(Last updated Feb 2025)
Video Streaming Services – Plans and Discounts
Video streaming has become part of daily life for most Aussies. Let’s look at what the major players cost, then discover the smart ways to trim those bills:
Video Streaming Plans in Australia (Feb 2025):
| Service | Monthly Price (AUD) | Annual Plan | Screens/Quality | Notable Deals & Perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix – Standard with Ads / Standard / Premium | $7.99 / $18.99 / $25.99 | No annual option | 2 (1080p) / 2 (1080p) / 4 (4K) | No student discounts. Multi-screen sharing in one household (Premium up to 4 devices). Can add extra member for $7.99/mo. Some Optus home internet plans include Netflix Standard for free. Foxtel iQ bundles offer Netflix Standard $2 cheaper. |
| Stan – Basic / Standard / Premium | $12 / $17 / $22 per month | No annual option | 1 (SD) / 3 (HD) / 4 (4K) | No student discounts. Stan Sport add-on: $15/mo for live sports (can be added to any plan). 30-day free trials often available for new users. |
| Disney+ – Standard / Premium | $15.99 / $20.99 per month | $159.99 / $209.99 per year | 2 (HD) / 4 (4K) | No student discounts. Annual plan saves ~16% (12 months for the price of ~10). Occasionally offered free for limited time via Telstra or Optus SubHub deals. (Disney+ has no free trial). |
| Binge – Basic / Standard / Premium | $10 / $19 / $22 per month | $79 / $149 / $179 per year | 1 (HD, with ads) / 2 (4K) / 4 (4K) | No student discounts. Annual billing = 4 months free (e.g. Basic $79/yr vs $120). Telstra customers often get free Binge for 3 or 6 months (check Telstra Plus rewards). 7-day free trial for new subscribers. |
| Kayo Sports – Basic / Premium | $25 / $40 per month | No annual option | 1 (HD) / 2 (4K) | No student discounts. Sports fans can save via Telstra (e.g. past offers of 12-months free Kayo on new NBN plans) and AFL club memberships (some AFL team memberships include Kayo Premium for less than retail). 14-day free trial available for new users. |
| Amazon Prime Video | $9.99 per month (included in Prime) | $79 per year | 3 (4K) | Included with Amazon Prime (which also gives free shipping, Prime Music, etc.) – great value bundle. Note: As of mid-2024, Prime Video will include ads; to go ad-free costs extra $2.99/mo. No student Prime in Australia. |
| Paramount+ | $8.99 per month | $89.99 per year | 3 (HD) | 7-day free trial for new users. Sometimes bundled free for 12 months with certain Telstra plans (promos have occurred). |
| Apple TV+ | $12.99 per month | $129 per year (approx) | 6 (4K, via Family Sharing) | Free 7-day trial (or 3 months free with Apple device purchase). Apple TV+ is also included in Apple One bundles (which can save if you use other Apple services). |
Saving Tips for Video Streaming:
- Share with family: Use household sharing features. Netflix Premium gives you 4 simultaneous streams – perfect for splitting costs at home. (Netflix now charges extra for sharing outside your address, so keep it to your household). Stan Premium also supports 4 devices at once.
- Student options? Most video platforms don’t offer student discounts. One exception: uni students might get extended free trials through campus promotions, but there’s no fixed student price on Netflix/Disney/Stan.
- Annual plans: Committed to a service? Pay annually and save. Disney+ annual saves about two months’ worth compared to monthly billing. Binge’s annual plans offer even better value – roughly 33% off (12 months for the cost of 8).
- Telco bundles: Your phone or internet provider might be your ticket to savings. Optus has “Entertainer” broadband plans that include Netflix Standard (worth $18.99) at no extra cost. Their SubHub also gives a 5–10% discount when you bundle 2+ streaming services on one bill. Telstra partners with Foxtel services – like discounted Binge or Kayo for mobile/broadband customers. Ask your provider what streaming perks they offer; you might be surprised.
- Free trials & rotations: Many services offer free trials (Binge and Paramount+ 7 days, Prime Video 30 days). Try staggering your subscriptions – binge one service’s content, cancel, then switch to another next month. This “rotation” strategy means you’re only paying for one service at a time while still watching them all. Takes a bit of planning but saves serious cash.
- Trim the extras: Rarely using a particular app? Cancel it (you can always come back later – no lock-in contracts on monthly plans). A recent survey found nearly 40% of Australians have cut at least one streaming service to save money. That’s $10–20 back in your pocket each month.
