It's 2025, and streaming services are more expensive than cable TV ever was.

"Wait, wasn't this supposed to save me money?"

The average subscriber now spends $90 per month on streaming services. That's more than most cable and satellite TV packages cost back in 2015.

Netflix charges $25 for its premium subscription. Disney+ went from $7 to $19 in just five years. HBO Max just raised prices again in October 2025.

But here's the thing: you don't need all of them. You just need the best streaming services for what you actually watch.

This guide to the best streaming platforms cuts through the noise. Whether you need live TV, live sports, or just movies and TV shows on demand, we've tested every major streaming service available in 2025.

Quick Comparison: Best Streaming Services 2025

Streaming Service	Starting Price	Best For	4K Streaming	Free Trial
Netflix	$7.99/mo	Originals	$24.99/mo	No
Disney Bundle	$12.99/mo	Families	$19.99/mo	No
HBO Max	$10.99/mo	Prestige TV	$22.99/mo	No
Paramount+	$7.99/mo	Best Value	$12.99/mo	7 days
Apple TV Plus	$9.99/mo	Quality > Quantity	Included	7 days
Amazon Prime Video	$8.99/mo	Movies	Included	30 days
YouTube TV	$82.99/mo	Live TV	Limited	No
Hulu + Live TV	$89.99/mo	Live TV + Streaming	$94.99/mo	No

The Best Streaming Service Overall

Winner: Disney Bundle (Disney+ and Hulu)

Price: $12.99/month with ads, $19.99/month ad-free

If you're only getting one streaming service in 2025, the Disney Bundle is our pick for the best streaming service overall. Not Disney+ alone. The bundle.

Here's why this streaming platform is a no-brainer: you get two massive content libraries for just a dollar more than either service offers individually. Disney folded Hulu's interface into Disney+ in 2024, so you access both services through one streaming app. No switching between platforms, no separate logins.

What you actually get:

1. Every Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars movie or TV show ever made
2. All of Hulu's current TV shows and movies and back catalog
3. FX shows like The Bear and Shogun
4. National Geographic documentaries
5. Next-day access to current network TV shows

The value equation is ridiculous. Hulu alone costs $11.99/month with ads. Disney+ alone costs $11.99/month with ads. The Disney Bundle with both? $12.99/month. This streaming service is essentially forcing you to take the bundle, and honestly, you should.

Who this streaming service is perfect for:

1. Families with kids who need Disney content on their smart TV or streaming devices
2. People who want to watch live current TV shows and movies
3. Anyone who wants variety without juggling many streaming services
4. Marvel and Star Wars fans

The only real downside: The ad-supported streaming tier has commercials. But if you're coming from cable TV, you're used to that. The ad-free streaming at $19.99/month is still cheaper than Netflix's premium subscription.

Netflix: Still the Biggest Streaming Platform

Price: $7.99/month (with ads), $17.99/month (Standard), $24.99/month (Premium with 4K streaming)

Netflix raised subscription prices again in January 2025. The Standard plan jumped from $15.49 to $17.99. Even the ad-supported streaming tier got its first price hike, going from $6.99 to $7.99.

Is Netflix still worth it? Unfortunately, yes.

Netflix has the most complete content library among streaming services. They spend more on original movies and TV shows than any other streaming platform. When a new show becomes a cultural phenomenon, there's a good chance it's on Netflix. Squid Game. Stranger Things. Wednesday. The list goes on.

But here's the problem: at $24.99/month for the Premium tier with HDR streaming, you're paying almost as much as a basic cable TV package. And Netflix cracked down hard on password sharing, so subscribers can't split it with friends anymore.

What makes this streaming service special:

1. Massive library of original shows and movies
2. New movies and TV shows added weekly
3. Live sports now included (WWE, NFL games for sports fans)
4. Best picture recommendation algorithm
5. Downloads for offline viewing on streaming devices (Standard and Premium)
6. Works on Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV, and Apple TV

The honest truth: If you can only afford one or two streaming services, Netflix probably shouldn't be one of them. The Disney Bundle gives you more movies and shows for less money. But if you have room in your subscription budget, Netflix is still the most consistently entertaining streaming platform.

Pro tip: The $7.99 ad-supported tier is actually decent. Ads aren't as intrusive as other streaming services like Hulu, and you still get full 1080p streaming quality. If you're price-sensitive, start there.

HBO Max: Best Streaming Service for Prestige TV

Price: $10.99/month (with ads), $18.49/month (Standard ad-free), $22.99/month (Premium with 4K streaming)

HBO Max raised subscription prices across all tiers in October 2025. Again. This video service is getting expensive, but HBO Max knows what it's doing: they have the best prestige TV catalog in the streaming industry.

