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What the 2026 price evidence confirms
The clearest comparisons are those that identify the U.S. plan, its old and new monthly prices, and when the change applies. The examples below do not make up a complete or consistently comparable ranking of eight services.
| Service and offer | What is established | Timing and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Peacock Premium Plus | Peacock’s official help page lists $19.99 per month, up from $16.99: an increase of $3 per month, or about 18% of the former price. | Peacock says the standalone plan change took effect August 18, 2026. The Apple TV and Peacock bundle has a separate price-change date of September 1, 2026; that bundle is not the standalone plan. |
| Prime Video Ultra | Amazon’s U.S. ad-free add-on costs $4.99 per month starting April 10, 2026. Fortune reports the prior ad-free add-on cost $2.99, making the increase $2 per month, or about 67% of the former add-on price. | This is an optional ad-free Prime Video add-on increase, not a Prime membership increase. Amazon says the cost of Prime membership did not change. |
| Disney+ | The U.S. help page lists prices for new subscriptions, but the available page excerpt does not provide the previous price needed to calculate a 2026 increase. | Listed prices apply to new subscriptions starting August 20, 2026. Subscribers who joined earlier see the price change on or after October 21, 2026. |
| Hulu | The U.S. help page’s available excerpt does not establish a previous price for a 2026 comparison. Fortune reports that Hulu’s ad-supported plan rose to $11.99 on October 21, 2025; that is a 2025 change, not evidence of a 2026 increase. | Hulu says listed prices apply to new subscriptions from September 23, 2026, and existing subscribers see the change on or after October 21, 2026. |
| Netflix | S&P Global Market Intelligence reports U.S. price increases across Netflix tiers in March 2026. The available evidence does not supply the full old-and-new plan prices needed to compare the increases. | Exact plan amounts and dates require confirmation against Netflix’s primary announcement before a tier-by-tier ranking. |
| Paramount+ | S&P Global Market Intelligence reports that Paramount+ rolled out U.S. increases in January 2026. A complete before-and-after plan comparison is not established here. | Exact plan amounts and dates require confirmation against a primary announcement. |
| Apple TV | Tom’s Guide reports a monthly price of $14.99 following an increase. The available evidence does not include an Apple primary-source confirmation. | The reported increase date is August 29, 2026; treat the figure as secondary reporting, not as independently confirmed here. |
| HBO Max | Fortune’s comparison describes an October 2025 increase, including its Standard ad-free plan reaching $18.49. | This is a 2025 price change, not evidence of an HBO Max increase in 2026. |
Sources: Peacock’s official price-change help page; Amazon’s Prime Video Ultra announcement; Fortune’s comparison of streaming price changes; Disney+ U.S. price page; Hulu U.S. price page; S&P Global Market Intelligence; Tom’s Guide’s Apple TV report.
Why there is no reliable “worst offender” ranking yet
“Worst” has at least two reasonable meanings: the largest increase in dollars or the largest increase as a percentage of the old price. Those can produce different rankings. To compare services fairly, use the same geography, billing cadence, plan tier, and baseline date, then calculate both measures:
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#1 Best Overall
- HD streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Compact without compromises: The sleek design of Roku Streaming Stick won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
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- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
- Dollar increase: new monthly price minus old monthly price.
- Percentage increase: dollar increase divided by old monthly price, multiplied by 100.
For example, Peacock Premium Plus’s listed $3 increase is about 18% of its former $16.99 monthly price. The Prime Video add-on’s reported $2 increase is about 67% of its former $2.99 monthly price. These figures compare different kinds of offers—a streaming plan and an optional ad-free add-on—so they do not establish which service is the overall worst offender. A complete comparison also needs verified old and new prices for every service and must not mix annual rates, bundles, and monthly standalone subscriptions.
How to check whether a notice changes your bill
- Identify the exact offer. Check whether the notice is for the standalone service, a bundle, or an optional upgrade such as Prime Video Ultra.
- Check your billing cadence and plan. A monthly plan and an annual plan are not directly comparable; neither are different tiers of the same service.
- Read the effective date for your account. Disney+ and Hulu distinguish dates for new subscriptions from the later date existing subscribers may see a change. A posted price does not necessarily mean every current customer is billed that price immediately.
- Compare like with like. Use the old and new prices for the same plan and calculate both the dollar and percentage change.
- Review the account’s renewal details before deciding. Use the service’s current account or billing page to confirm the amount and date that apply to your subscription.
What the broader spending figures do—and don’t—show
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s December 2025 affordability snapshot reported that consumer reports put average U.S. streaming spending at $69 per month in 2025, 13% and nearly $100 more than in 2024. The Committee document cites consumer reports; the excerpt does not identify the original survey publisher, so this is a figure reported by the Committee, not a survey conducted by the Committee.
Rank #2
- Advanced 4K streaming - Elevate your entertainment with the next generation of our best-selling 4K stick, with improved streaming performance optimized for 4K TVs.
- The newest Fire TV experience (2026) – Our biggest update to Fire TV has a new, modern design that gets you to your entertainment fast. Browse dedicated content categories, pin more of your favorite apps, and get personalized recommendations from Alexa+. Spend less time scrolling, and more time watching.
- Cloud gaming, no console required – Stream Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Hogwarts Legacy, Outer Worlds 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, and hundreds of games on your Fire TV Stick 4K Select with Xbox Game Pass and Luna via cloud gaming. Xbox Game Pass subscription and compatible controller required. Each sold separately.
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S&P Global Market Intelligence reported a 4.6% compound annual growth rate for entry-level monthly streaming prices from 2020 to 2026, with service-specific rates of 14.6% for Apple TV, 11.9% for Peacock, and 10.4% for Hulu. These are long-term growth rates, not 2026 year-over-year increases for those services.
Sources: U.S. Senate Committee affordability snapshot; S&P Global Market Intelligence analysis.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 4K streaming made simple:With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- 4K picture quality: With Roku Streaming Stick Plus, watch your favorites with brilliant 4K picture and vivid HDR color.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
Rank #4
- Stunning 4K and Dolby Vision streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Breathtaking picture quality: Stunningly sharp 4K picture brings out rich detail in your entertainment with four times the resolution of HD. Watch as colors pop off your screen and enjoy lifelike clarity with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
- Seamless streaming for any room: With Roku Streaming Stick 4K, watch your favorite entertainment on any TV in the house, even in rooms farther from your router thanks to the long-range Wi-Fi receiver.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, so you can switch from streaming to gaming with ease. Plus, it’s designed to stay hidden behind your TV, keeping wires neatly out of sight
Rank #3
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
