20 Best Streaming Services for AMEX Rewards

Sling TV is an affordable cord-cutting alternative that carries popular live channels like AMC, TNT, and CNN. Sling Orange is one of two plans it offers, and it's what you should go for if you put a premium on The Disney Channel, Freeform, MotorTrend, and ESPN since those aren't available in Sling's other plan, Sling Blue. If you have the Blue Cash Preferred from AMEX, you can get 6% cashback each month (or nearly $36 in a year) when you use it to pay for a Sling subscription. That may not sound like much, but it counts for a lot when services show no sign of stopping the price hikes. Pros

• Has popular channels like The Disney Channel and ESPN
• Can customize with a variety of add-on packages

Fubo has a reputation for being a sports-forward streaming service, but it also offers news, entertainment, and local channels, along with hundreds of on-demand titles. If you subscribe using the Blue Cash Preferred card from AMEX, you can get up to 6% cash back monthly. This saves you more than $5 every month, or nearly $62 every year. Pros

• Has channels that cater to niche sports like cricket and golf
• Allows multiview for sports events
• Unlimited DVR

Cons

• Missing key channels like TNT, TBS, TruTV, Discovery, and CNN

Sling Blue is the other plan offered by Sling TV. Some of the channels here you won't find on Sling Orange are Bravo, Discovery, TruTV, USA, and FS1. In select cities, it also carries your local ABC, NBC, and/or FOX. As with Sling Orange, a Sling Blue subscription gives you 6% cashback if you use a Blue Cash Preferred card to pay for it. Using other AMEX cards may also earn you points. Pros

• ABC, NBC, and FOX are available in select markets

Cons

• $5 broadcast fee is mandatory if you get local channels in your area

DirecTV Stream is the most complete live TV streaming package on the market. It has unlimited DVR, 4k viewing options, and local, sports, news, and entertainment channels, which you can boost with a variety of add-ons. That said, DirecTV Stream is also very expensive. Thankfully, purchasing a subscription with an AMEX card earns you rewards points. The Blue Cash Preferred card, in particular, earns you 6% cashback each month, saving you at least $62 a year. Pros

• Has plenty of channels that cover entertainment, sports, and local news
• Has 4k channels
• Unlimited DVR and simultaneous streams

Cons

• Customer service is inconsistent
• Interface is not beginner-friendly

Disney+ is home to past and upcoming titles from Marvel, Star Wars, NatGeo, and, of course, Disney, making it a superior streaming option for families. Perhaps it's no coincidence, then, that Disney+ has more AMEX deals than any other streaming service. Blue Cash Preferred cardholders can earn $7 in monthly credit ($84 annually) if they purchase any Disney+ bundle, which starts at $10.99/month. Meanwhile, Platinum cardholders can get up to $20 in statement credit every month ($240 annually) with a purchase of any Disney+ plan. For Platinum cardholders, this means you could subscribe to the ad-free Disney+ bundle, which is currently at $19.99/month, basically for free. Pros

• Plenty of AMEX deals to choose from
• Disney+ bundles come with Hulu and ESPN+

Subscribing to Paramount+ is an inexpensive way to watch original shows on demand and football games live. Its ad-supported plan gives you access to shows like Yellowstone, Yellowjackets, and RuPaul's Drag Race, blockbuster movies like Smile, and live games on NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League. Upgrading to the ad-free plan even lets you watch your local CBS channel. If you're still on the fence about Paramount+, you can always try it free for a week. And if you need more time, you might feel better knowing you're getting 6% of your cash back if you purchase a subscription with AMEX's Blue Cash Preferred Card. Pros

• Has live sports and local CBS channel

Cons

• Small on-demand library
• Original content isn't as remarkable as the competition

Like Paramount+, Peacock also offers an inexpensive way to watch news and live sports. The ad-free plan gives you access to your local NBC channel, while all plans let you watch Premier League, Sunday Night Football, Big Ten, and more. But Peacock is a better option if you're a comedy fan, since it streams all of NBC's sitcoms and late-night shows. If you have the AMEX Platinum Card, you can get up to $20 in statement credit. The remaining credit can be used for a Disney+, ESPN+, or Hulu subscription. Other AMEX cards may also be eligible for reward points. Pros

• Great selection of NBC sitcoms and sketch shows
• Has live sports and local NBC channel

Cons

• Ads appear even on the premium plan

Hulu is an on-demand streaming service with an ever-growing list of award-winning shows, among them, The Bear, Shogun, and Only Murders in the Building. If you're an AMEX cardholder, there are two ways to watch Hulu with a discount. The first is with a Blue Cash Preferred card, which gives you 6% of your cash back every month. The second is with a Platinum card, which gives you $20 in statement credit every month. Any remaining credit you get on the Platinum card can be spent on Disney+, ESPN+, or Peacock, so consider the bundling route if you really want to maximize your rewards. Pros

• High-quality content
• Can bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+

Cons

• Can't earn the AMEX cashback reward if you upgrade to Hulu with Live TV

Starz, the cable network, makes all of its hit shows and licensed movies available on-demand on the streaming app of the same name. You could purchase it as an add-on to services like Sling TV and DirecTV Stream. But if you're thinking of subscribing to Starz as a standalone service, you can use your AMEX card to earn rewards points. If you have the Blue Cash Preferred card, you can earn 6% in cash back each month. Pros

• Regularly offers deals and discounts

Apple TV+ streams only original content, which means it doesn't have as robust a catalog as the other services in this list. However, what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. Most Apple Originals enjoy massive budgets and critical acclaim, making the streamer a staple for film and TV fans. The affordable price makes it even more appealing, but if you want to save up on costs, then you'll be happy to know you can collect rewards points if you pay for Apple TV+ with an AMEX card. As with most services in this list, the AMEX Blue Cash Preferred card gets you 6% cashback monthly. Pros

