· Firestick.io Team · News · 10 min read
Verizon Will Raise The Price for Heavily Discounted Netflix & HBO Streaming Bundle
Verizon's Netflix Standard with Ads + Max bundle perk jumps from $10 to $13/month on May 6, 2026. Here's what changed, who's affected, and whether it's still worth keeping.
Streaming bundles were supposed to save us money. That was the pitch — bundle Netflix and Max through your carrier, pay less than you would standalone, everyone wins. I’ve had the Verizon perk on my account for over a year, and it genuinely felt like one of those rare deals where the math just worked.
Then came March 27, 2026 — and a notification that made a lot of Verizon subscribers reach for the cancel button.
Verizon’s Netflix Standard with Ads + Max Basic with Ads bundle perk increases from $10 to $13/month starting May 6, 2026 (or your next billing cycle). The price hike is driven by Netflix’s platform-wide rate increases. If you’re on a promo or free trial, your current rate holds until it expires. The bundle still saves you roughly $6.98/month versus paying for both services separately — but it’s a smaller discount than before.
What Changed — And Why
Verizon announced the price adjustment on March 27, 2026, with an effective date of May 6, 2026 — or your next billing cycle after that date.
Here’s the breakdown:
| Before May 6, 2026 | After May 6, 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Bundle Perk Price | $10/month | $13/month |
| Standalone Netflix (Standard with Ads) | $7.99/month | $8.99/month |
| Standalone Max Basic with Ads | ~$10/month | ~$10/month |
| Standalone Total | ~$17.99–$18.99 | ~$18.99–$19.99 |
| Your Savings | ~$8.98/month | ~$6.98/month |
The culprit is Netflix’s recent price hike across all tiers — Standard with Ads climbed from $7.99 to $8.99, Standard jumped to $19.99, and Premium hit $26.99. Verizon is passing that increase directly to bundle subscribers, adding $3/month to the perk price.
That $3/month sounds modest. Over a year, it’s $36. And for people already questioning the value of ad-supported streaming, it’s enough to push them over the edge.
Who This Affects
The bundle is available to eligible Verizon mobile and home internet customers as an add-on perk. You manage it through the My Verizon app or website, under the Perks section.
It covers:
- Netflix Standard with Ads — $8.99 standalone, included in the bundle
- Max Basic with Ads (formerly HBO Max) — separate app, separate login, same perk billing
Neither service merges into a single app. On your Firestick, you install Netflix and Max independently — they just bill together as one $13 perk.
How to Use Netflix + Max on Your Firestick
If you’re a Verizon customer who already has the perk, here’s how to get both services running on your Fire TV device.
Setting Up Netflix + Max on Firestick via Verizon Perk
5 stepsActivate the Perk in My Verizon
Open the My Verizon app on your phone or go to the Verizon website. Navigate to Perks and find the Netflix + Max bundle. Tap Add Perk and follow the prompts. You’ll receive a confirmation email with your streaming credentials.
Update Your Firestick
Before installing anything, make sure you’re on the latest Fire OS. Go to Settings → My Fire TV → About → Check for Updates. Newer firmware handles app authentication more reliably — this matters for the initial account sync.
Install Netflix from the App Store
From the Firestick home screen, press the Search icon and type “Netflix.” Select it from the Amazon Appstore and hit Download. It’s a free install — your Verizon perk subscription activates when you sign in.
Install Max from the App Store
Repeat the process for Max. Search “Max” in the App Store, install it, then sign in using the Max credentials Verizon emailed you (or those found in My Verizon under your perk details).
Log In and Test Your Streams
Open each app and sign in. Use the same email address you registered with Verizon. If login fails immediately, give it 24–48 hours — account sync delays are common right after activation. If it still fails after two days, contact Verizon support directly.
Is $13/Month Still Worth It?
Honest answer: it depends on how much you actually use both services.
