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We’re at the height of the Streaming Wars, and deciding for which platform you’re willing to pay a premium can be as challenging as figuring out your favorite ice cream on a hot summer’s day. There are countless options, each offering a similarly satisfying selection, with something new debuting seemingly every week.
However, some are just better than others. It all depends on what mood you’re in, right? Well, much like ice cream, there are streaming services that offer something yummy for just about everyone’s taste.
Similes aside, the reality is that streaming services are how most TV watchers watch TV. According to data aggregator Statista, there will be over 182.26 million streaming service users in the U.S. this year. By 2027, that number is predicted to be nearly 202.6 million.
Streaming can quickly get pricey, though — that’s the beauty of deal packages like the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ bundle, or Max, which bundles a ton of Discovery networks (Food Network, TLC, etc.) with all things HBO and live sports from TNT and TBS, all for one low price. Even streamers like Prime Video have bundle options: with Prime Video Channels, you can add a number of streamers onto your Prime Video app.
So how do you decide what you need? Easy. You come to Decider.
Amazon Prime Video
Suppose, for whatever reason, you haven’t succumbed to the Amazon juggernaut yet. If that’s the case, now is your chance to finally join the masses and stream original Prime Video series such as the award-winning Fleabag and American Fiction, but also thousands of other TV series and movies like the exclusive Reacher and The Wheel of Time.
Prime Video is one of the perks of an Amazon Prime membership, along with the signature two-day free shipping and some Prime-exclusive pricing during shopping events like Prime Day.
Amazon Prime currently costs $14.99/month or $139.00/year. If you’re not interested in all that Prime offers, the company offers a standalone subscription to Prime Video for $9/month.
You can also add services like Max and Paramount+ onto Prime Video as part of the Prime Video Channels bundles.
As of January 2024, Prime Video now plays limited ads during movies and shows, but you can pay an additional $2.99/month to remove them.
What sports are streaming on Prime Video? NFL Thursday Night Football, WNBA, MLB (New York Yankees in NY area), NHL (Seattle Kraken in SEA area), ONE Championship + more with add-ons (Max, Paramount+)
What to look forward to in 2025: You’re Cordially Invited (1/30), Invincible Season 3 (2/6), Reacher Season 3 (2/20), The Wheel of Time Season 3 (3/13), G20 (4/10)
Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ Bundle
If shows like Skeleton Crew and Daredevil: Born Again are on your radar, you’ll want to purchase a Disney+ subscription. In addition to movies and series from the classic Walt Disney collection, it also gives parents and fans of all ages access to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (so you can finally watch all the Marvel movies in order), plus Pixar, Star Wars, National Geographic, and even 20th Century Fox content like The Simpsons and some Hulu titles.
Currently, Disney+ offers multiple bundle options to fit various budgets and needs. The basic ad-supported plan costs $9.99/month, but to get Disney+ ad-free, you’ll pay $15.99/month. Based on these prices, a bundle option may be more cost-effective if you were already considering subscribing to Hulu or ESPN+ or are already a subscriber of either service.
The Duo Basic bundle includes ad-supported Disney+ and ad-supported Hulu and costs $10.99/month, while the Duo Premium bundle removes those ads for $19.99/month. Adding ESPN+ with ads brings the monthly price to $16.99/month. The Trio Premium bundle, which costs $26.99/month, upgrades Disney+ and Hulu to be ad-free, but ESPN+ will always include ads when streaming live sports.
With Hulu, you’ll be able to watch originals like Only Murders in the Building, FX on Hulu titles like The Bear, and new episodes of ABC and Fox broadcast shows like 9-1-1 and Grey’s Anatomy the day after they air on TV. When you bundle, you’ll also be able to watch all of Hulu’s content in the Disney+ app.
Unlike some other subscription services with bundle options, you won’t be able to access all of the content in a single app. You’ll still need to download at the very least the Disney+ and ESPN apps separately and sign in with your universal login information.
What sports are streaming on EPSN+? NHL, NFL Monday Night Football, MLB, UFC Pay-Per-View, PGA Tour, Formula One, FA Cup, La Liga, Bundesliga, assorted NCAA (football, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, hockey, wrestling)
What to look forward to on Disney+ in 2025: Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (currently airing), Goosebumps: The Vanishing (1/10), Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man (1/29), Win or Lose (2/19), Daredevil: Born Again (3/5), Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 (TBA 2025)
What to look forward to on Hulu in 2024 and 2025: streaming debuts of awards contenders like Anora (TBA 2025) and A Real Pain (1/16), Paradise (1/28), The Kardashians Season 6 (2/6), The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 (TBA 2025), The Bear Season 4 (TBA 2025), Chad Powers (TBA 2025), Alien: Earth (TBA 2025)
Disney+/Hulu/Max Bundle
There’s a new Disney Bundle on the block. If you subscribe to the brand new Disney+, Hulu, Max bundle, you’ll get access (with ads or ad-free, depending on which bundle you choose) to the full streaming libraries of all three services, plus anything that streams live on the services, like sports or CNN news on Max.
