Unfortunately we saw a mass of popular streaming services start adding ad-free tiers to their various product offerings in late 2023. The problem is, some of the non-ad tiers we’ve already been subscribed to and paying for went up in price as well. The only one to hold out until 2024, Amazon began the addition of ads this week to your Prime Video service, unless you pony up some extra bucks. The full Prime service with shipping and other perks ran $14.99 per month ($139 if paid annually) with Prime Video as a standalone product going for $8.99 per month before this upcharge.
If you want to keep that ad free, expect an additional $2.99 per month charge. This hits those that pay monthly and yearly across the board, with no discount for a yearly payment. So regardless, there’s another $35.88 yearly ding to your wallet.
Like we said, Amazon was the last, but not the only by far. And it has us asking whether streaming services still hold their value as an alternative to cable TV packages the way they represented themselves years ago. Cord cutting became all the rage, with folks cancelling or at least reducing their cable TV subscriptions to re-channel that money to streaming services. So is it still worth it to you? Here’s a one stop list for your streaming options as we fire up 2024.
Amazon Prime Video
The last to up the ante, here’s what we’re looking at:
- The full Prime package: With ads, $14.99/month or $139/year. For ad free, $17.98/month, $174.88 if paid yearly
- Prime Video only: With ads, $8.99/month. Going ad-free will run you $11.98/month
Apple TV+
This past fall Apple increased the price of all of their services across the board – TV, Apple Arcade and Apple News Plus.
- Apple TV+: $9.99/month (up from $6.99/month)
Netflix
One of the first to lead the charge, this was the second price hike in as many years. While the Basic plan was removed as a choice for US customers last summer, the latest affects the premium tier. Here’s where we stand:
- Basic: $11.99/month, discontinued for US customers
- Standard with Ads: $6.99/month (unchanged) – 1080p resolution with 2 concurrent streams, 2 download devices
- Standard: $15.99/month (unchanged) – 1080p resolution with 2 concurrent streams, 2 download devices, ad free
- Premium: $22.99/month (up from $19.99/month) – 4K resolution with HDR, spatial audio, 4 concurrent streams, 6 download devices, ad free
- Additional members for your plan: $7.99/month
MAX
MAX had a bit more of a detailed shakeup after moving from HBO MAX to their new moniker, simply MAX. Given the merger with Discovery+/Time Warner, the change was not only to price but content as well. Some content got cut, but the huge Discovery+ library was also made available, giving it a bit more range. Granted, this allows you to cancel your Discovery+ membership, which will save a few bucks.
On top of changing up the tiers, they decreased the features of those already on the $15.99 ad-free tier, lowering the number of streaming devices from 3 to 2, and making the service 1080p across the board, where before some content was available in 4k. Here’s where your choices landed:
- Ads: $9.99/month – 2 concurrent streams, 1080p resolution, 0 downloads for offline play
- Standard: $15.99/month – 2 concurrent streams, 1080p resolution, 30 downloads
- Ultimate: $19.99/month – 4 concurrent streams, 4k ultra resolution, Dolby Atmos audio, 100 downloads
Also remember, if you subscribe to HBO through your cable provider, MAX Standard is included in the cost of the premium channel.
Discovery+
Like we said, the Discovery+ library was mostly absorbed into MAX, but still exists on its own. Likely because of the overlapping user base, Discovery made some minor price changes:
- Discovery+: $4.99/month (unchanged)- ad supported
- Discovery+ ad free: $8.99/month (up from $6.99/month) – ad free
Paramount+
Paramount+ is another tricky one, mainly due to the absorption of Showtime. The upside is that if you subscribed to both Paramount+ as well as Showtime, you are free and clear to cancel your Showtime on-demand subscription. But if all you need is Showtime, you can stick with just that. Their $9.99 premium tier disappeared, upgrading existing customers to the Paramount+ with Showtime plan. Here’s where we are:
- Paramount+ Essential: $5.99/month or $59.99/ year (up from $4.99/month, $49.99/year) – ad supported, no Showtime
- Paramount+ Essential with Showtime: discontinued
- Premium: Was $9.99/month but discontinued – customers upgraded to Paramount+ with Showtime
- Paramount+ with Showtime: $11.99/month or $119.99/year
Peacock
If you need your NBC fix, Peacock is going to be one for you while Comcast/NBC Universal tries to pick up some more revenue:
- Premium: $5.99/month or $59.99/year (up from $4.99/$49.99) – current shows, live sports, ad-supported
- Premium Plus: $11.99/month or $119.99/year (up from $9.99/$99.99) – Premium plus ad-free, 24/7 access to your local NBC channel
Disney / Hulu / ESPN
Lastly we have this three-headed monstrosity. As the worlds of live sports, UFC, Hulu, Disney, Lucasfilm, and Marvel collide, the number of packages here are outright insane. Depending on your cable or mobile service provider you may be able to get some discounts (Verizon Wireless helps me out huge with this one) but if you’re going stand-alone, here’s what you’re going to be looking at:
- Disney+ Basic: $7.99/month, ad supported
- Disney+ Premium: $13.99/month or $139.99/year (up from $10.99/$109.99) – ad-free
- Hulu Basic: $7.99/month or $79.99/year, ad supported
- Hulu Premium: $17.99/month (up from $14.99/month) – ad free
- Duo Premium: $19.99/month (unchanged) – ad free
- Trio Basic: $14.99/month (up from $12.99) – ad supported versions of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+
- Trio Premium: $24.99/month (up from $19.99/month) – Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ ad-free
The biggest savings for most people will be the Duo Premium tier, and the Trio premium for sports fans. But again, check with your mobile or service providers which may provide heavy discounts.
So there you have it – this is your price table for 2024. So do your math carefully, and like we mentioned make sure to check with your mobile or internet/cable providers that have begun subsidizing streaming plans to provide customer perks.
