Streaming perks have become one of the easiest ways to compare phone plans. Prices for top postpaid plans are similar, data is mostly unlimited, and coverage gaps are smaller than ever. When a carrier throws in Netflix, Disney+, or HBO Max for free, that translates into adding real value to a phone plan for customers, as long as they’ll actually use the service.
While several carriers offer streaming perks, not all of them are easy to get. Some offerings are genuine free entertainment perks, but others have strings attached, like requiring you to meet specific plan requirements or pay for them as an optional add-on. Some of the best plans you should consider include:
- T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond, which includes Netflix, Apple TV, and Hulu with no strings attached.
- Verizon's Unlimited Plus, which allows you to customize your streaming perks by paying a discounted rate for the ones you want.
- Cricket Wireless' Supreme Unlimited, which comes with a free HBO Max plan.
We’ve figured out some of the best options for phone plans that offer streaming perks. We'll help you decide if streaming perks make sense for your needs, and help you decide which plan is the best fit for your budget.
Phone plans with streaming perks
1. T-Mobile Experience Beyond—The most streaming perks of any carrier
T-Mobile offers more standard streaming perks than any other carrier. However, while you can snag up to three streaming perks, they’re only available with T-Mobile’s most expensive Experience Beyond postpaid plan.
Plan overview & pricing:
T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond plans both include unlimited premium data, along with perks like a 250GB mobile hotspot, international roaming data, travel perks, and early device upgrades.
- Experience Beyond: $100/month
Streaming perks:
- Netflix Standard (with ads)
- Apple TV+ (optional for $3/month)
- Hulu (with ads)
No other phone plan on the market offers this many streaming perks. Signing up for Netflix, Apple TV+, and Hulu outside of the Experience Beyond plan would cost over $30/month (or around $360/year). If you’re already paying for these services, switching to T-Mobile could help you save overall, despite the higher price tag of the plan.
2. Verizon Unlimited Plus—Customizable streaming perks starting at $10/month
Verizon offers optional streaming perks with all its postpaid plans. You can pick from popular options, including the Disney bundle, a Netflix and HBO bundle, or Apple Family Music. The perks are individually priced at either $10/month or $15/month.
Plan overview & pricing:
The Unlimited Plus plan includes unlimited premium data and a 30GB mobile hotspot.
- Unlimited Plus: $80/month
Streaming options (add-ons):
- Disney Bundle (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+)
- Netflix + HBO Max bundle (with ads)
- Apple Music Family
- YouTube Premium
- Fox One
Verizon’s streaming perks aren’t free, but they can undercut retail pricing if you already subscribe. Plus, they’ll let you avoid paying for services you don’t use.
To put all this into perspective, paying for the Disney Bundle and the Netflix+HBO Max bundle will only cost you $20/month with Verizon. Paying for these three services separately would cost almost $40/month.
3. Cricket Wireless Supreme Unlimited—HBO Max (with ads) on a prepaid plan
Cricket Wireless is one of the best ways to get HBO Max on a prepaid phone plan. It’s a free perk, and the plan doesn’t require multiple lines, as some other prepaid MVNOs do.
Plan overview & pricing:
The Supreme Unlimited plan includes unlimited premium data and a 50GB mobile hotspot. No other Cricket plan includes a streaming perk. Additionally, this is one of the only options to get a streaming perk on AT&T’s network, since AT&T itself no longer includes streaming perks.
- Supreme Unlimited: $55/month
Streaming perk:
- HBO Max Basic (with ads)
If HBO Max is the one service you care about, Cricket quietly offers one of the best prepaid bundles you’ll find. Plus, you can save big by avoiding a costly postpaid plan from T-Mobile or Verizon.
4. US Mobile Unlimited Premium—Family plans get a custom streaming perk
US Mobile offers a streaming perk credit with family plans with three or more lines on its Unlimited Premium plan. You only get one credit, but have multiple streaming options to choose from.
Plan overview & pricing:
The Premium Unlimited plan includes unlimited premium data and coverage on all three major networks. It also includes a 100GB high-speed mobile hotspot if you get service on the Dark Star (AT&T) network. Coverage on the Warp (Verizon) and Light Speed (T-Mobile) networks includes a 50GB hotspot allotment.
- Unlimited Premium: $44/month per line ($132/month for a three-line family plan)
Streaming perks (choose one):
- Apple TV Plus
- Disney Bundle
- Netflix Standard
- HBO Max
- Pandora Plus
- Spotify Family
- Apple Music Family
This is a solid plan for families to get a streaming perk with a cheaper MVNO prepaid plan. However, single-line customers will need to shop elsewhere.
5. Total Wireless Total 5G+ Unlimited—Get Disney+ Premium for free
Total Wireless offers the Disney+ Premium plan with both of its top unlimited plans. However, only the Total 5G+ Unlimited plan includes a full subscription. Its lower-tier Total 5G Unlimited plan is only a 6-month offer.
Plan overview & pricing:
The Total 5G+ Unlimited plan offers premium unlimited data on Verizon’s network, plus an unlimited mobile hotspot with data speeds capped at 5Mbps.
- Total 5G+ Unlimited: $60/month
Streaming perk:
- Disney+ Premium (no ads)
Total Wireless is one of the best MVNO options for an ad-free Disney+ perk on Verizon’s network. Both of its plans are cheaper than Verizon’s postpaid plans. That said, remember that only Total’s most expensive plan (Total 5G+ Unlimited) includes a full streaming perk. The Total 5G Unlimited plan only includes a streaming perk for six months, which is not the best offer if you’re looking for long-term savings.
6. Metro by T-Mobile Unlimited 5G Data—Amazon Prime included
Metro by T-Mobile’s top Unlimited 5G Data plan includes a subscription to Amazon Prime. Not only does this give you access to Prime Video and Prime Music, but you’ll also get all of Prime’s other special features for Amazon customers.
Plan overview & pricing:
The Unlimited 5G Data plan includes unlimited data on T-Mobile’s 5G network and a 25GB mobile hotspot.
- Unlimited 5G Data plan: $60/month
Streaming perks:
- Prime Video
- Prime Music
Metro isn’t just offering a video streaming perk. If you already use Amazon Prime, bundling it into your phone plan will save you $14.99/month.
When streaming perks are actually worth it
Streaming perks are only valuable when they replace subscriptions you already pay for.
Don’t trick yourself into paying for a more expensive phone plan just because you want a free subscription to a streaming service you aren’t currently using. You may find it’s cheaper overall to pick a prepaid MVNO phone plan instead and pay out of pocket for your streaming subscriptions.
You should also remember that the days of free premium streaming perks are largely over. Some streaming perks are ad-supported tiers or may only last for a matter of months. Make sure you understand the fine print before switching and signing up. You don’t want to be left with the bill if your perk suddenly vanishes or be disappointed because your subscription switches to an ad-supported plan.
Recap: Streaming perks can help some customers save
If you want the most complete streaming bundle with no add-ons, T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond plan still leads. It’s the most expensive phone plan on the market, but Netflix, Apple TV+, and Hulu subscriptions can majorly offset the cost if you’re already paying for these services, especially if you’re joining with a family plan.
On the prepaid side, Cricket’s HBO Max inclusion, Total Wireless’ ad-free Disney+, and Metro’s Amazon Prime bundle each stand out for customers who want those specific services. US Mobile remains compelling for multi-line families who want a streaming plan and care about premium data caps.
Overall, streaming perks can be a real value when they line up with your viewing habits and your data priorities, but don’t let them be the only reason you pick a phone plan.
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer