Streaming subscription price increases continue to roll out across several top services, and Netflix is the latest to bump up its monthly fees. The streaming giant recently announced a price hike, bringing the cost of its Standard ad-free plan up to $20 a month in the US.
The price change, effective immediately for new customers, was announced on March 26, 2026, and impacts all Netflix plans. The new prices are listed on Netflix's sign-up website and will hit existing subscribers on their next billing cycle. The cheapest ad-supported tier now costs $9 a month, and the Premium tier now costs $27 a month.
This puts Netflix's ad-supported tier, previously one of the cheapest options in the streaming game, on par with the base ad-supported Paramount Plus plan, which is also $9 a month. Notably, Netflix's Premium tier is the most expensive stand-alone streaming subscription out there, outside of specific live TV streaming services, which are cable alternatives that offer a large selection of live channels packaged together. HBO Max's Premium tier is one of the pricier stand-alone plans on the market, but even that taps out at $23 a month.
The price hike comes a little over a year after the last Netflix increase, which took place on January 21, 2025. If you're thinking of throwing in the towel on the service, even temporarily, there are a handful of solid Netflix alternatives worth considering. We've rounded up the best alternatives below, whether you're looking for something to replace Netflix's live sports options or to rival the streamer's slate of original series. Our top recommendation gives you two ad-free streaming services for the same price as Netflix's Standard plan.
Disney Plus + Hulu bundle
The Disney Plus and Hulu bundle, formally known as the Disney Bundle Duo, is one of the best streaming deals out there. The two services have risen to the top of the streaming pack since their respective launches, and the ad-free bundle costs $20 a month, the same price as Netflix's ad-free option.
Hulu alone is one of the best Netflix alternatives, bolstered by its substantial catalog of FOX and ABC series ("Grey's Anatomy," "9-1-1") and original, Emmy Award-winning programming ("Shōgun," "The Bear"). Disney Plus helps round out some of its family programming with the full collection of Pixar films and nearly every piece of Marvel and Star Wars content.
Disney Plus bundles are generally some of the hottest deals out there, and you can also bundle in services like HBO Max or ESPN Select/Unlimited for additional savings. It's worth noting that Disney properties, including the Hulu and Disney Plus bundles, saw a price hike in October 2025, so we're thinking that we won't need to worry about subscription increases for at least a little while.
If you're planning to get Disney+ and Hulu ad-free, you'll find major savings by bundling the two together. While a fair chunk of change more a month than the ad-supported tiers, the smooth, uninterrupted experience is much more preferable for really losing yourself in a great show or movie.
ESPN
Live events have become a recent and noteworthy part of Netflix's content slate, with sports front and center. The streaming service hosted the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua boxing match and both Christmas Day NFL games this past year, and snapped up the rights to WWE Raw and the 2026 MLB Opening Night game. The streamer has additional forays into the FIFA Women's World Cup and other live programming in the pipeline.
Sports fans can find similar offerings on ESPN, which carries a selection of programming from ESPN properties across two plans: ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited. Select is essentially ESPN Plus, offering streaming-exclusive programming and a handful of other events. Unlimited carries live streams from the entire ESPN family of channels, including ESPN on ABC content, as well as the aforementioned ESPN Plus exclusives.
Due to its variety of live sports content, we consider ESPN one of the best sports streaming services. The streaming service costs $13 a month for Select and $30 a month for Unlimited. The last price hike was in October 2025, affecting only the Select plan.
ESPN Unlimited has everything from ESPN Plus, in addition to all that the ESPN linear networks have to offer, along with some exclusive events not found on broadcast channels.
Apple TV
It's no secret that Netflix has good original shows and movies. This has been the case since the streaming service launched series like "Orange is the New Black" and "House of Cards" more than a decade ago. The streaming service continues to churn out solid programming, although Apple TV recently dethroned Netflix as the top option for originals in our guide to the best streaming services.
Apple TV's best (accidentally) kept secret is its stellar original TV programming, which often flies under the radar despite generally positive reviews. "Ted Lasso," "For All Mankind," "Shrinking," "Bad Sisters," and "Silo" are just a few of the critically acclaimed and/or award-winning series to hit Apple TV (formerly Apple TV Plus) over the past few years. The streaming service has carved out a particular niche in the sci-fi space, bringing both adaptations like "Foundation" and originals like "Severance" and "Pluribus" to the screen.
The Apple streaming service also rivals Netflix's ability to get big-name movie stars in its TV shows, with Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Reese Witherspoon, and Jennifer Aniston at the helm of some of its most popular productions. Subscriptions cost $13 a month (after a seven-day free trial), and the last price hike came in August 2025 (the first increase since October 2023).
Apple TV may have a limited lineup compared to the more established services, but it's less expensive than other ad-free services and offers a growing selection of critically acclaimed series you can't stream anywhere else. The service also carries select movies and live sports, including MLS matches and Formula 1 races
Peacock
Once upon a time, Hulu had most shows the morning after they aired on TV, and Netflix carried the full past seasons of the majority of popular TV shows. Things started to spread out a bit more around 2019 and 2020, and one of the most notable US Netflix losses came when "The Office" left the service.
If you miss streaming Michael Scott and the folks at Dunder Mifflin (and other classic NBC classics), Peacock might be the way to go. Both Premium and Premium Plus subscriptions can access classic NBC shows like "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation." The NBCUniversal app also grants access to Bravo franchises like "The Real Housewives" and select live sports. Plus, the streamer usually gets recent Universal Pictures, Focus Features, and DreamWorks releases exclusively before they head to other services.
Peacock's ad-supported Premium plan costs $11 a month, while the ad-free Premium Plus tier (which also includes an NBC live stream) goes for $17 a month. There's also an ultra budget-friendly ad-supported plan, Peacock Select, which costs $8 a month. Select plans offer a very pared-down collection of content, excluding movies, originals, and live sports. Peacock prices last increased in July 2025.
Peacock is a convenient streaming source for hit NBC TV shows, Universal movies, and select sports like Sunday Night Football. The service also carries its own slate of original programming.
Philo
At its start, a key part of Netflix's streaming service was about discovering new shows and movies, often just by scrolling and trying something out. For those who are tired of trying new on-demand streaming services and just want to go back to browsing the TV guide (without breaking the bank), it might be worth giving Philo a try.
For $2 less than Netflix's most expensive tier, you can get Philo, one of the cheapest live TV streaming channel packages out there. The service offers 70+ live channels for just $25 a month. The app is lifestyle and entertainment-focused, featuring popular channels like AMC, the Paramount Network, MTV, Nickelodeon, and the Hallmark Channel, while steering away from news and sports networks. Plus, the streamer has an unlimited DVR and solid on-demand selection, so subscribers can watch content at a time that works for them.
Users can try out the base Philo Essential tier for free for seven days before the $25 a month fee kicks in. There's also the Philo Bundle Plus plan, which carries the 70+ channel offering and access to ad-supported HBO Max, AMC Plus, and Discovery Plus for $33 a month.
If you want your streaming service to cost less per month than a single trip for the family to Starbucks, Philo is made with you in mind. It features over 70 channels for just $25 a month, but it is missing popular sports and local networks.
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