The rise in streaming platforms has led to an increase in subscriptions for many households. These tips will help you rotate your subscriptions to save money and keep up with your favorite shows and movies.

1 tool stretches your streaming dollars

Subscription rotation saves money

Shifting from cable to streaming can be a wise financial move, but it can also lead to a pricey selection of subscriptions. According to Deloitte's 2023 Media Trends report, the main reasons people cancel their streaming subscriptions are economic pressures and a lack of fresh content. Media companies call this behavior "churn."

The solution? Rotate your subscriptions.

The incentive? You save your coin and avoid content droughts.

How to rotate your subscriptions

Here are some simple tips for rotating your subscriptions:

Set calendar reminders for your billing cycle and upcoming TV show or movie release dates. Give yourself enough warning to begin or end a subscription.

Look for discounts on streaming services. For example, Starz regularly offers months-long deals that slash its $10-per-month price.

Pick one or two default streaming services for the year, and select only one or two more options to fit your monthly budget. Rotate the bonus service(s) according to what you want to watch, ensuring you don't miss your favorite shows while sticking to your monthly spending cap.

Avoid annual subscriptions, pay attention to your auto-renewal payment dates.

If you don't like committing fully, some services offer free trials and week- or month-long pauses on subscriptions.

Reduce streaming costs with these services

1. Paramount+

Paramount+ offers a 30-day free trial and a personalized plan option. Personalized plans are based on the number of ads you're willing to watch per hour, from no ads to a maximum of five minutes per hour. The ad-free experience costs $10 per month, while the five-minute option is $6 per month. You'll have to weigh the annoyance of ads with the appeal of saving $4 per month.

2. Disney Bundle

The Disney Bundle provides access to Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus in a single package for a reduced price. A standalone Disney Plus subscription is $8 per month, while ESPN Plus is $5 per month, and Hulu starts at $6 per month. The bundle packages these together for $14 per month.

3. Sling TV

Sling TV has a variety of plans starting at $35 per month for 40+ live channels. Like ESPN Plus, Sling TV is owned by Dish Network, so it includes ESPN and ESPN 2. It also offers a seven-day free trial and a variety of customization options for your plan.

4. Hulu

Hulu offers a 30-day free trial and, uniquely, the option to pause your subscription for up to 12 weeks. It offers three plans: a basic plan with ads for $6 per month, a premium plan with no ads for $8 per month, and an option to add Live TV for $70 per month.

5. Netflix

Netflix offers a 30-day free trial and three plans. The basic plan, priced at $10 per month, offers unlimited streaming on one screen. The standard plan, priced at $15.50 per month, offers streaming on two screens simultaneously, with HD availability. The premium plan offers streaming on four screens simultaneously and HD and UHD streaming for $20 per month.

6. Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video offers a 30-day free trial and is bundled with an Amazon Prime membership. A Prime membership is $15 per month or $13 per month with an annual plan. Prime Video is also included in the $23 per month Amazon Prime Student plan. In addition, Prime Video offers channels, which lets you subscribe to channels like HBO, Starz, and Showtime for an additional monthly fee.

7. Apple TV+

Apple TV+ offers a seven-day free trial and pricing of $5 per month. However, this is bundled with Apple One, which offers multiple Apple services for $15 per month (individual), $20 per month (family), or $5 per month (student).