Streaming Costs in 2026: A Breakdown of Major Subscription Prices
According to Tom's Guide, the average U.S. household now shells out $3,350 a year to keep its streaming stack running, which works out to $278.50 a month, up 2% year-over-year per Reviews.org.
Most majors (Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max) are holding current pricing for 2026 after last year's hikes, but Peacock just rolled out another round of increases and Disney is folding Hulu into Disney+ to merge the apps.
The 2026 menu, in actual dollars
Here is where every dollar goes across the major tiers:
- Netflix ad-supported: $8.99/month. Standard (no ads, two screens): $19.99. Premium (four screens, HDR/4K): $26.99. Extra household slots: $7.99 with ads, $9.99 without. Netflix cleared 300 million members by late 2025, so the password-sharing crackdown is permanent.
- Disney+ and Hulu bundle: $12.99/month with ads ($155.88/year), $19.99/month ad-free ($239.88/year). The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select bundle bumped from $17 to $20 (ad-supported) and $27 to $30 (commercial-free).
- Prime Video: $8.99/month standalone with ads, included with Amazon Prime at $14.99/month. Add $3/month to strip the ads.
- Peacock: $12.99/month Premium, $19.99/month Premium Plus — both just went up.
Deals that actually move the needle
Yahoo Tech flagged three live offers worth ten minutes of your time:
- Verizon is handing out free NFL Sunday Ticket through September 23 to eligible customers on Unlimited Ultimate or Unlimited Plus plans, qualifying Fios Home Internet, or premium Frontier Fiber tiers — up to $480 in savings.
- Walmart+ ($12.99/month or $98/year) now lets members pick between Paramount+ or Peacock bundled in. Five free months of Apple Music, Cinemark discounts, and free delivery come standard. One-month trial is $1.
- CNN All Access annual is 40% off for the next week, if 24/7 news is on your must-have list.
Verdict: what to skip, what to keep
If you are paying for all four majors plus Peacock, you are already north of $90/month before any bundle gymnastics. That is the new cable. Honest cuts: drop Peacock if you only watch one reality show, skip Netflix Premium unless four screens actually matter, and stop paying for Hulu separately once Disney folds it in. The Verizon and Walmart+ plays cover two of your most expensive line items for free if you already use those services.
The same cost-tracking discipline that catches a $3 ad-free surcharge applies anywhere recurring fees bleed you. See how that math plays out in a different market with analyzing token unlock schedules for mid-August 2026 market trends.
