Save on Hulu + Live TV, Audible, Starz, and more
By Valentina Palladino | Published: 2025-10-30 10:01:00 | Source: Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Streaming services continue to raise prices. “At this point, if you subscribe to all the major services out there, you’re basically paying the same price as cable — those antiquated local monopolies that streaming was supposed to save us from. But streaming still has a big advantage over the old ways: no contracts. That means you can get a good streaming deal and then cancel without penalty.”
Our advice is to subscribe to a service when you see a good streaming deal (or the latest season of, say, Doctor Who, to cut, Andor wow The last of us). Then, when the deal is over or you’ve binge-watched what you wanted to watch, cancel as needed. But streaming shows don’t come around very often, and when they do, it’s easy to miss them thanks to…everything. So we keep an eye on the best streaming shows available and update this guide often – so check it out next time you want to watch something new.
Best streaming deals
Real streaming deals can be hard to come by. Most often, they will appear during the Black Friday shopping period. Sometimes we’ll see it sparingly throughout the year and it usually takes the form of a discounted monthly or annual rate for a limited period of time. Also, the real streaming deals are usually on ad-supported versions of the service, but every now and then you’ll find a unicorn deal on a tier that has ad-free viewing.
If you’re able to wait for a deal before signing up for a streaming service, we recommend doing so. You’ll save money up front and in the long run, and you’ll also have the option to cancel your subscription before the price returns to normal.
Paid for by Hulu
Hulu + Live TV – $64.99 per month for 3 months ($25 per month discount): New and eligible returning subscribers can get three months of Hulu + Live TV for $65 per month, which is significantly cheaper than the current price of $83 per month and a whopping 27 percent off the new price of $90 per month starting October 21. In addition to live TV content, unlimited DVR, and access to over 95 live TV channels, this service also includes Disney+ and ESPN Select, so you basically get three separate streaming services under this umbrella. We consider this the advantage of Hulu + Live TV, and have called it one of the best live TV services on the market right now. Just remember that you’ll be charged your subscription at the new standard price of $90 per month after the first three months.
Audible subscription (three months) for $3 ($42 discount): From now until mid-December, you can get an audiobook subscription from Amazon for just $1 per month for three months. Note that it will automatically renew at $15 per month after that, but you can cancel at any time.
Starz (1 year) for $30 ($40 off): Prepay for one year and you can get $40 off your annual Stars subscription. There’s a monthly option too, which costs $5 per month for the first three months if you don’t want to commit to the entire year. Either option gives you access to the entire Starz TV and movie library with the ability to watch offline and without ads.
DirecTV starting at $50 per month for 1 month ($35 discount): All DirecTV Signature packages are now $35 off for your first month when you sign up. If you choose the basic “Entertainment” package, you’ll spend $50 for the first month and get access to more than 90 channels, including many local stations plus ESPN, ESPN 2, and Fox Sports 1. You’ll also be able to watch on the go with the DirecTV mobile app.
Fubo Pro for $55 per month for the first month ($30 discount): Fubo has introductory discounts on most of its packages, and the Pro package is the least expensive plan currently listed. Provides access to 224 channels, unlimited cloud DVR, and up to 10 simultaneous streams. It even includes regional sports content from the NHL, MLB, and NBA.
Spotify Premium Singles (3 months) for $0 ($36 discount): This is our favorite music streaming service for its podcasts and social features. The Single Premium plan allows you to listen without ads and skip songs as you wish. You can also organize your listening queue and download content for offline listening. Just be aware that your subscription will automatically renew at the end of the trial period. So, if you don’t want to bear the $12 monthly fee, set a reminder to cancel and go back to the free version.
Airtime package discounts
There are more mergers happening now than ever before in the streaming space, and that means there are more streaming package options. These bundles give you access to more content for the price of one subscription, but these prices are usually higher than paying for a single service itself (obviously). It may be tempting to just get the bundle, but if just one of these services in the bundle speaks to you, you’ll spend less overall by paying for just the one service.
Speaking of deeply loving one streaming service: If all your favorite shows on Peacock or the latest releases on HBO Max consistently bring you joy, consider paying for a year upfront. Signing up for an annual plan will usually save you money in the long run compared to paying on a monthly basis. Unfortunately, not all streaming services (like Netflix) have an annual subscription option.
Disney+
If you feel like Charlie Kelly is trying to figure out who Baby Sylvia is when you look at him Disney streaming pricing chartYou are not alone. The confusion comes from the fact that Disney owns or has a hand in several streaming services including Hulu and ESPN. Partner with HBO Max and you’ll have plenty of options to consider and, perhaps, match with. Here’s a quick overview of the pricing for the popular Disney+ package.
Peacock TV
Peacock doesn’t have any streaming packages available year-round, but you can save if you pay for a year in advance.
Peacock Select (with ads) -$8 per month or $80 per year
Peacock Premium (with ads) – $11 per month or $110 per year
Peacock Premium Plus (No Ads) – $17 per month or $170 per year
Paramount+
Paramount+ used to bill its tier with Showtime as a sort of bundle, but it has since renamed its plans and focused on including Showtime in its premium tier as just another bonus to paying for the higher-priced plan.
Paramount+ Essential (with ads) -$8 per month or $60 per year
Paramount Premium (no ads) – $13 per month or $120 per year
Student discounts on streaming services
It pays to be a student – sometimes, at least. A number of streaming services have student discounts that you can take advantage of as long as you are actively studying. What this translates to most of the time is the ability to check your student status and sign up using your .edu email address.
HBO Max Student Discount – Subscribe for $5 per month (50 percent off): HBO Max is offering the ad-supported tier for students at half the usual price. You will just have to verify that you are a student through One dayNote that this offer is only valid for up to 12 months of service.
Hulu Student Discount – Subscribe for $2 per month (75 percent off): Those with a valid student ID can get Hulu’s ad-supported tier at 75 percent off the typical price. They will keep the same selling price as long as they are students as well.
Spotify Student Discount – Premium + Hulu with ads for $6 per month (72 percent off): Spotify’s student offer is still one of the best out there, giving you access to the premium tier of its music player and Hulu’s ad-supported plan for just $6 per month. If purchased separately, you’ll pay $22 per month for both services. Plus, the first month is free when you sign up.
NBA League Pass Student Discount – 1 year for $120 (40 percent off): Students can get a one-year League Pass for just $10 per month, which includes access to NBA TV and the ability to watch and archive classic games on-demand. On the NBA League Pass website, look for the student discount logo at the top and follow the instructions to verify your student status.
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(tags for translation)Streaming services
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