The free streaming perks major carriers usually offer for customers are only worth it if you are actually planning on using them. That might sound like a joke, but free doesn't mean better if you aren't going to use the subscription services that sweeten your cell phone plan. You can often find included subscriptions to Netflix, Hulu, or even a Disney bundle on mid- and top-tier plans, ultimately saving you an extra $9–$12/month.
Just keep in mind that most subscriptions bundled into carrier plans are ad-supported and limited to two simultaneous streams, which is best for smaller households with fewer devices.
Phone plans with streaming perks and entertainment extras are worth it if you:
- Already subscribe to multiple streaming services separately or
- Need a plan with generous premium data (because they usually include free perks).
If you're an average data user who doesn't have strong feelings about Netflix or Disney+, you're likely better off pairing a cheap plan from a smaller carrier like Mint or Visible with separate streaming subscriptions. You'll often pay less overall and have more flexibility in what you actually watch.
We looked at each carrier's current offerings and ran the numbers to figure out how much value these perks actually deliver.
What streaming perks are offered by major carriers?
Compare the streaming perks included in the Big Three's top-tier plans, or consider cheaper alternatives from smaller MVNOs on the same networks:
Major carrier top streaming perks
| Carrier and plan | Price/month | Streaming perk | Perk retail value | True plan price | Worth it? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Experience Beyond | $100 | Netflix Standard with Ads, Hulu with Ads; Apple TV+ (add-on for $3/month) | $33.97 | $69.03 | ✅ If you already use Netflix |
| Verizon Unlimited Ultimate | $95 | Netflix Standard with Ads + Max with Ads bundle; Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select bundle; or Apple Family Music (add-on, $10–$13/mo each) | $16.99–$19.98 | $75.02–$78.01 | ✅ For bundled services ✅ For families |
| AT&T Premium 2.0 | $90 | None | None | $90 | ❌ No perks |
These figures assume you're already planning to use the included streaming services whether or not they come with a phone plan. If you don't already want Netflix, Disney+, or Apple TV+, a free streaming perk doesn't add real value to your bill.
Do wireless perks actually save you money?
Wireless perks can save you money, but two conditions need to be true first:
- It's a service you actually use. If you regularly rely on bundled streaming services, international benefits, and hotspot data, a perk-heavy plan can reduce what you'd spend across separate bills each month.
- Your plan fits your data needs anyway. Wireless perks are typically baked into mid- or top-tier plans, so you should only factor them in if you'd be on that tier regardless.
T-Mobile's Experience More and Experience Beyond plans are among the most perk-packed options on the market, offering all of the following in a single plan:
- Unlimited premium hotspot data
- 15GB of international data
- 30GB of data to use in Mexico and Canada
- Free Netflix and Hulu subscriptions, plus Apple TV+ for $3/month
|
T-Mobile
Experience More
$85.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
|
|
T-Mobile
Experience Beyond
$100.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
|
T-Mobile streaming perks
T-Mobile's streaming perks by plan
| Carrier and plan | Price/month | Streaming perk | Perk retail value | True plan price | Worth it? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Experience Beyond | $100 | Netflix Standard with Ads, Hulu with Ads; Apple TV+ (add-on for $3/month) | $33.97 | $69.03 | ✅ If you already use Netflix |
| T-Mobile Experience More | $85 | Netflix Standard with Ads; Apple TV+ (add-on for $3/month) | $21.98 | $66.02 | ✅ If you already use Netflix |
T-Mobile's Experience More and Experience Beyond plans are the best plans for free perks on the market. Both include a free Netflix subscription, and the top-tier Experience Beyond adds Hulu with Ads on top of that. You can also add Apple TV+ for just $3/month—T-Mobile covers the remaining $9.99 of the $12.99 retail price. Just keep in mind that none of T-Mobile's included streaming subscriptions are ad-free, so commercials are part of the deal.
Experience More
T-Mobile's $85/month Experience More plan includes unlimited premium data at 5G/4G LTE speeds, 60GB of high-speed hotspot data, and 5GB of international data in over 215 countries.
On top of the core plan features, Experience More includes a free subscription to Netflix Standard with Ads, which retails at $8.99/month. You can also add Apple TV+ for just $3/month (a $12.99/month value, with T-Mobile covering the $9.99 difference). With both perks factored in, the combined retail value is $21.98/month. Subtract what you'd actually pay—$0 for Netflix and $3 for Apple TV+—and the true cost of Experience More works out to $66.02/month.
|
T-Mobile
Experience More
$85.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
|
Experience Beyond
T-Mobile's premium Experience Beyond plan costs $100/month and upgrades both the plan and the perks. You get two streaming subscriptions included for free—Netflix Standard with Ads and Hulu with Ads—plus the option to add Apple TV+ for $3/month.
