Black Friday streaming deals: Buy this, not that

Black Friday can be a great time to save money on streaming, but it can also be a source of wasteful spending.

Some streaming devices, no matter how cheap they are, just aren’t worth buying. And while streaming service deals abound on Black Friday, some are better than others.

Instead of just giving you advice on what to pay for, this article will do the opposite, with some popular deals to avoid and how you should spend your money instead.

Avoid Walmart’s $19 Roku Premiere

For $19, the Walmart-exclusive Roku Premiere streaming box might seem like a smart upgrade for an aging TV, but it’s not worth buying at any price.

Unlike most Roku devices, the Premiere’s remote doesn’t include voice control, so you can’t quickly look up where to watch a movie or show. It doesn’t include TV volume or power controls either, so you’ll need a separate remote for those functions. Those omissions are inexcusable on a streaming player in 2023, especially with so many other capable options at similar prices.

(The Premiere is only worthwhile in one niche scenario: If you use a programmable universal remote, you can set it up to control the Premiere and stick the Roku remote in a junk drawer.)

Buy these streamers instead:

• Roku Express 4K+ is also on sale during Black Friday for $25, giving you a significantly better remote for just $6 more.
• If you’re not married to Roku, the Walmart Onn 4K streaming box with Google TV is a fine budget streamer that costs $20 year -round.

Avoid Amazon’s $16 Fire TV Stick Lite

Once more, with feeling: Don’t buy a streaming device without TV volume and power controls. This also applies to Amazon’s Fire TV Stick Lite, which is on sale for $16 during Black Friday.

Unlike Roku, Amazon at least had the decency to include voice controls on this streamer, but you’ll still need a separate remote whenever the TV gets too loud or quiet. It’s a shame, because other Fire TV devices are excellent at controlling pretty much any TV, soundbar, or A/V receiver.

The only reason to consider the Fire TV Stick Lite is if you’re planning to buy Amazon’s Alexa Voice Remote Pro to use instead of the included remote.

Buy these streamers instead:

• Amazon’s Fire TV Stick includes power, volume, and mute buttons for $20 on Black Friday—just $4 more than its “Lite” sibling. Or you can grab the 4K version for $5 more.
• The Chromecast with Google TV (HD) is also on sale for $20 during Black Friday, and is easier to use than Amazon’s streamers.
• The aforementioned the Walmart Onn 4K streaming box is another solid $20 option that also supports 4K video.

Don’t take Starz’s $3-per-month deal

Starz is currently offering three months of discounted service for $3 per month, which is $6 off the regular price. Not bad, but you can do better.

Try these options instead:

• Subscribe through the Roku Channel, which is offering two months for $1 per month as a Black Friday promotion.
• If you’re a Hulu subscriber, you can add six months of Starz for $1 per month through your account page.
• If you’re not a Hulu subscriber, you can get 12 months for $1 per month and get the six-month Starz deal at the same time.
• One more option: Sign up for a month of Starz at the discounted rate, then try to cancel. You’ll be offered three more months for $2 per month. Continue the cancellation process, and you’ll get a final offer of three months for $1 per month.

Don’t take 70% off Paramount+

Paramount+ is joining the Black Friday promo wars this year with a three-month discount, priced at $2 per month for its Essentials plan (with ads), or $4 per month for its ad-free plan with Showtime.

With most streaming services, this would quality as a solid deal. But in the case of Paramount+, savvy cord cutters have long known that you can just get the streaming service for free, even if you’ve subscribed before.

Sign up for Paramount+ this way, instead:

Use the coupon codes COLIN, DELACALLE, or CHALLENGE39 at checkout to get a month of Paramount+ for free. Cancel any time (even immediately after signing up), then repeat the process again after your free month expires. Paramount+ coupon codes work for both new and returning subscriptions, and we keep track of them in this article.

Alternatively, Walmart+ members can get the Paramount+ Essentials plan (with ads) for free, no coupon codes necessary.

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