Streaming services are a dime a dozen these days, and it feels like every time you turn around, a new one pops up or a merge happens. While there are still big ones like Disney Plus and Netflix, tons of other companies are jumping on the bandwagon to create their own apps and streaming subscriptions. This forces users to either subscribe to these new services to keep up with their favorite shows or miss out on new episodes altogether.
While streaming was once a good option to turn to for those looking to cut the cord and move away from cable, keeping up with all your favorite TV show services has become much more expensive. However, there is a smart tip or habit you can adopt that will not only allow you to enjoy the streaming services you love, but also save money in the process: subscription hopping. Of course, this is not a new phenomenon, since the notion of “subscription hopping” has been circulating online since at least 2019.
While useful, this process is unfortunately not something you can just set and forget. Instead, it will take a bit of work and you’ll probably want to set reminders, depending on how forgetful you are. If you can get into the habit, it can help you stay organized and save money while still catching up on all your favorite shows.
Subscription Skipping Can Save You Money
The idea behind subscription hopping is to alternate between your favorite streaming services from month to month. This means only subscribing to a service when it has a show or movie you want to watch. Basically, if you’re not actively using Netflix, you should cancel that subscription and use that money for a service that offers the content you want. Plus, if you’re looking for something to watch and discover there’s a new show on Netflix or Disney Plus, you can switch back to that subscription when you’re ready to binge that particular show.
Not sure if a show is ready to binge? There are even websites that can help you see which shows are bingeable and how long it will take you to binge them. This is also an important concept to consider, especially since many shows are now released in a weekly format, even on streaming services.
Many believe companies are using this to try to entice subscribers to stick around longer, with some streamers even breaking up season releases into parts over two months. While you can watch shows week to week, especially if you spend a lot of time online and want to avoid spoilers, waiting until you can binge the entire season and skipping subscriptions can be a great way to watch what you love without breaking the bank.
Planning ahead is essential
The biggest downside to this whole idea is that it requires some planning, as well as limiting yourself to not signing up for multiple streaming services just to access content faster. The planning phase comes into effect when it comes to deciding which shows you want to watch and when you want to watch them. So you need to figure out which shows are on which services you want to pay for, and then decide how many services you want to limit yourself to each month – some people limit themselves to one, while others may accept two or more subscriptions each month.
This can be a good way to figure out which shows you want to watch sooner and which subscriptions you can afford. A simple way to manage this part of the process is to look at what’s coming out in the next few months and then determine which services you want to have. Keeping up with all the new shows on the air can be difficult.
Luckily, it can also be helpful to check out some of the easier miniseries on Apple TV and other services, as it can help you decide how much you can get out of a monthly subscription. Websites like TVMaze and even YouTube can help you filter trailers, and many creators and bloggers also talk about the shows they can’t wait to see.
