TV Licence Vs Streaming Calculator 2026
Compare the annual cost of a UK TV Licence against your monthly streaming subscriptions. Free calculator to see if you’re overpaying for live TV.
Household Cost Projection
Enter your viewing costs to compare TV Licence vs Streaming over time
The current annual cost of a standard UK colour TV Licence.
Your total monthly spend on all streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, Prime, etc.).
The number of years you want to project these costs over.
Your Cost Comparison Estimate
Financial breakdown and value analysis
Enter your viewing costs above and click Compare Costs to reveal your TV Licence vs Streaming projection.
Popular UK Streaming Services
Quickly reference the average monthly costs of popular streaming services in the UK, and see how quickly they can add up to exceed the cost of a TV Licence.
| Service | Average Monthly Cost | Primary Content |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix (Standard with Ads) | £5 – £8 | Movies, TV Shows, Documentaries |
| Disney+ (Standard) | £5 – £9 | Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Nat Geo |
| Amazon Prime Video | £6 – £9 | Originals, Movies, Live Sports |
| Apple TV+ | £7 – £11 | High-budget Original Series & Films |
| NOW (Entertainment) | £10 – £16 | Sky BoxSets, Live Sports, Movies |
TV Licence & Streaming FAQ
Everything you need to know about UK TV Licensing laws, streaming costs, and whether you can legally cancel your TV Licence.
You only need a TV Licence if you watch or record live TV on any channel or service, or if you download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer. If you strictly watch on-demand or catch-up TV on services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Disney+ (and never watch live TV), you do not need a TV Licence.
As of recent government reviews, a standard colour TV Licence costs £169.50 per year. The fee is set by the UK Government and is subject to periodic reviews and potential freezes or increases based on inflation and broadcasting policy.
Yes, you can cancel your TV Licence at any time. If you no longer watch live TV or BBC iPlayer, you can apply for a refund for any full remaining months on your current licence. You will need to declare that you no longer need a licence to process the cancellation.
Recent studies suggest the average UK household spends around £30 to £40 per month on streaming subscriptions. This typically includes a mix of video streaming, music, and gaming services, with video streaming accounting for the majority of the monthly cost.
If you only watch on-demand content and never watch live TV or BBC iPlayer, you don’t need a TV Licence at all, saving you £169.50 a year. However, if you want access to live channels like ITV, Channel 4, or live sports, a TV Licence is legally required and often cheaper than buying individual live TV passes from multiple providers.