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streaming

The best streaming services in 2025

by admin September 17, 2025

With so many options available today, choosing the best streaming services can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re into blockbuster movies, reality TV, documentaries or just want access to news channels, there’s a platform tailored to your tastes and budget. If you’re looking to cut the cord completely, you might also want to explore live TV options that offer cable-like channels without the hassle. We’ve also put together a separate guide to the best live TV streaming services if you’re after a full channel lineup that includes sports, local stations and breaking news. In this buying guide, though, we’re focusing on the top on-demand streaming services worth subscribing to right now — whether you’re binging shows solo or setting up family-friendly entertainment for the weekend.

Best streaming services for 2025

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/best-streaming-services-154527042.html?src=rss

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September 17, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Best VPN for Streaming in 2025: Unblock International Movies and TV Shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and More

by admin September 13, 2025

Based on our years of experience using and testing VPNs, here’s what you should consider when choosing a VPN for streaming.

Streaming capabilities

Your VPN’s capacity to access streaming content is the top factor to consider in a VPN for streaming. If your VPN can’t access geo-restricted streaming content, it isn’t fit for this purpose. It’s also important to make sure that the VPN you choose works well for the specific streaming services you want to access. Think about the streaming services you want to watch like Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Max, Hulu, Peacock, Crunchyroll, YouTube TV and Sling — then try your VPN with those services to see if it works. We’ve found that ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark all work reliably with each of those streaming services across most platforms.

Keep in mind that a streaming service that works with a specific VPN today may not tomorrow (and vice versa). Sometimes a simple server switch can do the trick and get you access to the content you’re looking for. If not, you can alert your VPN’s support team to the issue and they may be able to get it resolved. Each of these VPNs will give you your money back within 30 days of purchase, so if it happens to not work as well as you want, you can get a refund. Check out the best VPNs for Netflix and the best VPNs for Amazon Prime Video for more information.

Speed

Your VPN’s speed performance plays a major role in the overall quality of your streaming experience. You’ll need a VPN that’s fast, especially if you’re streaming in 4K or if you’re accessing geo-blocked content from a region that’s a considerable distance from your physical location. Generally, you’ll need download speeds of 25Mbps at a bare minimum for 4K streaming, but you’ll want at least 50Mbps for reliable 4K streaming. You can get by with far less (10 to 20Mbps) for HD streaming. All VPNs will slow your speeds somewhat (sometimes by 50% or more), but if your VPN is slowing your connection too much, you may end up experiencing a lot of buffering or lower-quality video playback. A fast streaming VPN will only reduce your download speeds minimally — ideally by 25% or less on average. As long as your connection is fast enough to begin with, the speed loss shouldn’t be noticeable.

Privacy

Regardless of what you’re using your VPN for, privacy is a key consideration for any VPN service. Your VPN should have privacy measures in place, like DNS leak protection, a kill switch, modern encryption protocols and a no-logs policy (ideally one that’s been audited or tested in the wild). A VPN that provides the necessary privacy protections will ensure that your internet traffic is never leaked unencrypted.

Network

A good VPN for streaming should have a network of servers in locations across the globe. If you’re looking to fully optimize your streaming and get access to the largest selection of streaming content, then you’ll probably want to choose a VPN with servers located in the largest number of countries. If you’re looking to access content from a specific region, you should check to ensure the VPN you want to use has servers in the region(s) you need. You can check the VPN’s server page on its website to see what countries it has servers in before purchasing a subscription. Most of our top picks feature thousands of servers in 100-plus countries. To unblock streaming content from a specific country, all you need to do is use the VPN app to connect to a server located in the country from which you want to stream content. For example, to access the US Netflix library, ensure you’re connected to a server in the US. Or if you want to access content on BBC iPlayer, connect to a UK server.

Device compatibility

You’ll also want to make sure that the streaming VPN you choose is compatible with the device on which you want to stream content, whether that’s a mobile device, laptop, smart TV or streaming device. Most VPNs are compatible with a wide range of devices, but it’s always a good idea to confirm that the service you’re considering will work with your device. Many VPNs have apps for Fire TV and Android TV that work on streaming devices or smart TVs, but not every provider has an Apple TV app yet. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, PIA and IPVanish are a few of the providers that do have Apple TV apps. (Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Luckily, you can use a VPN on your router if you want to use a VPN with devices like PlayStation 5 and Xbox consoles or Roku streaming devices that don’t support native VPN apps.

Router installation

It isn’t necessary to use a router to stream geo-blocked content with a VPN, but it can help if your smart TV or streaming device doesn’t natively support VPN apps. Also, with a VPN router setup, you can protect all of the devices on your network at once while using only one of your allotted simultaneous connections. Installing a VPN on a compatible router can be difficult and even risky if you try it yourself, so be sure you have the technical know-how to do so before proceeding. Alternatively, you can purchase a router with a VPN preinstalled from a company like FlashRouters. If you’re an ExpressVPN user, you can purchase the provider’s Aircove router or use its intuitive router app on your existing VPN-compatible router.

