Stop subscribing directly: 4 smarter ways to get your streaming services

Dan Girolamo

Sat, May 30, 2026 at 4:15 PM UTC

TV showing Hulu, Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix, and Paramount+ logos with a bowl of popcorn beside it. — Lucas Gouveia/How-To Geek

If you are an avid television watcher, then you will likely subscribe to multiple streaming services. Frankly, we now live in a world where one streaming service is simply not enough for movies, TV shows, sports, and live news. You can try your best to create your perfect streaming lineup , but you must be smart about what services to keep and cut.

One piece of advice I have is, if you want to subscribe to a streaming service, don't do it directly through the company. If I can somehow combine multiple services for one price or gain access to a streamer through another purchase, then that's what I'm going to do. Every dollar matters, especially in streaming. What should you do if you want to purchase a streaming service? Follow some of these tips to see where you can take advantage of the best deals on the market.

Walmart+ comes with Paramount+ or Peacock

The choice is yours

Outside visual of a Walmart. — Tupungato/Shutterstock.com

I don't have the exact numbers, but I'd bet many need packages delivered to their house or apartment every day. Walmart+ is one way to save time and money on your deliveries. For $12.95/month or $98/year, Walmart+ subscribers can receive free next-day and two-day shipping from Walmart.com, no minimum order needed. New customers can sign up for a free 30-day trial.

For those who love to shop at Walmart for groceries, Walmart+ members can shop for groceries and get them delivered to their house for free on orders of at least $35. Gas savings, free online pet care, and pharmacy discounts are some of the other perks that come with Walmart+.

What many people don't realize is that Walmart+ subscribers can also gain access to one of two ad-supported streaming services: Paramount+ or Peacock. Normally, Paramount+ Essential is $8.99/month or $89.99/year, and Peacock Premium is $10.99/month or $109.99/year. You'll save up to $109/year in video streaming savings with this deal.

As for what service to pick, it's up to your preference. If you enjoy the Taylor Sheridan universe, including the recent addition of Dutton Ranch , then Paramount+ is the pick. If you want to watch the NBA playoffs or hilarious comedies like The Office , then try Peacock.

Verizon subscribers can add Netflix and HBO Max

Save money with this combination

Netflix and HBO Max are two of my most frequently used streaming services. Between Netflix's massive library and HBO Max's selection of prestige dramas, these services are must-haves in my streaming lineup. As someone who embraces ads while streaming and accepts that the majority of ad-free streaming won't return , I subscribe to Netflix's Standard with ads — priced at $8.99/month — and HBO Max's Basic with ads — $10.99/month or $109.99/year.

If I were to subscribe to each service separately, it would cost me nearly $240 per year. That's too much of a financial investment in two streaming services. To save money, I subscribe to Netflix and HBO Max through my Verizon Fios Home Internet plan. With select Verizon plans, subscribers can purchase Netflix's Standard with ads and HBO Max with ads for $13/month, which saves nearly $7/month. If you're subscribing to four or five streaming services a month, saving $7 per month goes a long way.

Verizon also offers other bundle perks to its subscribers. The ad-supported tiers of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ can be added for $10/month. The Apple One perk starts at $15/month, while the YouTube Premium add-on begins at $12/month. If you're already a Verizon customer for phone and internet, you're better off adding these perks to save money in the long run.

Amazon Prime gets you Prime Video

It's more than just free shipping

Lucas Gouveia/How-To Geek | Andrii Sedykh/ Shutterstock

Raise your hand if you're one of the 200 million Amazon customers with a Prime membership. You can't see me, but I'm raising both hands. I'm not afraid to admit my reliance on Amazon Prime. Name a household item, and it's probably in my Amazon cart right now. The same-day, one-day, and two-day shipping is a game-changer, as it gets essential goods like paper towels and coffee pods to my front door as quickly as possible.

For most people, a Prime membership costs $14.99/month or $139/year. There are cheaper plans for students and those who need government assistance. Besides the shipping benefits, an Amazon Prime membership comes with Prime Video at no additional cost. That means you can stream hit shows like The Boys and Fallout whenever you please. Perhaps I could interest you in Spider-Noir , a Spider-Man television show starring Nicolas Cage instead.

If you only want the standalone version of Prime Video, then it will cost $8.99/month. For frequent Amazon shoppers, the full Prime membership may provide more value than subscribing only to Prime Video. Free shipping, exclusive deals, grocery deliveries, Amazon Music access, and RX savings come with an Amazon Prime membership along with access to Prime Video's library. You'll probably end up using the shipping benefits more than the streaming service, but it's always nice to have that option as a free perk.

Bundles

Scan for deals involving multiple streaming services for one price

A phone above some dollar bills and the logos of some streaming services on the screen. — izzuanroslan / Shutterstock

Imagine having all of your favorite channels for one price. One moment, you're watching the NFL on ESPN, and with the click of a button, you're watching Bobby Flay on the Food Network. During the commercial break, you might sneak in the latest showing of Jurassic Park on TNT. That sounds like a fairy tale, having these separate programs under one roof.

Oh, wait — I just described cable TV. It's a shame what cord-cutting has done to cable packages. As someone who loves live sports, I still subscribe to a cable package, and I'll keep it as long as I can afford it. The prices of streaming services are only going up. Frankly, it's getting out of hand. Asking consumers to subscribe to over five streaming services can be financially difficult for many Americans.

To their credit, the streamers have realized that offering two, sometimes three, streaming services for one price is advantageous to the consumer. This concept is called bundling, and I suggest adding one or two bundles to your monthly expenditures. The two best bundles, in my opinion, are the HBO Max bundle and the Disney bundle.

The ad-supported HBO Max bundle — which includes Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max — costs $19.99/month for a savings of $14.98/month. The ad-free tier of the HBO Max bundle costs $32.99/month for a savings of $23.48/month.

Meanwhile, the Disney bundle is more expensive because it includes ESPN Unlimited. The ad-supported bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited costs $35.99/month, and the ad-free tier (Disney+ and Hulu; ESPN still has ads) costs $44.99/month. If you're a sports fan, then the Disney bundle will be right up your alley.

Determine your priorities in streaming

Deciding what streaming service to subscribe to comes down to your likes and interests. If you love Stranger Things and reality television, then make sure Netflix is in your streaming lineup. If you prioritize sports, then get a bundle with ESPN Unlimited. If you're unsure, write down the 10 movies and shows you can't live without and identify their streaming homes. This will help narrow down your choices.

Check out Yahoo's latest streaming advice, based on hands-on testing.

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