The streaming revolution was supposed to let us swap expensive cable TV bills for a more affordable, a la carte viewing experience. And while a Netflix membership is cheaper than a Comcast or Spectrum TV subscription, the cost ticks up if you also need HBO Max for The Pitt, Prime Video for The Summer I Turned Pretty, and Apple TV for The Studio.
Not helping matters is a constant stream of price hikes and plan adjustments in recent years. And don’t even think about splitting the cost by sharing a password. Mooching off your old roommate’s sister’s login is now a thing of the past as major streaming services crack down.
The latest: Disney+ raises its monthly, ad-supported rate to $12.99, while HBO Max gets price hikes across the board.
If you don’t keep close tabs on your subscriptions, it’s easy to miss a cost increase. A subscription that started at $4.99 per month can easily creep up to $9.99. If you have a half dozen or so video-streaming services, plus music streaming or cloud storage, it quickly adds up.
Below we’ll run through the price history of the top video-streaming services, and what you’ll pay if you sign up today.
PCMag’s Top-Recommended Streaming Services
Netflix
(Credit: Netflix/PCMag)
After doing away with its Basic plan, Netflix now has three tiers: Standard with ads ($6.99), Standard ($15.49), and Premium ($22.99). You’d think a company would want as many people on its most expensive plan as possible, but the ad-based tier has proven popular and lucrative, hence the demise of the Basic plan. Looking for something to watch? Here’s what leaving and coming to Netflix this month. And check out 16 Underrated Netflix Shows and Movies to Stream Right Now.
Jan. 21, 2025: Netflix starts notifying customers of across-the-board price hikes:
Standard with ads increases from $6.99 to $7.99
Standard with no ads increases from $15.49 to $17.99
Premium with no ads increases from $22.99 to $24.99
Adding an extra member increases by $1 from $7.99 to $8.99
January 2024: Announces plans to get rid of the Basic plan for existing users.
October 2023:
The Basic plan goes up $2 per month from $9.99 to $11.99.
The Premium plan increases $3 from $19.99 to $22.99.
The Standard and ad-supported plans remain the same at $15.49 and $6.99, respectively.
July 2023: Gets rid of Basic ad-free $9.99 plan for new subscribers.
May 2023: Add another member is $7.99 per month/person for higher tiers.
November 2022: Launches ad-based tier for $6.99 per month.
January 2022:
Basic plan increases $1 per month from $8.99 to $9.99.
Standard plan increases $1.50 from $13.99 to $15.49.
Premium plan goes up $2 from $17.99 to $19.99.
October 2020: Netflix raises the Standard plan by a dollar to $13.99 a month, and the Premium tier by two dollars to $17.99 a month.
January 2019: The Standard plan goes up from $11 per month to $13. The Basic plan, on the other hand, increases from $8 to $9.
Apple TV
Apple TV came in at a low price due to an emerging library of original content. Plus, Apple could afford it. But as its shows have picked up steam over the years, thanks to hits like The Studio and Severance, the service’s pricing has fallen in line with its rivals. Purchasing a new Apple device will get you an extended free trial (for new customers), depending on what you buy. Apple is still a hardware company, after all. For more, check out The Best Shows and Movies on Apple TV.
October 2025: Apple and NBCUniversal announce a bundle that offers subscribers access to Apple TV and Peacock for a discounted rate of $14.99 per month.
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October 2025: Apple changes the name of its streaming service from Apple TV+ to just Apple TV.
August 2025: Monthly price jumps to $12.99 per month. Annual is still $99.99.
October 2023: Goes up to $9.99 per month. Plus, the Apple One bundle, which includes cloud storage, Apple TV, and Apple Music, among other services, now costs $19.95 per month for individuals, up from $16.95.
October 2022: Price increase to $6.99 per month and $69 annually.
November 2019: Debuts at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year.
HBO Max / Discovery+
(Credit: PCMag/Warner Bros. Discovery)
HBO made the jump to streaming in 2015 ahead of the season five premiere of Game of Thrones, with one service for those with a pay TV subscription and another for those who just watched online. At $14.99 per month, it was one of the more expensive options, but prestige TV doesn’t come cheap. Now HBO Max, it includes an ad-supported tier and content from Discovery. Looking for something to watch? Here’s what’s coming to Max this month. And don’t miss 15 HBO Max Sleeper Hits That Are Actually Worth Watching.
October 2025: More price hikes incoming, effective immediately for new customers and Nov. 20 for everyone else.
HBO Max’s Basic with Ads plan is rising $1 a month to $10.99. The annual subscription is jumping to $109.99 from $99.99.
HBO Max Standard subscription is increasing by $1.50 a month to $18.49. Annual subscription is $184.99, up from $169.99.
HBO Max Premium goes up $2 per month to $22.99 per month. A yearly subscription goes up $20 to $229.99.
July 2025: Max is once again HBO Max, but the price is the same.
