The real cost of your streaming stack

As of September 2026, the cheapest way into most big US streaming services is an ad-supported plan in the $8–$12 range, while ad-free plans now commonly cost $14–$27 a month. Netflix, Peacock, Paramount+, HBO Max, and Apple TV have all raised prices within the last year, and Amazon now charges more to remove ads and moved 4K into that paid add-on. Below is a plan-by-plan table, followed by what each service is best at for TV fans.

Prices change often. Every figure here is in US dollars, excludes tax, and reflects what we could confirm as of September 17, 2026. Anything marked [VERIFY] could not be confirmed against an official or trade source on that date.

The 2026 landscape in one paragraph

A lot of names changed. Max went back to being HBO Max in July 2025 (Variety), and Apple TV+ became simply Apple TV in October 2025 (Deadline). Amazon shut down Freevee in 2025 and moved its free content into Prime Video (CNBC). Paramount+ is owned by Paramount Skydance, which has agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery and has said it plans to combine HBO Max and Paramount+ after the deal closes (CNBC); for now they remain separate subscriptions, and the closing timeline is still unsettled [VERIFY deal status]. Disney keeps pulling Hulu deeper into the Disney+ app, although Variety reported in 2026 that there was no current plan to shut off the standalone Hulu app. Sports got their own lanes too: ESPN's full direct-to-consumer service and Fox One both launched in August 2025 (CNBC; Fox Corporation) [VERIFY current prices].

Price comparison table: major services (US, as of September 2026)

A few things the table cannot show:

• Annual plans save roughly 15–20% where offered, but Paramount+ raised its Essential annual price far more steeply than the monthly one in January 2026 ($59.99 to $89.99), according to TechRadar.
• Existing subscribers usually move to new prices on a later billing date. Peacock, for example, says members who joined before August 18, 2026 see the new price on their first bill on or after September 17, 2026.
• Promotions and free trials are shrinking. Paramount said it would scale back trials and discounts in 2026.

What each major service gets you

Netflix

Three plans. Standard with ads ($8.99) streams in up to 1080p on two screens; Standard ($19.99) is ad-free with downloads; Premium ($26.99) adds 4K, HDR, spatial audio, and four screens [VERIFY: current per-plan features on the Netflix plans page]. Out-of-home viewers can be added as paid "extra members" for $7.99 (with ads) or $9.99 (without), per CBS News. Netflix remains the deepest single source of original series and global TV.

Prime Video

Prime Video comes with an Amazon Prime membership [VERIFY: current Prime price, $14.99/mo or $139/yr last confirmed] and shows ads by default. In 2026 Amazon renamed its ad-free add-on Prime Video Ultra, raised it from $2.99 to $4.99 a month, and moved 4K/UHD streaming into Ultra, according to CNBC and 9to5Google. The change was reported to take effect April 10, 2026 [VERIFY]. Prime Video also sells third-party channels (such as MGM+, Starz, AMC+) as add-ons.

Disney+ and Hulu

Disney+ is the home of Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and Disney animation, while Hulu brings next-day network TV and FX. Disney raised prices in October 2025 [VERIFY: current Basic/Premium and Hulu prices at disneyplus.com]. Hulu content now appears inside the Disney+ app for bundle subscribers, and Disney has described a single unified app by the end of 2026 (Broadband TV News).

HBO Max

Warner Bros. Discovery's service went back to the HBO Max name in 2025. Basic with Ads ($10.99) is HD with ads; Standard ($18.49) removes ads and adds downloads; Premium ($22.99) adds 4K and Dolby Atmos [VERIFY: streams and downloads per plan on the HBO Max plans page]. HBO Max prices were last raised in October 2025 for new subscribers. If Paramount Skydance's acquisition closes, HBO Max is expected to be combined with Paramount+, so plans and prices could change.

Paramount+

Essential ($8.99) has ads and does not include your local CBS station live; Premium ($13.99) removes most ads, adds live CBS, downloads, and Showtime programming [VERIFY: current plan features]. Its library covers CBS shows, the Star Trek and Taylor Sheridan universes, Nickelodeon, and live sports.

Peacock

After the August 2026 increase, Select costs $8.99 (a smaller library), Premium $12.99 (full library and sports, with ads), and Premium Plus $19.99 (mostly ad-free, with downloads and live local NBC) [VERIFY: feature lists per tier on Peacock's plans page]. Annual prices are $89.99, $129.99, and $199.99.

Apple TV

Apple TV (formerly Apple TV+) is ad-free at $14.99 a month or $119 a year for new subscribers, per 9to5Mac. It is also part of Apple One (Individual now $21.95). There is no separate ad tier that we could confirm. The catalog is smaller but unusually consistent in quality, with series such as Severance and Slow Horses.

