As streaming prices continue to soar, many of us are either downgrading to the cheaper yet dreaded ad tier or cancelling them altogether. But there are alternative ways to save money on your Netflix subscription and other streaming services. But first, here's a breakdown of how much each pay TV streaming service currently costs:
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Hayu
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Flash
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BritBox
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Prime Video
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Binge
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Link not supplied
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Paramount+
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Stan
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Link not supplied
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Apple TV+
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Disney+
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Netflix
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Link not supplied
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DAZN
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Foxtel Now
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Kayo Sports 
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1. Save on Netflix with Optus
Optus customers not only get discounted access to Optus Sport but can also score Netflix Standard for free. Optus will save customers $16.99 per month on Netflix pricing just for switching or upgrading to the Optus Plus Family Entertainer NBN plan.
These plans offer unlimited data and include an Optus Ultra WiFi Modem Gen 2 modem with 4G backup and a Optus WiFi Booster Gen 2 extender to boost your signal around your home. The modem and extender will cost $0 if customers remain connected for 36 months.
Optus mobile customers who don't score the free Netflix subscription can still save 5% off their Netflix subscription when they bundle two services with Optus SubHub and 10% for three or more streaming subscriptions.
Here are the different plan speeds available on the Optus Plus Family Entertainer NBN plan:
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#1
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Optus
Optus Plus Family Entertainer Fast nbn®
$110/mth
Min. cost $110
Link not supplied
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#2
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Optus
Optus Plus Family Entertainer nbn®
$110/mth
Min. cost $110
Link not supplied
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#3
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Optus
Optus Plus Family Entertainer Superfast nbn®
$120/mth
Min. cost $120
Link not supplied
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#4
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Optus
Optus Plus Family Entertainer Ultrafast nbn®
$130/mth
Min. cost $130
Link not supplied
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Without this deal, here's what Netflix's pricing will cost you:
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Standard with Ads | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per month | $7.99 | $18.99 | $25.99 |
| Resolution | 1080p | 1080p | Up to 4K + HDR |
| Simultaneous streams | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Offline download devices | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Extra members* | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Spatial audio | No | No | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | No | No |
Note: Extra members refers to the number of people you can have on your account who don't live at the same address as you. Each extra member slot costs an additional $7.99 per month.
2. Save on streaming with Telstra
If you're looking for a new internet plan choosing Aussie telco giant, Telstra, might be the best way to try a bunch of different streaming services at once for free. Telstra customers who sign up for any tier of its Upfront NBN plans will score a bonus subscription to the following streaming services:
- 12 months of Kayo Basic
- Four months of Spotify Premium
- Three months of Apple TV Plus
- Three months of Flash
- Two months of Binge Standard
- One month of Foxtel Now
You can also add Netflix to your Telstra account so that you only have one bill, but Telstra doesn't currently have any Netflix discounts.
Here are Telstra's eligible plans for internet and TV bundling:
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#1
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Telstra
Upfront Internet Plan Basic
$89/mth
Min. cost $89
Link not supplied
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#2
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Telstra
Upfront Internet Plan Basic (Fixed Wireless)
$89/mth
Min. cost $89
Link not supplied
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#3
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Telstra
Upfront Internet Plan Essential (Fixed Wireless)
$105/mth
Min. cost $105
Link not supplied
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#4
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Telstra
Upfront Internet Plan Essential
$105/mth
Min. cost $105
Link not supplied
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#5
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Telstra
Upfront Internet Plan Premium
$110/mth
Min. cost $110
Link not supplied
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#6
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Telstra
Upfront Internet Plan Ultimate
$130/mth
Min. cost $130
Link not supplied
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#7
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Telstra
Upfront Internet Plan Ultrafast
$150/mth
Min. cost $150
Link not supplied
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We recommend setting calendar reminders for when your free trials are due to end. The majority of Telstra's streaming trials roll over onto paid subscriptions as soon as they finish so if you're not prepared to continue those subscriptions, your wallet may feel a sting!
3. Downgrade your subscription tier
Thanks to certain streaming services cracking down on password sharing, it may not be in your best interest to have a Premium subscription anymore for the extra screens. We highly recommend coordinating viewing times for specific apps so that you can downgrade your subscription to one screen at the very least.
Another reason to downgrade your subscription price tier is quality. If you find your TV doesn't even support Ultra HD content, then there's really no point in having a Netflix Premium subscription, for example.
