TV Licence vs Streaming Services: Is It Worth It?
A TV licence costs £180/year. Netflix Standard costs £131.88. Here is an honest comparison to help you decide.
Annual Cost Comparison
| Service | Monthly | Annual | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| TV Licence | £15.00 | £180.00 | All live TV, BBC iPlayer, live sport, live news |
| Netflix (Standard with ads) | £4.99 | £59.88 | Films, series, documentaries (with ads) |
| Netflix (Standard) | £10.99 | £131.88 | Films, series, documentaries (no ads) |
| Netflix (Premium) | £17.99 | £215.88 | 4K, 4 screens, spatial audio |
| Disney+ | £7.99 | £95.88 | Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, National Geographic |
| Amazon Prime Video | £8.99 | £95.88 | Films, series, live sport (Prime membership) |
| Apple TV+ | £8.99 | £107.88 | Apple originals |
| Paramount+ | £6.99 | £83.88 | CBS, Paramount films, live sport |
Prices as of April 2026. Streaming prices may change. Amazon Prime Video price reflects standalone subscription.
Household Scenarios
Streaming only
Netflix Standard + Disney+
£227.76/year
Save £180.00/year (no TV licence)
No live TV. Save the full licence fee.
Licence + one service
TV Licence + Netflix Standard
£311.88/year
Live TV plus on-demand. Most flexible.
Full entertainment
Licence + Netflix + Disney+ + Prime
£503.64/year
Everything. Premium entertainment.
Budget streaming
Netflix with ads + Disney+
£155.76/year
Save £180.00/year (no TV licence)
Cheaper than a TV licence alone.
What You Get vs What You Lose
With a TV licence
- • All BBC channels live and on iPlayer
- • ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 live
- • Live sport (free-to-air events)
- • Live news on all channels
- • National events coverage
- • Sky (if you have a subscription) live channels
Without a TV licence
- • All streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, etc.)
- • Catch-up on ITVX, Channel 4, My5
- • YouTube (all content except live TV simulcasts)
- • BBC Sounds (radio and podcasts)
- • Save £180/year
- • No BBC iPlayer, no live TV on any channel
Our Honest Take
If you watch BBC content regularly, enjoy live sport on free-to-air channels, or like having live news available, the licence is reasonable value at £180/year. If you have moved entirely to on-demand streaming and never watch live TV, there is no reason to keep paying. More and more households are making that switch, and the evasion rate reflects it.