Streaming hasn’t officially replaced cable or satellite TV, but it’s come pretty close. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 83% of U.S. adults watch streaming services. I’m certainly someone who uses streaming, but I have noticed that some of the medium’s capabilities feel antiquated. Here are the four streaming features that feel outdated in 2026.
Purchasing streaming services without a bundle
Don’t miss your chance to save money
Unfortunately, streaming service prices are only going up. Over the past few years, nearly every major streaming service has increased prices, including Netflix, which raised the monthly cost for subscribers earlier this year. Streaming originally emerged as the cheaper alternative to cable. If you have to buy multiple streaming services to watch your favorite shows and movies, then your bill might rival a monthly cable subscription.
Let’s say you love HBO’s Game of Thrones universe, Disney+’s Marvel TV shows, and Hulu’s movies. That means you need HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu. The cheapest tiers are: $10.99/month for HBO Max, $11.99/month for Disney+, and $11.99/month for Hulu. Add those up, and you have a monthly streaming bill of roughly $35.
Instead of purchasing each service separately, buy those three services as a bundle. The Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max bundles cost $19.99/month with ads and $32.99/month without ads. You’re saving money with a bundleโwhy wouldn’t you sign up for one? Other popular bundles include the Disney bundle (Disney+/Hulu/ESPN Networks), the Apple One bundle, and the Netflix and HBO Max bundle through Verizon.
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