January 2025: Discovery+ ad-supported plan go from $4.99 to $5.99 per month and the ad-free plan go from $8.99 to $9.99 per month.
June 2024: Ad-free tier increases from $15.99 to $16.99. The Ultimate Ad-Free plan, which offers 4K streams, jumps $1 to $20.99. Ad-free annual plans also increase by $20 per year.
October 2023: Ad-free Discovery+ jumps from $6.99 per month to $8.99.
May 2023: RIP HBO Max, long live Max.
April 2023:
Warner Bros. Media announces Max, which combines HBO Max and Discovery+. A $9.99 per month ad-supported tier remains, but it drops 4K for 1080p and reduces concurrent streams from three to two.
Adds 4K quality to a new “Ultimate” tier for Max, which costs $19.99 per month and offer subscribers four concurrent streams.
January 2023: Ad-free tier increases from $14.99 to $15.99.
June 2021: Ad-supported HBO Max tier added for $9.99 per month.
May 2021: WarnerMedia and Discovery merge to become Warner Bros. Discovery
January 2021: Discovery+ launches for $4.99 per month ($6.99 ad-free).
July 2020: HBO retires HBO GO for pay TV subscribers and rebrands as just HBO.
May 2020: HBO Max launches for $14.99 per month (RIP HBO Now).
March 2015: HBO Now debuts for $14.99 per month.
Amazon Prime Video
(Credit: René Ramos; Amazon)
Most people get Prime Video via an Amazon Prime membership, which has seen a few price hikes over the years. In 2024, the company irked customers by adding commercials to the base tier and requiring an extra $2.99 per month to remove them. Looking for something to watch? Check out 13 Amazon Prime Video Hidden Gems That Deserve a Spot on Your Watchlist.
June 2025: Amazon doubles the number of commercials to four to six minutes of ads for each hour watched, up from two to 3.5 minutes per hour in 2024.
April 2024: Amazon denies reports that standalone Prime Video will be shut down.
Jan. 29, 2024: Ads roll out to Prime Video; extra $2.99 per month to ditch them
February 2022: Amazon increases the price of Prime from $119 to $139 for annual subscribers. Monthly subscribers see a $2 increase to $14.99.
2018: Prime price increase from $99 to $119.
April 2016: Standalone Prime Video launches for $8.99 per month.
Hulu
(Credit: Hulu/PCMag)
Hulu subscribers who weren’t paying attention to their bills probably got the biggest sticker shock in fall 2023, when the service went up from $14.99 to $17.99 per month for the ad-free tier. But it happened again a year later. Make it worth your while by keeping tabs on what’s coming to Hulu this month.
Recommended by Our Editors
August 2025: Disney says the standalone Hulu app will be discontinued in 2026 and merged with Disney+. No price changes for now, though.
October 2024: New price hikes go into effect.
August 2024: Hulu announces that, effective Oct. 17:
Ad-supported goes from $7.99 to $9.99 per month.
The annual fee for ad-supported Hulu jumps from $79.99 to $99.99.
Ad-free Hulu is increasing from $17.99 to $18.99 per month.
Hulu + Live TV (with ads) is rising from $76.99 to $82.99 per month.
Ad-free Hulu + Live TV will go from $89.99 to $95.99 per month.
July 2024: A streaming bundle offers Disney+, Hulu, and Max for $16.99 per month with ads or ad-free for $29.99.
October 2023: Ad-free Hulu up from $14.99 to $17.99 per month; ad-supported still $7.99.
December 2022: Ad-free version of Hulu up from $12.99 to $14.99 per month.
2020-2021: A series of hikes for Hulu with Live TV. It’s currently $76.99 with ads (plus Disney+ and ESPN+) or $89.99 per month without ads.
Disney+
For Disney fans (and Swifties), this streamer is a no-brainer. But the price for the ad-free tier has basically doubled in five years, from $6.99 at launch to $15.99 now. If you’re a sports fan or tend to watch a lot of ABC content, bundling with Hulu and/or ESPN+ could save you a couple of bucks here. (This week, a standalone ESPN streaming app with access to all of ESPN’s linear networks launched for $29.99/month or $299.99/year.) And here’s what’s coming to Disney+ this month.
September 2025: Haha, just kidding. There will indeed be a price hike. Effective Oct. 21, the base, ad-supported plan will be $11.99 per month, up from $9.99 per month, as well as:
Disney+ Premium (no ads): New Price $18.99 | Current Price: $15.99
Disney+ Premium (annual ad-free plan): New Price $189.99 | Current Price: $159.99
Disney+, Hulu Bundle (with ads): New Price $12.99 | Current Price: $10.99
Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (with ads): New Price $19.99 | Current Price: $16.99
Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle (with ads): New Price $19.99 | Current Price: $16.99
Disney+ Premium, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Legacy: New Price $24.99 | Current Price: $21.99
Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium: New Price $29.99 | Current Price: $26.99
Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (No Ads): New Price $32.99 | Current Price: $29.99
August 2025: Disney says the standalone Hulu app will be discontinued in 2026 and merged with Disney+. No price changes for now, though.
