Every Major Streaming Service in 2026: Prices, Ad Tiers, and What You Actually Get
71 preserved extracts. Unpublished draft; claims and verification flags are retained.
- NOTE 395
tv blog draft A1 streaming service prices 2026
title: "Every Major Streaming Service in 2026: Prices, Ad Tiers, and What You Actually Get"
- NOTE 396
tv blog draft A1 streaming service prices 2026
metadescription: "US streaming prices as of September 2026: Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock, Apple TV and top niche services compared."
- NOTE 397
tv blog draft A1 streaming service prices 2026
ad-supported streaming plans
- NOTE 398
tv blog draft A1 streaming service prices 2026
audience: US TV viewers comparing or trimming streaming subscriptions
- NOTE 399
tv blog draft A1 streaming service prices 2026
updatefrequency: Monthly, plus within 48 hours of any announced price change
- NOTE 400
Every Major Streaming Service in 2026: Prices, Ad Tiers, and What You Actually Get
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.
- NOTE 401
Every Major Streaming Service in 2026: Prices, Ad Tiers, and What You Actually Get
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.
- NOTE 402
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].
- NOTE 403
The 2026 landscape in one paragraph
Use our [[Streaming service directory]] for the full list of services, including regional and free options.
- NOTE 404
Price comparison table: major services (US, as of September 2026)
Service — Cheapest plan (with ads) — Ad-free plan(s) — Top tier — Notes
- NOTE 405
Price comparison table: major services (US, as of September 2026)
Netflix — Standard with ads: $8.99/mo — Standard: $19.99/mo — Premium: $26.99/mo — Raised March 2026 (CBS News)
- NOTE 406
Price comparison table: major services (US, as of September 2026)
Prime Video — Included with Prime; standalone Prime Video [VERIFY] — Prime Video Ultra add-on: +$4.99/mo — Ultra (adds 4K) — Ultra replaced the old ad-free add-on (Amazon)
- NOTE 407
Price comparison table: major services (US, as of September 2026)
Disney+ — Disney+ Basic [VERIFY] — Disney+ Premium [VERIFY] — Premium — Last raised October 2025 (Variety)
- NOTE 408
Price comparison table: major services (US, as of September 2026)
Hulu — Hulu (With Ads) [VERIFY] — Hulu (No Ads) [VERIFY] — Hulu + Live TV [VERIFY] — Increasingly sold inside Disney+ bundles
- NOTE 409
Price comparison table: major services (US, as of September 2026)
HBO Max — Basic with Ads: $10.99/mo or $109.99/yr — Standard: $18.49/mo or $184.99/yr — Premium: $22.99/mo or $229.99/yr — Prices per HBO Max Help
- NOTE 410
Price comparison table: major services (US, as of September 2026)
Paramount+ — Essential: $8.99/mo or $89.99/yr — Premium: $13.99/mo or $139.99/yr — Premium — Raised January 17, 2026 (TechRadar)
- NOTE 411
Price comparison table: major services (US, as of September 2026)
Peacock — Select: $8.99/mo; Premium: $12.99/mo — Premium Plus: $19.99/mo — Premium Plus — Raised August 18, 2026 (Peacock Help)
- NOTE 412
Price comparison table: major services (US, as of September 2026)
Apple TV — No ad tier [VERIFY] — $14.99/mo or $119/yr — Same — Raised August 28, 2026 for new subscribers (9to5Mac)
- NOTE 413
Price comparison table: major services (US, as of September 2026)
YouTube Premium — Premium Lite [VERIFY] — Individual [VERIFY] — Family [VERIFY] — US prices rose in April 2026 (TechCrunch)
- NOTE 414
Price comparison table: major services (US, as of September 2026)
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.
- NOTE 415
Price comparison table: major services (US, as of September 2026)
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.
- NOTE 416
Price comparison table: major services (US, as of September 2026)
Promotions and free trials are shrinking. Paramount said it would scale back trials and discounts in 2026.
- NOTE 417
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.
- NOTE 418
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.
- NOTE 419
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). Most people get better value from a bundle; see [[Best streaming bundles]].
- NOTE 420
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.
- NOTE 421
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.
- NOTE 422
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.
- NOTE 423
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.
- NOTE 424
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].
- NOTE 425
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.
