Frustrated Subscribers Turn to Free Streaming Services After Netflix Announces Another Price Increase

Netflix has raised the price of its standard plan from $17.99 per month to $19.99.

by Megan Elliott

Published on March 27, 2026

3 min read

Frustrated Netflix subscribers vent about price hike

While Wall Street welcomed the revenue-boosting move, Netflix subscribers are, unsurprisingly, not happy. Some are threatening to downgrade their plan or cancel altogether, saying that Netflix is a luxury they can’t afford in an era of sharply rising gas prices and ongoing inflation.

“This is getting beyond ridiculous. I need to cancel,” one frustrated subscriber wrote on X.

Tubi, a free, ad-supported streaming service, jumped on the chance to remind people that there are no-cost ways to stream movies and shows.

“Raising my price from free to free,” the streamer quipped in a tweet.

People sing the praises of free streaming on Tubi, Pluto, and YouTube

Tubi is just one of several free, ad-supported streaming services that penny-pinching consumers say they are choosing over an increasingly expensive Netflix subscription.

“Pluto Tubi Crackle Even YouTube has free movies,” one person tweeted.

“If you want to watch something, check justwatch.com and you can see where you can watch it for free with ads. Next, download tubi, hoopla, fawesome, pluto Tv, [or] kanopy,” another person suggested.

Several people highlighted the wide range of content available on free streaming platforms, which often have a deeper library of older films and TV shows.

“I know people hate on Tubi / Pluto but I promise like I watched Rosemary’s Baby and There Will Be Blood [on] these sites. Like come ON!” someone wrote.

Free streaming options, from Tubi to Kanopy

Which free streaming service is right for you? The good news is that it’s easy to try them all.

Tubi’s library features everything from comedy favorites (Friday) to kids movies (Madagascar) to recent box office hits (Uncharted), as well as classic films like The Graduate and The Thin Man and TV shows like Mr. Robot and The Killing. Tubi also has streaming originals, such as Big Mood with Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan.

Pluto’s live TV option lets you browse dozens of channels, many dedicated to fan-favorite shows like The Walking Dead, Misomer Murders, Heartland, Law & Order, and Gunsmoke, as well as a huge library of movies and shows on-demand. It’s owned by Paramount-Skydance, which means it’s a good place to look if you want to stream older episodes of CBS shows like NCIS, FBI, and Blue Bloods.

Many local libraries offer cardholders access to Kanopy. This free service has a wide range of content but is an especially good option if you are looking for indie/art films, foreign films, and documentaries. Hoopla is a similar service available through many libraries. As a bonus, neither of these services contain ads.

Many PBS shows stream for free on the PBS app, including recent episodes of Frontline and Nature, as well as new dramas like The Forsytes and The Count of Monte Cristo. Parents will want to download the PBS Kids app, which has episodes of kid-friendly shows like Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Wild Kratts, Curious George, and Arthur.

Looking for even more free streaming options? Check out Fawesome, Sling Freestream, Popcornflix, Plex, Crackle, The Roku Channel, BYUtv, and Xumo.