Cord-cutting was supposed to save money. A September 9 analysis from Fortune finds that subscribing to the eight major U.S. streaming services without ads now costs $139.41 a month, or $1,672.92 a year. That is only about $4 less than the inflation-adjusted $143 a month the average pay-TV bill worked out to in 2016. With ads, the same bundle runs $89.92.
What each service costs now
- Netflix Standard: $19.99; Netflix Premium: $26.99
- Disney+: $18.99; Hulu: $18.99
- HBO Max Standard: $18.49
- Apple TV: $14.99
- Paramount+ Premium: $13.99
- Prime Video ad-free (with Ultra): $13.98
Netflix's ad-supported tier rose to $8.99 this year, and YouTube TV's base plan sits at $82.99 a month for its 100-plus channel package, with a $64.99 Sports Plan.
How fast prices have climbed
Streaming prices rose 11.8% over the past year and have increased three times faster than general inflation since 2022. Measured from launch, Apple TV is up 200% since 2019, Disney+ is up 172% from its $6.99 debut, Netflix Standard is up 150% since 2011, and Paramount+ is up 50%. After a wave of hikes in 2025, most services are holding prices steady this year, though a few dollar-or-more increases are still expected.
Why people still pay
Churn data from May shows Netflix losing just 2% of subscribers a month and Disney+ 3%, while Peacock sits at 7%. The takeaway from the analysis is that price alone rarely triggers a cancellation. As one line in the report puts it, people cancel the app they stopped opening; the price just decides how long it takes them to notice. Disney is also moving to fold the standalone Hulu app into Disney+ this year, which would shrink the list of separate bills without necessarily lowering the total.
Source: Fortune, Tom's Guide
Photo: Fortune (source)