Cost

VPN prices can vary considerably from one provider to another. A monthly VPN subscription can range anywhere from about $5 to $15 per month. Longer-term VPN subscription plans often feature introductory pricing around $40 to $100 for the first year. But be aware that renewal prices can sometimes double or even quadruple — with VPN renewal pricing coming in anywhere from $50 to $150 or more per year after introductory term. If you’re on a budget, take a look at our list of the best cheap VPNs. You can even use a VPN to save money on your streaming subscriptions because a VPN can help you access more global content without you having to subscribe to as many streaming services.

Sports streaming

If you’re a sports fan, you can use a VPN to avoid regional blackouts and stream sports from anywhere. To do so, just connect to a VPN server in a location where the sporting event is accessible online — whether it’s a specific U.S. city, or a different country — and you should be able to stream all the sports you want. For instance, you can use a VPN to stream out-of-market NFL games or watch NFL matches while traveling abroad.

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September 13, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Asmongold announces indefinite streaming hiatus to prioritize his father’s health

by admin September 8, 2025

Twitch and Kick star Asmongold is stepping away from streaming indefinitely to focus on his father, who is battling pancreatic cancer.

The 35-year-old content creator has been one of the biggest names in streaming throughout 2025, even topping the charts as the most-watched streamer of Q2 after deciding to broadcast on both Twitch and Kick.

On YouTube, his commentary videos on gaming, politics, and industry debates regularly pull in millions of views.

However, on September 8, Zack ‘Asmongold’ Hoyt announced that he will be putting his career on hold to take care of his father until the situation is resolved “one way or another.”

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Asmongold explains why he’s taking a break from streaming

“Originally, he went to the hospital for pneumonia. Then upon leaving had a test that showed acute liver failure that turned out to be pancreatic cancer. Not a good day,” he revealed in a statement to fans.

Asmongold explained that while his father began chemotherapy, complications quickly arose. He described one harrowing night where he “ended up sleeping on the floor next to his bed” after his father struggled to breathe following treatment.

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YouTube: AsmongoldTV

A few days later, doctors recommended hospitalization after his father’s blood pressure dropped to “some insanely low number like 74/53.”

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Although he noted there have been “marginal improvements,” the situation remains serious.

“Because of the severity, this will require my full attention until it is resolved one way or another, which means streams will be on hiatus until that time comes,” he said. “There’s nothing I’d rather do more than go live and continue on like I always do, but my obligation to my father must take priority.”

Asmongold did not give a timeline for his return, citing the uncertainty of his father’s condition, but assured fans he would provide updates when possible. He also thanked his community for the outpouring of support, saying both he and his father “appreciate the kind words.”

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For now, one of streaming’s most influential voices will be offline, not for gaming, but for family.

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Your pa is a badass mf and you’re a great son for being there when he needs you.

Got yall in my prayers.

You both will get through this, he will recover.

— TECTONE 🇺🇸 (@Tectone) September 8, 2025

Fellow creators such as Tectone gave their support to the award-winning MMORPG streamer, writing: “Your pa is a badass mf and you’re a great son for being there when he needs you.”

“Good Son. Prayers,” echoed Kick’s Head of Studios, Andrew Santamaria.

This isn’t the only time the streamer took a break due to his parents. Back in 2021, he went on hiatus after saving his mother from a fire caused by her oxygen tank igniting before extending his hiatus after she died a few weeks later.

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September 8, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Best VPN for Travel: Stay Private While Browsing the Web and Streaming On-the-Go

by admin September 7, 2025

PIA

Private Internet Access brings a lot to the table, particularly for regular travelers. Its large server network blankets the globe with 35,000 servers in 91 countries. ExpressVPN and Surfshark deliver more individual country choices but PIA’s sheer number of servers lets you easily find an optimal connection. It’s an especially great VPN for folks traveling domestically or to one of the worldwide locales where Private Internet Access maintains a decent presence. In our experience, we found PIA unblocked Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus and Netflix on US and UK servers, making it a good VPN for streaming.

Its wallet-friendly pricing sets you back just $12 monthly, $40 for the first year ($50 annually upon renewal) or $79 total for three years. By comparison, most VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN typically charge $60 to $100 a year. The value-packed Surfshark charges about $48 for your first year and its price jumps to $60 after its initial sweet introductory pricing.

Despite its relatively low cost, PIA doesn’t cut corners. Although it’s not the most feature-rich VPN, you’ll get a solid privacy suite, including a kill switch that stops your internet if your VPN gets disconnected, split tunneling for using a VPN for some apps but not others and 256-bit encryption over OpenVPN or IKEv2 with ChaCha20 on WireGuard. There’s multihop, which routes your connection through another server for additional privacy, and obfuscated servers, making it tougher for apps or ISPs to identify when you’re using a VPN. PIA also boasts unlimited simultaneous connections — the pricier ExpressVPN limits you to eight.

Unfortunately, PIA delivered middling internet speeds in our testing with an average speed loss of 49%. All VPNs slow down your connection somewhat, with the fastest VPNs offering an average internet speed loss of 25% or less. Folks with faster internet connections like fiber shouldn’t notice a difference even with a higher speed loss but PIA isn’t ideal for people with slower speeds like satellite internet users. With its decent features, pricing transparency and subscriptions that significantly undercut the competition, PIA remains a solid VPN that boasts a generous server network, unlimited simultaneous connections and relative affordability compared to VPN rivals. But for the price, you’re better off with Surfshark, which is faster and offers a larger global server network.

