What streaming services used to cost — and what they cost now
Streaming services keep climbing in price. Here’s a look at what they used to cost compared to today
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Everything's getting more expensive — and your streaming services aren't immune.
Disney+ made headlines this week after announcing its latest price hike. Starting in late October, the streaming service will cost $12 a month with ads, up $2, and $19 a month without ads, a $3 increase. But it isn't the only streaming service that's more than doubled its prices since launching.
Below, we've compiled a list of what streaming services used to cost and what they cost now.
1 / 8
Disney+
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Disney+ launched in 2019 as an ad-free streaming service for $7 a month. The streamer now costs $19 a month. It launched its version with ads in 2022 for $8 a month, and now charges $12 for the same service.
2 / 8
Hulu
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Hulu launched with ads in 2010, charging $8 a month; that version now costs $10 a month. Hulu launched an ad-free version in 2015 for $12 a month, but now charges $19 for the service, in part to incentivize people to switch to the Disney+/Hulu bundle, which you can get ad-free for $20 a month.
3 / 8
Netflix
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Originally a DVD rental service, Netflix priced its first streaming bundle at $6 in 2007. When Netflix introduced a streaming-only plan in 2011, it cost $8 a month. Now, it costs $18. The streamer launched a version with ads in 2022 for $7 a month, for which it now charges $8.
4 / 8
Peacock
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When Peacock launched in 2020, it cost $10 ad-free. It now charges $17 for the same service. It launched a version with ads in 2021 for $5 that now costs $11.
5 / 8
Prime Video
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Prime Video launched in 2016 ad-free for $9 and now charges $12. It costs $9 for a version with ads that launched last year. Most people, however, get the streaming service through a general subscription to Amazon Prime.
6 / 8
Apple TV+
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Apple TV+ launched in 2019 for $5 a month ad-free. It now charges $13, and doesn’t offer a version with ads.
7 / 8
HBO Max
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HBO Max launched in 2020, ad-free, for $15. It now charges $17 for the service. It started offering an ad-free version in 2021 for $10 and still charges that price.
8 / 8
Paramount+
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Paramount+ launched in 2021, charging $5 for the platform with ads and $10 without. The company now charges $13 for ad-free streaming, while the ad-laden variety costs $8.