Cord cutters (myself included) left cable TV because they were paying too much for large bundles filled with channels they rarely watched. Streaming promised a less expensive alternative. Choose the services you wanted, skip the rest and, at least in the beginning, watch without commercials.

That bargain has steadily declined. Prices have risen, ad-free plans cost more and many mainstream streaming services now charge monthly fees while still showing ads.

Disney+ is a good example. It launched in 2019 at $6.99 a month with no ads. In 2022, Disney introduced an ad-supported plan for $7.99 while raising the ad-free version to $10.99. After several more increases, Disney+ now costs $11.99 a month with ads and $18.99 without them.

Those increases, usually just a few dollars at a time, add up. Stack several subscriptions together and it is easy to spend $100 or more a month, putting many households right back where they started with cable TV.

That helps explain the growing appeal of a category known as FAST, short for free ad-supported streaming television. The three largest names are Tubi, Pluto TV and The Roku Channel. You may not recognize the term or the services themselves, but they’re worth a look. Unlike Netflix, Disney+ or Max, FAST services do not charge a monthly subscription. You watch commercials instead. Which one should you try first? It depends on how you watch TV.

If you usually know what you want to watch, start with Tubi. It has a very large on-demand library of movies and TV series, along with live channels.

If you miss flipping through channels, try Pluto TV. Its emphasis is on hundreds of scheduled channels arranged by subject and genre, although it also offers programs on demand. 

The Roku Channel falls between the two. It combines live channels with an on-demand library, and you do not need a Roku device to use it. You can watch online, through its mobile app and on several compatible smart TVs and streaming devices.

Since all three services  are free, you do not have to choose just one. Download them and see which best fits the way you watch television.

There are drawbacks. You will see commercials, libraries change and you are less likely to find the newest hit series. My experience with Pluto TV on a Delta flight was that much of the programming was old. That may be fine when you simply want something to watch, but FAST is not always the best place to look for one particular new show.

And that is where streaming bills tend to grow. A hugely popular series appears on a service you do not have, or a major sporting event is available through a package you would not otherwise buy.

The World Cup provided a recent example. English-language coverage was on FOX and FS1, with all 104 matches available through FOX One for $19.99 a month. FOX One could also be added through Prime Video. Other live-TV streaming packages carrying FOX cost considerably more. Spanish-language coverage was on Telemundo and Universo, with matches also streaming on Peacock.

I chose the Spanish broadcast and figured I would take the opportunity to improve my Spanish.

Don’t let a viral show turn into another monthly bill. Here are some tips to avoid that trap.

Rotate your subscriptions. Keep a service while it has programs you want to watch, then cancel it and move to another. There is little reason to keep Netflix, Disney+, Max, Peacock, Paramount+ and Apple TV+ running every month when you are actively using only one or two.

You may also be able to watch a popular show with a friend who already subscribes.

A free trial can work if one is available. Wait until all episodes have been released before signing up. Download them so you can watch without an internet connection while the trial remains active. Check the expiration rules because downloads may become unavailable after a certain number of days or when the trial ends. Remember to cancel before the service charges your card.

Before subscribing, search for the program on JustWatch. It will tell you where the title is available and whether it is included with a subscription, free with ads or available to rent. Paying for one movie may cost less than starting another subscription and forgetting about it.

And sometimes the best alternative has nothing to do with television. Call a friend. Take a walk. Read a book or start a hobby you have been wanting to try instead.

Leslie Meredith has been writing about technology for more than a decade. As a mom of four, value, usefulness and online safety take priority. Have a question? Email Leslie at asklesliemeredith@gmail.com.