The first time I used Netflix again in 2012, it blew my thoughts. A seemingly countless number of movies and TV reveals, immediately out there, for simply $7.99 / £5.99 / AU$8.99 a month in a single Netflix plan? Hell sure. This was the long run. I used to be all-in.
Sadly, as we speak the ruthless scythe of capitalism and shareholder-driven revenue margins have ruined the occasion for us shoppers. Today, I’m paying a relatively eye-watering $22.99 / £17.99 / AU$25.99 a month for Netflix alone, to not point out the opposite finest streaming service subscriptions for Disney Plus, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video.
I do know there are cheaper packages with fewer gadgets, decrease resolutions, or advertisements out there, however it’s the precept. After numerous value hikes over the previous few years, mixed with absolutely the insult of seeing disruptive advertisements on paid for providers like Prime Video, I’ve had sufficient.
Instead of paying for all of them without delay and dealing with the ever-increasing month-to-month prices, I’ve determined that I’m merely going to strategically hop between all of them in 2025 as a substitute. The more and more widespread apply of ‘subscription hopping’ entails pausing or cancelling and re-subscribing to providers as I see match, relying on what reveals and movies my household and I need to prioritize watching every month.
Here’s how I plan on doing it; You’re greater than welcome to affix me in 2025 – vive la (streaming) révolution.
What is subscription hopping?
It may sound like a brand new viral TikTok dance (and for all I do know, it could be), however subscription hopping is the apply of strategically rotating your streaming providers all year long, relatively than staying subscribed to a number of platforms concurrently.
The idea is easy – give attention to one or two streaming providers at a time, gorge your self on its finest content material till you’re satiated, then cancel your subscription earlier than shifting on to a different streaming service’s leisure menu. Delicious.
How to do it
Subscription hopping sounds easy – and it’s, for probably the most half. The key to profitable subscription hopping in 2025 is – as with most issues in life – cautious planning.
You’ll have to maintain monitor of launch dates for any upcoming must-watch content material, like the most effective Netflix films and finest Prime Video films, and be ready to make some powerful decisions about what to look at and when, particularly in case you’ve set your self any limits about what number of most providers you’ll need to have at anybody time. Fortunately, we have finished lots of the heavy lifting for you under.
The finest technique to go about that is to spend a while every month wanting forward at what’s developing. Here on TechRadar we usually spherical up the highest releases on the likes of Netflix by month (simply take a look at what’s coming to Netflix or Hulu in January 2025) – and have made you a cheat sheet for early 2025 under. Do this for all of the providers, jot down what you’re most wanting ahead to seeing, after which determine which of them you’d prefer to prioritize.
3 subscription hopping ideas
1. Cancel instantly after subscribing
This is essential – you’ll need to set your self cancellation reminders to make sure you don’t unintentionally auto-renew any subscriptions. If you positively know you’re solely going for one month with a streaming service, same-day cancellation is an effective way to make sure that you’re not caught out paying for an additional month you by no means wished within the first place. You’ll nonetheless have entry for the complete month, however will not danger forgetting and being charged once more. Win-win.
2. Track launch schedules: One of the best methods to trace launch schedules in the course of the planning course of is to make use of HonestWatch, relatively than looking for every streaming service’s releases individually. We’re additionally followers of planning our TV watching utilizing the Marathon app.
3. Look for bundle offers
Mobile suppliers are more and more providing streaming subscriptions as a part of their packages. Check what your present supplier presents earlier than paying individually. The identical goes for providers like Sky within the UK, which presents a bundled Netflix package deal that’s cheaper than subscribing individually. Make certain to additionally scan the most effective streaming offers to choose up a saving.
As lengthy as you don’t thoughts watching a number of issues a month or so later, this tactic will prevent an absolute bundle of money (bounce to the tip of this web page to seek out out precisely how a lot). You may typically face powerful choices (particularly if there’s a present popping out that you just don’t need to miss the real-time hype on), so select no matter you assume is finest.
There’s no set restrict on what number of providers you need to restrict your self to both. The hardcore technique is, in fact, only one service at a time, however there’s nothing stopping you from two or three a month, relying in your funds/wants. You can at all times have heavier months with a number of subscriptions too, and lighter months throughout content material droughts or while you’re away on vacation. The energy is all in your palms.
As for my private techniques over the subsequent few months, I’ve seemed forward at among the main streaming service releases in January and February. There’s not a lot on Prime that’s drawing me in, however Severance season two and Killers of The Flower Moon are two heavy hitters, singing their candy siren track over from the Apple TV Plus waters. Tempting as they’re although, Castlevania: Nocturne simply trumps them each, a minimum of for me. I’ve been eagerly awaiting its launch ever since I binged the final season instantly after its launch, so it’s positively my precedence when the New Year rolls round. Severance and co. can wait until February in my case.