Read our PIA review.

IPVanish

IPVanish offers 2,400-plus servers in 108 countries, which is in the same ballpark as NordVPN, Proton VPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark. (Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) In our experience, IPVanish’s internet download speeds were uneven, with a 44% average internet download speed loss in our 2024 testing, with fast speeds marred by occasionally noticeable dips, which could impact gaming or 4K streaming.

IPVanish provides plenty of perks, including unlimited simultaneous connections, user-friendly apps and great streaming capabilities. It streams and unblocks region-restricted content from Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu and Netflix with aplomb. At $13 monthly, $40 for the first year or $53 total for two years, IPVanish initially saves you money upfront compared to competitors like ExpressVPN or NordVPN. However, its exorbitantly expensive renewal prices of $156 a year for the annual plan and $312 for the two-year plan trounce even pricey autorenewals of ExpressVPN ($100 renewal) and NordVPN ($140 renewal). IPVanish works fine for casual use, but you can get a VPN with more robust privacy features and faster internet speeds, all of which benefit travel. IPVanish’s user-friendly apps make it a decent choice for beginners seeking a VPN to add peace of mind and allow for streaming abroad. But wallet-friendly VPNs PIA and Surfshark are better options for the money because of their larger server networks.

Read our IPVanish review

CyberGhost

With 11,500-plus servers spanning 100 countries, CyberGhost offers loads of choices for international travel. It’s decent for streaming from BBC iPlayer, Netflix and other sites. You can use specific servers optimized for streaming, but streaming works on all servers. CyberGhost remains wallet-friendly at $13 per month, $42 every six months or $57 total for the first two years of service (you’re billed annually after 24 months of service on its two-year plan).

CyberGhost lacks advanced privacy features like Tor Over VPN or double-hop servers, both of which make it even more difficult to trace your traffic back to its source. There is obfuscation, which makes it more difficult to determine that you’re using a VPN, which can circumvent restrictions by countries, ISPs or Wi-Fi networks that have blocked VPNs. Obfuscated servers could be useful when running a VPN at school, work or in a country where virtual private networks are frowned upon.

CyberGhost’s high internet speed loss isn’t ideal for demanding applications like 4K streaming or gaming. CyberGhost does provide some useful features, including a kill switch, which shuts off your internet if your VPN gets disconnected, and split tunneling for selectively choosing some apps but not all to route through your VPN. All things considered, CyberGhost is acceptable for casual use like streaming videos or web browsing, and its exhaustive server network is particularly well-suited to travel. Uneven speed loss and middle-of-the-road privacy features mean you’ve likely got better choices.

Read our CyberGhost review.

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September 7, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

BONK.fun partners with Kick to enable live streaming on its platform

by admin September 3, 2025

BONK.fun partnered with streaming platform Kick to link crypto creators with a broader audience.

Summary

BONK.fun will integrate Kick streaming directly into its memecoin launchpad
Pump.fun was the first launchpad with a livestreaming service, which raised controversy

Crypto platforms have long struggled to attract a more mainstream audience, something that a recent LetsBonk initiative hopes to change. On Tuesday, Sept. 2, Solana-based memecoin launchpad BONK.fun partnered with the streaming platform Kick to bring crypto to a more mainstream audience.

There’s been a lot of talk over the last few years about connecting Crypto to the mainstream through entertainment channels, but no real progress has been made.

that changes now..

We’re proud to announce that @KickStreaming will be natively integrated into BONKfun, allowing… pic.twitter.com/T98IB2aSqb

— BONK.fun (@bonk_fun) September 2, 2025

The partnership will consist of Kick’s livestreaming features directly integrated into BONK.fun. Notably, memecoin creators will be able to go live on Kick and have their streams displayed directly on the BONK.fun website.

“Kick has entered the streaming game as an underdog with innovative features and a creator-first focus a win and help win ethos that perfectly embodies what we stand for at BONKfun,” its statement wrote.

This native integration will allow creators to chat with their BONK.fun audience while also having access to a mainstream streaming platform. The memecoin launchpad said it plans to unveil more details soon for both creators and users.

BONK.fun hopes to tap into Kick’s audience

BONK.Fun hopes that the integration will help grow the crypto niche on Kick, which is already significant. Launched in 2022 by the co-founders of gambling platforms Stake.com and Easygo Entertainment, Kick is the biggest competitor to Twitch and YouTube. Due to its more lax moderation, especially when it comes to gambling content, the platform often attracts controversial creators.

Pump.fun was the first memecoin launchpad platform to start a livestreaming service. However, the platform was forced to shut down the service after users became increasingly extreme in how they attracted attention.

For instance, users showed off weapons, threatened violence, and openly ridiculed their viewers. The platform faced a major backlash in November 2024, but partially resumed the service in April 2025, with stricter moderation.

