Streaming video is a growing business globally, but if you think the experience and cost of streaming movies and TV shows abroad is the same as in the U.S., think again.
Of the 278 million subscribers who pay for Netflix every month worldwide, consumers in the U.S. and Canada account for 84 million.
Netflix says its service is available in more than 190 countries, with exceptions like China and Russia, nearing its maximum reach. Others are catching up with their international expansion. Disney+ has a big footprint; Warner Bros. Discovery's Max has launched in 65 countries. By contrast, Walt Disney Co.'s Hulu and Comcast Corp.'s Peacock are largely domestic operations.
Global streamers have seen success by investing in local-language programming, sometimes breaking through the subtitle barrier to become global hits, like South Korea's “The Squid Game” and Spain's “Money Heist.”
So what else are people around the world watching, and how much are they paying?
VpnMentor, a company specializing in online privacy and internet security, recently collected global data on streaming platform subscribers and the amount of content offered.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) allows internet users to establish a web connection through a remote server, often located abroad. Streaming enthusiasts can use these networks to access streaming services' international content libraries, which sometimes offer content that can't be found in their home country.
The company's research found that many countries enjoy a wide range of video options at prices lower than those paid by U.S. subscribers, reflecting economic conditions and exchange rates.
The prices and number of movies and TV shows offered by streamers tend to fluctuate, so the study's figures reflect business as of early 2024. But given how guarded media companies are about the details of their services, the data offers an interesting snapshot of streaming experiences around the world.
Here are some notable figures from the report:
$1.46
Price in USD for a basic monthly Netflix subscription with ads in Egypt. The streamer's “Premium” service costs Egyptian households $3.43 per month. By comparison, US users pay $6.99 per month for Netflix's ad-supported plan, $15.49 per month for the standard commercial-free plan, and $22.99 per month for the premium plan with extra perks.
Other countries with subscriptions for under $5 per month include India, Morocco, Turkey and Colombia. Prices in these countries are affected by the country's taxes, average income levels and consumer purchasing power, according to vpnMentor. Egypt also offers the cheapest Prime Video subscription on the planet, with access to 1,794 movies and TV shows for 60 cents per month, vpnMentor said.
$16.36
The average price of a standard Netflix plan in Denmark is the most expensive in the world, slightly above the US, according to a review by vpnMentor.
$9.61
French consumers pay the highest price for a Prime Video subscription ($9.61 per month), followed by Canadians ($9.50). In the U.S., subscribers can pay $8.99 per month or subscribe to the service for $139 per year for an Amazon Prime membership, which includes free shipping on purchases and other perks.
8,249
According to vpnMentor data, Slovakia offers the most movies and TV shows on Netflix of any country. The study counted 5,622 movies and 2,627 TV shows. The US library totaled 6,768 titles. Israel's Netflix library was the smallest with 5,388 titles.
17,049
The UK has the largest library of video content with more titles offered by Prime Video than any other country, with Ireland coming in second with 15,468, and the US following closely behind with 13,965.
3,184
The Philippines may be the most blessed place on earth when it comes to streaming, as Disney+ offers the most movies and TV shows — vpnMentor estimates that the US total is 1,981.
$4.58
Argentina has the cheapest monthly subscription price for Disney+ in the world for the service, while Austria has the highest at $11.76 per month. The basic plan in the United States costs $7.99 per month.
