Cord Cutters News and the Most Popular Streaming Apps

A recent report from Cord Cutters News, based on a poll of over 1,200 readers, lays out the nine most popular streaming services among cord-cutters. These survey results paint a picture of a diverse and fragmented streaming landscape, where the average user relies on a mix of platforms for entertainment.

The top services, by percentage of readers who report using them, are:

• Amazon Prime Video: 61.1%
• Netflix: 53.9%
• Paramount Plus: 50.6%
• Peacock: 46.6%
• Hulu: 45.1%
• YouTube: 43.5%
• Disney Plus: 37.7%
• HBO Max: 33.9%
• Apple TV Plus: 24.1%

The Anecdotal Reality of Access vs. Use

What's fascinating about a list like this is that it measures access, not necessarily usage. As a veteran cord-cutter, my own subscriptions offer an anecdotal contrast, highlighting how many services are acquired through cost-saving bundles or free benefits rather than individual payment. This often means that an app's popularity doesn't always translate to daily viewing.

A Look at My Own Viewing Habits

Here is how my own use relates to the popularity of these nine services:

• Amazon Prime Video: Despite being the most popular on the list, I rarely watch Prime Video. I receive access to the service as a complimentary benefit of my Amazon Prime subscription.
• Netflix: As popular as it is, Netflix is another major service that I simply do not watch.
• Paramount Plus: I don't watch a lot of content on Paramount Plus, but I like it better than Prime Video. I receive the Essential tier for free as a benefit of my Walmart Plus membership.
• Hulu, Disney Plus, and HBO Max: I receive all three of these services as part of a single, discounted bundle subscription.
• Peacock: I rarely watch Peacock and won't pay for it.
• Apple TV Plus: This is a service that I do not watch or subscribe to.
• YouTube: I do watch content on YouTube.

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The poll confirms that nearly all cord-cutters are stacking services. But the key takeaway for anyone trying to cut costs is to look beyond the subscription price and consider the true source of your access. If an app is a free perk, its low usage is less concerning than if you were paying for it outright. My Streaming Life is about strategically bundling and leveraging my existing retail memberships to get the most content for the least amount of dedicated streaming spend.