In January 2025, Netflix revealed plans to raise subscription prices yet again across various plans. Because of this, I’ll be ditching Netflix and switching to one of these cheaper alternatives.
1
Apple TV+
Apple TV+ might not be as popular as Netflix, but it does have a solid library with exclusive shows. The best thing about Apple TV+ is that it costs only $9.99/month, which gives you access to all the content without any commercials or streaming quality restrictions.
Apple’s simplified single subscription unlocks all the platform’s capabilities, unlike Netflix, which has tiers with different features and limitations. Compared to Netflix, whose only plan that costs less than $10 has ads, Apple TV+ is a solid alternative.
2
Max
Max (formerly HBO Max) is another cheaper alternative to Netflix that I’m considering switching to. The streaming platform’s ad-free plan costs $16.99 monthly compared to Netflix’s $17.99 after the hike.
Max is also cheaper for streaming content in 4K: $20.99/month, $4 less than Netflix’s top-tier plan. However, each platform has strengths and weaknesses, as detailed in our Netflix vs. Max head-to-head comparison.
3
Paramount+
It’s not a secret that using an ad-supported streaming service can help you save money on subscriptions. Like Netflix, Paramount+ has an ad-supported plan called Paramount+ Essential. While Paramount+ Essential costs $7.99/month, just like Netflix’s Basic plan after the hike, the service offers you an option to pay for the subscription for the whole year for just $59.99.
That means you only pay $4.99/month for the long-term commitment, which is cheaper than Netflix’s Basic plan. Paramount’s ad-free tier is also only $12.99/month or $119.99/year (equivalent to about $9.99/month), and best of all, it’s a bundle that includes Showtime content.
4
Starz
Starz is another ad-free service, yet a cheaper Netflix alternative. Like Apple TV+, the platform has a single subscription plan, although you can choose to pay either monthly or yearly. A monthly subscription to Starz costs $10.99, while the annual plan goes for $69.99, which makes the average monthly cost even cheaper.
The platform is less popular, so whether you think Starz is worth it is entirely up to you. However, it offers a free trial, an excellent opportunity to try the platform before committing.
5
Peacock
Peacock’s ad plan (confusingly named Premium) costs the same as Netflix’s at $7.99, but the ad-free plan is way cheaper. Peacock’s ad-free Premium Plus plan costs $13.99/month (or $4 cheaper than Netflix’s equivalent plan), although the catch is some content still has ads.
Unlike Netflix, which doesn’t offer yearly subscriptions, Peacock’s Premium Plus plan costs $139.99 for a year. That essentially means you get two months of free access to its content.
6
Hulu
At $9.99/month, Hulu’s ad-supported tier is a bit expensive compared to Netflix’s offering. However, the ad-free tier is much cheaper if you’d rather watch your content without ads. For context, Hulu’s ad-free tier goes for $18.99/month, which supports 4K streaming, although the company does have a few shows that have ads before and after the video.
If that isn’t enticing enough, Hulu offers various bundles that include Disney+, ESPN+, and Max at an extra cost, depending on your entertainment needs. For instance, the Disney Duo bundle costs $19.99/month instead of $34.98/mo if you were to subscribe to both separately. The bundles do make the service better than Netflix. And if you like Hulu’s bundles, you’ll be glad to know that there are other streaming bundles on the market that can save you money.
7
Tubi
Unlike the previous options, Tubi is one of the few free streaming services with no sign-up required. The only downside is that it uses ads for monetization, but at this point, that shouldn’t be an issue when services like Netflix are charging for a similar experience. For Tubi, visit the site or download the app, and you’re set.
With Netflix’s 2025 price hike, I won’t sit around and watch my monthly streaming bill increase further. Instead of sticking to Netflix, I’ll consider one of the various cheaper alternatives. If you’re also looking for more affordable alternatives to Netflix, the options above have you covered.
