six months, meaning you’ll pay $1.99/mo. instead of $7.99/mo., and keep all the perks of your Peacock Premium plan.
“But wait!” I hear you say. “I don’t have Peacock Premium—I’m paying for Peacock Premium Plus. Will I have to put up with ads now?”
That’s where Peacock is a little strange. Instead of simply taking six dollars off of your normal $13.99/mo. bill, Peacock will charge you twice: once for the $1.99/mo. promo price, and once for the $6.00/mo. “Premium Plus Add-On.” Basically, like Amazon Prime Video, Peacock sees its Premium Plus plan as an “add-on” rather than its own plan. It’s one way to do it, I guess?
Disney+: Duo Basic at a discounted rate for 3 months
If you cancel your Disney Bundle subscription, you’ll get an email with a “special offer.” If you accept, you’ll get three months of Disney+ and Hulu for $4.99/mo., regularly $10.99/mo.
This is Disney’s “Duo Basic” bundle, which unfortunately includes ads on both platforms. However, I personally think that this version of the Disney Bundle is the best value, even if you’re paying full price. More on that later.
So when shouldn’t you try for a cancellation discount?
With the Disney Bundle, it can be tricky: if you’ve been subscribed to the Bundle for a while, you may be benefiting from a legacy combo. The original Disney Bundle mixed premium Disney+ with basic Hulu and ESPN+, but that option doesn’t exist anymore for new customers. It’s currently $21.99/mo., and you won’t be able to re-subscribe after cancellation.
Honestly though, if you’re still on that legacy Disney Bundle, I recommend downgrading to a cheaper plan anyway, especially if you aren’t using ESPN+ (or if you already get ESPN+ for free through Spectrum). Even Duo Premium—which is premium Disney+ and premium Hulu—is cheaper at $19.99/mo. And Duo Basic—which is basic Disney+ and basic Hulu—is $10.99/mo. That’s half of what you’re paying now! I switched my family off of the legacy plan as soon as I realized how much we were overpaying.
Why you should trust us
At CableTV.com, our focus is on getting you the best deals for the best entertainment. If there’s a limited-time promo that’ll completely change your viewing experience, we’ll let you know about it. It’s just who we are. For more on our research process, check out How We Rank.
