The Top 5 Streaming Services Cost $70 per Month Combined. Can You Get Them for Less?

When streaming first started, it was advertised as a way to break the hold of cable TV -- while reducing your monthly costs. And streaming can still be a great way to get on-demand entertainment at a lower price than cable.

However, that becomes less true as you add on more services. Let's take a look at the average costs, then look at ways to reduce your streaming bills.

A total monthly cost of $70 (plus taxes)

While individual streaming services may not seem very expensive, they can add up quickly if you're stacking multiple services. Here's a look at five of the most popular:

As you can see, doubling down -- or, more precisely, quintupling down -- on your streaming services adds up to a whopping $70 a month. Sure, that's still cheaper than a lot of cable packages, so your finances are likely better off. But it's definitely more than most people probably realize they're spending.

And it's worth noting that those aren't even the most expensive options for many of these services. For instance, you'll need to pay for higher tiers of service for Max and Netflix if you want 4K video or extra simultaneous streams.

Ways to save on streaming services

My favorite way to save on streaming services overall is to cycle them. This means getting one streaming service this month, watching all the new stuff, then canceling it and getting something else next month. That way, you're only ever paying for the stuff you're actively watching, and you always have something new to watch.

Another great way to save on nearly any streaming service is to use the right rewards credit card. You can find awesome cards with bonus rewards that offer up to 6% cash back on streaming services.

Here are a few more ways to cut streaming costs, broken down by the specific service.

Max (formerly HBO Max)

Folks who don't mind sitting through ads can get the ad-supported plan for $9.99 a month. You won't be able to download shows or movies to watch later, however.

If you really like Max and know you'll want to keep it year-round, the best way to get a deal on a Max subscription is to get the annual plan. While it costs more upfront -- the mid-tier ad-free plan is $149.99 a year -- you'll save overall, since that breaks down to just $12.50 a month. That's $3.50 a month in savings, or more than $40 a year.

Another way to save is to look for deals in your credit card issuer's savings portal. For example, if you have an American Express credit card, check your Amex offers every few weeks. I see Max credits show up on my Amex cards regularly.

Netflix

Netflix isn't huge on offering discounts, and it's cracking down hard on account sharing, so there aren't a lot of ways to save here. Your main option will be to downgrade to the ad-supported plan, which costs $6.99 a month.

That said, if you don't mind watching a few Netflix ads and you're a T-Mobile subscriber, you could already be eligible for a free subscription. Certain T-Mobile plans come with ad-supported Netflix Basic free as part of the service.

Disney+ and Hulu

Both Disney+ and Hulu offer ad-supported plans for a discount ($7.99 a month, each), so if you only watch one service, this could be a good savings option.

By far the better way to save -- especially if you like both services -- is to get the Disney Bundle. There's the Disney Bundle Duo Basic, which is the ad-supported version of both services combined for $9.99 a month. If you want an ad-free experience, the Disney Bundle Trio Premium offers Disney+ and Hulu ad-free, plus ESPN+ (with ads) for a total of $19.99 a month.

Oh, and don't forget to use your eligible American Express card if you subscribe to a Disney Bundle:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Get up to $20 a month in statement credit for eligible Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, or Disney Bundle purchases made with your card (terms apply, enrollment required).
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Receive up to $7 a month in statement credit when you spend at least $9.99 a month on an eligible, auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription (terms apply, enrollment required).
• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Receive up to $7 a month in statement credit when you spend at least $9.99 a month on an eligible Disney Bundle subscription (terms apply, enrollment required).

Finally, if you're a Verizon mobile subscriber, you could add a Disney Bundle to your bill for a discounted price. Your savings may vary based on your plan.

Paramount+

As with the other services, you can get an ad-supported version of Paramount+ for less; Paramount+ Essential is just $5.99 a month. It also offers an annual plan that costs $59.99 a year, which breaks down to $5 a month.

Speaking of annual plans, if you want to keep your ad-free plan but still save, get the annual subscription at $119.99 a year. That works out to $10 a month, which saves you $2 a month or $24 a year.

Alternatively, if you're happy with the ad-supported option and you happen to have a Walmart+ subscription, you're in luck. A Walmart+ subscription now includes Paramount+ Essential for free. Simply sign up through your Walmart+ account.

Worth the cost?

One last tip: Audit your streaming services regularly. If you haven't watched a particular service in a while, consider canceling it for at least a few months. Then, if you resubscribe later, you'll have all new content to watch.