Streaming is about to get more expensive after Disney announced another round of price hikes for Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, and bundle packages.
Beginning on October 21, Disney is raising prices by as much as $3 per month, depending on the plan, and finding alternatives doesn’t have to be difficult. If the news of the price hike is pushing you to look elsewhere, here are six streaming services worth considering.
Peacock
- Starting Price: $7.99 per month
- Free Trial: No. | Try Walmart+ and watch Peacock for 30 Days Free
- Why Watch: NBC/Bravo/CNBC/Telemundo library, WWE Network (in the U.S.) and live sports, events, news & more.
Peacock has more than 80,000 hours of shows, sports, movies, and originals from the strong NBCUniversal catalog. Law & Order, The Office, Real Housewives, NFL, NBA, PGA Tour, and Love Island are just some of the streamer’s highlights. Peacock features more than 50 always-on channels, a dedicated section for kids, and it offers something for everyone, including network TV hits, without paying Disney’s Bundle rates.
Although Peacock doesn’t offer a free trial as a standalone subscription, you can enjoy the service for 30 days free with a Walmart+ subscription.
Prime Video
- Starting Price: $8.99 per month
- Free Trial: 30 Days. | 6-Months Free for Students
- Why Watch: Massive catalog, including originals, live sports and rentable and purchasable releases.
Prime Video sets itself apart from the Disney platform, as it brings an expanding slate of 20,000+ domestic and international titles in a single library. Beyond licensed movies and shows, Amazon Originals like The Boys, Invincible, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Reacher have been critically acclaimed. The subscription includes live sports like the NFL, NBA, NASCAR, WNBA and others. If you need additional content, you can add many of your favorite streaming services to your Prime subscription, so you don’t have to switch between apps. Prime Video also allows you to purchase and rent content that isn’t included in your subscription.
With more than 220 million members worldwide, adding an Amazon Prime subscription gives you even more interactive features and shopping alternatives. With fast shipping, Grubhub+, Prime Music, Prime Gaming, and other benefits, the service practically pays for itself.
New subscribers can try Prime Video for 30 Days. Students and Young Adults (18-24) can enjoy the service for 6-months free.
Apple TV+
- Starting Price: $12.99 per month
- Free Trial: 7 Days
- Why Watch: Live sports, critically-acclaimed originals, star-driven projects and prestige films
Severance, Ted Lasso, Slow Horses, Major League Soccer (MLS), and Masters of the Air are just a few of the notable things to watch on Apple TV+. As an ad-free platform, Apple TV+ sets itself apart from Hulu and Disney with its diverse catalog of critically-acclaimed content and focus on star-driven projects instead of legacy titles or franchises. For ESPN+ viewers, you can find some sports on Apple TV+, including MLS Sunday Night Soccer and MLB Friday Night Baseball.
For those searching for a service that focuses on award-winning originals without the commercial interruptions, and don’t desire a giant back catalog, then Apple TV+ is worth a try. New subscribers can try it for 7 days free or buy an Apple device and get 3 months free. Bundle it with Apple One and you can stream Apple TV+ for 1 month free.
Paramount+
- Starting Price: $5.00 (approximately when billed $59.99 annually) OR $7.99 per month with Essential plan.
- Free Trial: 7 Days. | Try Walmart+ and watch Paramount+ for 30 Days Free
- Why Watch: Mix of linear TV-favorites, live sports, originals, and giant library of movies and shows
Paramount+ compares well to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu because it is best for live sports and a big linear TV catalog. NFL, WNBA, UEFA, Serie A, and in 2026, the UFC highlight a sports lineup worth switching for. As the home of all things CBS, Paramount+ is an inexpensive way to regain live network TV access if you decide to drop the Disney bundle.
Select showtime content is included in the base plan, but you can upgrade to Paramount+ Premium and watch hits like Dexter, Yellowjackets, Billions, and your local CBS feed. The streamer also features over 40,000 titles, including content from legacy networks like MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, CMT, and many others. Gather the family for laughs with SpongeBob Squarepants, Paw Patrol, or enjoy originals like Tulsa King, Mobland, 1923, and other Yellowstone favorites.
New subscribers can try Paramount+ for free for seven days. Walmart+ includes Paramount+, and you can try it for 30 days free.
MGM+
- Starting Price: $6.99 per month
- Free Trial: 7 Days.
- Why Watch: Ad-free, featuring the MGM library, curated premium content and exclusives, with niche favorites
If you’re canceling Disney’s streaming services and want an ad-free alternative, MGM+ is another stellar choice. The lower-priced platform is perfect for movie buffs who love James Bond, arthouse sci-fi, and crime dramas. Featuring a focused collection of titles, including classics and modern hits, it’s a great vaule and alternative to Hulu and Disney.
Cinephiles will want to act quickly; on October 1, MGM+ will increase its price by $3 to $61.99 per year. Grab the annual plan today, at $58.99 for the first year, and you can enjoy commercial-free entertainment for what averages out to less than $5 per month. If you would rather go monthly, new subscribers can try MGM+ for 7 days free at the link below
STARZ
- Starting Price: $2 per month (when prepaying $23.99 annually) or $3.99 per month for three months (when billed monthly)
- Free Trial: No.
- Why Watch: Best for premium, serialized dramas and new movie windows
If you’re thinking about moving on from Disney’s Hulu, STARZ packs a punch with premium dramas, recent theatrical releases, and originals aimed at adult audiences. Whether you want to stream dramas, horror, comedies, or the latest hit blockbuster, STARZ’s library brings exceptional value without filler. T
The ad-free streamer has a rotating selection of titles from Universal and Lionsgate, combined with prestigious originals, including Power Book II: Ghost, Outlander, BMF, P-Valley, and Shining Vale. Switching from the broader Disney ecosystem to STARZ brings a focused, cheaper alternative, which often has discounts and promos. This current 64% discount is only running for a limited time before the price returns to $10.99 monthly.