Netflix retails at $8.99/month, Hulu at $11.99/month, and Apple TV+ at $12.99/month, putting the combined retail value at $33.97/month. With Netflix and Hulu free and Apple TV+ at just $3/month, the true cost of Experience Beyond works out to $69.03/month. You also get unlimited premium 5G/4G LTE data, 250GB of high-speed hotspot data, and 15GB of international data across 215+ countries.
|
T-Mobile
Experience Beyond
$100.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
|
Verizon streaming perks
Verizon's streaming perks by plan
| Carrier and plan | Price/month | Streaming perk | Perk retail value | True plan price | Worth it? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Unlimited Ultimate | $95 | Netflix Standard with Ads + Max with Ads bundle; Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select bundle; or Apple Family Music | $16.99–$19.98 | $75.02–$78.01 | ✅ For bundled services ✅ For families |
| Verizon Unlimited Plus | $80 | Netflix Standard with Ads + Max with Ads bundle; Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select bundle; or Apple Family Music | $16.99–$19.98 | $60.02–$63.01 | ✅ For bundled services ✅ For families |
| Verizon Unlimited Welcome | $65 | Netflix Standard with Ads + Max with Ads bundle; Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select bundle; or Apple Family Music | $16.99–$19.98 | $45.02–$48.01 | ✅ For bundled services ✅ For families |
Instead of bundling free streaming services directly into your plan, Verizon lets you add discounted streaming perks to any unlimited plan as optional add-ons. Most perks cost $10/month, though Verizon raised the price of its Netflix + Max bundle to $13/month in May 2026 following Netflix's own price increase. Here's what's available through Verizon's myPlan perk selection:
- The Disney Bundle includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select, which retails at $20/month for the ad-supported version. At Verizon's $10/month add-on price, you save $10/month—or $120/year.
- The Netflix + Max bundle pairs Netflix Standard with Ads and Max Basic with Ads for $13/month. Both services together retail at $19.98/month, saving you $6.98/month. Note that this bundle is ad-supported on both platforms.
- Music lovers can add Apple Family Music for $10/month. The standalone plan retails at $16.99/month and supports streaming across up to 10 devices, saving you $6.99/month.
Your monthly bill will vary depending on how many add-on perks you select. A single line of Unlimited Plus without any perks runs $80/month. Add the Disney Bundle and Apple Family Music and you're looking at $100/month—still competitive when you factor in the retail value of what you're getting.
Unlimited Welcome
The Unlimited Welcome plan is Verizon's base postpaid unlimited option. At $65/month with autopay, it includes unlimited premium data on Verizon's 5G network, plus unlimited talk and text.
Streaming perks are available as $10–$13/month add-ons on this plan. You can keep the bill at $65/month by skipping the perks, or stack as many as you'd like at the per-perk price.
|
Verizon
Unlimited Welcome
$55.00/mo
+ Taxes & Fees. Price includes AutoPay & Paperless discount.
+ $40 Upfront
|
Unlimited Plus
The $80/month Unlimited Plus plan is Verizon's mid-tier option, with unlimited premium data on Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband network and 30GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data.
Like the Unlimited Welcome plan, all streaming perks are optional and priced at $10–$13/month each. Adding the Disney Bundle and Apple Family Music perk to Unlimited Plus brings a single line to $100/month.
|
Verizon
Unlimited Plus
$70.00/mo
+ Taxes & Fees. Price includes AutoPay & Paperless discount.
+ $40 Upfront
|
Unlimited Ultimate
Verizon's premium unlimited plan is Unlimited Ultimate, priced at $95/month. It includes unlimited premium data on Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband network and 200GB of high-speed hotspot data, with unlimited slower-speed hotspot once you hit that limit.
Streaming perks are still optional add-ons here, priced at $10–$13/month each. Adding both the Netflix + Max bundle and the Disney Bundle to a single-line Unlimited Ultimate plan brings your total to $118/month.
|
Verizon
Unlimited Ultimate
$85.00/mo
+ Taxes & Fees. Price includes AutoPay & Paperless discount.
+ $40 Upfront
|
AT&T streaming perks
AT&T offers competitive unlimited plans, but streaming perks aren't really part of the picture right now. AT&T used to include a free Max subscription with its Premium 2.0 plan, but that perk has been discontinued. Today, only AT&T's $90/month Premium 2.0 and $70/month Extra 2.0 plans include any extras at all, and six months of NVIDIA GeForce NOW isn't a compelling reason to choose a premium plan on its own.
|
AT&T
Extra 2.0℠
$70.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront
|
|
AT&T
Premium 2.0℠
$90.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront
|
Are streaming perks actually a good deal?