At $10/month, the math was obvious — two major streaming services for less than the price of one. At $13/month, the calculus is tighter. You’re saving roughly $7/month versus standalone pricing, but you’re locked into ad-supported tiers on both platforms and tied to your Verizon account.
Verizon Netflix + Max Perk
- Still saves ~$6.98/month vs. standalone pricing
- Convenient single-billing through Verizon account
- Works natively on Firestick via standard app installs
- Both services include ads at this tier
✓ Pros
- Saves ~$6.98/month compared to paying for Netflix + Max separately
- Single billing line through your Verizon account — no separate card on file
- Both apps available directly from Amazon Appstore, no sideloading needed
- Promo/trial customers keep their $10 rate until expiration
✕ Cons
- Price jumped $3/month ($36/year) overnight — smaller discount than before
- Both services are ad-supported tiers only — no ad-free option within this perk
- Account sync delays (1-2 days) frustrate new activations
- Tied to Verizon service — cancel Verizon, lose the perk pricing
Alternatives Worth Considering
Before you decide whether to keep, cancel, or look elsewhere, here’s how the Verizon bundle stacks up against other options available on your Firestick.
| Option | Monthly Cost | Services | Fire TV Support | Carrier Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Best Value Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle (with ads) | $10/mo | 3 services | All native apps | No |
| Verizon Netflix + Max Perk (post-hike) | $13/mo | 2 services | Native apps | Yes (Verizon) |
| Standalone Netflix + Max | ~$19/mo | 2 services | Native apps | No |
| T-Mobile Netflix On Us | Varies / free on some plans | Netflix only (some plans) | Native app | Yes (T-Mobile) |
| Amazon Prime Video Channels | ~$9–15/mo bundled with Prime | Netflix, Max via channels | Native integration | No |
The Disney+, Hulu, Max bundle at $10/month is the number that stings most for Verizon subscribers. Three services — including Max — for $3 less than the post-hike Verizon two-service bundle. It’s available directly from each app on your Firestick, no carrier required.
That said, if you’re a committed Verizon customer with family plan credits or other perks tied to your account, the math might still work out in Verizon’s favor. Run your full bill — not just the streaming line.
The Bigger Picture: Streaming Costs Keep Climbing
This isn’t an isolated move. Netflix has raised prices across every tier in the past 18 months. Max has done the same. Hulu, Disney+, Paramount+ — all up. The era of cheap streaming is over, and bundle deals like Verizon’s are getting thinner margins to work with.
If you’re managing streaming costs on a Firestick and looking for ways to trim the bill without losing content, there are still legitimate free options worth exploring. Tubi alone has over 50,000 titles. Pluto TV adds free live TV. And for deeper content libraries, Kodi with Real-Debrid is worth a look if you want premium link quality without premium subscription stacking.
For a broader view of what’s available without monthly fees, check our best free streaming channels on Firestick guide — some of the options there have gotten genuinely good in the last year.
Bottom Line
The Verizon Netflix + Max bundle isn’t a bad deal at $13/month — it’s just a worse deal than it was. You’re still saving money versus standalone pricing, but the discount is thinner, both tiers are ad-supported, and $36/year adds up.
If you use both services heavily and you’re staying with Verizon anyway, keeping the perk probably still makes sense. If you’re watching one more than the other, or if that Disney+/Hulu/Max triple bundle at $10 sounds appealing, now’s a reasonable time to reassess.
Either way — check your My Verizon account before May 6, 2026, confirm your promo status, and make the call before the first $13 charge shows up.
Get Surfshark VPN — Protect Your Firestick Streams
→Try Unify IPTV — Live TV Without the Bundle Headaches
→Related Reading
- 22 Best Firestick Apps in 2026 (Free & Paid) — The full list of what’s worth installing
- Best Free Streaming Channels on Firestick — Cut costs without cutting content
- How to Speed Up Your Firestick — Because ads are worse when your stick is struggling
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Last updated: March 2026