Music Streaming Services – Student and Family Plans
Whether you’re into Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music, the music streaming world offers some excellent student and family discounts. Here’s what the major music platforms cost in Australia:
Music Streaming Plans (AUD):
| Service | Individual | Student | Family (up to 6) | Notes & Discounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spotify Premium | $13.99/month | $6.99/month (Uni students) | $23.99/month (6 accounts) | 1-month free trial for new users. Also offers a Duo plan at $19.99/month for two people at the same address. No annual billing option, but you can occasionally find gift card deals (e.g. 12 months for the price of 10). |
| Apple Music | $12.99/month | $6.99/month (with free Apple TV+) | $19.99/month | 1-month free trial. Students get Apple TV+ included. Annual option for Individual: ~$129 via prepayment (saves ~17%). Apple One bundles (which include Music, TV+, iCloud, etc.) can offer better combined value if you use multiple Apple services. |
| YouTube Music Premium | $13.99/month (or $139.99/year) | $7.99/month | Part of YouTube Premium Family: $22.99/month | YouTube Music is included with YouTube Premium, which also gives ad-free YouTube video. Student plan is $7.99. Family plan allows 5 family members (6 accounts total) at the same address. Annual individual subscription available (~$139.99/year) for about 16% savings. New subscribers get 1-month free trial. |
| Amazon Music Unlimited | $11.99/month (Prime members: $8.99) | $5.99/month (Prime Student members) | $17.99/month (up to 6) | 3-month free trial for new users (often). Included free with Prime is a limited catalog (ad-free but playlist shuffle based). To get the full library on-demand, Amazon charges for Music Unlimited. If you already pay for Prime, the Music Unlimited add-on is cheaper. |
| Tidal / Deezer | ~$11–$15/month | ~$5.99–$7.49 (student) | ~$17–$18 (family) | Hi-Fi niche services with student and family plans. Great for audiophiles, but mainstream users may stick to the big three above. (These services sometimes run promotions or bundle with certain phone plans – keep an eye out if interested.) |
How to Save on Music Streaming:
- Use that Student ID: Uni students should grab those hefty discounts. All major services – Spotify, Apple, YouTube – offer roughly 50% off for students. You’ll need to verify your student status (via UNiDAYS or SheerID) and can typically use these discounts for up to 4 years of study. That drops a $13.99 plan down to about $6.99 – huge savings. Plus, Apple Music’s student deal comes with free Apple TV+ streaming, giving you two services for the price of one.
- Family Plans = Shared Savings: Got family or housemates? Family plans let up to 6 people have their own premium account under one bill. Spotify Family at $23.99 works out to just $4 per person if split six ways – less than a coffee for unlimited music. Apple Music Family is $19.99 (under $3.50 per person with six users). Even two people can save: Spotify Duo works for couples/roommates and costs less than two separate accounts. Just remember that family plans require all members to live at the same address (officially).
- Bundle with other services: In the Apple ecosystem? Look at Apple One bundles. Apple One Family costs $31.95/month and includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, 200GB iCloud, etc., for up to 5 people – great value compared to separate subscriptions. Similarly, Amazon Prime gives you a bit of everything: free shipping, Prime Video, and basic Amazon Music for $79/year. If you’re already paying for one, make the most of the extras.
- Look out for promos: Spotify and others often run extended free trials or $0 for 3 months deals to attract new subscribers (especially around holidays). If you haven’t tried a service in a while, you might qualify again. Some phone providers occasionally partner to offer free months of Spotify – for instance, some Vodafone plans previously included a year of Amazon Prime or Spotify. When signing a new phone contract, ask about streaming freebies. You might score a bonus.
- Free tiers if money’s tight: If funds are scarce, remember that Spotify and YouTube Music have free versions. They come with ads and limitations (no offline listening, shuffled playback on mobile for Spotify), but cost nothing. You could use free tiers most of the time and only pay for premium during months when you really need it (like for a long road trip requiring downloads). It’s about flexibility.