October 2024: Latest price hikes go into effect.
August 2024: Disney announces that effective Oct. 17:
Ad-supported Disney+ Basic is increasing from $7.99 to $9.99 per month.
Ad-free Disney+ Premium is going up from $13.99 to $15.99 per month.
Annual ad-free Disney+ Premium is also jumping from $139.99 to $159.99.
The Disney Bundle Duo Basic, which includes ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu, goes from $9.99 to $10.99 per month.
July 2024: A streaming bundle offers Disney+, Hulu, and Max for $16.99 per month with ads or ad-free for $29.99.
October 2023: Disney+ Premium increases from $10.99 to $13.99 per month; ad-supported remains at $7.99.
December 2022:
March 2021: Price up from $6.99 to $7.99 or $69.99 to $79.99. Bundle up to $13.99.
November 2019: Disney+ debuts at $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year with no ads, or $12.99 a month for a bundle of Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu.
Paramount +
This service started as a streaming platform for CBS TV shows, but now includes the Paramount and Showtime universes. That means throwback MTV shows, series like Billions, and some of Paramount’s blockbuster movies.
June 2025: Paramount+ drops “with Showtime” from the name of its premium plan to bring a limited number of Showtime-produced programming to its cheaper tier. Pricing is the same, with Paramount+ Premium at $12.99 a month or $119.99 per year and the ad-supported Essential plan at $7.99 a month.
Aug. 20, 2024: Latest price hike goes into effect.
June 25, 2024: Starting Aug. 20, Paramount+ Essential will increase from $5.99 to $7.99 per month, while Paramount+ with Showtime will be $12.99 per month.
April 30, 2024: Paramount Global shuts down Showtime and moves everyone to Paramount+.
June 2023: Paramount+ and Showtime merge for $11.99 per month. Standalones continue at $9.99 for Paramount+ and $10.99 for Showtime. Plus, Paramount+ without Showtime for $5.99, up from $4.99.
March 2021: CBS All Access rebranded as Paramount+.
August 2016: CBS All Access launches ad-free tier for $9.99 per month.
October 2014: CBS All Access launches for $5.99 per month.
Peacock
(Credit: NBC Universal)
Peacock is for all things NBC, including The Office and 30 Rock, Bravo reality series, and movies from the NBCUniversal library. At launch, Peacock tried its hand at a free, ad-supported tier, but quickly discovered that streaming is pricey and cut the free tier in 2023. In July 2025, it announced its third price hike in three years, though it’s also testing a new, less-expensive tier called Peacock Select with content from NBC and Bravo alongside a few other titles for $7.99 per month and $79.99 annually.
October 2025: Apple and NBCUniversal announce a bundle that offers subscribers access to Apple TV and Peacock for a discounted rate of $14.99 per month.
July 23, 2025: Capitalizing on the success of Love Island USA, Peacock raises prices across the board:
Ad-supported Peacock Premium goes from $7.99 to $10.99 per month.
Ad-supported Peacock Premium goes from $79.99 to $109.99 per year.
Ad-free Peacock Premium Plus plan goes from $13.99 to $16.99 per month.
Ad-free Peacock Premium Plus plan goes from $139.99 to $169.99 per year.
July 18, 2024: New prices go into effect.
April 2024: Peacock announces plans to increase ad-supported Premium plan from $5.99 to $7.99 per month and Premium Plus plan from $11.99 to $13.99 per month in summer 2024.
July 2023: Increase of $1 to $5.99 per month/$59.99 per year for Premium, or $2 bump for Premium Plus to $11.99 / $119.99.
February 2023: Axes free streaming tier.
July 2020: Peacock launches with free, ad-supported tier; Peacock Premium is $4.99/$49.99, and ad-free Premium Plus is $9.99 / $99.99.
Crunchyroll
Anime fans with a higher-tier Crunchyroll membership saw a price hike in May 2024, its first since 2019, a move that’s necessary to fund “the increase in content on Crunchyroll in recent years,” the streaming service says. Paid viewers can tap into 45,000 episodes across 1,400 series and movies; the free, ad-supported version lives on with 1,000 hours of anime. But Crunchyroll is lowering its free-trial period from 14 to seven days. Prices across the service’s tiers are now:
Premium Fan: $7.99 per month (no price change).
Mega Fan: Increases from $9.99 to $11.99 per month.
Ultimate Fan: Increases from $14.99 to $15.99 per month.
(Credit: Crunchyroll )
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Chloe Albanesius
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I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag’s news coverage and manage our how-to content.
Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I’ve covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that’s now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage of satellite internet efforts, electric vehicles, the latest cyberattacks, AI, and more.
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