Meet Joe. In 2025, Joe subscribed to Netflix, HBO Max, Paramount Plus, Apple TV Plus, Peacock, and Prime Video. He watched the shows he wanted -- and paid for all six services at the same time.
Meet Susan. In 2025, Susan watched shows on Netflix, HBO Max, Paramount Plus, Apple TV Plus, Peacock, and Prime Video too. The difference is that she subscribed to only one service at a time.
Joe and Susan watched many of the same shows. But Joe paid for six services every month. Susan rotated through them over the year.
By the end of the year, Joe had spent nearly six times as much as Susan.
Susan's strategy was simple: subscribe to one service, watch what she wanted, cancel, and move on to the next.
Be like Susan.
The Cost of Subscribing to Everything
Streaming services are individually affordable. But the cost can add up quickly when several are active at the same time.
Here are typical monthly prices for ad-free plans in the United States.
| Service | Monthly Price (Ad-Free) |
|---|---|
| Netflix | about $18 |
| HBO Max | about $17 |
| Paramount Plus | about $13 |
| Apple TV Plus | about $13 |
| Peacock | about $14 |
| Prime Video (standalone) | about $12 |
Keeping all six active would cost roughly $85 to $90 per month.
That works out to around $1,000 per year.
And that is just six services. Many households subscribe to even more.
Another Way to Lower Costs
Many streaming services also offer lower-priced ad-supported plans.
For example, Netflix, HBO Max, Paramount Plus, and Peacock all offer ad-supported tiers that cost several dollars less per month.
For viewers who do not mind occasional commercials, those plans can reduce the monthly bill even further.
However, even with ad-supported plans, keeping several subscriptions active at the same time can still add up quickly. That is where Susan's strategy comes in.
Susan's Strategy
Susan still watched all the same shows. She simply spread those subscriptions across the year.
Instead of keeping every service active at once, she subscribes to one service at a time.
Her viewing schedule might look something like this:
| Month | Service |
|---|---|
| January | Netflix |
| February | HBO Max |
| March | Paramount Plus |
| April | Apple TV Plus |
| May | Peacock |
| June | Prime Video |
After June, the cycle can repeat.
Because streaming shows usually remain available for long periods, Susan rarely misses anything. She simply watches shows when she subscribes to that service.
Instead of paying for six services every month, she pays for them one at a time.
The Role of Free Streaming
The one-service-per-month approach works even better because there is so much free content available.
Free ad-supported streaming services such as Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel offer thousands of movies and television episodes without a subscription.
These platforms often include:
- older television series
- movies from major studios
- themed streaming channels
- niche programming that can be surprisingly good
There is also a large amount of free viewing on YouTube.
During a "Netflix month," for example, Susan can binge Netflix while also discovering movies or shows on free platforms.
Why This Strategy Works
Most streaming shows do not disappear quickly. Series usually remain available for months or years.
That means viewers rarely lose access by waiting.
Instead of paying for every service at once, rotating subscriptions spreads those services across the calendar.
Joe and Susan both watched the same shows.
Joe paid for six services every month.
Susan paid for six services over the course of the year.
A Simple Rule to Try
If you want to test this strategy, start with one rule:
Only subscribe to one paid streaming service at a time.
Choose one platform. Watch everything you want. Cancel before the next billing cycle. Then switch to a different service the following month.
It takes a little planning, but the savings can be substantial.
What's Next
Rotating subscriptions is only one way to reduce streaming costs. In future articles we will also explore:
- when it makes sense to keep an "anchor" streaming service
- how free streaming platforms can fill viewing gaps
- streaming services that may already be included with other memberships
- ways to lower costs using ad-supported plans
For many households, however, the simplest strategy is also the most effective.
Subscribe to one service. Watch it. Cancel it. Repeat.