Streaming Services Now Cost Americans $70 a Month — and It’s Starting to Feel Like Cable Again
The golden age of cheap, ad-free streaming is over. The average American household is now shelling out around $70 per month on streaming subscriptions — rivaling or even surpassing what many used to pay for cable.
That’s according to WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo, who says streaming services are using a slow-burn strategy to squeeze more out of consumers without immediate backlash.
“Most people tend not to notice these incremental increases, which is how it works,” Lupo said. “At some point, you’ll be paying twice as much as you were originally.”
As prices quietly rise across the board, streaming is beginning to lose the cost-cutting appeal that once made it the obvious choice for cord-cutters. And analysts warn a breaking point may be near.
Here’s How Much More You’re Paying Today
Disney+
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2019 launch: $6.99/month (no ads)
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Today: $11.99 with ads, $18.99 without
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Bundle with Hulu & ESPN: up to $44.99/month
Hulu
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2010: $8/month
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Today: $11.99 with ads, $18.99 without
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Live TV plan: $88.99 (or $99.99 bundled)
HBO Max / Max
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2020: $14.99 (no ads)
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Today: $10.99 (with ads), $18.49 (standard), $22.99 (premium)
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Three consecutive years of price hikes since 2023
Netflix
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2011: $7.99 (standard)
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Today: $7.99 (with ads), $17.99 (standard), $24.49 (premium)
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Nearly quadrupled in price over 14 years
Prime Video
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2016: $8.99/month standalone
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Today: $14.99/month with Amazon Prime, plus $2 more for ad-free
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Ads introduced in 2024
Apple TV+
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2019: $4.99
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Today: $12.99/month
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Three price hikes in five years
Peacock
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2020: Free tier available at launch
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Today: $10.99 (premium), $16.99 (premium plus)
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Free tier axed in 2023
Paramount+
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2021 (as Paramount+): $4.99 (ad), $9.99 (premium)
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Today: $7.99 (ad), $12.99 (premium with Showtime)
Why the Price Hikes?
Streaming platforms blame rising production costs, billion-dollar shows like Stranger Things and House of the Dragon, and the race to secure exclusive sports rights.
Lupo says Netflix’s price hikes are “tolerated” because of its central role in most households’ content diets. “Content is king, and Netflix is at the top of the mountain,” added Wedbush tech analyst Dan Ives.
But there’s more than just overhead. Shareholder pressure on publicly traded companies like Netflix, and bundled services following corporate mergers, have accelerated the trend.
Is the Streaming Bubble About to Burst?
Industry experts say yes.
“There will be a breaking point,” said Lupo. “People fled cable for streaming. Now it’s feeling like cable all over again.”
Julie Clark, SVP at TransUnion, says customers are already pushing back. According to a TransUnion survey, 38% of consumers cancelled a streaming service in the last six months, citing price increases.
“Relevance drives loyalty,” Clark explained. “People are getting more selective about what they’re willing to pay for.”
As streamers battle for dominance and crank up prices, viewers may be heading toward another great cord-cutting moment — this time, cutting the streaming cord.