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September 3, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

The Films and Shows You Should Be Streaming in September 2025

by admin September 1, 2025

A new era of streaming selections is here. For the past several years, our monthly column, the Nerd’s Watch, has been the place to find out all the best genre titles coming to the biggest streaming services. It wasn’t a complete list. We just posted the titles we think you’d care about, but it was still long, and frankly, it was hard to pick out the best of the best.

Well, over the past few months, that changed. What follows isn’t a list of all the best stuff streaming on all the big streaming services. We’ve looked at all those lists and come up with a few dozen titles that we think are noteworthy this month. Some are new, some are old, but either way, we’ll tell you why you should care. Or at least joke about it. So sit back, grab your remote, and get ready for the updated and streamlined Nerd’s Watch, highlighting the best movies and shows coming to streamers this month. Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man. – Sony

The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (September 1 on Netflix)

Whether or not we’ll see Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man in a future Marvel movie, it’s always nice to look back at these films, as flawed as they are. He and Emma Stone were just so perfect as their characters, plus the casting of the villains was next-level good.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (September 1 on Netflix)

After attending a recent concert of John Williams’ music, I said to myself, “I need to rewatch E.T. asap.” And now, Netflix has made that very easy.

Edge of Tomorrow (September 1 on Netflix)

If you’ve read this column before, first, thank you. Second, you might know my rule that anytime Edge of Tomorrow appears on a new streaming service, I vow to let you know. And so it happens again. And again. Just like the movie itself.

The Running Man (September 1 on Netflix)

Before we see Edgar Wright and Glen Powell’s version of this Stephen King story, head back down memory lane to see the original 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger version. It’s a hell of a lot of fun.

The Shrek series (September 1 on Netflix and Peacock)

Maybe it’s because Shrek is finally coming back to theaters in a few years, but I felt like it was a good piece of service journalism to let you know that the series—consisting of Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and Shrek Forever After—is streaming in two places this month.

Lilo & Stitch – Disney

Idiocracy (September 28 on Netflix)

A documentary about our modern world, from the mind of Mike Judge.

The Night at the Museum Series (September 1 on Hulu)

The combination of Shawn Levy currently filming a Star Wars movie and the second of these movies having Darth Vader in it made me think this was worth putting on the list. Night at the Museum, Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb are all arriving and, frankly, they’re super fun.

World War Z (September 1 on Hulu and Paramount+)

Paramount recently named World War Z as a franchise it wants to dive back into in the future, so it seems like now might be a good time for a rewatch.

Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (September 26 on Hulu)

I may get crap for this, but I don’t care. This is the Paul Feig, 2016 version of Ghostbusters. I rewatched it recently and found it just as funny, if not more so, than when I first saw it. It gets a bad rep for certain reasons, but we think this film is much more in tune with what made the original films so good than the overly nostalgic follow-ups. Give it another shot.

Lilo & Stitch (September 3 on Disney+)

The biggest movie of the year comes to streaming, and while it’s got its issues, for the most part, it’s a delightful adaptation and update of the classic animated film. If you had interest but missed it in theaters, definitely check it out.

Your Name is so good. – Toho/HBO Max

LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy: Pieces of the Past (September 19 on Disney+)

It’ll be some time before we get a new Star Wars show on Disney+, but in the meantime, these Lego specials that kind of reimagine the entire fabric of the galaxy are a ton of fun.

Disney+: Marvel Zombies (September 24 on Disney+)

Speaking of specials that reimagine the entire fabric of the galaxy, Marvel has one this month too. And Marvel Zombies promises to have lots and lots of surprises.

Evil Dead II (September 1 on HBO Max)

There’s always a debate about which of Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead movies is the best. And while they are all amazing, our vote is for Evil Dead II. It’s almost the perfect balance of the slightly more horror-forward original and the slightly more comedy-forward third film. Just a perfect movie.

Your Name (September 1 on HBO Max)

If you’ve never seen Your Name, you have to watch Your Name. It’s one of the best animated films of all time. Pure magic cinema at its finest, and it’s joining an impressive lineup of Japanese animation coming to HBO Max this month. In fact…

So Much More Japanese Animation (September 1 on HBO Max)

In addition to Your Name, as well as almost every single Studio Ghibli film, HBO Max is adding a bunch of new anime to its already robust catalog. Among the new additions are Children Who Chase Lost Voices, Fireworks, Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko, Ghost Cat Anzu, Lonely Castle in the Mirror, Love & Pop, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, and more.

Osment in A.I. Artificial Intelligence – DreamWorks

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (September 1 on Paramount+)

We wrote about this one recently at length when it wasn’t streaming, but now it’s streaming, so you can read and catch up.

The Blade trilogy (September 1 on Paramount+)

Will Marvel Studios ever make that Mahershala Ali Blade movie? Didn’t it put Wesley Snipes as Blade in a movie last year? It’s all confusing. But what’s not confusing is that you can stream Blade, Blade II, and Blade: Trinity all on one service, starting today.

The Friday the 13th franchise (September 1 on Paramount+)

The original eight films in the Friday the 13th franchise return to their home on Paramount+. Perfect for a weekend trip to Camp Crystal Lake.

