What Is the Best Streaming Service for You? How to Choose

The best streaming service is the one that has the content you enjoy and fits into your budget.

Looking at what you watch is a good place to start. Do you mostly watch movies? Do you like binge-watching the latest TV series? Or maybe you turn to sports first.

On average, NerdWallet users who used the subscriptions and bills feature in our app had 12 subscriptions and recurring bills, including streaming services, according to ScribeUp data.

Here are some ideas for the streaming service that may be best for you, based on your viewing habits.

What is the best streaming service?

• Best for prestige TV: HBO Max

• Best for sleeper hits: Apple TV

• Best for binge content: Netflix

• Best for massive library: Amazon Prime Video

• Best for next-day TV: Hulu

• Best for sports: YouTube TV

• Best for reality TV: Peacock

How much do streaming services cost?

Click through for more-detailed pricing and programming notes. Some of these services may offer a free trial.

(Want to add up how much you're spending? Jump to our calculator.)

Netflix costs

• $8.99/month (Standard, with ads)

• $19.99/month (Standard, no ads)

• $26.99/month (Premium, no ads)

• Get full Netflix pricing.

Netflix customers on eligible plans can buy an extra member slot at $7.99 per month with ads or $9.99 per month without ads to share their account with someone outside their home.

Hulu costs

• $12.49/month (with ads)

• $21.49/month (no ads)

• Get full Hulu pricing.

Hulu also offers live TV options that cost $99.99 to $109.99 per month, depending on channels and ads. If you have an eligible Hulu plan, you also can add HBO Max, Cinemax, and Paramount+ with Showtime, among others.

Hulu users can also add extra members, starting at $6.99 per month for the basic plan that includes ads.

Disney+ costs

• $12.49/month (with ads)

• $21.49/month or $214.99/year (Premium, no ads)

• Get full Disney+ pricing.

Disney+ offers users different ways to bundle services, such as combining Disney+ with ESPN and Hulu.

Bundled options start at $12.99 per month.

HBO Max costs

• $10.99/month or $109.99/year (Basic, with ads)

• $18.49/month or $184.99/year (Standard, no ads)

• $22.99/month or $229.99/year (Premium, no ads)

• Get full HBO Max pricing.

For an extra cost, HBO Max can also be bundled with Disney+ and Hulu.

Apple TV costs

• $14.99/month (no ads)

• Get full Apple TV pricing.

Apple TV also offers several plans under Apple One that bundle access with other Apple services, such as Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness and Apple News. Apple One plans range in price from $21.95 to $39.95.

Peacock costs

• $8.99/month or $89.99/year (Select, with ads)

• $12.99/month or $129.99/year (Premium, with ads)

• $19.99/month or $199.99/year (Premium Plus, no ads)

• Get full Peacock pricing.

Access to live sports, such as Sunday Night Football on NBC, requires at least a Peacock Premium plan.

Prime video costs, if you’re not an Amazon Prime member

• $8.99/month (with ads)

• Get full Prime member pricing.

If you already have an Amazon Prime subscription for $14.99 per month or $139 per year, you have access to the streaming options on Prime Video.

Note that the content Prime members can access includes ads, and they must pay an extra $4.99 a month to watch ad free.

Other video options

As you research the best streaming service for you, consider looking beyond the major players. See our cost breakdowns of:

• YouTube TV

• Sling TV

• Fubo

Streaming services cost calculator

This tool was created with the assistance of AI. It has been reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy and quality.

How to save on streaming services

Stacking several streaming services can add up, but a little strategy can help you keep costs under control:

• Consider canceling a service after you’ve finished watching the series or sports you subscribed for.

• Try keeping only one or two services each month, watching the shows on those and rotating services each month as needed.

• Use free trials when possible, and cancel before the trial period ends.

• Bundle services when you can to save money. 

• Check credit card bills regularly for services you may have forgotten you subscribed to, and cancel them.

How do streaming services fit into your budget?

One strategy is to examine your budget using the 50/30/20 rule. This means that 50% of your take-home pay goes toward needs, like housing and food, 30% for wants and 20% for savings and debt paydown. Streaming services make up part of the 30% category.

How much is left for you to spend on entertainment after other wants, like eating out, traveling and shopping? Ranking your wants will help you decide which streaming services fit your budget.

You can also look for ways to cut back on wants by tracking spending, setting savings goals and seeing if there are any current offers for streaming services that might benefit you. NerdWallet app users who used the subscriptions and bills feature saved $24.10 on average by canceling at least one recurring bill, according to ScribeUp data.

If you are already a credit card user, you may be able to earn cash back or bonus points on streaming services. While it may not be worth opening a credit card just for this benefit, it can be a nice addition to current budget strategies.