Navigating the streaming service landscape, STARZ has emerged not just as another option but as a standout choice, especially for fans of shows like the romantic time-traveling drama Outlander. With a loyal following of nearly 12 million subscribers, STARZ has earned acclaim for its commitment to quality storytelling and diverse representation. This makes understanding its subscription options and savings opportunities all the more important for potential subscribers.
Interestingly, STARZ’s journey began as a premium cable channel, evolving into a standalone digital service in 2016. Fast forward to today, and we see STARZ adapting its pricing strategy to stay competitive. In a notable move, the annual subscription rate has been reduced from $75 to $70, positioning it as an attractive yearly option for viewers.
However, this reduction comes in the wake of an increase in monthly fees, which saw a rise from $9 to $10 as of June 2023. This was a significant shift, marking the first price hike for the service since its standalone launch.
In this article, we’ll delve into the current state of STARZ’s subscription model. We’ll explore the typical deals and coupons available, and why avoiding the sign-up through your TV might be a wise choice. Additionally, we’ll examine the merits of choosing a month-to-month subscription over the seemingly more economical annual plan. If you’re considering subscribing to STARZ or seeking ways to optimize your current subscription, this guide is tailored for you.
What is STARZ
Launched nearly a decade ago as a response to HBO and Showtime’s streaming services, STARZ offers a unique blend of original content and a rich library of movies and shows, including new releases and popular classics. Its library boasts over 7,500 films and episodes, with standout streaming-only titles such as “Outlander,” “The Serpent Queen,” “BMF,” and “Power.”
While STARZ offers a variety of content, its strength lies in its original series and a vast selection of movies, though it is noted that its library for children’s content is limited. It is a suitable choice for those who appreciate a mix of classic and contemporary entertainment, especially with its device compatibility and focus on representation behind and in front of the camera.
Priced at $9.99 per month, STARZ is known for its affordability compared to other streaming services. And while it is cheaper than other “premium” streaming services or tiers that don’t have ads, $10 per month will put you over $100 for the year. It makes sense why you may want a discount on STARZ for this reason.
Typical STARZ Deals
STARZ’s stand-alone streaming platform launched in 2016 and we started reporting on deals on the service starting in 2017. That gives us years of experience in finding the best deals for the service. Here are the kinds of deals that STARZ often runs:
- 6 months for $20
- 3 months for $2 or $3 per month
- 35% off an annual subscription
You can also find deals for STARZ from premium channel providers, such as Amazon Prime Video or Hulu. These often run around Black Friday and often give you 75% off a few months.
STARZ does not have coupon codes because the checkout process on their site does not have a coupon field. And sometimes STARZ will hide the deal based on your referral. For example, if you click through a Facebook ad, STARZ may only show you the 6-month deal rather than the 3-month deal (not both). This is because Facebook ads cost STARZ more money to run and thus they will lock you in for the higher rate to increase their return on ad spend (also known as ROAS). The best way to find the best STARZ deal is to join a newsletter like ours which will alert you when it goes on sale.
We’ve also found through our experience testing and reporting on streaming apps, that you won’t get the best deal through your TV or device’s app marketplace. STARZ’s best deals are tied to marketing campaigns and they will charge you full price if you sign up directly through your Roku TV or Samsung app (or other direct ways of signing up through a platform).
Current Deals
Right now, Starz is running two deals:
- 6 months for $20; or
- 3 months for $9 ($3 per month)
Historically, this promotion will run until the first couple of weeks of the year and then flips to $5 per month for the first three months or a discounted annual price, until going back to $3 per month sometime around the end of February.
What is the better STARZ deal?
If you do the math, the 6 months for $20 comes out to $3.33 per month. However, even though 3 months for $3 / month is better on a per-month basis, it only lasts three months; the remaining months are charged at full price ($9.99 per month). Thus, you should look at the time you are going to spend watching STARZ. Here are our suggestions based on our experience:
- Cheapest 1-month option: $9 (buy the 3-month deal and save $1)
- Cheapest 3-month option: $9 (buy the 3-month deal and save $21)
- Cheapest 6-month option: $20 (buy the 6-month deal and save $40)
- Cheapest 1-year option: $69 (buy the annual subscription and save $50)
The annual option isn’t available right now, but based on our reporting, it will be available in the first couple of months of the year. However, it is only available to new customers. So if you don’t want to wait, you should go with either the $9 for 3 months or $20 for 6 months deals.
