As the streaming revolution continues to reshape how Americans consume television, a new survey reveals that cord cutters are paying significantly less than their cable TV counterparts in 2025, spending less than half the monthly amount to satisfy their entertainment needs. According to a comprehensive poll of over 1,900 Cord Cutters News readers conducted in early 2025, the average cord cutter’s streaming bill now clocks in at $70 or less per month—often covering internet and a handful of services like Netflix or Hulu. In stark contrast, cable TV subscribers are shelling out an average of $147 monthly for their TV packages, a figure driven by rising base rates, hidden fees, and premium channel add-ons, per industry estimates and reader data. This widening cost gap underscores why cord cutting remains a dominant trend, even as streaming prices inch upward.
The survey, reflecting responses from a dedicated community of streaming enthusiasts, highlights a seismic shift in viewing habits. Cord cutters typically subscribe to just three streaming services, averaging $16 each, with many opting for ad-supported tiers to keep costs down—bringing their total to around $48 before internet. Meanwhile, cable subscribers face a barrage of extras driving their bills up to $147 or as much as $200 a month just for TV.
This cost disparity comes as no surprise amid broader media trends. Just 28.3% of Americans still use DVDs and Blu-rays, per a prior Cord Cutters poll, while 71.7% lean on streaming—propelled by free options like The Roku Channel (28.2% in a best-free-service survey) and Plex’s new channels like The Bold and the Beautiful. Cable’s woes are evident: 19.4% of subscribers pay over $200 monthly, per an April 1 Cord Cutters News survey, with fees for RSNs and taxes inflating bills by 24%. Cord cutters, by contrast, cherry-pick services helping them to save money.
The savings gap persists despite streaming’s own price creep in SVOD costs from 2024. Yet, cord cutters adapt: 54% use ad tiers (up from 46%), and 39% canceled a service in the last six months, per Deloitte, with Gen Z and Millennials leading the churn at over 50%. For now, cord cutters’ $70-or-less bill—versus cable’s $147—proves streaming’s thrift reigns supreme in 2025.
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