At a Glance
- Netflix keeps its crown with originals like Wednesday and Squid Game despite price hikes.
- Disney Plus bundles soar to $45/month for ad-free, ESPN-heavy plans.
- Apple TV locks prestige titles like Severance at the lowest ad-free price: $13/month.
Why it matters: Picking the wrong plan can cost $500+ yearly-these facts show where every dollar goes.
Streaming wars are now a pricing maze. News Of Los Angeles tested every major platform to find the best of 2026, weighing catalogs, features and real-world value. The verdict is in, and the gaps are bigger than ever.
Netflix: Still the Default
Netflix starts at $8 with ads; ad-free climbs to $23. You get up to 4 simultaneous streams on Premium. The library leans on weekly drops-think Stranger Things, Bridgerton, WWE Raw-and hidden-code Easter eggs. Mobile games and 4K HDR come standard on higher tiers, but password-sharing fees sting.
Pros:
- Intuitive menus
- Global originals in 50+ languages
- Kids’ profiles with ratings locks
Cons:
- Top-tier plan now rivals small cable bills
- Select films skip the ad tier entirely
Disney Plus: Bundle King
Disney Plus charges $12 with ads, $19 ad-free. The real play is bundles: six combos scale from $13 to $45. The costliest adds ESPN Unlimited without ads. Hub tiles group Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar and NatGeo; Hulu and ESPN live inside the same app if you bundle. Bluey, Andor and Daredevil: Born Again anchor 2026 lineups.
Pros:
- One app for Disney, Hulu, ESPN
- Adjustable content ratings per profile
- Day-and-date Fox, FX shows
Cons:
- Ad-free price leap outpaces Netflix
- Mufasa and Deadpool films rotate out fast
HBO Max: Premium but Pricier
HBO Max asks $10 with ads, $17 or $21 ad-free depending on 4K tier. The draw: HBO originals stream same night as cable-The Last of Us, House of the Dragon-plus Discovery reality dumps and every Studio Ghibli title. B/R Sports live games (MLB, NBA, NHL) ride free with Premium.
Pros:
- Same-day Warner Bros. movies
- 4K HDR on most originals
- Share-via-text and continue-watch rows
Cons:
- Looney Tunes library keeps shrinking
- Ad breaks run up to 90 seconds
Hulu: Network TV Speedy
Hulu’s $12 ad tier airs ABC, Fox and FX shows within 24 hours of broadcast. Ad-free jumps to $19; live-TV replacement balloons to $90. Originals like The Handmaid’s Tale, Shogun and Only Murders keep critic scores high. You can stream inside Disney Plus if subscribed to both.
Pros:
- Next-day NBC, ABC hits
- Searchlight and 20th Century films
- Live ABC news feed included
Cons:
- Smaller original slate than Netflix
- Menus glitch on Fire TV sticks
Prime Video: Membership Bonus
Prime Video folds into the $140/year Prime shipping plan; standalone runs $9 with ads, $12 ad-free. Thursday Night Football, The Boys and Fallout headline 2026 exclusives. Channels marketplace lets you stack HBO Max, Starz or Paramount Plus in one bill. Short ad pods average 45 seconds.
Pros:
- Included for Prime shoppers
- Offline downloads on mobile
- Live local news channels
Cons:
- Free and paid titles intermingle
- No student discount on standalone plan
Peacock: Budget NBC Hub
Peacock lists $8 Select, $11 Premium, $17 Premium Plus. The middle tier unlocks 80,000 hours from Bravo, SyFy, Universal Pictures and live NBC sports: NFL Sunday Night Football, Premier League, WWE. Premium Plus adds local NBC station and ad-free playback. Downloads stay locked behind the top tier.
Pros:
- Cheap entry price
- Next-day NBC episodes
- Curated live channels like Game Show Central
Cons:
- Limited 4K HDR titles
- No mobile downloads on lower tiers
Paramount Plus: Nostalgia + Sports
Paramount Plus costs $9 with ads, $14 ad-free with Showtime. Taylor Sheridan universe-1923, Landman, Tulsa King-anchors originals. CBS live feed streams NFL, March Madness and Champions League. The 40,000 TV episodes vault spans Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and MTV classics.
Pros:
- Live NFL and SEC football
- Almost every old Nicktoon
- Live Channels for Star Trek, CBS Sports
Cons:
- Few breakout originals outside Sheridan shows
- 4K HDR only on select Paramount films
Apple TV: Prestige, Ad-Free
Apple TV keeps it simple: $13/month, no ads, every original in 4K HDR Dolby Vision. Library sits under 150 titles, but Severance, Pachinko, Slow Horses and Oscar-winner CODA punch above their weight. Formula 1 joins live slate in 2026. Free trials stretch up to 3 months with hardware or Apple One.
Pros:
- Cheapest ad-free tier
- All originals shot in 4K with Atmos
- Family Sharing across six IDs
Cons:
- Tiny catalog versus rivals
- Android TV app lags behind iOS
Compare the Numbers
| Service | Ad Monthly | Ad-Free Monthly | 4K HDR Streams | Top 2026 Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | $8 | $23 | Yes | Wednesday S2 |
| Disney+ | $12 | $19 | Yes | Daredevil |
| HBO Max | $10 | $17-$21 | Yes | The Pitt |
| Hulu | $12 | $19 | Yes | Shogun |
| Prime | $9* | $12 | Yes | Fallout |
| Peacock | $11 | $17 | Limited | Bel-Air |
| Paramount+ | $9 | $14 | Limited | Landman |
| Apple TV | – | $13 | All | Severance |
*Standalone price; included with Prime shipping
Key Takeaways
- Netflix wins for sheer volume but charges premium prices.
- Disney Plus bundles can save cash-if you need sports and Hulu.
- Apple TV offers the cheapest ad-free path, provided you like prestige over quantity.
- Check your must-watch list first; yearly savings can top $200 by switching tiers or bundling.