Streaming perks are worth it when you're already paying for those services separately and you'd be on a premium plan regardless. The math works in your favor in that scenario—you're essentially getting your streaming bill partially covered. But if you're signing up for a more expensive plan because it includes a streaming perk, that's where the logic starts to unravel.
You probably shouldn't upgrade to a pricier plan solely for a free streaming subscription. That said, if you're comparing two plans with similar data features, factoring in the perks can be a reasonable tiebreaker.
"Yes, I use my Disney+ bundle all the time. It was definitely a factor in my decision, given it's saving me money elsewhere. Since I personally don't use my hotspot much, and I tend to pick up a local SIM when I travel internationally, streaming perks are more relevant to my daily life than international or hotspot allowances."
Lauren Hannula, WhistleOut Staff
If you want a plan with streaming perks, T-Mobile and Verizon are your two real options. Here's how to choose between them:
- If you're a Netflix loyalist, either of T-Mobile's Experience plans is the cleaner pick. Experience More includes free Netflix plus Apple TV+ for $3/month, while Experience Beyond adds free Hulu to the mix.
- If you'd rather pick your own perks, Verizon's add-on model gives you more flexibility. The Disney Bundle, Netflix + Max combination, and Apple Family Music are each available at $10–$13/month on any Verizon unlimited plan, so you're only paying for what you'll actually use.
It's also worth checking out the best free streaming apps if you want to supplement your plan perks—or skip the paid services altogether.
Pay less for your phone plan and subscribe to streaming separately
You don't need to be on a premium carrier plan to enjoy streaming. Choosing a budget-friendly MVNO and subscribing to your preferred streaming services separately often costs less than a perk-heavy plan from the Big Three. MVNOs are smaller carriers that run on the Big Three's infrastructure, so you get comparable coverage without the premium price tag.
"I rarely watch movies or shows, and when I do want to watch something Friday night, I just use a free streaming app. I love my $25 Visible plan and never find myself needing Netflix or HBO Max."
Jessica Santero, WhistleOut Staff
It's a good reminder to read the fine print before switching. Perk eligibility can vary based on whether you're on a monthly or annual plan, how many lines you have, and which tier you're on. When in doubt, ask the carrier directly before you commit.
- Visible's $25/month base plan is one of the most straightforward budget options out there. As a Verizon MVNO, you get unlimited data on Verizon's 5G and 4G networks plus unlimited mobile hotspot at 5Mbps speeds—then you use the savings to subscribe to whatever streaming service you actually want.
|
Visible
$25 Visible Plan
$25.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
|
- Mint Mobile's $40/month Unlimited plan paired with a basic streaming subscription keeps your combined bill under $55/month. As a T-Mobile MVNO, Mint includes unlimited premium data at 5G/4G LTE speeds and 20GB of hotspot data. Add a single streaming service at $8.99–$11.99/month and you're still spending less than a Big Three plan with perks included.
|
Mint Mobile
Unlimited Data Plan
$25.00/mo
$75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
|
- Combining US Mobile's Unlimited Premium plan with a separate Netflix subscription runs $52.99/month total. As our top pick from smaller carriers on AT&T's network, US Mobile's AT&T-based Darkstar service delivers some of the highest data allowances available from an AT&T MVNO at $44/month. Add Netflix Standard with Ads at $8.99/month and you're still coming in under what most premium carrier plans cost before perks.
|
US Mobile
Unlimited Premium Plan (Dark Star)
$39.00/mo
|
Streaming perks: FAQs
What carriers offer free Netflix?
T-Mobile offers free Netflix with its Experience plans. Experience More includes a free Netflix subscription plus Apple TV+ for $3/month, while Experience Beyond adds free Hulu on top of that. All subscriptions are ad-supported, so you'll see commercials while you watch.
Is Netflix on Us actually free?
Yes, T-Mobile's "Netflix on Us" is free for subscribers on the Experience More and Experience Beyond plans. The included subscription is Netflix Standard with Ads, which retails at $8.99/month if you were to sign up independently.
Which carrier offers the best streaming perks?
The answer depends on which services matter most to you. T-Mobile includes free Netflix on both Experience plans, with Experience Beyond adding free Hulu and Apple TV+ available as a $3/month add-on. Verizon takes a more flexible approach, letting you choose from a Disney Bundle, a Netflix + Max combination, or Apple Family Music for $10–$13/month each on any unlimited postpaid plan.
Who gives HBO Max for free?
AT&T discontinued its free Max (formerly HBO Max) perk, but Cricket Wireless—an AT&T MVNO—still includes a free Max subscription with its $60/month Unlimited + 15GB Mobile Hotspot plan.
Find a better phone plan
Thousands of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
.png?w=160&h=160&usm=20&usmrad=0.8&fit=crop "Cell Coverage Near You: Who Has the Best 5G Network?")
