Mustafa Bilgic
Financial Calculations Expert · Updated 20 February 2026 · 14 min read
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Books, Audiobooks & Other
UK Streaming Prices 2025/26 — Full Price List
Video Streaming
Service
Tier
Monthly
Annual
Netflix
Standard with Ads
£4.99
£59.88
Netflix
Standard
£10.99
£131.88
Netflix
Premium (4K)
£17.99
£215.88
Disney+
Standard
£4.99
£59.88
Disney+
Premium
£7.99
£95.88
Amazon Prime Video
Prime (Video included)
£8.99
£107.88
Apple TV+
Standard
£8.99
£107.88
NOW Cinema
Cinema Membership
£9.99
£119.88
NOW Entertainment
Entertainment Membership
£9.99
£119.88
NOW Sports
Sports Membership
£34.99
£419.88
BritBox
Standard
£3.99
£47.88
MUBI
Standard
£10.99
£131.88
Crunchyroll
Fan
£7.99
£95.88
Paramount+
Standard
£6.99
£83.88
Music & Audio
Service
Tier
Monthly
Annual
Spotify
Individual
£11.99
£143.88
Spotify
Family (up to 6)
£17.99
£215.88
Apple Music
Individual
£10.99
£131.88
Apple Music
Family (up to 6)
£16.99
£203.88
Amazon Music Unlimited
Individual
£10.99
£131.88
YouTube Premium
Individual (incl. YT Music)
£13.99
£167.88
Audible
1 credit/month
£7.99
£95.88
Tidal
Individual (HiFi)
£10.99
£131.88
Gaming
Service
Tier
Monthly
Annual
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Ultimate (Console+PC+Cloud)
£14.99
£179.88
PlayStation Plus
Essential
£8.99
£107.88
PlayStation Plus
Extra
£13.49
£161.88
Nintendo Switch Online
Individual
£3.49
£41.88
Books & Other
Service
Tier
Monthly
Annual
Kindle Unlimited
Standard
£8.99
£107.88
Peloton App
Standard
£12.99
£155.88
Apple Fitness+
Individual
£9.99
£119.88
Duolingo Plus
Super
£6.99
£83.88
Password Sharing Crackdown — What Changed
The era of sharing streaming logins freely across households is over. Both Netflix and Disney+ now enforce household-only access.
Netflix
Netflix requires all users to be within the same household (same WiFi network primarily). If you want to share with someone outside your home, you can add an Extra Member for £4.99/month on Standard and Premium plans. Netflix uses IP addresses, device IDs and location data to enforce this.
Disney+
Disney+ similarly restricts sharing to one household. The service defines household as devices regularly connected to your primary network. Travel use is supported but persistent use from a different location triggers warnings.
The subscription stacking trap: Research shows the average UK household now spends £60–80/month on streaming services. Many households pay for services they rarely use. Audit your subscriptions annually and cancel anything you haven't used in 30 days.
Free Streaming Alternatives in the UK
The UK has world-class free, ad-supported streaming — many rivals to paid services:
BBC iPlayerITVXChannel 4 StreamingMy5 (Channel 5)Pluto TVTubiYouTubeRakuten TV (free tier)PlexPeacock (US content)
BBC iPlayer note: Watching BBC iPlayer requires a valid TV Licence (£174.50/year in 2025/26). However, content from all other catch-up services (ITVX, Channel 4, My5) can be watched freely without a TV Licence, as long as you are not watching live TV.
Tips to Cut Your Streaming Costs in 2026
1. Rotate Subscriptions
Subscribe to one service, binge the content you want over 1–2 months, then cancel and switch to another. This way you access all major platforms throughout the year for the cost of 2–3 months each.
2. Use Family Plans
Spotify Family (£17.99/month) covers up to 6 people. Split between 6 members, that's just £3/person per month. Apple Music Family works similarly at £16.99 for 6 people. Always use family plans where eligible.
3. Student Discounts
Spotify Student: £5.99/month (50% off). Apple Music Student: £5.99/month. Amazon Prime Student: 6 months free, then £4.49/month. Check eligibility via UNiDAYS or SheerID.
4. Ad-Supported Tiers
Both Netflix (£4.99) and Disney+ (£4.99) offer significantly cheaper ad-supported plans. If you can tolerate 4–5 minutes of adverts per hour of watching, you save over £6/month per service vs standard plans.
5. Bundle Deals
Some telecoms and broadband providers include streaming services in bundles. Sky Q includes Netflix, NOW TV and Disney+ options. Virgin Media bundles Prime and Netflix. Check if your broadband provider offers a streaming discount before paying separately.
6. Annual vs Monthly
Disney+ annual plan saves around 15% vs monthly. Apple TV+ annual plan (£99/year = £8.25/month) saves vs £8.99/month. Always check if annual payment is available and cheaper.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average UK household spend on streaming services?
The average UK household spends £60–80 per month on streaming subscriptions in 2026. This typically includes 2–3 video streaming services, a music service, and sometimes gaming subscriptions. That amounts to £720–960 per year — making streaming a significant household expense worth auditing regularly.
Can I still share my Netflix password in the UK in 2026?
No. Netflix cracked down on password sharing in 2023 and continues to enforce this strictly in 2026. You can add one Extra Member (outside your household) for £4.99/month on Standard and Premium plans. Disney+ also restricts sharing to members of the same household and uses device and location data to enforce this.
What is the cheapest way to watch Netflix in the UK?
The cheapest Netflix plan in the UK is Standard with Ads at £4.99/month. This includes ad breaks (approximately 4–5 minutes per hour) but provides access to most content in 1080p on up to 2 screens simultaneously. This is less than half the cost of the Premium plan at £17.99/month.
What are the best free streaming services in the UK?
The UK has excellent free streaming options: BBC iPlayer (requires TV Licence), ITVX, Channel 4 streaming, and My5 are all free catch-up services. Pluto TV and Tubi offer free international content with ads. YouTube remains the world's largest free video platform. ITVX, Channel 4 and My5 require no TV Licence.
Is it worth paying for YouTube Premium in the UK?
YouTube Premium at £13.99/month removes adverts, enables background play on mobile, and includes YouTube Music. For heavy YouTube users who dislike ads, it can be worthwhile. YouTube has been actively blocking ad blockers since 2024, making Premium more appealing to those who relied on ad blockers. The family plan at £22.99/month covers up to 6 people.
How can I reduce my streaming subscription costs?
Rotate subscriptions rather than maintaining all at once — binge then cancel and switch. Use family plans to split costs across multiple people. Switch to ad-supported tiers (Netflix, Disney+ both offer £4.99/month ad tiers). Cancel services you haven't used in 30 days. Check for student, NHS, corporate or bundled telecoms discounts.
Do streaming services offer student discounts in the UK?
Student discounts are available on select services. Spotify Student is £5.99/month (vs £11.99 standard), Apple Music Student is £5.99/month, and Amazon Prime Student offers a 6-month free trial then discounted rate. Netflix and Disney+ do not currently offer standard student discounts in the UK. Check UNiDAYS, TOTUM and SheerID for current offers.