You're probably paying too much for streaming.
The average US household now pays over $100/month for streaming — more than cable ever cost. Most people don't realize that the services they already pay for have thousands of titles available in other countries. A single VPN subscription unlocks all of it.
This isn't about pirating content. It's about using what you already pay for.
The math
$112.94
per month
all 7 services
$57.47
per month
3 services + VPN
$55.47/month saved
$666/year — without losing access to any content you watch
Real example
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is on Hulu in the US.
It's also on Netflix in the UK, Canada, and Australia.
If you already have Netflix, you don't need to pay $20.99/month for Hulu just to watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Connect your VPN to the UK, open Netflix, and it's right there — on the subscription you already pay for.
Service by service breakdown
Worth keeping
Netflix
$17.99/mo
190+ countries
Keep — largest global library, most worth having a VPN for
Examples unlockable with a VPN:
Max
$17.99/mo
60+ countries
Keep if you watch HBO content regularly — otherwise Netflix global covers a lot
Examples unlockable with a VPN:
Disney+
$19.00/mo
100+ countries
Keep if you have kids or love Marvel/Star Wars — UK library has R-rated content US doesn't
Examples unlockable with a VPN:
Consider cancelling or auditing
Hulu
$20.99/mo
US only
Consider cancelling — Hulu is US-only so a VPN adds zero value here. But a lot of what's on Hulu is already on Netflix or Disney+ in another country.
Example
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is on Hulu...
🇬🇧 but also on Netflix UK, Canada & Australia — with any Netflix subscription
Paramount+
$12.99/mo
Limited international
Consider cancelling — limited international library, and its biggest shows tend to land on other services globally.
Example
Suits is on Paramount+...
🇬🇧 but also on Netflix UK & Canada — with any Netflix subscription
Peacock
$13.99/mo
US only
Consider cancelling — US-only platform. Many Peacock titles are available on Netflix or other services internationally.
Example
The Office (US) is on Peacock...
🇬🇧 but also on Netflix UK, Canada & Australia — with any Netflix subscription
Apple TV+
VPN doesn't help here$9.99/mo
Same in every country
Nuanced — Apple TV+ is almost entirely originals (Severance, Ted Lasso, The Morning Show). They don't license content to other services and their global library is identical everywhere. A VPN adds zero value here. That said, at $9.99/month it's the cheapest major service and the quality is high. Keep it if you actually watch it. Cancel it if you signed up for one show and forgot about it.
What is a VPN and why does it cost so little?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) routes your internet connection through a server in another country, making streaming services think you're browsing from there. Surfshark, for example, costs $2.49/month on an annual plan — and one account covers unlimited devices, so your whole household can share it. It's cheap because it's software, not content. You're not paying for shows, you're paying for access to the shows you already subscribe to.
This isn't a loophole or a hack. Streaming services are available in multiple countries by design. What varies is which titles each country gets. A VPN just lets you pick which country's version you access.
No affiliate links — PassportTV makes nothing from VPN recommendations. We suggest them because the math genuinely works out.
Before you cancel anything, use PassportTV to search what you actually watch and see where it's available globally. Make an informed decision.