Ditch Those Streaming Services: Take Back Control

Cut the Cord

If you've read my earlier article, Why You Should Consider Self-Hosting, then you already know one of the biggest benefits: saving money.

Now think for a moment, how much are you currently spending on monthly subscriptions like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and others? Remember what those services cost when you first signed up. Now compare that to today’s prices. Most of them have crept up year after year, and some now even include unskippable ads, despite you being a paying customer.

Yes, it’s as absurd as it sounds.

Take Netflix, for example. They recently announced a new $6.99/month tier that includes advertisements and only streams in 720p. In other words, you’re paying to watch ads and not even in full HD. On top of that, Netflix is cracking down on account sharing. If someone outside your household uses your account, expect to be charged extra, even if you've already paid for multiple screens.

It’s time to ask: is this really worth it?

Your Alternative: Self-Hosted Streaming

If you have a home server (or are considering setting one up), you can create your own private, ad-free streaming service. Here’s a list of powerful open-source tools to get you started:

🔹 Jellyfin

Your media, your server, your way. Jellyfin is a volunteer-built, open-source media system that lets you stream your own content to any device, completely free and without data tracking.

🔹 Bazarr

A subtitle management tool that works seamlessly with Sonarr and Radarr. You set your subtitle preferences by show or movie, and Bazarr takes care of downloading and syncing them for you.

🔹 Prowlarr

An indexer manager that connects effortlessly with apps like Radarr, Sonarr, Lidarr, and more. Prowlarr consolidates your Usenet and torrent indexers in one place.

🔹 Radarr

An automated movie downloader. It monitors RSS feeds and can fetch, rename, and organize your movie collection, automatically upgrading quality when better versions are available.

🔹 Sonarr

Similar to Radarr, but focused on TV shows. It tracks episodes, downloads them automatically, and keeps your library organized.

🔹 qBittorrent

A lightweight, open-source BitTorrent client that works well with Sonarr, Radarr, and Prowlarr for downloading your media files.

For more information, I recommend visiting Servarr, a central hub for many of the apps listed above.

One More Thing: Privacy

If you’re starting your own media server, it’s wise to consider your privacy. That’s where a VPN comes in. I recommend reading my previous post, Why You Need a VPN, where I explain how VPNs help protect your identity and offer suggestions on trusted services.

Final Thoughts

The streaming landscape is becoming more expensive, restrictive, and ad-driven. But you don’t have to accept that. With a little effort, you can build your own media setup, tailored exactly to your needs, without the recurring fees or limitations. Self-hosting puts you in control.

So go ahead. Ditch those streaming services. Your wallet (and your sanity) will thank you.