If you care about critically acclaimed television, HBO Max is your streaming service. Succession. The Last of Us. House of the Dragon. The White Lotus. True Detective. HBO Max's hit rate is unmatched among streaming services.

What you're paying for with this streaming service:

1. Every HBO original series and movie
2. Warner Bros. theatrical releases
3. Turner Classic Movies library
4. Studio Ghibli films
5. DC superhero TV shows and movies
6. HDR streaming on Premium tier

The problem is obvious: you're paying Netflix prices for a fraction of Netflix's content volume. HBO Max has quality over quantity, but quantity matters when you're paying $18+ per month for a TV subscription.

Our recommendation: Subscribe for 2-3 months when a show you care about is airing, then cancel this streaming service until the next must-watch series drops. HBO Max releases TV shows weekly, not all at once, so you're not missing out by taking breaks from this subscription.

Paramount+: Best Value Streaming Service

Price: $7.99/month (Essential with ads), $12.99/month (Premium ad-free with 4K streaming)

This is the streaming service nobody talks about in lists of the best streaming services, but everyone should consider.

Paramount+ costs less than any major competitor while offering live sports, 45,000+ TV shows and movies, and the complete Showtime catalog in the Premium tier. It's an absurd amount of content for the subscription price. This video service also offers a free trial period of 7 days.

What sets this streaming service apart:

1. NFL games on CBS (live sports)
2. UEFA Champions League soccer for sports fans
3. Every Star Trek series and movie
4. Yellowstone universe TV shows (1883, 1923)
5. MTV, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon libraries of movies and shows
6. Showtime originals on Premium tier
7. Works on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, and Apple TV streaming devices

The live sports access alone justifies the subscription price. If you watch NFL games on Sunday, you're already getting value from this streaming service.

Best part: This streaming service runs frequent promotions. In fall 2025, they offered 50% off annual subscriptions, bringing Essential down to $2.50/month. Watch for these deals on this video streaming service.

Apple TV Plus: Quality Over Quantity

Price: $9.99/month (no ads, includes 4K streaming and HDR streaming)

Apple TV Plus has the smallest library of any major streaming service. But here's the thing: nearly every movie or TV show on it is worth watching.

Ted Lasso. Severance. Slow Horses. Silo. The Morning Show. For All Mankind. Apple TV Plus focuses on prestige originals and wins Emmy awards. This streaming platform supports streaming on six devices simultaneously.

Why this streaming service works:

1. No ads ever (pure ad-free streaming)
2. 4K streaming and HDR streaming quality included
3. Six simultaneous streams
4. Download TV shows and movies for offline viewing
5. High production values and best picture quality on all content
6. Works seamlessly on Apple TV, Fire TV devices, and Android TV
7. 7-day free trial for new subscribers

The downside is obvious for this streaming service: if you binge-watch everything, you'll run out of content in a month. Apple TV Plus doesn't have a deep back catalog like streaming services like Netflix or Hulu. They're building it show by show.

Smart strategy: Subscribe when a new season of your favorite show drops, watch everything that looks interesting, then cancel this streaming service for a few months until more movies and shows accumulate.

Bonus: Peacock and Apple TV Plus now offer a bundle for $15/month. If you watch both streaming services, that's $2/month in savings over subscribing separately.

Amazon Prime Video: The Add-On Streaming Service

Price: $8.99/month (standalone with ads), or included with Prime membership ($14.99/month)

Amazon Prime Video is weird. It's not really a standalone streaming service - it's an add-on benefit of Amazon Prime that service also happens to have a standalone option.

If you already have Prime membership for free shipping, Prime Video is a bonus video service with decent content. If you're considering subscribing just for the video streaming content, there are better streaming options among streaming services.

What's good about Prime Video:

1. The Boys, Jack Ryan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (original shows and movies)
2. Thursday Night Football (live NFL for sports streaming)
3. Rent or buy movies not included with subscription
4. Add premium channels like HBO Max and Paramount+ through Prime Video
5. 4K streaming quality included on most content
6. Works on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV, and Apple TV streaming devices
7. 30-day free trial for Prime membership

What's annoying: Prime Video added commercials to its content in early 2024. If subscribers want ad-free streaming, it's an extra $3/month on top of your Prime membership. This felt like a bait-and-switch to longtime subscribers of this streaming platform.

Bottom line: If you have Prime anyway, treat Amazon Prime Video as a nice bonus video service. If you don't have Prime, don't subscribe just for the video streaming content. There are better streaming services available.

Best Live TV Streaming Services: Cable TV Replacement

Want to ditch cable TV but keep live TV channels? These live TV streaming services replace your cable TV box with a streaming app. They're expensive, but still cheaper than traditional cable and satellite TV.

YouTube TV: Best Live TV Streaming Service

Price: $82.99/month

YouTube TV is the easiest cable TV replacement and best live TV streaming service for most people. Over 100 live channels, unlimited DVR storage, and the most reliable streaming quality. If you want to watch live TV without overthinking it, YouTube TV is your answer.

