Why You Can Trust CNET Best Streaming Service Deals for Peacock, Hulu, Starz and More
Though some platforms are raising prices, these deals can help you save some cash.
Trying to figure out which streaming services to keep for the summer? Spotting the best subscription prices for your favorite platforms can help you decide what to stick with and what to cut. The content landscape is cluttered, to be sure, and whether it's Sling TV, Hulu, Peacock or another streamer, scoping out a great deal will make streaming your favorite movies and TV shows a worthwhile experience.
Peacock, Disney Plus, Paramount Plus and more may have recently hiked their prices, but noteworthy bundle offers are available that can lower your monthly or yearly fees. For example, you can save a bunch for a Paramount Plus subscription by prepaying for the year. Whether you're curious about trying out a new streaming service or you're interested in dropping a subscription or two to save some scratch, these deals may help you find the right streaming TV platforms that won't break the bank.
Here's a look at the best streaming service deals you can get right now.
For a limited time, you can sign up for Starz for just $5 for one month. The service now costs $10 a month after a new price hike. With this deal, you can save a total of $5 off the first month. Stream shows like Outlander, Minx or Power Book II: Ghost, and wait for the arrival of hit movies like Jordan Peele's Nope. New or returning customers are eligible.
Disney Plus Basic is available at no additional cost for Spectrum TV customers with select Spectrum TV packages. To qualify for this perk, you'll need to subscribe to a TV Select package or higher. More details can be found at Spectrum's site.
Disney now offers two bundles that can save you $12 or more a month if you're paying for separate Disney Plus, ESPN Plus and Hulu subscriptions. The $15-a-month Disney Bundle Trio Basic subscription gives you access to the ad-supported versions of all three streaming services. The Trio Premium plan costs $25 per month and gets you ESPN Plus with ads, and ad-free Disney Plus and Hulu.
Sign up on the Disney Plus website. If you've already got a Hulu or ESPN account, you'll need to combine your accounts on your desktop.
Paramount Plus normally runs $12 a month for its commercial-free (and live-CBS-included) offering, while its Essential plan costs $6 a month. Prepaying for a year of either can effectively net you two months free, with the ad-free version running $120 for the year (a $24 savings) and the ad-supported tier running $60 (a $12 savings).
A note: The option to prepay for a year and save isn't exclusive to Paramount Plus -- streaming services such as Max and Hulu also offer discounts if you pay annually.
Fans of Showtime take note, Paramount Plus with Showtime is currently going for $60 a year instead of the usual $120 for an annual subscription. To be eligible, you must be a new or former subscriber and sign up before the deal expires on July 14. This offer is applicable to the first full year of the service, which means you'll need to cancel before the 12 months is over if you don't want to be charged full price for the following year. You can redeem the offer at this link.
The normal price for Paramount Plus with Showtime is $12 for the monthly plan, or $120 per year. Compared to the Paramount Plus ad-supported Essential plan, that's $6 more per month (or $60 more per year). That's a big difference, but it's worth noting that along with Showtime, you'll get live TV from your local CBS station. You'll also be able to download movies and TV shows and limit the amount of commercials that play on live TV and on a handful of shows.
This premium deal is pinged to the release of season 6 of Showtime's hit series The Chi. Subscribers to Paramount Plus with Showtime will also be able to access programs like Yellowjackets, Billions, Dexter and The Curse, starring Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder. For more information on the streaming service, check out our review.
Paramount Plus provides a 25% student discount on its $6 per month Essential Plan that is good for four years, regardless of whether you graduate early. The offer cannot be applied to its Premium Plan or for subscribers who were grandfathered in on the now-discontinued Limited Commercials plan.
The catch? You must be enrolled in an accredited, Title IV higher education institution. To sign up, Paramount Plus will verify your student credentials through a third party. The discount is good for eligible students with new accounts. Those with existing Premium Plan subscriptions have the option to cancel and switch to the Essential plan to receive the special deal.
If you have a Hulu plan that doesn't include the Disney Bundle, you may be eligible to get Disney Plus with Ads for $2 per month. Hulu-billed subscribers can select Disney Plus as an add-on for the reduced rate by visiting their account page.
This discount applies to the basic, ad-supported $8 Hulu plan and for the $18 ad-free version. Verify your account details to determine whether you already have access to Disney Plus and to check if you're being billed via a third party. Go to the Manage Add-ons section of your account page and select Disney Plus. Currently, there's no expiration date for this offer.
Beyond getting Hulu in the Verizon bundle, there are a few ways to save on Disney's other streaming service.
Students will want to check out Spotify's Premium Student offer which combines Spotify Premium, Hulu's ad-supported plan. All told, the bundle would save $13 a month. You need to be a student above the age of 18 who is enrolled at a US Title IV-accredited college or university to qualify, and Spotify works with a third party called SheerID to verify that you're eligible.
You will need to verify eligibility every 12 months, with the offer available for a total of four years. Full details can be found at Spotify's site.
Get access to Peacock's ad-supported tier for just $2 per month for 12 months with a student discount. Peacock Premium typically costs $5 per month. Like Hulu, above, the offer is available to students 18 years or older enrolled in an undergraduate or advanced degree program at a Title IV-accredited school in the US.
Eligibility is verified through SheerID, and the deal can be renewed annually if students meet the criteria. New or existing Peacock subscribers can redeem the offer.
College students who don't want the Spotify bundle can get ad-supported Hulu for $2 a month. Hulu similarly uses SheerID to verify eligibility, with more details available on Hulu's site.
Comcast, which owns Peacock and its parent NBCUniversal, includes a subscription to the $5-a-month Peacock Premium for all Xfinity Internet users who subscribe to its Now TV streaming service. Now costs $20 per month and includes over 40 live TV and on-demand channels. More details can be found on Xfinity's site.
If you're enrolled as a Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards member, you can redeem a reward for a free Peacock Premium subscription. Log in to your account and follow redemption instructions. Xfinity users with Gigabit or Gigabit Plus internet speed service are eligible to receive Peacock Premium for two years at no charge. Sign into your account for instructions on activating your subscription.
Peacock is also now available to Instacart Plus members. Users in the US can receive a free Peacock Premium subscription as a membership perk. Instacart Plus costs $10 per month -- or $100 per year -- and grants members unlimited fast, free delivery on orders over $35. Sign up for Peacock via the Instacart app.
If you don't have Comcast or Instacart Plus, you can get an annual Peacock subscription for either $50 a year for ad-supported Premium or $100 a year for ad-free Premium Plus.