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Costs of Streaming Networks as of January 2024

We’re past the days of paying a single cable bill for all our television cravings, and now there are more service providers than we have fingers and toes. Turn on your smartTV and you’re able to access a sea of cinema, all the drama and laughs and screams you can handle, all accessible 24 hours a day.

It all comes at a cost, though. Even Hoopla and Kanopy require you to have good standing at your local library. (I still owe my local library $40 for two movies I haven’t yet returned…oops.) Let’s take a look at the streaming networks that offer a decent range of independent films, shorts, documentaries, and those other movies that aren’t considered mainstream, and their current prices as of January 2024.

Keywords: channels, money, prices, streaming

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime offers a 30-day free trial of access to its library.  Following that, prices are as follows:
  • Prime Video: $8.99/mo
  • Prime w/shipping, music, and Cloud: $14.99/mo
  • Prime Annual: $139.00/yr

AMC+

The AMC+ channel offers a 7-day free trial of access to its library, which includes AMC, The Walking Dead Universe, Shudder (horror), Sundance Now, BBC America, and IFC Films Unlimited. Following that, prices are as follows:
  • Monthly, ad-free: $8.99/mo
  • Annual, ad-free: $83.88/yr
  • Monthly, with ads: $4.99/mo

Apple TV+

Apple TV+ offers a 7-day free trial of access to its library. Following that, prices are as follows:
  • Regular: $9.99

Criterion Collection Channel

The Criterion Channel offers a 7-day free trial of Premium access to its library, with no ads and new episodes shortly after they air in Japan.  Following that, prices are as follows:

  • Monthly: $10.99
  • Annually: $99.99

CrunchyRoll

Crunchyroll offers a 14-day free trial of Premium access to its library, with no ads and new episodes shortly after they air in Japan.  Following that, prices are as follows:

  • Fan: $7.99
  • Mega Fan: $9.99
  • Ultimate Fan: $14.99

FilmRise

FilmRise is free with no subscription, available on smart devices through services including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, LG, Xbox, Vizio, Samsung, and YouTube. 

HBO/max

Max is available for free through some cellular service plans, such as with Cricket Wireless. Besides that, prices are as follows:

  • With Ads: $9.99
  • Ad-Free: $15.99
  • Ultimate Ad-Free: $19.99

Hoopla

Hoopla is free with a valid US library card number.

Hulu

Hulu offers plans with LiveTV, Disney+, ESPN+, Espanol, etc.  Students receive a discounted price of $1.99/mo. Besides that, prices for Hulu (only) are as follows:

  • With Ads: $7.99/mo or $79.99/yr
  • No Ads: $17.99

IFC Films Unlimited

IFC Films Unlimited is part of the AMC+ package. The AMC+ channel offers a 7-day free trial of access to its library, which includes AMC, The Walking Dead Universe, Shudder (horror), Sundance Now, BBC America, and IFC Films Unlimited.  Prices are as follows:
  • Monthly, ad-free: $8.99/mo
  • Annual, ad-free: $83.88/yr
  • Monthly, with ads: $4.99/month

Kanopy

Kanopy is free with a valid US library card number.

Magnolia Selects

Magnolia Selects offers a 7-day free trial of access to its library. Following that, prices are as follows:
  • Monthly: $4.99
  • Annually: $49.99

MGM+

MGM+ offers a 7-day free trial of access to its library, which includes Orion Pictures movies (yea!).  Following that, prices are as follows:
  • General: $5.99/mo

Mubi

MUBI offers a 7-day free trial of Premium access to its library, with no ads.  Students receive a 30-day free trial and are able to subscribe for $9.99.mo. Besides that, prices are as follows:
  • Monthly: $14.99/mo
  • Annual: $119.88/yr

Netflix

Netflix prices are as follows:
  • Standard with ads: $6.99/mo
  • Standard: $15.49/mo (extra member slots can be added for $7.99 ea/mo)
  • Premium: $22.99/mo (extra member slots can be added for $7.99 ea/mo)

Peacock

Peacock offers a student discount for its Premium service, for $1.99 for 12 months. Besides that, prices are as follows:
  • Premium: $5.99/mo or $59.99/year
  • Premium Plus (“almost” no ads): $11.99 or $119.99/year

Paramount+

Paramount+ now officially has a SHOWTIME option. Discounts are available if subscription is paid annually. College and University students can receive a 25% discount, but not high school students. Besides that, prices are as follows:
  • Paramount+ Essential: $5.99/mo or $59.99/year
  • Paramount+ with SHOWTIME: $11.99/mo or $119.99/year

Plex

Plex is free with no subscription, available on smart devices.

Pluto TV

Pluto TV is free with no subscription, available on smart devices.

Roku Channel

The Roku Channel is free with no subscription, available on Roku devices.

Sundance Now

Sundance Now is part of the AMC+ package. The AMC+ channel offers a 7-day free trial of access to its library, which includes AMC, The Walking Dead Universe, Shudder (horror), Sundance Now, BBC America, and IFC Films Unlimited.  Prices are as follows:
  • Monthly, ad-free: $8.99/mo
  • Annual, ad-free: $83.88/yr
  • Monthly, with ads: $4.99/month

Tubi

Tubi is free with no subscription, available on smart devices.

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