The From Dusk Till Dawn trilogy (September 1 on Paramount+)

If we’re being honest, you can kind of ignore that there is more than one From Dusk Till Dawn movie. The first movie is great; the follow-ups, less so. But, if you watch the original and think, “What’s next?”, you can see two more movies.

Galaxy Quest (September 1 on Paramount+)

Arguably the greatest sci-fi comedy of all time. This Star Trek parody starring Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, and so many more is just a delight.

The Monster Squad – Lionsgate

Scary Movies (September 1 on Paramount+)

The Scary Movie franchise is coming back to theaters and, to celebrate, Paramount has added not just the first Scary Movie, but parts 2 and 3 as well. I don’t think those come close to the original, but they have their fans.

The Monster Squad (September 1 on Paramount+)

One of my personal favorite movies of all time is this down-and-dirty tale of a group of teens who form a group to defeat the collected power of the Universal Monsters. If you’ve never seen it, check it out. Just protect your “nards.”

American Psycho (September 1 on Shudder)

“Do you like Huey Lewis and the News?”

Terrifier 3 (September 1 on Peacock)

The release of Terrifier 3 made me an instant fan of the gross-out franchise. So much so that I watched them in reverse order after the fact. I don’t recommend that, but if you are looking for something horrific and hilarious, this is your answer.

The Thing (September 1 on Paramount+)

Which “Thing?” Well, two of them. The 1982 John Carpenter film, which is the best known, as well as the 2011 follow-up, which isn’t as good but has its moments.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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September 1, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Streaming money: Stablecoins are redefining payments

by admin August 24, 2025

Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news’ editorial.

A term once rooted in music and television is now being redefined in the context of financial markets: streaming. Colloquially synonymous with on-demand content delivery, “streaming” is expanding to mean something more tangible — money that moves continuously, instantly, and with transparency, powered by blockchain rails and stablecoins.

Summary

From songs to money: Just as Spotify and Netflix replaced buffering with instant streaming, stablecoins are doing the same for finance — turning slow, clunky payments into real-time settlement.
The problem with legacy rails: ACH takes days, wires are costly, and even modern apps like Venmo run on outdated banking infrastructure. We’re still “downloading” our money.
Stablecoins in action: Already moving $11T in 2024, they enable global, instant, final settlement — programmable dollars for payroll, remittances, e-commerce, and more.
Payroll revolution: Instead of biweekly checks or costly earned-wage advances, workers could be paid in real time — even by the second — with blockchain-based stablecoins.
The new financial standard: Like streaming media, streaming money will soon be non-negotiable. Stablecoins are cheaper, faster, borderless — and poised to outpace FedNow and legacy rails.

From buffering songs to instant play: How streaming got its start

In the late 1990s, early internet startups began experimenting with the concept of streaming media. Instead of relying on physical media or downloadable files, companies like RealNetworks introduced RealPlayer, a tool that lets users play specific songs or videos over the internet. However, the limitations of dial-up connections and copyright licensing slowed adoption. It wasn’t until broadband infrastructure matured in the mid-2000s that streaming began to take off. With the enhanced infrastructure of the internet, the likes of Spotify and Netflix became ingrained household names, and their growth represents important bellwethers of trends in the consumer economy.

Streaming didn’t just change content delivery — it changed the way value was distributed.

Historically, most financial infrastructure has been built around batch processing and deferred settlement. ACH transfers in the U.S. take 1–3 business days to clear, and even “Same Day ACH” isn’t truly instantaneous. Wire transfers can settle within hours, but they’re costly, manual, and usually restricted to business hours. Meanwhile, apps like Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle have built sleek consumer experiences — but under the hood, they still rely on the legacy plumbing of the U.S. banking system.

In short, we’ve been streaming our content for around twenty years. But we’re still downloading our money.

A similar paradigm shift to media streaming is now emerging in the world of finance. Just as Spotify and Netflix redefined media consumption, stablecoins are poised to revolutionize how money moves — not in the future, but right now.

Banks and regulators need to adapt to this shift or risk irrelevance. The elimination of time delays and expensive middlemen is not just an incremental improvement; it’s the new standard for finance. Programmable digital dollars are smart — they can move seamlessly according to customizable instructions. They will become particularly prescient as we see AI agents automate more back-office flows. Stablecoins will be the currency de guerre of AI down the line.

Stablecoins and the streaming of payroll

Stablecoins are digital tokens, typically pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar, that live on public blockchains. Unlike traditional digital dollars, they can move globally, instantly, and settle with finality. According to CoinMetrics, almost $11 trillion of stablecoin volume moved across public blockchains in 2024.

Let’s consider payroll, one of the most ubiquitous and impactful applications of money movement. In the U.S., most employees are generally paid every two weeks — a lagging custom rooted in decades-old processes and regulatory overhead. But in reality, these workers are extending interest-free loans to their employers in the form of unpaid labor.

To bridge that gap, some companies offer Earned Wage Access (EWA) programs, allowing workers to tap into wages they’ve already earned — but for a fee. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, some EWA providers charge $1–$6 per advance, which adds up quickly for low-wage workers.

What if employees could be paid in real time — even by the second?

