AbleProFAIR OR NOT
☰ Menu
Pay · what you’re chargedOwn · what happens after you buyAgree · what you sign or clickTrust · who is really on your sideHelp · getting a problem fixedData · what happens to your informationBrowse by area of lifeReport a problemRead reportsCommon pricing problemsNickel-and-dime tacticsFind your subscriptionsFree toolsGuidesComplain in your stateSearch
Report a problem
Home › Pay › Common problems › Streaming services
Subscriptions

Streaming services

Streaming services are easy to sign up for and easy to forget about. Free trials roll into paid plans, prices rise over time, and add-ons and bundles can make it hard to know what you're paying for. Rotating services and using free options, such as your public library's streaming apps, can save money. Here are the common traps and how to cancel through the right place.

Amazon Prime Video channels: free trials of other services that become separate monthly charges, and why season 2 can cost extra. Read the guide → · Compare add-ons on Apple TV, Roku, YouTube and live TV →

Common problems to watch for

  • Free trials that roll into paid plans without a reminder
  • Price increases announced by email that are easy to miss
  • Ad-supported plans that cost less but still show many ads
  • Add-on channels that bill separately from the main service
  • Signing up through another company, which makes cancelling confusing

Had one of these happen? Telling others what you were charged helps them avoid it.

Report it

Free and low-cost alternatives

Public library streaming appsMany libraries offer free movies, TV, ebooks and audiobooks through apps like Kanopy, hoopla and Libby. Ask your library which ones your card includes.
PBS appPBS's own app streams many shows and documentaries for free. Some extra content requires a station membership.
Over-the-air antennaAn indoor or outdoor TV antenna can pick up free local broadcast channels after a one-time purchase, depending on where you live.
Library DVDsMost public libraries lend movies and TV seasons on DVD for free.

Availability depends on your device and model. AblePro has no relationship with any company named here.

How companies charge more here: Ads in paid plans · Digital “ownership” · Pay-to-shop memberships

What fair pricing looks like

Monthly plans you can cancel anytime are the norm. Paying for several services at once adds up; many people subscribe to one or two at a time and rotate.

Before you pay

  • List every streaming service you already pay for
  • Check whether your library offers free streaming with your card
  • Note the trial end date on your calendar
  • Read whether the price is an introductory rate
  • Check who will bill you: the service, your app store, or another company

How to cancel

  1. Cancel where you signed up: the service's website, the App Store, Google Play, your TV device, or a bundle partner.
  2. Check your card statement to see which company is billing you for each service.
  3. For iPhone sign-ups, go to Settings, your name, Subscriptions. For Google Play, use Payments & subscriptions.
  4. You can often keep watching until the end of the paid period after cancelling.

Step-by-step cancel guide for iPhone, Android and PayPal →

Common questions

I can't find a cancel button on the streaming website. Why?

You may have signed up through someone else, such as the App Store, Google Play, a streaming device, or a phone or internet bundle. In that case, cancel with the company that bills you. Your card statement or the service's account page usually shows who is handling your billing.

Can I really stream movies free with a library card?

Many public libraries offer free streaming through apps such as Kanopy and hoopla, plus ebooks and audiobooks through Libby. What's available depends on your library, and some limit how many titles you can borrow each month. Ask at your library or check its website, then sign in with your card number.

Is it worth switching services month to month?

For many people, yes. Subscribing to one or two services at a time, then cancelling and switching later, can cut costs without missing much. Most services let you rejoin anytime. Keep a simple list of what you pay for and when each renews so nothing slips by.

General consumer information, not legal or financial advice. Reports reflect the experiences and opinions of their writers, not AblePro, Inc. We check reports against our posting rules but do not verify them.