7 Black Friday streaming deals to avoid (and 6 you should jump on)

Key Takeaways:

• The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is limited by a new OS.
• Short-term deals on services like Starz and AMC+ offer limited savings.
• Annual subscriptions can provide greater cost-effectiveness.
• Devices with advanced remotes and sideloading capabilities offer better user experiences.
• Disney+ and Hulu bundles can yield significant savings over 12 months.

The Ever-Changing Landscape of Black Friday Streaming Deals

Black Friday 2025 brings a flurry of new deals from big-name services such as Disney+, Hulu, Starz, AMC+, and even hardware manufacturers like Roku and Amazon. At first glance, these discounts can seem irresistible. However, some of them are tied to short trial periods or feature-limited devices, which can end up costing more in the long run if you’re not careful.

Deals to Think Twice About

One standout offer to avoid is Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Select, which is priced at $20. The low figure might tempt you, but this streamer operates on a new operating system called Vega—a version notably restricted in app availability and sideloading. Its current 3.7-star rating is significantly below Amazon’s typical 4.5-star average for other Fire TV devices.

Device deals aren’t the only potential letdown. Amazon’s Prime Video Channels is also running limited-time discounts on Starz and AMC+. While these can appear enticing at first, sometimes two months of service for just a few dollars a month may not be enough time to fully enjoy and justify the expense. AMC+ in particular has a recurring 30-day free trial offer directly from AMC itself—available year-round—making the Black Friday deal less exciting.

Services like Paramount+ and Fox Nation also feature short-term discounts that might not match their alternatives. Paramount+ is repeating last year’s two-month offer for $3 per month, but some cord-cutters may prefer a rolling membership like Walmart+ (currently half-off at $49), which includes access to either Paramount+ or Peacock. As for Fox, a bundled approach to Fox One and Fox Nation will cost you $200, whereas waiting until November 27 makes it possible to subscribe to them separately for roughly $185.49 combined.

Better Alternatives

If you’re set on Amazon’s Fire TV, the pricier Fire TV Stick 4K Plus (with a more established Android-based OS) or a well-rounded Roku Streaming Stick Plus at $19 might be better choices. The latter is discounted by 50% and comes with an upgraded remote that includes volume, power, and voice controls.

For those drawn to Starz, an annual package at $12 via the Starz website saves more money across the year. Netflix-style binge-watchers can also look into AMC+’s 30-day free trial strategy—using it when it’s most convenient, instead of rushing through content in a two-month Black Friday window.

Promising Black Friday Savings

Not all discounts fall flat. Disney+ and Hulu together at $5 per month with ads or $15 per month without them, locked in for a whole year, can be a strong deal. Subscribers can secure access to loads of new and classic content for a fraction of normal monthly costs. Baseball fans might want to keep an eye on NFL Sunday Ticket, which is offering a discount to new sign-ups at $48 for the rest of the season—just remember to cancel if you don’t want automatic renewal next year.

Walmart+ is another standout for half-off at $49 a year. That subscription grants you either Paramount+ or Peacock with ads, plus the flexibility to switch between them every three months—a feature particularly useful for streaming watchers who frequently change tastes in shows.

Long-Term Perspective

What’s the best approach for Black Friday deals? Put simply, plan ahead. Short deals might be fun in the heat of holiday shopping, but committing to a cost-effective subscription for a full year can offer real savings. If you’re worried about surprise renewals, consider using a limited-use payment card and setting a reminder to cancel before the promotional period ends. That way, you spend only what you intend—and keep your streaming lineup under control for the year ahead.