Gaming Subscriptions – Level Up for Less
Gamers have their own subscription world: Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, and Nintendo Switch Online unlock online play and game libraries. These can be excellent value for avid gamers (hundreds of games for one fee), but let’s make sure you’re not overpaying. Here’s what gaming subscriptions cost in Australia and how to save:
Gaming Subscription Plans (AUD):
| Service | Plan Tiers | Price | Deals & Discounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Game Pass | PC Game Pass (PC only) Game Pass Ultimate (Console+PC + perks) | $13.95/month (PC) $22.95/month (Ultimate) | First month $1 for new subscribers (often) – a cheap way to try. Ultimate includes EA Play and online multiplayer. Telstra Xbox All Access: Instead of buying a console outright, you can pay monthly via Telstra; it includes a console and Game Pass Ultimate for 24 months (good value if you need both). No dedicated family plan yet (Microsoft has trialed a family share in some countries, but not in AU as of 2025). |
| PlayStation Plus (PS4/PS5) | Essential (online play + monthly games) Extra (Essential + game catalogue) Deluxe (Extra + classic games and trials) | Essential: $11.95/month or $95.95/year. Extra: $18.95/month or $169.95/year. Deluxe: $21.95/month or $196.95/year. | Annual plans save ~33% (e.g. Essential $95.95/yr vs $143 if paid monthly). Often goes on sale: During Black Friday or Days of Play, PlayStation Plus 12-month codes sometimes get 25% off – keep an eye on retailers. You can stack subscriptions by buying prepaid 12-month cards (e.g. if on sale, stock up a code for future). No student discounts, but if you only play online on one console, the cheaper Essential tier might suffice. |
| Nintendo Switch Online | Individual (NSO) Family (NSO) +Expansion Pack (adds N64 games, DLCs) | Individual: ~$29.95/year (or $5.95/month). Family: $54.95/year (up to 8 accounts). Expansion Pack: $59.95/year individual; $109.95/year family | The Family membership is a big saver if you have multiple Switch users – 8 people can share one $54.95 plan (that’s under $7 each for a whole year of online + retro games). They don’t actually require the same household, so friends can chip in. Free trial: 7-day free trial available in the eShop for NSO. Tip: Sometimes MyNintendo rewards or game bundles include free NSO months. Also, if you only need online play for one specific game, you could just pay $5.95 for a single month and cancel – no need to maintain year-round if you’re a casual player. |
Saving Tips for Gaming Subs:
- Choose the right tier: For Xbox, Game Pass Ultimate at ~$22.95/month gives you everything (Xbox Live Gold for online play, Game Pass library on console and PC, plus cloud gaming). Only game on PC? Just get PC Game Pass for $13.95 and save money. For PlayStation Plus, the Extra tier offers a huge game library; if classic games don’t interest you, skip Deluxe and save ~$27/year. Don’t pay for features you won’t use.
- Shop around for deals and codes: Gaming subs are often sold as gift cards or codes at retailers, which means sales! Watch Amazon, JB Hi-Fi, EB Games for discounts on 3-month or 12-month subscription codes. A 12-month PlayStation Plus card (RRP $95.95 Essential) might go on sale for $75 – saving you $20+. Redeem it to extend your membership. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate isn’t commonly discounted directly, but retailers sometimes bundle bonus months on cards. Costco or other wholesalers occasionally have discounts on digital gift cards for these services.
- Leverage introductory offers: New to Xbox Game Pass? That famous “$1 for first month” deal is gold. Microsoft sometimes pauses this promo, but it regularly returns – giving you a month of Ultimate for a dollar. Just remember to cancel or switch before it renews at full price. Nintendo Switch Online’s 7-day free trial lets you try out online play with friends without paying.
- Family sharing and splitting: While PlayStation and Xbox lack official “family plans,” you can still save with multiple consoles in one home. On PlayStation, one PS+ subscription on the primary account enables online play for other user profiles on the same console. On Xbox, setting one console as your “Home” Xbox lets friends/family on that console play online and access your Game Pass library without separate subs. It’s a workaround, but completely allowed. Nintendo’s Family Membership is straightforward – up to 8 accounts on one plan. Get gamer friends together and split the $54.95 cost – under $5 per person per year for Switch Online!
- Telco and retail bundles: Broadband or phone providers sometimes bundle gaming perks. Telstra offers Xbox All Access, which lets you finance an Xbox console with Game Pass Ultimate included – useful if you planned to buy the console anyway and want to spread the cost while getting Game Pass. We’ve seen promos like certain Samsung Galaxy phones including 3 months of Xbox Game Pass or a controller; watch tech product deals if buying a new phone or TV – you might score gaming subs as a bonus.
- Rotate or pause when needed: Like with video services, ask if you need all gaming subs active year-round. Maybe you only play your Switch online during Mario Kart tournaments, or dip in and out of the Game Pass library. Since these have no contract, you can cancel after your current prepaid period and re-subscribe later. If there’s a lull in Game Pass releases you care about, pause it for a couple of months and save ~$45. Both Xbox and PlayStation will remember your account status and game entitlements when you return.
Bottom Line: Entertainment doesn’t have to drain your bank account. By using student discounts, family plans, and telco offers or annual billing, you can significantly cut the monthly cost of streaming shows, music, and games. Mix these strategies: maybe you’re a student on a family Spotify plan (double win!), or a Telstra customer using a free Binge trial while rotating Netflix and Disney+ month to month. With some planning, you can enjoy all your favourite content and keep more cash in your pocket. Happy streaming, listening, and gaming – and happy saving!
Sources: Recent pricing and deal information comes from official support pages and reputable Aussie outlets, with figures current as of Feb 2025. Always check the latest offers when subscribing, as providers frequently update promotions. Now go grab those discounts!
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