This, in reality, works out relatively properly for me, as a result of whereas there are a number of temptations on Apple TV Plus, Netflix, and Prime Video in February (Earthsounds, and The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep specifically sound nice), I’m blocking February out for Apple TV Plus to take pleasure in Severance and Killers of the Flower Moon as a substitute.
Carry out an analogous vetting course of each month or so, and also you’ll be set for a yr of fantastically prioritized, extra reasonably priced house leisure.
Our 2025 cheat sheet
Of course, your tastes might effectively fluctuate from mine, so this is a helpful information to among the finest new reveals which are touchdown on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus within the subsequent few months.
| Month | Service | Shows / notes |
| January | Apple TV Plus | Severance season 2 (Jan 17), Prime Target season 1 (January 22), Mythic Quest season 4 (Jan 29) |
| January | Netflix | Cunk on Life (Jan 2), Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Jan 3), American Primeval season 1 (Jan 9), Castlevania: Nocturne season 2 (Jan 16), The Night Agent season 2 (Jan 23), The Recruit season 2 (Jan 30) |
| January | Prime Video | The Rig season 2 (Jan 2), You’re Cordially Invited (Jan 30) |
| January | Peacock | The Traitors season 3 (Jan 9) |
| January | Max | The Front Room (Jan 3) Harley Quinn season 5 (Jan 16), A Different Man (Jan 17) |
| January | Disney Plus / Hulu | Goosebumps: The Vanishing season 1 (Jan 10), High Potential season 1 (Jan 23), Paradise season 1 (Jan 30) |
| February | Apple TV Plus | Love You to Death (Feb 5), The Gorge (Feb 14), Surface season 2 (Feb 21), Earthsounds (Feb 23) |
| February | Netflix | Witcher: Sirens of the Deep (Feb 11), Cobra Kai season Six, half three (Feb 13), Zero Day (Feb 20) |
| February | Prime Video | Invincible season 3 (Feb 6), Reacher season 3 (Feb 20) |
| February | Disney Plus | Win or Lose (Feb 19), A Thousand Blows (Feb 21) |
| February | Max | The White Lotus S3 (Feb 16) |
| March | Apple TV Plus | Dope Thief season 1 (March 14), The Studio season 1 (March 26) |
| March | Netflix | The Electric State (March 14), The Residence season 1 (March 20) |
| March | Prime Video | Wheel of Time season 3 (March 13) |
| March | Disney Plus | Daredevil Born Again season 1 (March 4) |
Seasonal binging
Another nice tactic for subscription hopping in 2025, is to time your subscriptions round main occasions. Parents will completely need to be sure that Disney Plus subscriptions are energetic throughout college holidays and Christmas, for apparent causes.
If you’re a daily Amazon shopper, then it additionally is smart to time your subscription round key buying occasions like Amazon’s summer season Prime Day gross sales, and Black Friday streaming offers, which is able to unlock the retail large’s finest financial savings and free super-speedy supply.
Watch On
If you’re away for a protracted vacation over the summer season, it’s additionally price contemplating whether or not you want any streaming providers in any respect. Who wants Hollywood while you’re traversing the majesty of nature?
Ultimately although, there’s no proper or improper technique to go about it, and also you’ll quickly determine the most effective techniques in your wants. I consider in you.
How a lot are you able to really save?
The precise quantity you’ll save varies relying in your present setup and wishes, however right here’s an instance of how a lot I’m set to save lots of by being extra selective with which providers I join:
My present month-to-month prices within the UK are:
- Netflix Premium: £17.99
- Disney+ Premium: £12.99
- Apple TV+: £8.99
- Prime Video: £8.99
- Total: £48.96 month-to-month (£587.52 yearly, or round $737 / AU$1,180)
With my strategic subscription hopping plan in 2025 this may come all the way down to:
- One service per thirty days for 12 months (common value £12.24): £146.88
- Two months of overlapping providers throughout peak seasons (extra £12.24 per thirty days): £24.48
- Total value with subscription hopping: £171.36 yearly
- Total financial savings: £416.16 or round $520 / $835), which is 71% cheaper
Even with out taking any breaks from streaming, and permitting for 2 months the place we would double up on providers, my family remains to be taking a look at a huge saving of over £400 / $500 / AU$800 per yr.
I may go on, however, that is as good a mic drop second as I’m ever going to get. Happy financial savings.
