Whether it’s Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, Disney+, HBO Max – or one of the dozen other streaming services – today’s seniors have plenty of low-cost streaming services. However, not all streaming services are the same, offer the same content, or have the same price structure. Some offer ad-free subscriptions at slightly lower prices, while others allow users to benefit from simultaneous streaming.

Whether it’s next-day streaming, live TV, audiobooks, anime, cartoons, sports, horror, action movies, or documentaries, choosing streaming services means comparing their prices, the type of content they provide, and whether they allow free trials. Here is a summary of some of the most popular, in-demand streaming services with insight into simple tips for saving money on your subscriptions.

Netflix

Long regarded as the first video-on-demand service provider, Netflix was launched in 2007 and now offers three monthly subscription plans:

• Standard service with Ads at $6.99 monthly
• Standard service without Ads at $15.49 monthly
• Premium Service at $22.99 monthly

Each subscription varies in terms of whether ads are present, the number of users, the number of streaming devices that can be used simultaneously, and video quality. The Standard service without Ads offers HD video, while the Premium Service ups the ante to Ultra HD 4K. All subscriptions provide the same content, which includes a mix of live-streaming events, anime, movies, documentaries, and TV series. Unfortunately, Netflix does not allow any free trials.

Top 5 Best-Rated Content on Netflix:

• American Primeval
• V Wars
• Black Doves
• The Night Agent
• The Order

Amazon Prime Video

Surprisingly, Amazon Prime Video’s history goes back a year before the introduction of Netflix, with Amazon’s Unbox launching in 2006. Today, the streaming service offers six subscription options:

• Amazon Prime Video: $8.99 monthly
• Amazon Prime Video Ad-Free: $11.98 monthly
• Amazon Prime Video with Amazon Prime Membership: $14.99 monthly
• Amazon Prime Video Ad-Free with Amazon Prime Membership: $17.98 monthly
• Amazon Prime Student: $7.50 monthly
• Amazon Prime Access: $7.00 monthly * must qualify for government assistance.

Amazon Prime Video has recently expanded its content offering to include kid- and teenager-focused content. It offers a similar mix of documentaries, movies, TV shows, cartoons, anime, live-streaming, and sporting events like Netflix. With its 30-day free trial, Amazon Prime is challenging Netflix for the top position.

Top 5 Best-Rated Content on Amazon Prime:

• The Stand
• Reacher
• The 100
• The Last of Us
• The Consultant

Paramount+

A relative newcomer, Paramount+ was launched in 2021 and quickly made a name for itself with its extensive selection of movies, TV series, documentaries, kids' shows like Nickelodeon, and sports-related content, such as its coverage of the UEFA Champions League and NFL. The following two subscription plans offer a one-week, seven-day free trial.

• Paramount + Essential: $7.99 monthly
• Paramount+ and Showtime: $12.99 monthly

Paramount+ Essential does show limited Ads within its content while giving subscribers an extensive selection of news, movies, TV series, and sports. Paramount+ and Showtime increase the content with Showtime original documentaries and movies, while also offering several live TV streaming events such as the PGA Tour.

Top 5 Best-Rated Content on Paramount+:

• Yellowstone
• Landman
• Tulsa King
• Lioness
• South Park

Disney+

Launched in 2019, Disney+ is the home of family-related content. It provides an outstanding selection of classic Disney animated movies from the past alongside some of the most popular kid-related content today, such as its Disney Junior and Disney Nature series. However, it also provides more than enough content with its Marvel and Star Wars-focused series and movies.

• Disney+ Standard with Ads: $8.99 monthly
• Disney+ Standard without Ads: $12.99 monthly
• Disney+ Premium without Ads: $15.99 monthly

To differentiate itself from other streaming services, Disney+ has partnered with Hulu and ESPN Plus. The combined service costs $11.00 monthly, while the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Plus plan costs $17 monthly. Disney+ does not offer free trials.

Top 5 Best-Rated Content on Disney+:

• The Strain
• Will Trent
• The Mandalorian
• Loki
• Marvel What if?

HBO Max

While HBO Max was launched in 2020, its history goes back to 1972 as the undisputed originator of paid television. HBO Max now provides some of the most in-demand content with classic movies from multiple genres, various TV series, documentaries, and live sports streaming events like its UFC, PGA Tour, and tennis coverage. There are no free trials with HBO Max.

• HBO Max with Ads: $9.99 monthly
• HBO Max Without Ads: $16.99 monthly
• HBO Max Ad-Free Unlimited: $20.99 monthly

Both HBO Max with and without Ads provide full HD quality video while the HBO Max without Ads service allows up to 30 downloads and the Ad-Free Unlimited service provides Ultra HD 4K and up to 100 downloads.

Top 5 Best-Rated Content on HBO Max:

• The Sopranos
• Band of Brothers
• True Detective
• Game of Thrones
• Curb Your Enthusiasm

Strategies to Lower Your Monthly Streaming Costs

The success of streaming services is largely due to their affordability. However, having too many streaming services makes it no longer affordable. As such, try to stick with one streaming service at a time to minimize expenses.

Each streaming service allows you to cancel at any time, and you can increase or decrease the services with minimal price increases. Taking advantage of the 30-day free trial offered by Amazon Prime and the seven-day free trial from Paramount+ also helps to save money.

Finally, start with the basic subscription of whatever service provider you choose. This allows you to gauge their content, understand how frequent Ads are, and whether upgrading to an Ad-free service or a service with better video quality makes sense.

Living Your Best Life with WiseSavings

WiseSavings is an online community with over 250,000 subscribers. Our money-saving tips help seniors live their best lives by providing money-saving on groceries, monthly expenses, rent, technology, retirement planning, and entertainment.

If you have questions about the different streaming services and need help choosing the best one for you and your family, contact us now.