YouTube Premium and Primetime Channels

YouTube Premium removes ads across YouTube and adds background play and downloads; Premium Lite is a cheaper, mostly ad-free video option. US prices rose in April 2026 [VERIFY: new Individual, Family, Student, and Lite prices]. Separately, YouTube Primetime Channels lets you subscribe to services such as HBO Max, Paramount+, and AMC+ inside YouTube, billed through Google, usually at the same price as subscribing directly [VERIFY: current channel list and pricing].

Niche services worth knowing

These are the specialist services TV fans ask about most. We could not confirm current prices for all of them on September 17, 2026, so check each official site before subscribing.

A useful rule: if you already pay for Prime Video or Apple TV, subscribing to these as channels keeps billing in one place, but cancellation and pricing are managed through that platform, not the service.

How to pick without overpaying

3. Rotate. Month-to-month plans let you subscribe for a season, then cancel.
4. Check bundles you may already have through your phone carrier, internet provider, or a shopping membership.

FAQ

What is the cheapest major streaming service in 2026?

As of September 2026, the lowest confirmed prices among major paid services are Netflix Standard with ads, Paramount+ Essential, and Peacock Select, each $8.99 a month in the US. Prime Video is included with an Amazon Prime membership.

Which streaming services raised prices in 2026?

Paramount+ (January), Netflix (March), Prime Video's ad-free add-on (spring), YouTube Premium (April), Peacock (August), and Apple TV (August) all raised US prices in 2026, based on company notices and trade reports.

Does Apple TV have an ad-supported plan?

We could not confirm an Apple TV ad tier as of September 2026. Apple TV costs $14.99 a month or $119 a year for new subscribers and is ad-free.

Is Prime Video ad-free with Prime?

No. Prime Video includes ads by default. Removing them requires the Prime Video Ultra add-on at $4.99 a month, which also includes 4K streaming.

Is Hulu still a separate app?

Yes, as of our last check. Hulu content is available inside Disney+ for bundle subscribers, and Disney plans a unified app, but Variety reported in 2026 there was no current plan to retire the Hulu app.

How often do streaming prices change?

Most major services have raised prices about once a year recently. We re-check this page monthly and after every announced change.

Sources

All accessed September 17, 2026.

• CBS News, "Netflix raises its subscription prices for the second time in 2 years": https://www.cbsnews.com/news/netflix-price-increase-2026-subscription-fees/
• Netflix Help Center, Plans and Pricing: https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926
• Amazon, "Prime Video's Ad Free subscription is now Prime Video Ultra": https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/entertainment/prime-video-ultra-ad-free-streaming-subscription
• CNBC, "Amazon to hike price of ad-free Prime Video tier by $2 a month": https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/13/amazon-to-hike-price-of-ad-free-prime-video-tier-by-2-a-month.html
• 9to5Google, "Amazon raising price of Prime Video's ad-free add-on, removing 4K": https://9to5google.com/2026/03/13/amazon-prime-video-ad-free-price-hike/
• Variety, "Disney+, Hulu price increases, October 2025": https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/disney-plus-hulu-price-increases-october-2025-1236527241/
• Variety, "Disney+ Adds Hulu Integrations, No Current Plan to Phase Out Hulu App": https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/disney-plus-hulu-unified-app-phase-out-hulu-1236753838/
• Broadband TV News, "Disney lines up unified Disney+ and Hulu app by end-2026": https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2026/02/03/disney-lines-up-unified-disney-and-hulu-app-by-end-2026/
• Disney+, Plans and Pricing: https://www.disneyplus.com/welcome/filter-plans
• HBO Max Help, price changes: https://help.hbomax.com/US/Answer/Detail/000002580
• Variety, HBO Max name returns: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/hbo-max-returns-max-name-change-1236450130/
• Deadline, Apple TV+ rebrands as Apple TV: https://deadline.com/2025/10/apple-tv-rebrands-apple-tv-no-plus-sign-1236583543/
• CNBC, Amazon to shut down Freevee: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/02/amazon-freevee-streaming.html
• CNBC, HBO Max and Paramount+ to combine: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/02/hbo-max-paramount-plus-streaming-services-merge.html
• CNBC, ESPN streaming launch date: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/06/espn-streaming-service-launch-date.html
• Fox Corporation, Fox One launch date and pricing: https://www.foxcorporation.com/news/corp-press-releases/2025/fox-one-announces-august-21-launch-date-and-pricing/
• TechRadar, "Paramount+ is making big changes in 2026": https://www.techradar.com/streaming/paramount-plus/paramount-is-making-big-changes-in-2026-and-its-not-all-good-news-for-subscribers
• Peacock Help, Price Increase: https://www.peacocktv.com/help/article/price-increase
• 9to5Mac, "Apple announces price increase for Apple TV and Apple One": https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/28/apple-announces-price-increase-for-apple-tv-and-apple-one-subscriptions/
• TechCrunch, "YouTube Premium and YouTube Music are getting more expensive": https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/10/youtube-premium-youtube-music-subscription-price-increase/