YouTube TV offers:

1. Local channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) for live local news
2. ESPN, TNT, TBS for live sports events
3. CNN, MSNBC, Fox News for live news
4. Unlimited cloud DVR (stored for 9 months)
5. Three simultaneous streams
6. Works on Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV, and Apple TV streaming devices
7. Regional sports network coverage varies by location

Downside: Most TV channels stream at 720p, not 1080p streaming quality. For live sports, this streaming quality difference is noticeable compared to cable TV.

Hulu + Live TV: Best Value Live TV Service

Price: $89.99/month (includes Disney+ and ESPN+)

Hulu's Live TV service is the best value in live TV streaming services. You get 90+ live TV channels PLUS the entire Disney+ and Hulu on-demand libraries. It's three streaming services in one subscription.

If you were planning to subscribe to the Disney Bundle anyway, paying $7 more per month to add live TV is a steal. This live TV streaming service offers incredible value.

What Hulu's live TV includes:

1. 90+ live TV channels including local channels
2. Complete Disney+ library of movies and shows
3. Full Hulu on-demand catalog of TV shows and movies
4. ESPN+ for additional live sports events
5. Cloud DVR with 50 hours of storage
6. Regional sports network access in most markets

Problem: The streaming app interface for Hulu's live TV is confusing. Switching between live channels and on-demand content isn't intuitive. YouTube TV is easier to stream live TV.

Sling TV: Budget Live TV Streaming Service

Price: $40-$55/month depending on package

Sling TV used to be the budget option for live streaming. Then they raised prices repeatedly without adding meaningful features to their TV service. Now it's just... there. Not bad among live TV streaming services, but not particularly compelling either.

What Sling TV offers:

1. 30-50 live TV channels depending on package
2. ESPN, TNT for live sports (certain packages)
3. Cloud DVR available (extra cost)
4. Works on Fire TV devices, Android TV, and Apple TV
5. Limited regional sports network coverage

Skip Sling TV unless: You want specific TV channels and Sling TV is the only live TV service that offers them at a reasonable TV subscription price.

Best Free Streaming Services

Not every streaming service requires a subscription. These best free streaming services and free video streaming services offer thousands of movies and TV shows without charging a dime.

Pluto TV: Best Free Service

Price: Free (ad-supported streaming)

Pluto TV is one of the best free streaming services available in 2025. This free service offers 250+ live channels and thousands of movies and shows on demand. Yes, there are ads (it's an ad-supported streaming service), but you can't beat the price.

What this free streaming service offers:

1. 250+ live channels (no cable TV required)
2. Thousands of movies and TV shows on demand
3. No subscription or TV subscription required
4. Works on all streaming devices (Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV, Apple TV, smart TV)
5. Ad-supported streaming (expect commercials)

Other free streaming services worth considering: Tubi, Peacock's free tier, and YouTube (for free video content). These services available are great for cutting costs while still having streaming options.

Niche Streaming Services Worth Considering

Crunchyroll - Best for Anime

Price: $7.99/month

If you watch anime, Crunchyroll is non-negotiable among streaming services. Largest anime library in the streaming industry. New episodes of TV shows often available within an hour of airing in Japan. The ad-free tier is worth it for this streaming service.

Shudder - Best for Horror

Price: $6.99/month

Curated horror and thriller collection. Exclusive originals. No 4K streaming, but horror fans don't care. This streaming service is cheap, focused, and constantly adding content.

BritBox - Best for British TV

Price: $8.99/month

If you love British mysteries, comedies, and dramas, BritBox delivers. Everything from classic Doctor Who to current BBC and ITV TV shows. One of the best streaming services for British content.

How to Save Money on Streaming Services

You don't need to subscribe to many streaming services all the time. Here's how to cut your TV subscription costs without missing content.

Pro tip: Lost track of which streaming services you're actually paying for? Chargeback powers AI agents to find, manage, and cancel your unwanted subscriptions. Sometimes the best way to save money is knowing exactly what you're subscribed to.

Rotate Your Subscriptions

Subscribe for 1-2 months, binge everything you want to watch, cancel, move to the next streaming service. This is called 'churning' and streaming services hate it, but it works for managing one of these services at a time.

Example rotation for streaming services:

1. January-February: Netflix
2. March-April: HBO Max
3. May-June: Disney Bundle
4. July-August: Apple TV Plus

By rotating between streaming services, you only pay for 4-6 months of each service per year instead of 12. That's a 50% cost reduction on your TV subscription budget.

