Are You Spending Too Much on Streaming Services?

Are You Spending Too Much on Streaming Services?

People have been using streaming services over the years to find programs of all sorts. Some people use these services because they don't want to pay for cable or satellite television.

Depending on where you go, people can spend anything from $75 to $150 per month on cable or satellite television. It's no surprise that so many people are flocking to streaming options.

But at the same time, they might be spending more money than necessary. The charges associated with these streaming services can add up.

What Does It Cost?

The charges associated with streaming services can be excessive after a while. Let's look at what some of the top streaming services in the United States currently charge:

• Netflix charges as little as $9 per month, but that is for standard-definition video for one screen. You'd have to spend $13 per month for HD video on two screens, or $16 per month for 4K video on up to four screens.
• Amazon Prime Video is available for $9 per month. It is also available for $119 per year as part of an Amazon Prime membership, which comes with free shipping on most products.
• Hulu is $6 per month, but that total goes up to $12 per month without ads.
• Disney Plus is $7 per month or $70 for an annual subscription.
• HBO Now goes for $15 per month.
• ESPN Plus is $5 per month or $50 per year. You can also spend an added $25 per month for full access to the MLB.tv baseball service or NHL Center Ice package.
• CBS All Access charges $10 a month for ad-free access. It also costs $6 per month for advertiser-supported access.

These prices can add up after a while, especially if you're trying to get access to content on more screens or with fewer ads. You could spend $50 or more for your packages, depending on what you find.

Are TV-Over-Internet Services Any Cheaper?

Some of the top streaming services around have become popular alternatives to traditional television services. Options like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and AT&T TV are all good options to note.

But these services are not necessarily any cheaper than what you would find through traditional providers. You would spend between $50 to $80 for all of these services. The worst part is that some of the top channels around might not be available through all providers.

What Should You Do?

The best thing to do is consider the things you would use on any streaming services you have. Are you actively using certain streaming services? Are there any options around where you are struggling to find anything of value?

You can afford to get rid of anything that you're not using. You should not feel obligated to subscribe to every option out there. Having too many of these services on hand might not be worthwhile if you don't use them as often as you should. Having too many could keep you from saving money like you were hoping.