With programmable, blockchain-based stablecoins, that’s not just possible — it’s already happening. This concept is already being adopted by decentralized autonomous organizations, remote-first startups, and global teams that need faster, borderless payroll options. It is kicking off the start of a massive sea change in the employer/employee relationship.

The coming Renaissance in finance

Much like streaming changed the media industry forever, blockchain-based payments — and stablecoins specifically — are poised to reshape the movement of money. We’re entering an era where financial services are always-on, where capital is liquid and programmable, and where the 9-to-5 settlement windows no longer define our economic relationships.

It’s no coincidence that the rise of stablecoins coincides with growing dissatisfaction around traditional financial rails. The Real-Time Payments network by The Clearing House and the FedNow system launched by the Federal Reserve are steps in the right direction, but both are U.S.-centric, permissioned, and require bank integration. Stablecoins, by contrast, are global, accessible to anyone with an internet connection. They are open, meaning developers and businesses can build on them without requiring special permissions. They offer fast and final settlement with transactions with no chargeback risk. And they are cost-efficient, significantly reducing fees from middlemen and wires.

As of mid-2025, stablecoins like USD Coin (USDC), Tether (USDT), and emerging native-chain assets are powering a wide array of financial products — from remittances to e-commerce to capital markets.

The concept of streaming money is no longer theoretical. It’s happening now — and it will soon become the default.

Just as no one wants to wait three days to hear a song or watch a show, soon no one will want to wait three days to get paid, settle a trade, or send funds to family. Streaming transformed media. Streaming is now transforming money. And stablecoins are the technology making it all possible.

Megan Knab

Megan Knab is the CEO and founder of Franklin. Megan has more than eight years of experience at the intersection of crypto and finance. Today, Megan serves as the CEO and Founder of Franklin, a platform for businesses to manage their on and off-chain financial operations in one place, to drive the future of payroll services in a web3 world. Prior to creating Franklin, Knab worked at industry-leading companies such as ConsenSys, DriveWealth, and, most recently, Serotonin, a web3 marketing firm and product studio, where she served as Vice President of Finance. Since finding her passion in next-generation finance, Knab has focused on helping businesses scale in the evolving financial landscape to optimize cash flow and ensure fast, reliable, and tax-compliant payroll solutions.

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August 24, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Best Student Discounts (2025): Laptops, Streaming Services, Shoes, and Software

by admin August 20, 2025

Looking for the best student discounts? I don’t blame you. Going to college is expensive. Between tuition, textbooks, and beer, there isn’t always a lot of wiggle room in the budget. Tack on the skyrocketing cost of living, and you might be wondering just how you’re supposed to manage your money. One way to stretch those dollars further is by taking advantage of student discounts. A valid .edu email address can help you save on plenty of necessities, with a little left over for binge-watching on Netflix or cheap food delivery. We’ve rounded up our favorite student discounts below.

Updated August 2025: We refreshed this guide with updated links and ensured accuracy throughout.

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How to Qualify for .Edu Discounts

In the good old days, it was easy to cheat your way into student discounts. You could photoshop a student ID or snag a fake email address for $5 after a Google search. But thanks to third-party verification services, it’s now almost impossible (and in some cases, illegal) to obtain and use a fake qualifying email. No, that hack you saw on TikTok probably isn’t legit.

We don’t advise attempting to get a student email address if you aren’t actually a student. But some educational discounts can also be used by teachers, parents of students, or alumni. Sometimes getting a student discount is as simple as confirming a code sent from the retailer to the email in question. Other times they rely on third-party services like Unidays to verify your student status after you upload a photo of your school ID. Your school may also have its own portal to verify your account.

Once verified, you can take advantage of student discounts either on the Unidays website or by logging in to your Unidays account when prompted at stores that use it as an authentication method. ID Me, Sheer ID, and Student Beans are other services that act as a verification method and shopping portal.

Tech Deals

Whether you need headphones, an office chair, or a USB hub, there are probably a few gadgets on your school shopping list. The stores below offer student discounts on all of the gadgets and gizmos you could need. Check out our buying guides, like the Best Dorm Gear, Best Laptops, and Best Buy It for Life Gear, for WIRED-tested recommendations.

Apple Store

Photograph: Apple

The Apple education Store offers about 10 percent off to students, their parents, and teachers. Usually, deals are sweetened around autumn. Right now there are offers like free AirPods with the purchase of a MacBook, or a free Apple Pencil with the purchase of an iPad. You can save on services like AppleCare+ or Apple Music too.

The Dell University store offers various up to 10 percent off to those with .edu email addresses. Simply sign up for a free Dell Rewards account, and then verify your student status. Savings are reflected in your shopping cart. Some Dell University discounts can be stacked with other deals at Dell to save even more. Most stores don’t let you stack deals, which makes these a bit more enticing. You can also get extra Dell Rewards which might be useful if you’re purchasing a lot of Dell gear.

Sign up for the HP education program discounts by verifying your .edu email address. (Some discounts are available to everyone, regardless of student status, but other deals are exclusive to students, teachers, parents, and faculty.) HP says eligible shoppers can save up to 40 percent off on select products.