Before downgrading a subscription tier, make sure you understand exactly what you're losing access to. It may just mean losing quality and the number of screens but other perks you could be sacrificing include the ability to download content for later, ad-free viewing, or unlimited access to available content.
We also just learnt Netflix Canada has blocked new and returning customers from signing up for its Basic tier. That means if you just downgraded to its cheaper ad tier and really don't like it, upgrading to the slightly pricier Standard tier is the cheapest way to avoid the ads. It's anticipated this change may be rolled out globally.
4. Sign up for annual subscriptions
Some streaming services offer a generous discount if you sign up annually instead of month-to-month. While this does lock you in, if you know it's a service that offers content you'll enjoy year-round, why not save a few bucks?
The four streaming services that offer savings for subscribing annually are BritBox, Disney Plus, Paramount Plus and Prime Video. Here's a breakdown of how much each streaming service charges each month compared to its annual pricing:
| Streaming service | Monthly | Annually | Annual monthly price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple TV Plus | $9.99 | No annual pricing | N/A |
| Binge | Basic: $10.00 Standard: $16.00 Premium: $18.00 | No annual pricing | N/A |
| BritBox | $8.99 | $89.99 | $7.50 per month |
| Disney Plus | $13.99 | $139.99 | $11.67 per month = or the equivalent of two months free per year |
| Flash | $8.00 | No annual pricing | N/A |
| Foxtel Now - Essentials Pack | $25.00 | No annual pricing | N/A |
| Kayo | One: $25.00 Basic: $30.00 Premium: $35.00 | No annual pricing | N/A |
| Netflix | Standard with ads: $6.00 Basic: $10.99 Standard: $16.99 Premium: $22.99 | No annual pricing | N/A |
| Paramount Plus | $8.99 | $89.99 | $7.50 per month |
| Prime Video | $9.99 | $79.99 | $6.67 per month |
| Stan | Basic: $10.00 Standard: $16.00 Premium: $21.00 | No annual pricing | N/A |
5. Cycle your streaming subscriptions
Another way to save on streaming services is to cycle through them. Keep a watchlist, binge one streaming service and then give it the boot for a few months. Or figure out when your favourite shows like House of the Dragon, Good Omens or Ted Lasso are scheduled to come back and only sign up to make the most of them.
Optus SubHub makes it incredibly easy to do this by consolidating all your services into one location. Simply load in the streaming services you have and away you go. Plus all your services are bundled into one easy payment. So if the price looks a bit high, it may be time to cull a few.
Streaming service FAQs
What streaming service is the cheapest?
Shudder is the cheapest streaming service available, only costing $6.99 per month for access to its extensive horror-themed library.
What is the cheapest way to get Kayo?
Currently, Telstra is offering a 12-month subscription to Kayo Basic to its Personal customers who sign up for a new internet plan.
What is the cheapest way to get Netflix?
Currently, Optus is offering a bonus Netflix Standard subscription to new and upgrading customers on its Optus Plus Family Entertainer NBN plan.
Do I need a streaming device if I have a smart TV?
Yes, you may still need a streaming device, depending on which streaming service you're trying to access and how smart your TV is.
Below we have a handy breakdown to help you work out which streaming services are compatible with your TV, console or streaming device:
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| Apple TV (2015+) | * | ||||||||||
| Telstra TV | |||||||||||
| Fetch TV | |||||||||||
| Chromecast | ** | *** | |||||||||
| Hubbl | |||||||||||
| Amazon Fire devices | |||||||||||
| PlayStation 4 | |||||||||||
| PlayStation 5 | |||||||||||
| Xbox One | |||||||||||
| Xbox Series X |
* Foxtel Now is only available through Airplay, and not as a standalone app.
** Chromecast 1st Generation is no longer supported by Kayo. For optimal streaming using Chromecast, Kayo recommends Chromecast Ultra and latest 3rd generation.
*** Foxtel Now is streamed through the Foxtel GO app.
Legend
Streaming Device Compatibility
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| Apple TV (2015+) | ||||
| Telstra TV 3 | ||||
| Fetch TV | ||||
| Chromecast | ||||
| Hubbl | ||||
| Amazon Fire devices | ||||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| PlayStation 5 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| Xbox Series X |
Legend
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Netflix
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Stan
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Amazon Prime Video
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Disney +
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