Cutting back on subscriptions can be easier than you think, and it doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your favorite content. After reevaluating my subscription plans, I found ways to reduce my monthly costs while covering all my essentials.

6Share Premium Accounts With Friends and Family

One of the easiest ways I save on premium services is to share accounts. Manystreaming services allow multiple profiles or simultaneous streams, making it possible to split the cost among family or friends.

For example, Netflix offers plans like Standard and Premium, which allow two to four people to watch simultaneously on one account. Each user gets a profile to keep their watchlists and recommendations separate. Disney+ supports up to four streams at once and lets you create multiple profiles. This feature makes sharing an account with friends or family simple without compromising your user experience.

smartphone showing various streaming platform logos

Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Premium also offer family plans, where up to six people can share a subscription. Pooling resources with trusted friends and family can significantly reduce individual expenses.

5Downgrade to More Affordable Plans

Most streaming platforms offer multiple subscription tiers. The premium tiers often include perks like ad-free viewing, higher resolution, or offline downloads. However, if you’re looking to cut costs,consider downgrading to a basic or ad-supported plan to save money.

If you can tolerate a few commercials, this adjustment can save you a significant amount of money over time.

disneyplus bundled plan

4Subscribe to Bundle Plans

Bundles are an excellent way to save money while enjoying multiple services. Companies like Disney and Verizon often combine streaming platforms into discounted packages. Here are a few popular examples:

Bundling saves money and simplifies billing, as you combine multiple services under one payment.

Spotify Premium Student discount page

3Pay Essential Subscriptions Annually

Switching to an annual payment can yield considerable savings if you have streaming services you know you’ll use all year. Many platforms offer discounts for customers who commit to a full year upfront rather than paying monthly. This applies to streaming services and utility services such as VPNs, which can help with streaming geo-restrictions.

This approach works best for services you rely on regularly. For less frequently used platforms, stick to monthly billing so you can cancel anytime.

A hand holding a phone with a headphone and a ‘cancel subscription’ window displayed.

2Leverage Discounts and Promotions

I take advantage of discounts and promotions to enjoy various premium services without paying full price. Before paying full price for a service, first try looking if the service offers the following:

Regularly checking for these promotions ensures you’re always paying the lowest possible price for your subscriptions.

1Cancel Underused Subscriptions

The key is regularly evaluating your habits and adjusting your subscriptions to align with your current needs. Implement these strategies, and you’ll likely be surprised at how much you can save while enjoying top-tier entertainment and services.