Streaming services have been steadily increasing their subscription costs, making it harder for consumers to track their total spending. Over the past three months, services like Peacock, Apple TV, ESPN, Disney+, Hulu, and Apple Music have raised their prices. While individual increases may seem small, such as Peacock’s Premium plan rising from $10.99 to $12.99 per month, they add up significantly over a year.
To manage these rising costs, CNBC staffers share three key strategies. First, they hunt for discounted or complimentary subscriptions through credit card perks. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers free Apple TV and Apple Music subscriptions when activated by June 22, 2027. The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express provides 6% cash back on select streaming services and a $120 Disney streaming credit.
Second, they use tools like Rocket Money and Quicken Simplifi to track and cancel unused subscriptions. Rocket Money helps identify and cancel subscriptions, while Quicken Simplifi offers budgeting features to visualize spending. CNBC reporter Kelsey Neubauer saved around $8 per month by canceling overlapping subscriptions using Rocket Money.
Lastly, they consider sharing subscriptions with household members to split costs. This approach can significantly reduce individual expenses, especially for services used by multiple people.