Best Streaming Service Deals From Verizon, T-Mobile and More
Some cellphone plans include free or discounted streaming services.
Why You Can Trust CNET In an era of Max, Hulu, Netflix, Paramount Plus and Prime Video, there are a lot of places you may want to turn to for entertainment. With subscription prices constantly rising, the cost of signing up for more than one service can quickly rival an old cable bill.
Depending on your cellphone service, however, there could be ways to score discounts on one or more of these options. Some T-Mobile plans can get you a free subscription to Netflix and Apple TV Plus (and one also comes with free Hulu). Verizon provides streaming discounts through a perks system and one of Cricket Wireless' unlimited plans includes ad-supported Max.
Let's break down the best streaming service deals available now from each carrier.
Read more: Best Streaming Service Deals
Verizon
Before Verizon refreshed its unlimited offerings last year, the main way to get a streaming service as a perk was through an unlimited plan that included it at no additional cost. Verizon shook up its perks system, and now customers on Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Ultimate plans can choose from a variety of $10 a month benefits. Home internet customers can also get in on the streaming service savings.
The perks available include the Disney Bundle (Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus), the duo of ad-supported Max and Netflix, Apple One with Apple TV Plus included and a Walmart Plus membership with ad-supported Paramount Plus included.
All of Verizon's perks are a flat $10 and each line on an unlimited plan that qualifies can pick as many of them as they want. Ad-based Max and Netflix, in comparison, typically run $17 combined. An Apple One Individual plan costs $20 per month, and Walmart Plus costs $13 a month.
The Disney Bundle Verizon provides differs from Disney's current options. Usually, the combo of ad-supported Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus costs $15 a month and the bundle of ad-free Disney Plus, ad-free Hulu and ad-supported Disney Plus costs $25 a month. The Verizon bundle at $10 includes ad-free Disney Plus, ad-supported Hulu and ad-supported ESPN Plus.
While you'll need to have an eligible plan to pick $10 perks, there are opportunities to mix and match phone lines and even keep some older plan lines. Currently, if you have at least one Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate line, you can also get the Disney Bundle for free for six months. You can view more potential Verizon perks (not all of them pertain to TV and movie streaming) on Verizon's site.
Total Wireless
Total Wireless, formerly Total by Verizon, includes the ad-free version of Disney Plus with its top 5G Plus Unlimited plan. The carrier also provides six months of the service with its 5G Unlimited offering. Disney Plus without commercials typically costs $14 a month.
If you want the deal but already have Disney Plus, your existing subscription will be paused as long as you pay Disney directly and use the same email to sign up through Total Wireless. If you have the streaming service through a third party, you'll need to manage your subscription, and Total Wireless will send an email with instructions. You need at least one line on a qualifying plan to get the deal, and it's one offer per account.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile used to offer ad-free versions of Netflix (Netflix Standard and now-discontinued Netflix Basic) on some of its unlimited plans, but now, the ad-supported version of the streaming service is the freebie.
Currently, any type of Magenta or Go5G plan will get you Netflix Standard With Ads, so long as you have multiple lines. The exception is a Magenta Max, Go5G Next or Go5G Plus plan, where you're required to have only one line. Netflix Standard With Ads typically runs $7 a month and lets you watch on two screens at a time. Some titles are not available on the plan due to licensing restrictions.
You can also opt to spend more and upgrade to ad-free Netflix. For instance, you can pay an additional $16 a month to T-Mobile and get 4K-capable Netflix Premium, which usually costs $7 more than that.
It is worth noting that T-Mobile doesn't let you "mix and match" different plans on a family account, so you can't have one person be on Go5G Next and get the Netflix perk and then have other lines on cheaper Go5G plans. It's one Netflix subscription per T-Mobile account, not per individual line. More details can be found on T-Mobile's website.
In addition to Netflix, T-Mobile offers free Apple TV Plus as a perk. The Apple TV Plus deal is available to new and existing T-Mobile customers, but the exact perk you get varies based on your plan.
Plans such as Go5G Next, Go5G Plus and Magenta Max include a subscription to Apple TV Plus, which normally runs $10 a month, while plans such as Magenta, Go5G and Sprint One include six months of the service. The company lists more eligible plans and how long they get Apple TV Plus on its website.
You've been briefed on the Netflix and Apple TV Plus perks, but customers on T-Mobile's Go5G Next plan can snag an additional streaming service. Hulu With Ads is a bonus with T-Mobile's priciest plan.
There's more to know. Go5G Next customers with a Hulu subscription will need to cancel or wait until their billing period ends to get the offer, which is only for new and returning Hulu subs. Additionally, T-Mobile says after 12 months, you'll need to take action to continue getting Hulu With Ads for free. T-Mobile says you'll receive a notification, but if you fail to take action the subscription automatically renews at the typical price, currently $8 a month. Refer here for more on how to redeem the ad-supported Hulu perk.
Metro by T-Mobile
Metro by T-Mobile includes a subscription to Amazon Prime with its priciest Metro Flex Plus plan. In addition to two-day free shipping, it also means you'll have access to Prime Video, for streaming movies and shows like Road House, The Boys and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
You can also get Amazon Prime with Metro by T-Mobile's heritage $60 rate plan, which differs from its regular unlimited plans currently available online. To get the heritage plan with Prime, you must call Metro by T-Mobile customer service and request it.
In addition to Prime, the heritage plan includes 100GB of Google One storage and 15GB of mobile hotspot. The $75 a month Metro Flex Plus plan, in comparison, includes 25GB of hotspot data. As its name suggests, Metro by T-Mobile is owned by T-Mobile and runs on its network.
Cricket
Cricket Wireless, which is owned by AT&T, has a deal that bundles a subscription to the ad-supported version of Max with the carrier's $60-a-month unlimited plan. The streaming service gives you access to all HBO streaming content as well as Max originals such as The Sex Lives of College Girls, Hacks and Peacemaker.
Note: It's one Max subscription per Cricket account, not per individual line.