It's hard to think of what to get everyone during the holiday season. That's when streaming services are the way to go.

Streaming services are great holiday gifts for several reasons. First, many people prefer to stream movies and TV shows. Second, even if you don't know them well, you can watch anything from thrillers, romantic comedies, reality dating shows, nature documentaries, standup comedies, etc.

Third, streaming costs a pretty penny these days; Deloitte reports that Americans currently pay an average of $61 per month for four streaming services. That's a hefty $732 per year.

And finally, if you're like me, you may be putting off your holiday shopping until the last minute. Giving the gift of streaming services is just a few clicks, takes less than five minutes, and can all be done online. There's no need to navigate the crowds at the store.

So how do you give the gift of streaming? Here's a handy guide.

It may seem like everyone already has Netflix, but that's not really the case. Personally, I have at least a handful of friends who don't have it because of the password sharing crackdown (they were kicked out of their parents' accounts and never signed up for their own). And even if they already have Netflix, who wouldn't want to watch it for free for a month or a few months?

How to Give: Netflix gift cards can be purchased from $15 to $200 at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. Gift cards can be used to open a new account or add to an existing account.

Disney Plus is almost a necessity for families. Kids can watch Pixar movies like “Inside Out 2” on repeat, sing along to “Moana” and “Anna and the Snow Queen,” and parents can watch the latest Marvel movies like “Deadpool and Wolverine,” “Andor. Don't forget the library of classic programming, including “Cinderella,” all of “The Simpsons,” Disney Channel original movies and shows, and NatGeo's Nature Specials.

HOW TO GIVE: Purchase a Disney Plus gift card at a Disney Store. Note that there have been complaints about not being able to use them if purchased at other retailers.

Hulu is one of my indispensable streaming services, not only for great originals like Only Murders in the Building, but also for FX shows like the award-winning Shogun and The Bear, as well as ABC and Fox series streaming next-day episodes as well. Thus, if you cut the cord, you can still watch “Abbott Elementary,” “Grey's Anatomy,” and “9-1-1.” You can also bundle Hulu and Disney Plus for a lower price.

How to give: purchase a $25 or $50 Hulu gift card at Amazon, Best Buy, or Walmart. Available to both new and existing subscribers.

It's easy to think of Prime Video as a nice addition to the free shipping and other benefits of Prime membership. However, Prime Video is a truly great streamer that anyone can subscribe to alone to access shows such as “The Boys,” “Reacher,” “The Summer I Came Clean,” “Wheel of Time,” and “Lord of the Rings”: Lord of the Rings/ The Lord of the Rings.” In addition, Prime Video offers access to many movies, both classic and recent.

Giving: Amazon gift cards can be applied to a Prime membership or a stand-alone Prime Video subscription ($9/month).

Paramount Plus has made great strides since its inception in both its interface and content offerings. It now offers a regular stream of original productions, primarily from the Taylor Sheridan Televisual Universe and the Star Trek universe. The streamer also delivers CBS episodes the next day, so you can cut the cord while watching the “NCIS” series, “Survivor,” “Ghosts,” and more. And the most expensive tier, Paramount Plus With Showtime, offers live local CBS feeds so you can watch sports games like the NFL, March Madness, the PGA Tour, and the UEFA Champions League.

How to Give Paramount Plus gift cards can be purchased on the website or at digital retailers such as Best Buy and Walmart from $25 to $100. [original shows like “Traitor” and “Poker Face,” next-day airings of NBC and Bravo shows, “Law and Order” and “The Real Housewives,” and Universal movies from “Twisters” to “Conclave. Wicked” will also be streamed; Peacock also streams live sports coverage of the Olympics, Premier League, NFL, WWE, and many others.

How to Give: Peacock gift cards can be purchased on their website for $25 to $150.

Apple TV Plus rates high in my book; it is the only major streaming service that costs less than $10 and does not play ads. The tradeoff, however, is a smaller library than Netflix or Max. Apple TV Plus offers almost exclusively original programming, but the original programming has a very good batting average: “Severance,” “Shrinking,” “Silo,” “For All Mankind,” and ‘Bad Sisters’ are some of my favorite shows from the past few years on this service. Original films have been hit or miss, but include “Killers of the Flower Moon” and the Academy Award-winning “CODA.”

How to give: Purchase an Apple gift card at an online store or at Amazon or Best Buy.

Max is consistently on our list of best streaming services because of its quantity and quality. It boasts an extensive library of excellent movies and shows, including classic HBO dramas like Game of Thrones and The Sopranos, DC superhero movies, and recent blockbusters. The platform is further enhanced by the addition of Discovery content (home DIY, true crime docs, baking contests, etc.).

Giving: Unfortunately, there are no Max gift cards. Therefore, you will need to create a Max account with the recipient's email address and credit card information.