Lenovo switches up its discounts on a regular basis, but students and teachers can always get 5 percent off, with additional discounts and bonuses being offered on occasion. In the past, those bonuses have included free Uber vouchers for spending a certain amount. Lenovo Education accounts are free and verified via ID Me. Discounts are applied automatically during checkout.

Snag 25 percent off at Logitech by validating your email via Unidays.

Microsoft offers up to 10 percent off a variety of products, including Surface devices and accessories. Parents, students, and faculty are eligible.

Samsung’s program is for students and educators, who get up to 30 percent off laptops, tablets, phones, and other gadgets. You can also sometimes get additional perks, like more base storage or free accessories with purchase. You can also check out WIRED’s page of Samsung coupon codes.

Razer’s education deals vary, but there’s a selection of discounted gaming laptops and PC components. Eligible shoppers include students, parents buying on behalf of students, and faculty. You can also save 15 percent on peripherals and 5 percent on Razer gaming chairs.

Unlimited phone plans and Fios home internet are both discounted for college students. As is typical with cell phone service providers, terms and conditions apply, but this is worth looking into if you’re a Verizon customer (or considering making a switch). We have Verizon coupon codes that could save you $1,100.

College students can get 20 percent off an entire qualifying shopping trip at Target. There are some exclusions, and you’ll need to join the free Target Circle program to redeem the offer. You can also save 50 percent on the paid Circle 360 membership, which gets you free 2-day shipping, early access to select sales, and more. These deals are generally valid from June through September. This year, they end on September 27.

Online Service Deals

The services you use every day might be even cheaper, thanks to that sweet, sweet institution inbox. Signing up for the first time? Our “What to Watch” and Best Music Streaming Services may be of some assistance. Your college or university may also offer their own private discounts. Insurance providers sometimes offer student benefits too.

Spotify Premium

Photograph: Spotify

Spotify Premium Student costs $6 per month, which is a 50 percent discount. It also includes a subscription to Hulu. Both of them come with commercials. If you love your TV, this is one of the best student discounts around, especially if you’re already paying $6 per month for Hulu. New signups can get a free 6-month trial for a limited time.

Usually, Apple Music costs $11 per month. Students pay $6 after a one-month free trial. The Apple Music Student subscription also includes Apple TV+. Your eligibility will be verified via Unidays.

Students can get 50 percent off a Tidal premium music streaming membership by signing up for the Student plan. The offer is available to high schoolers ages 16 and up as well, not just folks enrolled in higher education.

Formerly known as Amazon Prime Student, Amazon has a special discount for its “Prime for Young Adults” membership, which is meant for adults ages 18 to 24. You’ll be charged $7.49 per month, rather than the typical $15 price. Prime Student includes a few special perks, like free Grubhub Student+ access and discounted meditation app memberships. You may also be eligible for a free six-month trial.

Students can get the ad-supported Hulu plan for $2 per month instead of the usual $8. This is the best option if you want access to Hulu but not Spotify. If you don’t immediately see the offer, click “Sign up now” and look for the mention of the student discount near the bottom of the sign-up page.

Typically, YouTube Premium costs $14 per month, but the cost drops to $8 for students after a free three-month trial. The membership includes access to both ad-free YouTube videos and ad-free YouTube Music.

Peacock Premium usually costs $6 per month, but students and young adults can get it for $3 per month for a year. WIRED has several Peacock coupon codes that might be useful to you, too.

Software and Class Deals

Whether you need to subscribe to an online service for class or just want a tool like Adobe Photoshop, these discounts can help you save.

You Need a Budget

Photograph: You Need A Budget

Several of our Reviews team members have used and loved this service, which is enthusiastically recommended on nearly every finance forum on the internet. It can be pretty difficult to use, especially when you’re first starting—but if you don’t mind a steep learning curve, it’s worth a shot. (I found this video tutorial helpful.) Note that this deal is limited to college students.

Eligible students, parents, and educators get 50 percent off Ableton Live or can apply the same percentage off to Live bundled with Push. Ableton Live is our favorite DAW for DJs and live performers. This software is especially enticing for music creators, though if you’ve been considering uploading some fun projects to SoundCloud, it might be worth your while too. You don’t need to be a music major or a full-time student to take advantage of the offer.

Adobe Creative Cloud includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Firefly, Acrobat Pro, Lightroom, and more. You also get 100 gigabytes of cloud storage. It’s usually $70 a month. Students and educators can get it for $30 monthly. After a year, the $30 price is raised to $40, but it’s still a good discount if you can’t access needed Adobe apps another way. Note that this is billed annually.

This bundle includes licenses for Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Motion, and more. It’s tailored to video and music creators and costs $200. Considering that Final Cut Pro sells for $300 on its own, this bundle is a worthwhile purchase if you plan on buying any of these software licenses individually.

Courtesy of Dashlane

This is a great deal on one of the best password managers.

This freebie from GitHub contains free and discounted apps, services, software downloads, and more developer tools. From a free year-long domain on Namecheap to free courses on Educative and waived Stripe transaction fees, plus access to GitHub Pro, there are dozens of options to choose from. You don’t need to use them all, but you do need to be an enrolled student age 13 or older.

