Several streaming platforms are hiking subscription rates, potentially impacting monthly entertainment budgets for people.
Paramount+, Max, Spotify, and Twitch recently announced they would raise prices for their various subscription plans in an aim to fortify their positions in a competitive landscape.
Here’s what to know about recent streaming price increases.
Paramount+ to raise prices beginning in August
Variety reported in June that Paramount+ is set to raise subscription costs. For new subscribers, the cost of the ad-free Paramount+ With Showtime plan will rise by $1 to $12.99 a month, while the Paramount+ Essential plan (with ads) will cost $7.99 a month, increasing by $2, starting Aug. 20.
Existing Paramount+ subscribers will see the increase to the Paramount+ With Showtime plan go into effect in their next billing date on or after Sept. 20, and the price of the Paramount+ Essential plan will stay at the same rate of $5.99 a month. Customers who subscribe to the legacy Paramount+ Limited Commercial plan will see a rise in cost by $1, to $7.99 a month.
Max increases prices across ad-free plans
At the start of 2023, Max raised its prices for the first time, and a little over a year later, the platform is increasing the price again. The cheapest option will now cost $16.99, going up $1, and the yearly plan will increase to $169.99 from $149.00. For subscribers to Max’s “Ultimate Ad-Free” plan, the cost will increase by $1 a month, going up to $20.99 per month. The yearly subscription to that plan will go up to $209.99.
The price change will take effect immediately, and existing subscribers will see it in their next billing cycle. This change also comes less than two weeks before the new season of House of the Dragon airs on the platform and shortly after it was announced that Disney+, Max, and Hulu would be bundling their streaming services.
Read more: The Streaming Wars Have Entered Their Chaos Era
Spotify Premium plan price goes up
For Spotify, this marks the second time in a year that the platform has adjusted its prices, a move it justifies in its FAQ section: “As we continue to grow our platform, we are updating our Premium prices so that we can keep innovating in changing market conditions. These updates will help us continue delivering value to fans.”
The music streaming service will be increasing its price for its ad-free tiers. The price of the Spotify Premium plan is changing from $10.99 to $11.99 per month, and the family plan’s price hike is a bit steeper, coming in at about $3—going from $16.99 to $19.99 per month.
Twitch raises prices
Twitch, the live-streaming platform owned by Amazon, also joined Spotify and Max in raising their prices. The price hike will go in effect in over 30 regions, including the U.S., Europe, and New Zealand. The price will go from $4.99 to $5.99 in the U.S.
“As part of our efforts to help creators build and grow their communities worldwide, the following countries received subscription price adjustments as a part of Local Subscription Pricing,” the platform wrote on its website.
After the price increase was announced, a Twitch streamer asked the platform on X if this meant streamers would be getting a bigger cut. “Streamers will continue earning according to their revenue share (50-70% depending on their current Plus Program tier),” the post reads. “Streamers will make more money per subscription with the price increase.”
