The Cheapskate’s Guide to Your Favorite Digital Entertainment Shira Ovide - The Washington Post
go to original May 30, 2023

I have bad news and good news.

The bad news is that the digital entertainment you love is getting more expensive. Netflix, Amazon Prime and HBO Max (now called Max) have raised their prices or cracked down on sharing passwords. Spotify might raise prices, too. In ye olden days of 2012, e-books were often cheaper than hard copies. Not anymore.

The good news is that you still have amazing free or cheap-(ish) entertainment to stuff into your eye holes and ear holes. Let me present: the cheapskate’s guide to digital entertainment.

Streaming Video

Search for a particular show or movie, and JustWatch lists where you can stream or download it and how much each viewing option costs. You can filter the search results to show you only free streaming services.

You also have more options if you’re not too picky about what you watch and don’t mind commercials.

For less than $100, a digital TV antenna lets you watch a bunch of broadcast TV channels in your area — if you have a TV set.

There are also huge collections of mostly older TV shows and movies on free streaming services such as Pluto TV, Freevee, Tubi TV and the Roku Channel.

And Kanopy, which is available to some people with a public library card or university online account, also has free streaming movies and TV series.

Reelgood is a 100% free streaming guide that offers a wide range of movies and TV shows. Here you can see all of the shows available to you from different streaming services in one place.

Music

I refuse to pay for a streaming music subscription. Instead I have song playlists saved on the free tiers of YouTube Music and Spotify. Other options for free streaming music with ads include Pandora, iHeart, AccuRadio and Radio Garden, which lets you hear local radio from anyplace you choose in the world.

Books and Audiobooks

I’ve heard from many Tech Friend readers who are addicted to the Libby app for borrowing free e-books and audiobooks from your local public library.

All you need is a card from a public library that works with Libby’s parent company, OverDrive. You can typically read or listen on your phone, on a Kindle or through the website.

Search here to see if your library system or school lets you borrow from Libby.

Read the rest at The Washington Post

Related: Why You Should Buy Everything Used (The Washington Post)