Verified through Student Beans, this deal gets you half off the normal cost of an annual individual website plan or a website platform plan. WIRED also has a Squarespace promo code that might be helpful to you.

I haven’t used Ulysses yet, but several industry colleagues swear by the Apple-device-exclusive writing software. It’s known for limiting distractions and helping with edits—two tools that should come in handy for students. It typically costs $40 per year. The subscription ends automatically, so you don’t need to remind yourself to cancel it, but you can renew it for as long as you remain a student.

Evernote is one of the long-standing note-taking apps. (It’s not our favorite, but if you’re a devotee, this is still a solid way to save some cash.) A valid .edu email address gets you 40 percent off a one-year Evernote Professional membership. Professional is the most robust Evernote plan, and it includes special perks like Boolean search, calendar connections, and more.

Notion is similar to Evernote and Google Keep. It’s handy for everything from making to-do lists to building outlines and other documents. The Plus Plan for education is free for students and educators. It’ll stay free as long as you have access to a university-associated email address. You may also be eligible for a discount on Notion AI services.

Students and educators can use a valid .edu email address to get free access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Teams, plus a few AI tools. There are free alternatives to Microsoft Office products, but if you insist on writing essays in Word, this is worth checking out.

Prezi offers a slate of tools used to perfect digital presentations. It can be integrated with Zoom or Google Meet. The service has two educational premium plans for students and educators that cost $4 or $8 per month (usually $7 or $19 per month, respectively).

This is $22 off the usual cost of a three-month Babbel subscription. Babbel is our favorite language-learning app.

Deals on Clothing, Magazines, Food, and More

If you need some retail therapy (or you just want to upgrade your dorm room on the cheap), plenty of non-tech stores offer student discounts. Some standouts are highlighted below.

WIRED is one of the many magazines you can get for cheap as a student

Discounts on Magazine and Newspaper Subscriptions

We’re biased, but a year of unlimited digital access to WIRED costs $24 per year. Students can also get affordable subscriptions to The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, and more. If there’s a magazine or newspaper that you frequently read, you may be able to get a discount when you subscribe. You might also be able to get discounted or free subscriptions through the library.

Bring your student ID to the box office to get cheaper prices. Discounts vary by location, so check with your local theater for more details.

Unidays is the best way to find fashion retailers that have student discounts. A few athletic and outdoor stores are also listed, so even if you don’t need interview clothes for a fancy grown-up job, this could be a good way to save on sporting goods and other gear for your extracurricular activities.

Nike offers students 10 percent off most items. This offer is verified through Sheer ID and is valid for high school, college, and university students.

Amtrak offers a national discount to students between 17 and 24 years old.

This company makes some of our favorite paper planners. Your student status will be verified through ID Me at checkout.

DashPass usually costs $10 per month. Students can get it for half the normal cost, at $5 per month or $48 per year. DashPass gets you free delivery on most orders over $12, plus special discounts and promotions. You can also get credits back on DoorDash Pickup orders. If you’re looking for DoorDash coupons, we’ve got those here at WIRED including a $25 off promo code.

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August 20, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

ESPN’s streaming launch brings a TikTok-like feed and AI commentary

by admin August 20, 2025

ESPN is showing off its overhauled app ahead of the launch of its live sports streaming service. On Wednesday, ESPN detailed all of the new features coming to the ESPN app, including a TikTok-style vertical video feed.

ESPN’s long-awaited live sports streaming service costs $29.99 per month and puts all 12 of the network’s linear channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, and others, inside its new app. The service officially launches on August 21st, but ESPN is rolling out some features inside its app starting today.

The mobile app’s personalized feed will show bite-sized sports videos in a standalone “verts” tab as well as within a carousel on the homepage. There’s a new “SC For You” feature launching in beta, too, which uses the AI-generated voices of SportsCenter anchors to deliver a daily version of the show that’s tailored to your favorite teams, leagues, and sports. This feature will be available on the ESPN mobile app, along with ESPN.com and some smart TVs.

Another update will give you the ability to connect the ESPN mobile app to its app on TV while you watch a live sporting event. During the game, you can get stats and automated alerts sent to your phone, along with access to play-by-play updates, betting information, and ESPN Fantasy. You can also use the mobile app to control ESPN’s livestream on your TV.

If you’re late tuning into a game, ESPN will offer a series of highlights for select events to help you catch up to what’s happening now. You’ll also have the option to play a game from the beginning or watch it live.

ESPN is rolling out multiview on “all major” smart TV platforms as well, allowing you to watch up to four games at the same time. The network plans on building out the new app with even more features in the future, as ESPN head Jimmy Pitaro said the app “will evolve with regular enhancements over time.”

Additionally, ESPN is folding its full-featured streaming service into Disney Plus for bundle subscribers. As part of this change, Disney Plus is rolling out a new “Live” hub in the coming weeks where you can watch sports, news, and other live content. ESPN is currently offering a bundle with ad-supported Disney Plus and Hulu plans for $29.99 per month for the first year before increasing the price to $35.99 per month.

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August 20, 2025 0 comments