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While theatrical releases have been drawing moviegoers back to theaters, streaming services are keeping our eyes and wallets busy. With feature films, originals and everyday network series available on-demand, it's hard to run out of movies and TV shows to watch. But are you itching for some original content to stream on your brand-new smart TV? Is your basic channel lineup no longer cutting it? Maybe it's time to subscribe to a new streaming service.
Many of these services, including Disney Plus, Hulu, Paramount Plus, Netflix, HBO Max and Peacock, are running deals. Some home internet or cell phone service bundles can get you a free subscription to Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Paramount Plus or Peacock Premium. Meanwhile, students get cheap Hulu and people who buy the new Chromecast with Google TV get three months of HBO Max. Depending on the streaming platform you're eyeing, there could be a good deal out there.
Let's break down the best streaming service deals that are available now.
T-Mobile, through its Netflix on Us perk, has long offered free Netflix on some of its unlimited plans, including Magenta, Magenta Plus and its new Magenta Max option. Older plans, called One and One Plus, also have Netflix included, though exactly which version of Netflix will vary.
Higher-end options such as Magenta Plus, Max and One Plus likely have Netflix Standard (the most popular version of Netflix that runs $15.49 a month and streams in HD) included, so long as you have multiple lines. If you have one line of Max or the base Magenta plan, you'll get Netflix Basic included (that's the non-HD $10 a month version of Netflix). Full details, including what you'd need to pay if you want to upgrade to a higher plan like the 4K-capable Netflix Premium, can be found on T-Mobile's website.
Note: It's one Netflix subscription per T-Mobile account, not per individual line.
AT&T, which owns HBO Max, bundles in the ad-free version of the WarnerMedia streaming service with a number of its wireless, TV and home internet plans. Today, that means you can get a free HBO Max subscription with its Unlimited Elite wireless plan or its Internet 1000 plan. AT&T is also offering three-month subscriptions with its DirecTV Stream Choice packages. Customers with DirecTV Premier, Lo Maximo or AT&T U-verse 450 are also eligible for free HBO Max.
Beyond its existing offers, the telecom giant also includes HBO Max with some legacy wireless offers. Older plans with HBO Max bundled in include Unlimited Choice, Unlimited Enhanced Choice, Unlimited Plus, Unlimited Plus Enhanced and Unlimited & More. Full details for activating HBO Max can be found on AT&T's website.
Note: It's one HBO Max subscription per AT&T account, not per individual line.
If you don't have AT&T, you can save $30 by prepaying for a year of HBO Max. This will make the ad-free option $150 for the year or the ad-supported option $100.
Whereas T-Mobile has Netflix and AT&T has HBO Max, the nation's largest carrier has Disney.
On its recent wireless plans, Verizon includes the Disney Bundle -- subscriptions to Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus that run a combined $14 a month -- with its 5G Play More, 5G Do More and 5G Get More unlimited plans, as well as for customers with non-5G Get More or Play More plans since August 2020. Other plans, such as its most affordable Start and Do More plans, have six months of Disney Plus included, but not the bundle.
Verizon allows mixing and matching unlimited plans, so as long as one line on your account has a Play More or Get More plan, you will be able to get the perk. Note that it is only one Disney subscription per Verizon account, not per individual line.
The deal works for both new and existing Disney Plus subscribers, so if you already have a subscription you can either cancel or, if you have the six-month trial, have the Verizon subscription run first and then have your regular subscription continue after.
Those with a non-5G Play More Unlimited or Get More Unlimited plan from before August 2020 have been able to get Disney Plus for one year, though if you haven't activated it yet you'd only get six months of Disney Plus. If you switch to the updated version of either plan you'll be able to get the Disney Bundle.
Cricket Wireless, which is owned by AT&T, has added a new deal that will bundle a subscription to the ad-supported version of HBO Max with the carrier's $60-a-month unlimited plan.
Although this version has ads and lacks 4K, offline downloads and the ability to stream new Warner Bros. releases when they hit theaters, you do get access to all HBO content as well as Max originals such as Gossip Girl, Titans and The Flight Attendant.
Note: It's one HBO Max subscription per Cricket account, not per individual line.
In addition to offering free Netflix, T-Mobile has added a new perk for some of its plans: a free 12-month subscription to Apple TV Plus. Normally $5 a month, the deal will be available to new and existing T-Mobile customers who have one of a variety of plans.
This includes the company's more well-known Magenta and Magenta Max offerings as well as some specialized plans like Magenta 55 Plus, Magenta Military, Magenta First Responders and small business customers with T-Mobile for Business accounts. Those with a Sprint Unlimited Plus or Sprint Premium plan can also get a free year of Apple's streaming service.
The deal is available until July 31.
T-Mobile is giving new and existing customers -- including ones with older T-Mobile or Sprint plans or T-Mobile Home Internet -- a free year of Paramount Plus Essentials on the carrier. Normally $5 per month (or $50 if paid annually), this version of the streaming service includes access to live games from the NFL and Champions League as well as "tens of thousands of episodes and movies."
It's worth noting that the Essentials plan has ads when watching on-demand content. It also lacks the ability to watch your local CBS station live, or the option to download shows and movies to watch offline.
Are you a baseball fan? MLB.TV costs $140 per year, but customers with T-Mobile, Sprint or Metro by T-Mobile can receive a free one-year subscription to stream Major League Baseball games and events. Opening Day is April 7, so the deal arrives days before the 2022 season kicks off.
From April 5 through April 12, customers can redeem the limited-time offer through the T-Mobile Tuesdays app. Bear in mind that you won't be able to stream live games in your local market with MLB TV, including those on local regional sports networks or games airing on national platforms like ESPN or TBS.
Metro by T-Mobile includes a subscription to Amazon Prime with its $60 per month Unlimited plan. In addition to two-day free shipping, this also means you'll have access to Prime Video's streaming library -- everything from The Boys and Upload to Thursday night NFL games this fall.
In addition to Prime, the plan also includes 100GB of Google One storage and 15GB of mobile hotspot.