Streaming Services Are Getting Costlier
You’ve estimated the annual cost of Netflix or Hulu if you hate paying for TV. A Netflix + Hulu subscription costs over $200 per year, with other services adding to the cost.
With the current cost of streaming services, annual price increases for Netflix and Amazon Prime, and new services like Disney+, the future is bleak—or at least expensive. Instead of being alternatives to cable, these services resemble cable companies. Is it possible to avoid streaming services?
Thankfully, you don’t have to pay for Netflix or Hulu to watch Internet TV. You’ll wonder why someone would pay $12.99 per month for a streaming service when many free internet TV options exist.
Use Another’s Login
Streaming services are generally tolerant of account sharing. Most streaming services encourage account sharing within a family, with separate user-profiles and multi-user subscription levels. Then you grab a friend’s login data, make a profile and go to town.
You can even use a friend’s or family’s cable login information to watch content directly from FOX or HBO’s websites. Companies like DirecTV offer streaming portals and an account and password unlock an unbelievable amount of free stuff.
However, using a friend or family member’s streaming or cable subscription can save you money. If you want to escape streaming services and the spectre of cable, you’ll need to find another way to watch free TV.
Some streaming providers forbid sharing with family members, while others encourage it.
Streaming sites like Pluto TV and Crackle are great.
No one will (or can) lend you their login details, so find some free TV. Fortunately, there are numerous free streaming services, most of which offer high-quality episodes and films.
The most popular free streaming services are Pluto TV (with over a hundred live channels showing movies and TV shows) and Sony’s Crackle (with on-demand TV shows and movies). There are commercials on Pluto and Crackle, but so does cable TV! On a Roku or similar device, on a computer browser, on a smartphone or tablet app.
You can also use Tubi, Popcornflix or Yidio. You may also get your fix on YouTube, although finding complete TV programmes episodes will be challenging.
Free Trials are available.
The shows you want aren’t always available for free. For example, Netflix and Hulu provide a month-long free trial. These trials should only be a last resort when picking what to watch. If you don’t terminate your account at the end of the month, you may be charged a fee.
The free trial system can be hacked to work indefinitely. Most streaming services utilise your email address and payment card number to identify you. These services can examine your IP address or the billing address on your credit card to verify your identity and refuse you a free trial if anything questionable is found. You can keep a free trial lasting indefinitely by signing up for it with numerous cards and email addresses. Sadly, this technique isn’t only a morality test; it’s also flawed.