What do you get with a discounted STARZ subscription?
When you get a deal on STARZ, either directly or through another provider, STARZ does not limit the catalog or functionality of the service. Unlike Netflix or Disney+ which offer discounted tiers with ads, STARZ discounts are promotional periods to juice up subscriber numbers. You get the same service no matter what price you pay.
Within STARZ, you’ll have access to critically acclaimed movies and STARZ originals. The service is popular right now for the John Wick movies, the Tom Holland Spider-Man movies, and The Hunger Games movies (the Ballad of the Songbird and Snakes will land on STARZ first too). It also has the Power Book series, Outlander, and other made-for-STARZ productions that you can’t watch anywhere else.
When does STARZ typically run deals?
The question is not when, but rather when not. Based on our reporting, there has never been more than a couple of weeks where STARZ hasn’t run a promotion of some kind.
Other streaming services, such as Hulu or Paramount+ will save discounts or coupons for a special time of the year. However, STARZ is almost always running a deal; you just need to know where to look. Because of our press status history since nearly its inception, we often get the STARZ team sending us the current deals, finding them across different groups we are in, or being informed of special offers through our community of readers. This has given us a good view that STARZ is almost always running some type of sale during the year.
The biggest deals, however, are usually around Streaming Day and Black Friday. This is when you can find STARZ for $1.99 per month (limited months), discounted annual deals, or even cheap single months through one of the providers.
Can you get a STARZ deal if you’ve already subscribed?
We have yet to find a STARZ discount that can be applied to current subscribers. The deals we’ve found have always been for new subscribers (which is common with streaming apps). The terms and conditions of a deal will state this if you are curious if it applies to you or not.
This, however, doesn’t mean that you can’t create a new email address to get another deal. STARZ subscriptions are tied to email accounts, not credit cards, which means that all you need to do is use another email address you haven’t before to qualify for the deal.
How can I cancel if I decide the STARZ deal isn’t right for me?
Are you looking for a streaming service without a long-term commitment? Then a STARZ deal can definitely save you some money without committing to a long-term relationship. STARZ typically offers a no-commitment, 7-day free trial of its streaming service. However, when you claim a STARZ discount, they sometimes remove the 7-day free trial (see terms and conditions above). After the 7-day trial, you can choose to continue with the subscription for a monthly fee or cancel at any time. It’s easy to cancel your subscription at any time by visiting the “My Account” section of the Starz website or by contacting Starz customer service at 1-888-935-8880. If you cancel your subscription before the end of the trial period, you will not be charged for the month.
How does the STARZ deal compare to other streaming deals?
To compare Starz with competing streaming service offers from the likes of Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and others, we’ve found that you’d want to consider several factors, including:
- Cost: Subscription prices can vary, and competitors offer tiers based on commercial ads which STARZ doesn’t have.
- Content: The type and quality of content available, such as exclusive series, films, and breadth of catalog.
- User Experience: The ease of use of the platforms, interface, and availability on various devices.
- Additional Features: The ability to download content for offline viewing, the number of simultaneous streams, and profile customization can vary from service to service. Plus there may be different tiers offering SD, HD, or 4K streaming options.
- Trial Period: The length of any free trial offered to new subscribers.
- Bundles and Partnerships: Some services offer bundles with other streaming platforms, cable services, or mobile carriers at a discounted rate.
For the latest Starz subscription deals and how it compares to its competitors, you would need to check the current offers directly on the other service websites or through authorized retailers and partners. Keep in mind that terms and benefits are subject to change, so always look for the most current information when making your decision.
Is STARZ compatible with all devices?
STARZ is pretty much compatible with all devices except for gaming consoles. You can watch the STARZ app on all the major smart TV operating systems and streaming devices, such as Roku, Amazon, Google TV, Samsung, and Apple. You can find a full list of STARZ-compatible devices here.