Look for Bundles

Current bundle deals for streaming services:

1. Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max: $19.99/month with ads (best streaming bundle)
2. Apple TV Plus and Peacock: $15/month
3. Verizon: Free Netflix and HBO Max with home internet
4. T-Mobile: Free Netflix on select plans

Pay Annually

Most streaming services offer 15-20% discounts on annual subscriptions. If you know you'll keep a streaming service all year, pay upfront and save.

Use Free Trials Strategically

Streaming services with current free trials:

1. Paramount+: 7-day free trial
2. Apple TV Plus: 7-day free trial
3. Amazon Prime Video: 30-day free trial

Note: Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max stopped offering free trials in 2024. Services that offer free trials help you test the streaming service before committing to a subscription.

Our Final Recommendations: Best Streaming Services

If You Can Only Afford One Service

Get the Disney Bundle ($12.99/month with ads). Most movies and shows, best value, works for families and individuals. This is one of the best streaming services overall.

If You Can Afford Two Services

Disney Bundle + Netflix ($30.98/month). This combo covers 80% of what most people want to watch. Our picks for the best streaming combo.

Best for Sports Fans

Paramount+ ($7.99/month) + YouTube TV or Hulu's Live TV. Covers NFL, soccer, and all major live sports events. Best streaming service for sports fans.

If Budget Isn't a Concern

Disney Bundle + Netflix + HBO Max ($50-60/month). This trifecta of streaming services covers virtually everything worth watching.

Best Live TV Streaming Service

Hulu + Live TV ($89.99/month). Best value for live TV streaming with included Disney+ and ESPN+. The best live TV streaming service for replacing cable TV.

Streaming Services FAQ

What is the best streaming service overall in 2025?

The Disney Bundle (Disney+ and Hulu) is the best streaming service overall in 2025. For $12.99/month, you get two massive libraries of TV shows and movies through one streaming app, making it the best value among all streaming services available.

Which streaming service has the most content?

Netflix has the largest library of original content among streaming services. The Disney Bundle (Disney+ and Hulu combined) has the most total movies and shows when you count licensed content. Both are excellent streaming options.

What is the best live TV streaming service?

Hulu + Live TV is the best live TV streaming service for most people. It offers 90+ live TV channels plus the complete Disney+ and Hulu libraries for $89.99/month. YouTube TV is also excellent, offering 100+ live channels for $82.99/month. Both live TV streaming services work on Fire TV, Android TV, and other streaming devices.

Which streaming service is best for sports?

For live sports, Paramount+ ($7.99/month) offers NFL games and UEFA Champions League soccer. For comprehensive sports streaming, YouTube TV or Hulu's Live TV provide ESPN, regional sports networks, and live local channels. ESPN+ is also good for specific live sports events. The service for sports fans depends on which sports you watch.

Can I share my streaming service with family?

It depends on the streaming service. Most streaming services now restrict sharing to one household. Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max charge $7-$9/month to add a subscriber outside your home. Each streaming service offers different rules for how many streams and profiles you can have.

What streaming devices do I need?

Most streaming services work on Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV, Apple TV, and smart TV platforms. Popular streaming devices include Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku, and Apple TV. Many new smart TV models have streaming apps built in, so you might not need additional streaming devices.

Do streaming services offer 4K and HDR?

Yes, but 4K streaming usually costs extra. Netflix Premium ($24.99/month) includes 4K streaming. Apple TV Plus includes 4K streaming and HDR streaming at no extra cost. HBO Max offers 4K streaming on its Premium tier. You need a compatible smart TV or streaming device that supports 4K streaming to watch in ultra-high definition.

Which streaming service offers the best free trial?

Amazon Prime Video offers the longest free trial at 30 days. Paramount+ and Apple TV Plus both offer 7-day free trials. Many streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max no longer offer a free trial. Pluto TV is a completely free service (ad-supported) with no subscription required.

How much internet speed do I need for streaming?

For standard streaming quality: 5-8 Mbps. For 1080p HD streaming: 10-15 Mbps. For 4K streaming: 25+ Mbps. If multiple people stream live or watch movies simultaneously on streaming devices, multiply these numbers. Most streaming services adjust streaming quality based on your connection speed.

Will streaming services keep getting more expensive?

Yes. Streaming services lost money for years building subscribers. Now they're raising subscription prices to become profitable. Expect annual price increases to continue across streaming services in 2025 and beyond. That's why rotating streaming services and looking for bundle deals makes sense to manage costs.

Final Thoughts: Best TV Streaming Services in 2025

Streaming services in 2025 are more expensive and complicated than they were five years ago. But they're still cheaper and more flexible than cable TV or satellite TV if you're strategic about which streaming services you choose.

Whether you choose streaming services like Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, or Apple TV Plus, make sure each streaming service is worth the subscription price. Test services using their free trial when available. Watch the TV guide listings if you get a live TV streaming service.

Now stop overthinking which streaming service to choose and go watch something. Your smart TV or Fire TV devices are waiting.