Most streaming services offer more than one plan, differing in price, picture quality and features. Picking the right one saves money and avoids surprises.

What differs between plans

  • Whether adverts are shown.
  • Maximum video and audio quality.
  • The number of screens that can stream at once.
  • Whether downloads for offline viewing are allowed.
  • Rules on sharing an account with people outside your household.

Think about how you watch

If you mostly watch on a phone, the highest picture quality may be wasted. If several people watch at once, check the number of simultaneous screens. Frequent travellers may value downloads.

Manage your subscriptions

Keep a list of services and billing dates, and cancel those you are not using. Many services allow you to pause or rejoin later, so you can rotate subscriptions based on what you want to watch.

Read the terms

Plans, prices and rules change, so check the service’s official page before you subscribe.

Takeaway

Pick the plan that matches your habits and review it occasionally. You may find you need less than you think.