In today’s digital age, streaming has taken over the way we watch TV, movies, and even sports. But with so many platforms available—each offering different pricing, content libraries, and add-ons—choosing the best one for your needs can be tricky.

So… What Is the Best Streaming Service? The short answer? It depends on what you watch and how much you’re willing to spend.

The best streaming service is the one that fits your viewing habits and your budget. Here’s how to figure that out.

Start With Your Viewing Habits Before diving into subscription costs, start by asking yourself:

Do you mostly watch movies?

Are binge-worthy TV shows your go-to?

Do you need a good library of kids’ content?

Are live sports a must-have?

Based on what you enjoy most, here are a few recommendations:

For a wide variety of shows and movies: Try Amazon Prime Video – it offers an expansive library across genres.

For family-friendly entertainment: Go with Disney+, home to Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic.

For critically acclaimed, award-winning content: Look at Netflix or Max (formerly HBO Max), both of which have earned top awards in recent years.

For sports fans: Hulu + Live TV is a great option for live coverage and on-demand sports content.

Compare the Costs: What Are You Really Paying? Let’s break down the current prices for major streaming platforms:

📺 Netflix $7.99/month (with ads)

$17.99/month (Standard, no ads)

$24.99/month (Premium, no ads)

Add an extra member for $6.99–$8.99/month

📺 Hulu $18.99/month (no ads)

Live TV bundles: $81.99–$95.99/month

Add-ons: Max, Showtime, and more

Extra members from $6.99/month

📺 Disney+ $9.99/month (Basic with ads)

$15.99/month or $159.99/year (No ads)

Bundles with Hulu and ESPN+: $10.99–$29.99/month

Add members starting at $6.99/month

📺 Max $9.99/month (with ads)

$16.99/month (Standard, no ads)

$20.99/month (Premium, no ads)

📺 Apple TV+ $9.99/month (ad-free)

Included in Apple One bundles ($19.95–$37.95/month)

📺 Peacock $7.99/month or $79.99/year (with ads)

$13.99/month or $139.99/year (no ads)

📺 Prime Video $8.99/month (with ads)

$11.98/month (no ads)

Included in Amazon Prime membership ($14.99/month or $139/year)

Add $2.99/month to remove ads

🔍 Other Options Looking for alternatives? Platforms like YouTube TV, Sling TV, and FuboTV offer live channels and specialized content that may better suit your needs.

Don’t Forget Your Budget Streaming services can add up quickly—especially if you subscribe to more than one. A good way to manage this is to use the 50/30/20 budgeting rule:

50% of your income goes to needs (housing, groceries, etc.)

30% goes to wants (streaming, eating out, shopping)

20% goes to savings or paying off debt

Streaming falls into the “wants” category. So before you sign up, take a close look at how much you’re already spending on other entertainment.

Tips to Stay on Budget: Track your monthly expenses and set a cap for digital subscriptions.

Rotate streaming services—subscribe to one or two at a time and switch every few months.

Take advantage of free trials or promotional offers.

Use credit cards that offer cash back or points on streaming purchases (just don’t sign up for a new card just for that).

Final Thoughts There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to streaming services. The best one for you depends on what you watch, who you watch with, and how much you’re willing to spend.

The good news? With the right combination of content and cost, your perfect streaming setup is just a few clicks away.