Everyone is streaming these days. Heck, I'm writing this while listening to SiriusXM count down the top 500 songs of the '90s.
Keeping up with your favorite music and shows can add up, though, and you may be reevaluating whether you really need to keep subscribing to all your streaming services as you evaluate your 2023 budget.
But you don't need to sit in silence to save money. Several of our favorite credit cards come with streaming credits that allow you to keep the entertainment you love and still save.
Today, I'll walk you through which credit cards give you free or cheap streaming subscriptions and how to use these credits for at-home entertainment.
Cards that cover streaming subscription Cost
The Platinum Card® from American Express
What it offers for streaming: The Platinum Card offers up to $20 per month in digital entertainment credits, and the credits can be used with Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peaco*ck, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times so long as you pay the merchant directly. You'll pay first and then receive reimbursem*nt an average of two days later. Enrollment is required in advance.
Current welcome offer for new applicants: Earn 80,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership. TPG values this bonus at $1,600.
Points-earning rates: Earn 5 points per dollar on airfare purchased directly with the airlines or through the Amex Travel portal (on up to $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). You'll also earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees).
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Other key perks: The Platinum Card has numerous perks to justify its high annual fee. These include access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Escape lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when traveling on same-day Delta flights; limited to 10 annual visits from Feb. 1, 2025); reimbursem*nt for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee; reimbursem*nt for your Clear Plus membership; up to $200 in credits each year for incidental fees charged by your preferred airline; up to $200 in annual hotel credits; up to $200 in Uber Cash each year (which you can also use with Uber Eats); complimentary Gold status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy; and reimbursem*nt for a monthly Walmart+ subscription (subject to auto renewal; Plus Up Benefits not eligible). Enrollment is required in advance for certain benefits.
For more details, read our full review of the Amex Platinum Card.
Official application link: The Platinum Card from American Express
Credit cards that reduce the cost of your streaming services
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
What it offers for streaming: Receive $7 back each month (up to $84 back annually) after spending $9.99 or more each month on an eligible Disney Bundle subscription (which includes Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+) using your card. Enrollment is required in advance.
Current welcome offer for new applicants: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership.
Points-earning rates: Earn 3% back at U.S. supermarkets, on online purchases from U.S. retailers and at U.S. gas stations. These bonus categories are limited to the first $6,000 of purchases in each category in a calendar year; after that, you'll earn 1% back. You'll also earn 1% back on all other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees).
Other key perks: Cardholders can enjoy up to $180 in annual credits for Home Chef, available as $15 per month in statement credits. New applicants also receive a 0% introductory annual percentage rate on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the account opening date (see rates and fees). After the introductory APR period, a variable APR of 19.24% to 29.99% applies based on your creditworthiness and other factors (see rates and fees).
For more details, read our full review of the Blue Cash Everyday card.
Official application link: Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
What it offers for streaming: Receive $7 back each month (up to $84 back annually) after spending $9.99 or more each month on an eligible Disney Bundle subscription (which includes Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+) using your card. You'll also earn 6% cash back on these streaming purchases. Enrollment is required in advance.
Current welcome offer for new applicants: Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.
Points-earning rates: Earn 6% back at U.S. supermarkets on the first $6,000 of these purchases each year (then 1% back), 6% back on streaming, 3% back on transit and at U.S. gas stations and 1% back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 (see rates and fees).
Other key perks: Plus, new applicants can take advantage of a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, then a variable APR of 19.24%-29.99% (see rates and fees). Cardholders can also create Buy Now, Pay Later plans with Plan It and have $0 fees on plans created in the first 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, the plan fee can be up to 1.33%, depending on creditworthiness.
For more details, read our full review of the Blue Cash Preferred card.
Official application link: Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
What it offers for streaming: Receive a $30 statement credit after paying for a streaming charge with your card each month for 11 months in a row. The full list of eligible services is here, and you'll also earn 2 points per dollar on streaming purchases.
Current welcome offer for new applicants: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within 120 days from account opening.
Points-earning rates: Earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked in the Altitude Rewards portal; 4 points per dollar on travel, gas stations and EV charging stations; 2 points per dollar at grocery stores (including grocery delivery) and dining (including takeout and delivery); and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $95.
Other key perks: Receive cellphone protection by paying your monthly phone bill with the card and receive reimbursem*nt for your TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
For more details, read our full review of the Altitude Connect Visa card.
The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Official application link: U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card (see rates and fees)
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
What it offers for streaming: Receive a $15 statement credit after paying for a streaming charge with your card each month for 11 months in a row. The full list of eligible services is here, and you'll also earn 2 points per dollar on streaming purchases.
Current welcome offer for new applicants: Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within 90 days of account opening.
Points-earning rates: Earn 4 points per dollar on dining (including takeout and delivery) and 2 points per dollar on groceries (including grocery delivery services), gas and EV charging stations. Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Annual fee: $0.
Other key perks: Those looking for a solid card to finance a large purchase or refinance existing credit card debt will enjoy the 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles (a 20.24% to 29.24% variable APR applies after the introductory period ends).
For more details, read our full review of the Altitude Go Visa card.
The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude Go has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Official application link: U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card (see rates and fees)
Check the merchant offers on your cards
In addition to using these cards for your streaming, make sure to check the merchant offers for all your cards regularly. Chase and American Express often have offers to help you save on specific streaming services such as fuboTV, YouTube TV, HBO Max, Showtime and others.
To take advantage of these offers, add them to your card and then charge that streaming service to the card with the offer.
Bottom line
Whether you're looking for free access to one streaming service in particular or hoping to get as many freebies as possible, there are credit cards that can provide free streaming or provide credits to cut your costs significantly.
No matter how you stream, there's a credit card perk on this list that can help you stick to your resolution of saving in 2023.
Additional reporting by Emily Thompson.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred, click here.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
