Remember that days when streaming services were a scrappier and, yes, cheaper alternative to traditional cable? After the decade-long dominance of streaming platforms like Netflix, HBO Max and Apple TV, those days are long gone. In fact, nowadays, collective streaming costs can quickly start creeping up above the $100-per-month mark, especially when you favorite in premium ad-free plans, bundled content and more.
According to a survey by Reviews.org, U.S. consumers spent an average of $3,350 per year ($278.50 per month) in 2025 to stay connected to their chosen streamers, a 2% increase year over year that's driven largely by higher streaming and TV costs. It's not a surprise that many TV viewers are longing for the quainter era of all-inclusive television plans.
Thankfully, it seems that after several price hikes that already occurred in 2025, most of the streamers are, for now, holding onto their current pricing in 2026. There are, however, still a few that will be seeing dollar or more increase per month, so it's helpful to know exactly what each service costs. Here’s a handy breakdown to help you decide where you want to invest your money — and what streamer you can live without.
The cost of all streaming services
Service |
Cheapest plan price/Ads |
Premium plan |
|---|---|---|
Netflix |
$8/Yes |
$25 |
Disney+, Hulu bundle |
$13/Yes |
$20 |
Prime Video (standalone) |
$9/Yes, $15 with Prime subscription |
$12, $18 with Prime subscription |
HBO Max |
$11/Yes |
$23 |
Paramount Plus |
$9/Yes |
$14 with Showtime |
Peacock |
$11/Yes |
$17 |
Apple TV Plus |
$13/No |
N/A |
Total |
$74 |
$111 |
Netflix prices in 2026
Going into 2026, Netflix continues to be the big dog when it comes to major streaming services — the streamer reported more than 300 million total members by late 2025, with significant growth driven by its ad-supported tier.
If you wish to sign up or continue your subscription with Netflix, there are several options: At the lowest level, the ad-supported tier costs $7.99 per month. If you hate commercials, opt for the ad-free Standard Plan for $17.99, which includes two screens, or the Premium plan is $24.99, which includes four screens as well as upgraded HDR/4K resolution.
Netflix started really cracking down on password sharing in 2023, which blocked users' ability to stream content from different physical locations. However, the Standard plan gives you the option to add one extra member to your digital "household," while the Premium plan gives you two extra members. With both options, additional extra member slots cost $6.99 each without ads and $8.99 without.
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Hulu and Disney+ prices in 2026
Disney+ and Hulu's days of being separate services will change in 2026, with parent company Disney planning to fold the standalone Hulu app into Disney+ to create a single, unified streaming experience.
Current bundled pricing ranges from the commercial-supported Disney+, Hulu (With Ads) for $12.99/month (or $155.88/year) or the Disney+, Hulu (No Ads) for $19.99/month (or $239.88/year).
Disney also bumped up the price for the Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select bundle from $17 to $20 for ad-supported experience and from $27 to $30 for commercial-free viewing.
Sign up for Hulu and Disney Plus
Prime Video prices in 2026
Amazon's Prime Video service is still included with the larger Amazon Prime subscription, which is priced at $14.99 per month ($139 per year).
Those who do not have Amazon Prime can still subscribe to the ad-supported standalone Prime Video service for $8.99 per month. It costs an extra $3 per month to upgrade to ad-free streaming.
Sign up for Prime Video
HBO Max prices in 2026
Yes, HBO Max is officially called HBO Max again and, after a recent price increase in late 2025, it looks like the streamer will also be holding onto its current pricing for 2026.
That means you can get a basic ad plan for $10.99 per month, an ad-free plan that runs $18.49 per month, and a commercial-free Premium plan for $22.99 per month, the latter of which includes additional features like 4K streaming and simultaneous downloads.
Sign up for HBO Max
Paramount+ prices in 2026
Paramount+ offers two plans for consumers: A basic, ad-supported Essential plan, which includes access to the streamer’s library of 45,000 episodes and movies; and the more expensive Paramount+ Premium option, which includes ad-free access to Paramount+ and Showtime library content as well as offline downloads and access to the live feed of your local CBS station.
And starting January 15, 2026, Paramount will increase its streaming prices for new subscribers, with the ad-supported Essential plan going up a dollar to $8.99/month ($89.99/year) and the ad-free Premium (with Showtime) tier also rising a dollar to $13.99/month ($139.99/year).
Sign up for Paramount+
Peacock prices in 2026
Despite a price increase in summer 2025, NBCUniversal’s streaming service is fairly affordable in comparison to some of the other options on this list.
Peacock will maintain its current pricing into 2026, with the standard Premium (with ads) plan set at $10.99/month or $109.99/year, the commercial-free Premium Plus option at $16.99/month or $169.99/year, and a new Peacock Select tier for $7.99/month or $79.99/year, offering a limited library but current NBC and Bravo seasons.
Sign up for Peacock
Apple TV prices in 2026
Following a late 2025 price hike from $9.99, the standard monthly price for Apple TV — home of prestige shows like "Severance," "Slow Horses" and "Silo," as well as critically acclaimed films like "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "Napoleon" — is now set at $12.99, which includes the ability to stream content on six devices at once with no ads at all.
It is unlikely it will see a cost spike in 2026, but Tom's Guide will keep you posted should anything change!
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