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Everyone is streaming these days. Heck, I’m writing this while listening to Sirius XM count down the top 500 songs of the ’90s.
While it can be great to earn bonus points on your streaming purchases if you’re paying for streaming, I’ll let you in on a secret — I never used streaming services before I had the ability to get them for free. If you’re looking for credit cards with free or cheaper streaming access via credits or waived membership fees, you’re in the right place.
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.
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In This Post
Credit cards that offer free streaming subscriptions
The Platinum Card® from American Express
What it offers for streaming: If you’re looking for a lot of free streaming, you’ll get it here. The Platinum Card offers up to $20 per month in digital entertainment credits, and the credits can be used with Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM and The New York Times so long as you pay the merchant directly. You’ll pay first and then receive reimbursement an average of two days later. Enrollment is required in advance.
Current welcome offer for new applicants: Earn 100,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new card in the first six months of cardmembership. TPG values this bonus at $2,000.
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). 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).
THE POINTS GUY
Other key perks: The Platinum Card comes with numerous perks to justify its high annual fee. These include access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when traveling on same-day Delta flights), reimbursement for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee, reimbursement for your Clear 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 reimbursement for a monthly Walmart+ subscription. 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
Use your Walmart+ membership to get free Spotify Premium and Paramount+
The Amex Platinum Card offers reimbursement for your monthly Walmart+ membership fee. Enrolling in this benefit can help you extend it to additional streaming services from Spotify Premium and Paramount+.
If you have a Walmart+ membership, you can head to this link to activate up to six free months of Spotify Premium. The promotion runs through May 7, 2023. This premium music streaming service typically costs $9.99 per month and you will be automatically enrolled in the paid plan when your free subscription ends.
Additionally, as of Sep. 1, 2022, your Walmart+ membership includes a Paramount+ Essential plan for access to TV shows, movies, NFL games, soccer games from the U.S. and Europe and live news around the clock with CBS.
Credit cards with credits to make your streaming services cheaper
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
What it offers for streaming: Receive $7 back each month (up to $84 back annually) after spending $13.99 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 spending $2,000 in purchases within the first six months of cardmembership.
Points earning rates: Earn 3% back at U.S. supermarkets, 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.
Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees).
THE POINTS GUY
Other key perks: Cardholders can enjoy up to $180 in annual credits for Home Chef, available as $15 per month in credits. New applicants also can get 0% intro 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, you’ll get a variable APR of 16.24% to 27.24% 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 $13.99 or more each month on an eligible Disney Bundle subscription (which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+) using your card. You’ll also earn 6% back on these streaming purchases. Enrollment is required in advance.
Current welcome offer for new applicants: Earn a $350 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of cardmembership.
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.
Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees).
THE POINTS GUY
Other key perks: Receive $10 in monthly statement credits (up to $120 per year) when you use your card to pay for Equinox+. Plus, new applicants can take advantage of a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, then a variable APR of 16.24-27.24%. 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 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 in purchases within 120 days from account opening. TPG values this bonus at $750.
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.
JOSH GRIBBEN FOR THE POINTS GUY
Other key perks: Receive cellphone protection by paying your monthly phone bill on the card and receive reimbursement for your TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
For more details, read our full review of the Altitude Connect Visa card.
Official application link: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
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 in purchases within 90 days of account opening. TPG values this bonus at $300.
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), streaming services and gas. Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Annual fee: $0.
THE POINTS GUY
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 17.24% to 26.24% variable APR applies after the introductory period ends).
For more details, read our full review of the Altitude Go Visa card.
Official application link: U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
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.
While many people experience sticker shock with the Amex Platinum, it’s clearly the winner in the category of “access to free streaming services.” However, if you’re looking for something more modest, other cards can help you cut your streaming bills by half.
Featured image by Dennis Fischer Photography/Getty Images.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum please click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday please click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred please click here.