The bundle is available for new and existing subscribers at up to 43% off when compared to the prices of the services individually. With ads, you’ll get all three services for $16.99/month, while going ad-free will cost $29.99/month.
Apple TV+
Apple got into streaming video in 2019, giving subscribers to its Apple TV+ service access to original programming like The Morning Show, with Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, and the critically acclaimed Ted Lasso, which garnered over 40 Emmy nominations over a three season run, as well as more than 40 other original shows and movies.
Though the days of Apple offering a one-year free trial are over, you can still take advantage of a three-month free trial by purchasing a new eligible Apple device or a seven-day free trial without a new device. Once that trial is over, or if you’re ineligible, Apple TV+ costs $9.99/month.
Like a few other services on this list, Apple allows you to purchase add-on streaming services that you can access right in the Apple TV app, including their very own MLS streaming app.
What sports are streaming on Apple TV? MLB Friday Night Baseball, MLS
What to look forward to in 2025: Severance Season 2 (1/17), Mythic Quest Season 4 (1/29), The Gorge (2/14), Surface Season 2 (2/21), Dope Thief (3/14), Side Quest (3/26) The Studio (3/26), Your Friends and Neighbors (4/11), Government Cheese (4/16), F1 (TBA 2025)
DIRECTV Stream
What sets DIRECTV Stream apart from other live TV streaming services is that channel selection that mimics the kind of selection you’d get from a traditional cable subscription with cable boxes and all of that — fitting, since DIRECTV is known for satellite cable.
In addition to including all your local news channels, like affiliates of NBC, CBS, and Fox, you’ll also get your local sports channels — the specialized networks like MSG or YES in New York and various regional Fox Sports affiliates — based on the market you’re located in.
We’ve found that this service has the most well-rounded selection of local channels in a base plan, but to get the sports channels, you’ll have to upgrade to a more expensive plan. The base plan costs $86.98/month, while the Choice plan with local sports is $94.99/month.
Sling TV
Sling TV has three different packages to choose from, and they each have something fantastic to offer. If you’re interested in family-friendly programs, go with Sling Orange ($45.99/month). It has 32 channels, including seven exclusive for sports, and family. Sling Blue ($50.99/month) is a great option if you’re an entertainment or news buff, while Sling Orange + Blue ($65.99/month) has 22 exclusive channels (46 in total) to enjoy.
For a limited time, the streaming service is offering 50% off your first month, which means you can start watching for as low as $23!
There’s also a Sling offer running that’ll give you a month of free AMC+ in addition to your Sling channels.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV will stream all your live TV, and it also comes with three great streaming services as a bonus. A subscription will get you access to Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+, and over 90 live TV channels all for $82.99/month.
We’ve found that Hulu + Live TV has the most inclusive and well-rounded selection of channels included with a base subscription — unlike some of the other services, which only offer some fairly common channels in add-on packages, the only add-ons Hulu + Live TV offers (aside from premium channels like Max, Starz, and Showtime) are for more specialized channels. You can stream on two screens at a time and all subscriptions now come with unlimited cloud DVR storage
Philo
This huge live TV streaming bundle allows cord-cutters access to over 60 different channels. The basic package includes Paramount Network, A&E, BBC America, AMC, OWN, MTV, and Hallmark content, plus a subscription to AMC+. Right now, you can get Philo’s basic channel bundle for just $28.00/month after a seven-day free trial.
Want more premium channels? You can add-on content from MGM+ for $5.99/month and Starz for $9.99/month.
Starz
Get some of the most popular original series around, like Outlander and BMF, plus a massive library of great movies for one low price of $10/month. The service continues to grow in popularity as it rebooted Party Down in 2023, premiered the second season of Minx, which was initially canceled at Max, and continues to invest in the Power series with new spinoff titles.
Right now, you can sign up for Starz with a special offer; your first three months will be just $2.99/month. If you prefer an annual plan, you can get one year for $23.99 total.
Paramount+
This updated streaming service is a rebrand of CBS All Access. You’ll find a huge library of TV episodes, films, live sporting events, and original content from entities including CBS, BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, Pluto TV, movies from Paramount Pictures, and more.
Paramount+ restructured its streaming plans to integrate Showtime, which no longer operates as a standalone streaming service. If you’re looking for just Paramount+ content, and don’t mind a few ads, the essential plan is $7.99/month.
For $12.99/month, get Paramount+ with Showtime — this is now the only way to watch all of Showtime’s original series, like Yellowjackets and Fellow Travelers and a library of acclaimed movies, including A24’s catalog, without a linear cable subscription. This plan will also give you your live local CBS affiliate.
