Verizon customers who’ve been enjoying the convenience of managing all their streaming subscriptions in one place are about to lose that luxury. The telecom giant announced it’s pulling the plug on its +Play service in July, leaving subscribers scrambling to figure out their next move, according to TheStreet.
The +Play Verizon website states that starting July 9, 2025, Verizon will no longer allow new enrollments for +Play, the streaming management platform it launched just three years ago. While existing subscriptions can still be managed through the service, the writing’s on the wall for this once-promising perk.
What you’re losing with +Play’s shutdown
The +Play service offered genuine value by letting customers bundle their streaming subscriptions into one convenient hub. No more juggling multiple passwords, payment dates, or cancellation processes across different platforms.
Select Verizon customers could add +Play for just $10 monthly and receive a $15 credit toward their streaming services. That was essentially $5 in free money every month, or $60 annually.
The timing couldn’t be worse. According to All About Cookies, 84% of people have canceled a streaming subscription in the past, with 44% citing price increases as the main culprit. Now Verizon’s making it harder to manage the subscriptions you do keep.
The real cost to you
If you were taking advantage of that $15 monthly credit through +Play, you’re looking at an immediate $60 annual hit to your budget, plus the convenience of managing your subscriptions in one place.
For families juggling multiple streaming services, losing centralized management could lead to forgotten cancellations and duplicate charges. Without a management tool, it’s easier to lose track and overspend.
Verizon’s pushing customers toward its myPlan and myHome perks instead. They’re essentially pre-packaged bundles that might not match your specific streaming preferences.
What are your choices when +Play goes away?
1. Switch to a competitor with better perks
Other carriers may offer streaming perks with their plans. If you’re paying for these services anyway, switching carriers could offset the loss of +Play and potentially save you more.
2. Negotiate directly with Verizon
Don’t accept the loss quietly. Call Verizon’s retention department and express your disappointment.
Some customers report success in securing bill credits or discounted add-ons when they threaten to leave. Even a $10 monthly discount would balance out the lost +Play value.
3. Use third-party subscription managers
Various apps can help track your subscriptions across platforms. While they don’t offer the integrated billing that +Play provided, they’ll at least prevent those sneaky charges from services you forgot to cancel.
4. Embrace free streaming options
With PlutoTV and Tubi seeing record viewership, according to recent earnings calls from Paramount and Fox, maybe it’s time to cut some paid subscriptions entirely. These free, ad-supported platforms are adding premium content daily.
5. Bundle directly through streaming services
Many platforms now offer their own bundles. These might actually save you more than +Play ever did.
Should you jump ship?
Here’s the $60 question: Is losing +Play worth switching carriers? The math depends partly on your current plan and usage.
But switching isn’t just about streaming perks. Consider coverage in your area, data speeds, and any device payment plans you might need to pay off. Early termination fees could eat up any savings for the first year.
For most customers, the smarter play might be staying put while negotiating better terms with Verizon. According to New Street Research, Verizon lost 289,000 postpaid phone subscribers in Q1 2025 alone, matching its worst quarter ever. Perhaps they need you more than you might think.
The shutdown of +Play may signal a broader trend of carriers tightening their belts as customer acquisition costs soar and competition intensifies. According to TheStreet, CEO Hans Vestberg even admitted recent price hikes contributed to customer losses. This may give you leverage.
Rather than accepting these service cuts passively, consumers could view this as an opportunity to reassess their entire wireless and streaming setup. Calculate what you’re actually using, comparison shop aggressively, and don’t be afraid to play hardball with retention departments.
Add a Comment