Key Takeaways
- AMC+ offers classic programming with ads for just $4.99 per month.
- Discovery+ gives you access to popular cable network content for $4.99 per month.
- Thirteen Passport lets you stream your favorite shows from PBS for just $5 per month.
One of the most frustrating choices that many people face every day is deciding what to watch. This may seem like a trivial issue to many, but for those who want to relax after a long day of work, choosing the right show or movie is essential. Otherwise, you will end up wasting precious time during one of the few downtimes you have in a week. Netflix Or watch the latest shows on Amazon Prime Video It might be a good option, but if it doesn’t work for you, you’ll probably go to bed frustrated.
The same frustration is felt by those who pay the highest rates. Streaming Services The lack of a solid return on investment is why many people cut cable and switch to streaming services in the first place. Of course, if you’re paying for both cable and streaming services, you want to make sure you’re getting the best value for your money. Finding the right streaming service for you often comes down to personal preference and what each service has to offer content-wise.
But when it comes to money, some are much more expensive than others. So, if you’re just looking for some options to watch after work and don’t need all the options available, it’s good to know which streaming services are the cheapest. We’ll take a look at the cheapest streaming services, most of which have ad-supported plans as their base package. These are paid streaming services, not services that are free for everyone. Here is the list.
1 AMC Plus
Check out some of the most famous shows of the past 20 years
AMC
AMC Plus
- original
- Interview with the Vampire, Orphan Black: Echoes
- Live TV
- yes
- Advertising Plan
- yes
AMC has become one of drama television’s premiere networks over the past two decades. Shows like Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and The Walking Dead have captivated viewers and critics, and have won numerous Emmy Awards. With AMC+, you can stream AMC’s classic shows like those mentioned above, as well as new exclusives like Interview with the Vampire and Orphan Black: Echoes. An AMC+ subscription costs just $4.99 per month if you choose the ad-supported package.
AMC+ subscribers also have full access to Shudder, Sundance Now, and IFC Films Unlimited.
This also gives you access to six live TV channels, so you can watch AMC while it’s airing. AMC+ subscribers also have full access to Shudder, Sundance Now, and IFC Films Unlimited. However, the basic plan doesn’t let you download shows to watch on the go.
2 Discovery+
Perfect for reality TV fans
CNN
Discovery+
- original
- Murder Hunters: American Detectives, Investigations and Discovery
- Live TV
- no
- Advertising Plan
- yes
Discovery+ has content from a variety of cable networks, including probably some of your favorites. If you’re a fan of Food Network, HGTV, TLC, OWN, ID, Animal Planet, A&E, Magnolia Network, Lifetime, History Channel, or you like CNN Originals, this streaming service is for you. Much of this content is available on Max. However, if you’re not interested in paying the price of Max, you can still enjoy Discovery+ by paying just $4.99 per month for an ad-supported subscription.
Max’s cheapest standalone package costs $10 per month.
There’s a 7-day free trial so you can try it out to see if it’s for you, or you can upgrade to an ad-free plan for $8.99 per month. Shows like 90 Day Fiance, Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy, and Food Network’s Tournament of Champions are all available. Discovery+ also has original programming like House of Hammer and Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed.
3 13 Passport (PBS)
Watch all your favorite PBS shows in one place
Focus function
13 Passport
- original
- no
- Live TV
- yes
- Advertising Plan
- no
Thirteen Passport is a PBS Passport that gives you access to all current and past PBS programming for just $5 per month. This gives you access to a vast on-demand library that you can stream on any device. To cover this content, you can choose to pay $5 per month or pay $60 per year upfront.
Some of the shows you can enjoy include Sherlock, Downton Abbey, Nova, American Masters, Antiques Roadshow, Madame Blanc Mysteries, etc. Users can also use the service to stream PBS live from select markets.
4 Paramount+
We provide everything at a low price
Photo: Paramount+
Paramount+
- Ad-supported subscriptions
- yes
- original
- Star Trek: Discovery, Mayor of Kingstown
- Live TV
- Yes, but the number of channels is limited
You can take advantage of the Paramount+ free trial to watch all the content they have to offer. There’s a huge amount of content to stream, including live sports, series, movies, and originals. You can choose from Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, Your Honor, Dexter, The Offer, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One, Mean Girls, A Quiet Place: Day One, and more. Star Trek: Discovery is also one of the streamer’s most popular series.
For $8 a month, you can get an ad-limited subscription. It’s called Paramount+ Essential, and it gives you access to the NFL on CBS, UEFA Champions League coverage, and live news from CBS News. But you can also opt for the annual plan for $60 a year, which brings the monthly fee down to $5. That’s a good price for many, but you can also upgrade to an ad-free plan for $13 a month or $10 a month for the annual subscription, and download shows to your device.
5 MGM+
Save even more by choosing an annual subscription
MGM Studios
MGM+
MGM+ features the best films produced by MGM Studios, an extensive library of on-demand selections, and MGM+ Originals, available exclusively to subscribers. Some of the latest MGM films will also be available to stream for the first time on MGM+.
- original
- Billy the Kid, Godfather of Harlem
- Live TV
- no
- Advertising Plan
- no
For fans of MGM Studios or anyone looking for the best movies of the year, MGM+ is the perfect streaming service. It offers the premiere place to stream MGM Studios movies like Challengers and Mean Girls, as well as MGM+ Originals that fans can watch exclusively on the service. These programs include Hotel Cocaine, Billy the Kid, Godfather of Harlem, and more.
There are no plans with ads, so you don’t have to worry about seeing ads. If you pay monthly, it will cost you $6.99 per month. However, if you sign up for an annual subscription, it will cost you $58.99, which is $4.91 per month. This is a price that’s hard to beat.
6 What about free streaming services?
While all of the streaming services we’ve mentioned so far are cheap, there are also many free streaming services available for download onto your smart TV or streaming device, such as a Roku or Apple TV 4K. While the free content may not be the latest, it still offers thousands of hours of entertainment to keep you entertained.
Each one offers something different, and many offer programming for both adults and children. Some of our favourites include:
- The Roku Channel
- Tubi
- Freebie
- Snap
- Pluto TV
- PBS Kids
- Fandango at Home
Many of these can be useful when looking for something to watch, as they offer both TV series and movies, but they don’t allow you to download content, so you’ll need to use a Wi-Fi connection to stream.