• Quality original content
• Has live sports

Cons

• Limited on-demand catalog
• Sharing an account requires everyone to be on an Apple device

An Amazon Prime subscription gives you access to on-demand films and shows, live sports, and discounts on the platform's online store. Its slate of original content may not be as memorable as the competition's, but it does license plenty of movies, so you won't have a hard time choosing stuff to watch. If you want to maximize your savings on Amazon Prime, paying for a subscription with an AMEX Blue Cash Preferred card earns you 6% cash back each month. Pros

• Comes with online shopping and shipping discounts
• Can subscribe to Prime Video as a standalone

Cons

• Original content isn't as remarkable as the competition

The competition is stiffer than ever, but Netflix remains a top choice among cord-cutters for good reason: it's constantly producing original titles, many of them from around the world. Apart from daily new releases, it's now also streaming live sports (namely WWE, NFL, and boxing matches). Notoriously, however, it's been quite sneaky with the price hikes. You can recover some of those costs if you subscribe with an AMEX Blue Cash Preferred card and get 6% cashback monthly, or use other eligible AMEX cards to collect rewards points. Pros

• Plenty of original and licensed content to choose from
• Easy to use and share

Cons

• Prone to price hikes

Max is most known for streaming HBO shows and award-winning originals, but it's also home to other brands like Cartoon Network, DC, HGTV, TCM, and A24. It's great to have on the streaming lineup if you want a diverse selection. The good news is that you can collect rewards points if you subscribe to Max with an AMEX card. The not-so-good news is that the 6% monthly cashback granted to all the services in this list only applies to Max if you're purchasing it as a standalone. Max bundles are not eligible for the cashback. Pros

• Has titles from different networks like Cartoon Network, TCM, and HBO

Cons

• AMEX rewards don't apply to Max bundles

YouTube TV has an extensive channel lineup ranging from ESPN and CNN to your local NBC and FOX (subject to market availability). But perhaps its biggest claim to fame is its familiar interface, which any YouTube user can intuitively grasp, and its unlimited cloud DVR. The priciness of the service is a drawback for many, but you can save on some costs if you use your AMEX card to subscribe. Using the Blue Cash Preferred card gets you 6% monthly cashback, as it does with the other services. Occasionally, AMEX also offers a "Get $20 Back" deal when you spend at least $58 on the platform. People have used the deal to purchase a YouTube TV subscription and add-ons like the NFL Sunday Ticket. Pros

• Wide range of live channels that include sports and local news
• Interface is familiar and easy to use
• Unlimited cloud DVR

AMC+ is one of the latest streaming services to be eligible for a 6% cashback if you use the Blue Cash Preferred card to purchase it. Though not as prominent as Netflix or Hulu, AMC+ is a worthwhile option if you're a fan of AMC staples like The Walking Dead and Interview with a Vampire. It also gives you on-demand access to plenty of Shudder, Sundance, IFC, and BBC content. Pros

• Also features titles from Shudder, IFC, Sundance, and BBC America

Cons

• Small on-demand library
• Limited options for younger viewers

Britbox joins AMC as one of the latest streaming services to be eligible for the AMEX reward. As with AMC, subscribing to Britbox with a Blue Cash Preferred card lets you earn a 6% monthly cashback. A subscription also gives you on-demand access to a rich catalog of British mysteries, period dramas, comedies, and talk shows, mostly sourced from the BBC, Channel 4, and ITV. Pros

• No ads
• Has parental controls
• Extensive collection of British programs that are hard to find elsewhere

Cons

• Small on-demand library
• No offline downloads
• Some titles can only be viewed on 720p max

MGM+ is a streaming service that combines modern blockbusters, classic films, and some noteworthy originals like The Godfather of Harlem. It's usually purchased as an add-on to bigger streaming services like Sling TV and DirecTV Stream. But if you want to purchase it as a standalone, then doing so with an AMEX card earns you 6% cashback each month. Pros

• Plenty of classics thanks to MGM's back catalog of old films

Cons

• Small on-demand library
• Not a lot of original content

Another recent addition to AMEX's list of eligible streaming services is Discovery+. The platform is home to lifestyle and home improvement content from popular channels like HGTV, the Food Network, and TLC. If you purchase a subscription with the Blue Cash Preferred card, you'll get the usual 6% monthly cashback. Again, that's not a lot, especially since Discovery+ already comes quite cheap, but the savings add up in the long run. You could also purchase it as an add-on to Sling TV, Amazon Prime, DirecTV Stream, or YouTube TV, all of which are eligible for the AMEX cashback reward. Pros

• Episodes are added immediately after airing on the live channel

Cons

• Limited options for film and TV fans
• Some shows are already available on Max

ESPN+ streams some of the games, programs, and documentaries that have been on the ESPN channels, as well as exclusive live sports events from UFC, LaLiga, MLB, and more. To watch ESPN+ with a discount, you can purchase the Disney+ bundle (which has Hulu and ESPN+) with a Blue Cash Preferred card and get $7 back every month. You can also purchase the same bundle with a Platinum card and get up to $20 in statement credit every month. Of course, you can also use both cards to purchase a standalone ESPN+ subscription, though in this case, we think it's more cost-effective to go the bundling route. Pros

• Available in the Disney+ and Hulu bundles
• Streams live games and pay-per-view events

Cons

• Doesn't stream live ESPN channels