The unthinkable has happened. Peacock, my favorite streaming platform, has increased its prices — setting a new record for the biggest rise yet.

Doesn’t this seem familiar? In July 2024, Peacock implemented its second price rise just ahead of the summer Olympics, disappointing its subscribers. Now, a little more than a year later, it’s happening again. This time, Peacock Premium (the ad-supported option) has gone up from $7.99 to $10.99 per month, while the Premium Plus (ad-free) option has moved from $13.99 to $16.99 per month. Annual rates have also significantly surged from $79.99 to $109.99 per year with ads and from $139.99 to $169.99 per year without.

The new pricing structure places Peacock’s ad-supported and ad-free options at a higher cost than those of Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and Paramount+. Yikes.

When will the updated prices take effect?

Peacock’s updated pricing officially started on Wednesday, July 23 for new subscribers. Current subscribers won’t see the new charges until after Aug. 22, depending on their billing cycles. If you registered for a promotional offer before July 23, that price will remain effective until the promotion concludes. You will incur the new charges once the promotion is over. To cancel, click on your profile icon, then go to account, and under “plans & payment,” you’ll discover options to modify or discontinue your plan.

A new and less expensive “Select” tier is under trial

Peacock is launching a new, more economical choice known as the “Select” tier. It will be priced at $7.99 monthly or $79.99 annually, aligning with the previous rate of its ad-supported plan before the recent hike. The streaming service is only beginning to trial the Select plan, but should it attract attention, it will represent the most affordable way to subscribe to Peacock.

Current subscribers can transition to the Select tier by navigating to the “plans & payment” section in their accounts and selecting the “change plan” option. The Select tier will not provide access to movies, Peacock Originals, sports and live broadcasts, or your local NBC station.

The following content will be included in the Select Tier:

– NBC Current Season and Library (e.g., the Law & Order series, the Chicago series, The Office, etc.)
– Bravo Current Season and Library (e.g., The Real Housewives series, Below Deck, etc.)
– Other TV Library (e.g., Days of Our Lives, Yellowstone, El Señor de los Cielos, etc.)
– Select Channels (e.g., The Office Channel, NBC News Now Channel, etc.)

How to save on a Peacock subscription

As prices keep going up, we are all searching for ways to save on streaming services. Luckily, Peacock is among the few streamers that provide ongoing discounts during the year. Additionally, there are multiple ways to obtain a subscription at a reduced price at any given moment: student discounts, military discounts, first responders discounts, third-party discounts, and more.

The best Peacock offers summarized:

– Best for students: Peacock Premium for Students – $2.99 per month for 12 months (save $96)
– Best for military personnel: Peacock Premium for Military – $3.99 per month (save $7 per month)
– Best for first responders and medical staff: Peacock Premium for Medical Professionals and First Responders – $3.99 per month (save $7 per month)
– Best for teachers: Peacock Premium for Teachers – $3.99 per month for 12 months (save $84)
– Best way to watch for free: Peacock Premium annual subscription – Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99 per year)
– Best for JetBlue customers: Peacock Premium – Free for one year for JetBlue TrueBlue Mosaic status members (save $109.99 per year)
– Best bundle deal: Xfinity StreamSaver (Apple TV+, Peacock, and Netflix) – $15 per month with Xfinity Internet or TV
– Best for Mastercard users: Peacock Premium or Premium Plus – Receive $3 or $5 cashback per month with World or World Elite Mastercard