How to Gift a Streaming Service
In many ways, the digital age has made it easier to give gifts. You can complete one online shopping cart and send gifts anywhere in the world. At the same time, some things are not as simple as they used to be. Remember when you could just walk into a store and buy someone a DVD? Now, there is a good chance that your intended recipient does not have a DVD player. 60% of TV shows and movies watched in the US are streamed online these days, but how do you donate a digital stream?
Here are some ways to donate a streaming service or digital movie without having to hack into your loved one’s account.
Gift Cards to Get Started
Gift cards for major streaming services can be found at many department stores and drug stores . They often hang on the counter next to Starbucks and Best Buy gift cards. You can also purchase a gift card online for the streaming service of your choice. This is the easiest way to gift streaming service to your friends and family.
Here are the links to buy gift subscriptions to the major streaming services:
- Netflix : Gift cards are sold in different dollar amounts from retailers and third-party sellers.
- Hulu : Gift cards are sold in various dollar amounts from retailers and third-party sellers.
- Disney + : Choosing to “gift a year” of membership to a streamer will set you back $ 69.99 (new subscribers only).
- Amazon Prime : You can gift someone three months of Prime membership for $ 39, or a year for $ 119.
- CBS All-Access : Gift cards are sold in various dollar amounts from retailers and third-party sellers.
- The Criterion Channel : Give the true movie lover of your life a one month subscription ($ 10.99) or an annual membership ($ 99.99).
Please note that some services, including HBO Max and Peacock, do not currently offer an easy way to gift someone a subscription.
This is a gift that will entertain your recipient for months – or even an entire year – but there is a downside: they will have to remember to cancel or they might end up on the hook with the monthly fee once your gift runs out. This is not always the case – unless they choose to link a credit card, those who sign up to Hulu with a gift card will actually see their accounts closed as soon as the donated amount runs out, preventing you from gifting a monthly bill after the vacation.
Maintaining an account
More than 50% of US households subscribe to multiple streaming subscriptions, which means your donor already has Disney + and Netflix. If that’s the case, consider giving away a few free months, whether it’s a physical gift card or a digital one that the recipient can redeem through their existing streaming account. For example, on Netflix, they can go to their account settings and select “Redeem Gift Card or Promo Code”.
Important tip: Some streaming services allow you to buy gift cards directly, while Netflix and Google Play require you to purchase them from third-party vendors such as Amazon . Check out the service links above to explore some options.
Donate one movie or TV show
The only streaming service that lets you donate a single movie or TV show is Apple TV. Movie and TV show gifts are only available on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Search the Apple Store by signing in to your Apple account. After you’ve selected a movie, Apple Support instructions say , “In the iTunes Store, click the Share button, then click Gift. You can choose whether you want the person to receive an email notification of the gift immediately, or you can schedule the delivery of the notification.
Considering all the concerns about digital copy protection and copyright laws, making a digital film will never be as easy as packing a DVD. Gift cards are currently the best way to give entertainment in the streaming age.