YouGov published some interesting research back in April on how we all manage our streaming services ā covering Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, NOW, YouTube Premium, Discovery+ and Paramount+ (though it feels like somethingās missing from that listā¦).
Apparently only 17% of us are disciplined enough to stick with just one service, while a third of us keep several running at once.
So, where do you fit? One-at-a-time, happily juggling several, or only subscribing when thereās something specific you want to watch?
And which service would you drop first if money got tight?
Poll How do you manage your streaming subscriptions?
I stick with one service at a time
I keep several running at once
Rotate - cancel one, sign up to another
Only subscribe when thereās something specific I want to watch
There was a time when I had 5 streaming services running concurrently by mistake. Cancelled NOW, Prime was free but I got subscribed via some dark patterns on their website - naughty Amazon - so I cancelled. Canāt afford Disney+ any more so have a calendar note to cancel before auto renewal. Something had to go.
Add these to Spotify, Duolingo and other subscriptions and it all gets a bit crazy.
Most of the streaming services I have come as part of a package I have with something else, e.g. Disney+ is free cause I bank with a certain bank. The only ones I pay for are Amazon Plus (but I signed up for that to get free delivery on everything), NOW (part of the broadband package I have with EE, although I pay for it as an extra). I also have Apple TV as part of my broadband package, but the free trial ends in August, and I will cancel it then because Iāve hardly used it.
Itās so easy to forget about the free trials and then get auto subscribed isnāt it?
I definitely need to be more disciplined and put a note on my diary around subscriptions and renewal dates. Which bank gives you free Disney+?
Iām usually pretty good at remembering the end dates of free subscriptions. I put them in my online calendar and get a reminder a few days before they are due to end.
I have an account with Lloyds Bank. I do pay a small monthly fee for it, but it gives me lots of extras which are worth more than the small subscription fee.
Smashing advice @greenwellys and @Hugh - really useful to see there are ways to make some of the offers work for you rather than just boosting the coffers of the providers!
Itās definitely easy to get caught up in the āfreeā idea - I manage to be fairly disciplined, ideally wait until a series I want to see is wholly out before subscribing and then enjoy watching it in a shortish time. If you manage it carefully - like others have said, notes or diarise renewal dates - itās a good deal cheaper than accidentally not returning a single VHS to Blockbuster in time (instantly ages self!)
