Entertainment & Streaming

Putting streaming subscriptions in context

For many households, streaming is the biggest item among the small subscriptions. This page is the entry point to the two major areas: video streaming for films, series and sport, and music streaming with songs, albums and podcasts. Both comparisons show current monthly prices, plan tiers and the terms that make a difference in everyday use.

Unlike a credit card or current account, a streaming subscription can usually be cancelled monthly. That is the most important lever: anyone who adds services selectively and ends them again pays far less than someone who keeps every subscription running permanently. A comparison is therefore worthwhile not only before signing up but several times a year.

What streaming typically costs

The price ranges are wide because almost every provider offers several tiers. With video services they differ mainly in advertising, picture quality and the number of simultaneous streams. Netflix currently costs €6.99 with ads, €15.99 on the Standard plan and €21.99 on Premium, and Amazon Prime is available as an annual subscription for €89.90, which works out at €7.49 a month.

With music, the single-user plans of the big services are close together, mostly between €11 and €13. Family and duo plans are the interesting ones: family plans cost roughly €19 to €22 depending on the service, which for six people works out at just over €3 per head. That assumes everyone lives in the same household, because providers carry out spot checks.

Worked example: three subscriptions over a year

A household has Netflix Standard (€15.99), a music subscription at €12.99 and Amazon Prime as an annual subscription (€89.90). Together that is just over €36 a month, or about €438 a year. If the household switches to the Netflix plan with ads (€6.99, or €83.88 a year instead of €191.88), it saves €108 a year on that alone.

Further levers are switching from monthly to annual billing, a family plan for music, and the rotation principle: services that have nothing new to offer are paused and booked again later. It is important to watch deadlines when pausing. Some providers end the subscription at the end of the paid period, others immediately without a refund.

Selection criteria for video and music

What matters is not the size of the catalogue but whether it contains what you actually watch or listen to. Before signing up, check whether your favourite series, sports or genres are included, and use free trial months only if you will cancel in good time.

• Advertising: cheaper plans with ads save money but often offer lower resolution and fewer titles.
• Picture and sound quality: 4K, HDR and Dolby Atmos are usually found only in more expensive tiers; with music, lossless audio is now often included at no extra charge.
• Simultaneous streams and profiles: if two of you watch, or you have children, you need more than one stream.
• Downloads for travel: offline features matter on trips and on the train; they are not included in every plan.
• Devices: check that the app runs on your TV, streaming stick or in-car infotainment.
• Sharing a household: several providers allow sharing only within one household and charge extra members otherwise.

Legal points: cancellation, prices and travelling abroad

Streaming contracts also fall under consumer law. In Germany, subscriptions concluded online must be cancellable via a cancellation button (section 312k BGB), and contracts that renew automatically can generally be cancelled with one month's notice after the minimum term. When a provider raises its prices, it usually informs you by email; that is a good moment to reconsider the membership.

For travel within the EU, the Portability Regulation (EU) 2017/1128 applies. It requires providers of paid online content services to let subscribers use their subscription in another EU country just as at home, for example on holiday. If you regularly travel outside the EU, check the service's terms, because there is no entitlement there. For children and teenagers, age ratings and parental-control settings also apply, which you can set up in the profiles.

Frequently asked questions

Is a streaming subscription with ads worth it?

If occasional ad breaks do not bother you, yes. Netflix costs €6.99 with ads instead of €15.99 on the Standard plan. In return, resolution, offline downloads and some titles are often restricted. Take a look at the plan overview in the video streaming comparison.

How many streaming services make sense?

That depends on your habits. Many households manage with one permanent subscription and one or two rotating services that they book only for particular series or sporting events. That keeps the bill under control without missing out on content.

May I share my subscription with friends?

That is governed by each service's terms of use. Family plans are usually tied to a shared household. Netflix charges extra for members outside the household, and music services check family members' addresses. Violations can lead to the account being suspended.

Can I use my subscription abroad?

Within the EU, generally yes, thanks to the EU Portability Regulation. Outside the EU it depends on the provider; some content is blocked for licensing reasons. If needed, download films, series or playlists before the trip, provided your plan allows downloads.

How do I cancel a streaming subscription properly?

Use the cancellation button in your customer account or the provider's cancellation page, save the confirmation and note the end date of the contract. If you booked via Apple, Google or a telecoms provider, you have to cancel there, not with the streaming service itself.