Streaming services are more popular than ever, with current platforms continually rolling out new content and new platforms popping up all the time. The race to be the best streaming service has pushed competition to a new level, but they are passing the costs along to us.

Two streaming giants, Netflix and Disney+, have recently increased their prices. Let’s look at the facts and what you can do to keep your costs down.

Netflix

Netflix pretty consistently increases their prices, with the latest happening at the end of 2020. Their Standard plan went up another dollar, and their Premium plan went up $2.

No More Netflix Free Trial

As of October 2020, Netflix has stopped offering a free 30 trial for their services. They do have a “Watch Free” page where you can watch select Netflix originals, but it’s certainly not the same.

As of right now, Disney+ offers a 7-day free trial, and Hulu still allows a whole month of free streaming.

Disney+

Disney+ has been around for over a year and has announced their first price increase for March of 2021 – a $1 increase.

Hulu

Hulu’s streaming service is not changing, but their Live TV option just saw a significant price increase. Both their commercial and commercial-free versions just sent up a whopping $10 a month.

How to Keep Costs Down

All hope is not lost, however. Here are some ways to lessen the blow.

Get a Disney Streaming Bundle

Disney owns both Hulu and ESPN, and it’s possible to pick up a bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for $12.99. If you’re interested in these services, this is an excellent way to save some money.

Some Cell Phone Plans Include Streaming Services

Verizon has unlimited cell phone plans that offer free Disney+ or even the Disney Bundle mentioned above.

AT&T is partnering with HBO Max to include the service with select Unlimited Plans.

T-Mobile includes Netflix Basic with their Magenta plan, and Magenta Plus customers receive Netflix Standard.

Get a Discounted Netflix Gift Card

If you’re keen on keeping Netflix for a while, consider paying for your membership with a gift card. Raise.com sells Netflix gift cards at a 5% discount, meaning $100 in gift cards will only cost you $95.