Netflix is hiking its prices. The popular streaming service will boost the price of its standard plan to $ 14 a month, and its premium plan to $ 18 a month.
Those are increases of $ 1 and $ 2 a month, respectively. New customers will have to pay the new cost now, while existing customers will see their bill increase over the next few weeks, The Verge reports.
The basic plan cost will remain $ 9.
It’s been nearly two years since Netflix last raised its prices. Still, if you are unhappy about the price hikes, you have plenty of other entertainment options. Many streaming services offer rates at or below those of Netflix.
For example, Hulu plans start at just $ 5.99. Those that are cheaper than Netflix’s standard plan include:
- Hulu plan — $ 5.99 per month
- Hulu (No Ads) plan — $ 11.99
- Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ bundle — $ 12.99
During the coronavirus pandemic, Hulu has been attracting more and more eyeballs, as we reported in “This Streaming TV Service Has Grown the Most During the Pandemic.”
CBS All Access is another affordable streaming service. Both of its plans are cheaper than Netflix’s standard plan:
- CBS All Access Limited Commercials plan — $ 5.99 per month
- CBS All Access Commercial Free plan — $ 9.99
Recently, we reported that T-Mobile has introduced several streaming services, including a $ 10-a-month service called TVision Vibe that features more than 30 entertainment channels, such as HGTV, TLC and the Hallmark Channel. For more, read “New TV Service Starts at $ 10 Per Month.”
Other services that cost less than Netflix’s standard plan include:
Finally, some services offer their fare for the best price of all: Free. For more, check out “15 Free Streaming Services to Watch While Stuck at Home.”
Granted, none of the above services can truly replace Netflix because Netflix offers original content, which isn’t available through any other streaming service. For example, if you can’t live without “Stranger Things,” the hit series that is only available through Netflix, you won’t be satisfied with a cheaper service.
Still, unless you’re eager to spend an extra $ 12 or $ 24 a year on Netflix, now is a good time to at least shop around. Streaming TV options are constantly changing. If you are unsure how to start comparing them to determine which is best for you, read “This Search Engine Helps Cord-Cutters Find Their Favorite Shows.”
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