What sports are streaming on Paramount+? NFL on CBS, Soccer (UEFA, CONCACAF, NWSL), Big 10 Football, PGA Tour
What to look forward to in 2025: Dexter: Original Sin (currently airing), Star Trek: Section 31 (1/24), Yellowjackets Season 3 (3/16), 1923 Season 2 (2/23), Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 (TBA 2025), RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 10 (TBA 2025), Happy Face (TBA 2025), two untitled South Park films (2025), Dexter: Resurrection (TBA 2025)
Peacock
Similarly to Paramount+, Peacock is a streaming service that debuts their own original content while also being the streaming home for an entire family of cable networks, namely the NBC Universal ones. That means you can watch currently-airing NBC titles like the Law and Order franchise and Saturday Night Live the day after they air on NBC, plus a backlog of NBC shows that includes all of their iconic sitcoms — The Office, Parks and Rec, and more.
The same goes for all things Bravo; Real Housewives, Below Deck, Southern Charm, and more are all streaming in full on Peacock. You can watch all of the past seasons, plus new episodes of new seasons the morning after they air on Bravo.
Peacock also premieres Focus Features, Dreamworks and Universal Pictures movies after theatrical runs; recent titles include Trolls: Band Together, Oppenheimer, and The Holdovers.
Peacock currently has two plans after eliminating their free plan in early 2023. The plan with ads is either $7.99/month or $79.99 if you prepay for a full year. To get rid of ads, you’ll pay $13.99/month or $139.99/year.
What sports are streaming on Peacock? NFL Sunday Night Football, the Olympic Games, WWE Wrestlemania, Premier League, Tennis (Grand Slam Opens), IndyCar, NASCAR, US Open Golf
What to look forward to in 2025: The Traitors Season 3 (1/9), SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night (1/16) The Wild Robot (1/17), Poker Face Season 2 (TBA 2025), Love Island USA Season 7 (TBA 2025), Law and Order: Organized Crime Season 5 (TBA 2025), Wicked (TBA 2025)
Netflix
Far from the days of mailing DVDs in red sleeves, Netflix is still the largest streaming service in the world, with over 240 million subscribers worldwide. If you aren’t one of those customers, it may be time to consider the monthly plans. In addition to a massive library of TV shows and movies, Netflix has its own studio. It offers an impressive stream of popular original films and shows, like steamy Shondaland favorite Bridgerton and fan favorites like Squid Game and, of course, Stranger Things.
The streamer currently offers three plans, with the cheapest being the most recent addition to its lineup. For $6.99/month, you can stream Netflix in standard definition with ads. To get rid of ads, plans start at $15.49/month for full high definition, and $22.99/month for streaming in up to 4K UHD on up to four screens at a time.
As Netflix recently cracked down on password sharing, you can add profiles for people who don’t live in your immediate household to your account for $7.99/month extra if you have either of the two ad-free plans.
What sports are streaming on Netflix? NFL Christmas Day games, WWE Raw
What to look forward to in 2025: XO Kitty Season 2 (1/16), The Night Agent Season 2 (1/23), The Recruit Season 2 (1/30), Apple Cider Vinegar (2/6), Sweet Magnolias Season 4 (2/16), Stranger Things Season 5 (TBA 2025), Squid Game Season 3 (TBA 2025), Big Mouth Season 8 (TBA 2025)
fuboTV
This live 4K streaming option has over 100 channels, including almost every broadcast and cable network. But what might make it more attractive for many viewers is the addition of loads of niche sports networks like MSG, Golf Network, FS2 and BeIN Sports.
Fubo TV has three plans, all with a one-week free trial: Pro, Elite, and Premier. Here’s a breakdown of what each plan will get you:
- Pro ($79.99/month): 218 channels including RSNs, unlimited cloud DVR, 100+ live sporting events, and unlimited screens
- Elite ($84.99/month): Everything included in Pro, plus Fubo Extra (49 additional channels) and News Plus (11 additional channels)
- Premier ($94.99/month): Everything included in Elite, plus live and on-demand Showtime
Additional channel bundles, like Fubo Extra and News Plus, are available as a la carte add-ons, but by subscribing to a plan that already includes them, you’ll be receiving a monthly discount. Other add-ons not included in one of the base plans are Starz ($9.99/month), Sports Plus with NFL RedZone ($10.99/month), and NBA League Pass ($14.99/month). The service also offers add-ons for international viewers who speak Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese.
NordVPN
To watch anything from anywhere, a VPN like NordVPN will be your new streaming best friend.
Known for its fast and reliable server connections, NordVPN is regarded as one of the best options in the market. It has an expansive collection of servers worldwide. More importantly, it comes equipped with several privacy and security features that protect your device against malware and keep your browsing safe and anonymous.
The service offers 1-and-2-year plans that start as low as $3.39/month paid all at once (paid monthly, plans start at $12.99/month), and often have deals or free months thrown in to extend your coverage further.
Why Trust Decider Shopping
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, how to watch your favorite sports teams and movies on each streaming service and the very best in tech, like soundbars, to enhance your viewing experience. Not only does Angela test and compare the services, devices and merch she writes about, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and the New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
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