- NOTE 426
Niche services worth knowing
Service — Focus — Monthly price — Where else to get it
- NOTE 427
Niche services worth knowing
Crunchyroll — Anime (simulcasts) — Fan / Mega Fan / Ultimate Fan tiers [VERIFY] — Prime Video Channels [VERIFY]
- NOTE 428
Niche services worth knowing
BritBox — British TV (BBC, ITV) — [VERIFY] — Prime Video Channels, Apple TV Channels
- NOTE 429
Niche services worth knowing
Acorn TV — British, Irish, Australian drama and mysteries — [VERIFY] — Prime Video Channels, Apple TV Channels
- NOTE 430
Niche services worth knowing
AMC+ — AMC originals, The Walking Dead universe, Shudder, Sundance Now — [VERIFY] (ad and ad-free tiers) — Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV Channels
- NOTE 431
Niche services worth knowing
MGM+ — Amazon-owned premium series and films — [VERIFY] — Prime Video Channels
- NOTE 432
Niche services worth knowing
Starz — Premium drama (Outlander, Power universe) — [VERIFY] — Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube add-ons
- NOTE 433
Niche services worth knowing
Shudder — Horror series and films — [VERIFY] — Included with AMC+; Prime Video Channels
- NOTE 434
Niche services worth knowing
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.
- NOTE 435
How to pick without overpaying
Start from shows, not services. Search the titles you actually want in [[Where to watch search]] and count which services carry the most of them.
- NOTE 436
How to pick without overpaying
Price the ad tier first. For many people, a $9–$13 ad plan is enough; see [[Ad tier vs ad-free comparison]].
- NOTE 437
How to pick without overpaying
Rotate. Month-to-month plans let you subscribe for a season, then cancel. Our [[Watchlist cost calculator]] shows what a rotation schedule would cost.
- NOTE 438
How to pick without overpaying
Check bundles you may already have through your phone carrier, internet provider, or a shopping membership.
- NOTE 439
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.
- NOTE 440
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.
- NOTE 441
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.
- NOTE 442
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.
- NOTE 443
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.
- NOTE 444
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.
- NOTE 445
Sources
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/
- NOTE 446
Sources
Netflix Help Center, Plans and Pricing: https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926
- NOTE 447
Sources
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
- NOTE 448
Sources
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
- NOTE 449
Sources
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/
- NOTE 450
Sources
Variety, "Disney+, Hulu price increases, October 2025": https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/disney-plus-hulu-price-increases-october-2025-1236527241/
- NOTE 451
Sources
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/
- NOTE 452
Sources
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/
- NOTE 453
Sources
Disney+, Plans and Pricing: https://www.disneyplus.com/welcome/filter-plans
- NOTE 454
Sources
HBO Max Help, price changes: https://help.hbomax.com/US/Answer/Detail/000002580
- NOTE 455
Sources
Variety, HBO Max name returns: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/hbo-max-returns-max-name-change-1236450130/
- NOTE 456
Sources
Deadline, Apple TV+ rebrands as Apple TV: https://deadline.com/2025/10/apple-tv-rebrands-apple-tv-no-plus-sign-1236583543/
- NOTE 457
Sources
CNBC, Amazon to shut down Freevee: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/02/amazon-freevee-streaming.html
- NOTE 458
Sources
CNBC, HBO Max and Paramount+ to combine: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/02/hbo-max-paramount-plus-streaming-services-merge.html
- NOTE 459
Sources
CNBC, ESPN streaming launch date: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/06/espn-streaming-service-launch-date.html
- NOTE 460
Sources
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/
- NOTE 461
Sources
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
- NOTE 462
Sources
Peacock Help, Price Increase: https://www.peacocktv.com/help/article/price-increase
- NOTE 463
Sources
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/
- NOTE 464
Sources
TechCrunch, "YouTube Premium and YouTube Music are getting more expensive": https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/10/youtube-premium-youtube-music-subscription-price-increase/
- NOTE 465
Sources
Image suggestions: (1) An original bar chart of cheapest and most expensive monthly plan per service, built from the table above. (2) Official logos from each company's press/newsroom kit, used per their brand guidelines, in a simple grid. (3) Original screenshots of each service's public plan-selection page, dated September 2026. Do not mock up app screens or invent device images.