Streaming in Germany: Why You’re Paying More for Less Content (And How to Fix It)

The German Streaming Tax Problem

Pay €18.36/month for the Rundfunkbeitrag. Another €12.99 for Netflix. €8.99 for Disney+. €9.99 for Amazon Prime.

That’s €50+ per month before you even consider WOW (Sky), RTL+, or Joyn.

And after all that? You still can’t watch half the shows Americans talk about.

If you’re in Germany, you already know the problem. You’re paying some of Europe’s highest streaming costs while getting restricted content libraries. Services like Hulu, Peacock TV, and HBO Max don’t exist here at all. And the platforms that do work show you a fraction of what U.S. subscribers see.

This guide explains why German streaming is expensive yet limited, what actually determines your content access, and how US Unlocked helps German viewers break through the payment barriers blocking access to full U.S. streaming catalogs.

What Makes Germany’s Streaming Situation Different?

Germany has a unique streaming landscape that combines mandatory broadcast fees, strict licensing regulations, and fragmented content distribution.

The Rundfunkbeitrag (Broadcast Fee)

Every household in Germany pays €18.36 per month for public broadcasting, whether you watch ARD, ZDF, or not. This isn’t optional. It’s not a subscription. It’s a mandatory media fee that exists regardless of your actual streaming habits.

You’re paying this on top of every other streaming service you use.

GEMA and Complex Licensing

GEMA (Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte) controls music and content licensing in Germany. Their strict copyright framework means streaming platforms pay higher licensing fees here than in many other countries.

Result? Higher subscription costs and smaller content libraries to offset those fees.

Fragmented Distribution Rights

Unlike the U.S., where one platform typically gets exclusive streaming rights, German distribution rights get split across multiple services. A show might stream on Netflix US, but in Germany, it goes to Sky Deutschland, WOW, or doesn’t arrive at all.

This fragmentation means you need multiple subscriptions to watch what Americans get on one or two platforms.

Benefits of Accessing U.S. Streaming Libraries from Germany

Getting access to U.S. streaming catalogs solves the cost-to-value problem German viewers face:

More Content for Your Money

U.S. Netflix has roughly 5,800 titles. Netflix Germany has approximately 5,400. You’re paying the same price (actually more, given currency conversion) for 400+ fewer options.

Access U.S.-Only Platforms

Hulu, Peacock TV, HBO Max (now “Max”), and Paramount+ don’t operate in Germany. These platforms host thousands of exclusive shows and movies unavailable anywhere else.

No More Delayed Releases

German streaming services often delay new releases by weeks or months due to licensing negotiations. U.S. platforms get content first. Always.

Skip the Rundfunkbeitrag Frustration

While you can’t avoid the mandatory broadcast fee, accessing U.S. streaming directly means your voluntary streaming budget goes further. Pay for what you actually watch, not what German licensing restrictions allow.

Types of Streaming Restrictions German Viewers Face

German streaming comes with three distinct barriers:

Platform Unavailability

Hulu, Peacock TV, HBO Max, and Paramount+ don’t operate in Germany. You cannot create accounts, even with a VPN, because they require U.S. payment methods with U.S. billing addresses.

Reduced Content Libraries

Platforms available in both countries (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video) show significantly different catalogs. Licensing agreements determine what appears in Germany vs. the U.S.

Payment Method Blocking

Even with a VPN making you appear to browse from the U.S., American streaming services reject German bank cards. They check your card’s BIN (Bank Identification Number) and automatically decline anything issued outside the United States.

This is the hidden barrier most Germans don’t discover until after they’ve paid for a VPN.

Streaming Services in Germany vs. the United States

Let’s compare what’s actually available to German viewers versus what Americans see.

Netflix Germany vs. Netflix U.S.

Netflix operates in both countries, but the libraries differ.

The numbers: Netflix U.S. has approximately 5,800 titles. Netflix Germany has around 5,400 titles. That’s roughly 7% less content for the same subscription price.

What’s missing: Specific shows depend on licensing deals, but German Netflix consistently lacks certain American sitcoms, documentaries, and even some Netflix Originals at launch. Popular U.S. series often arrive months late or skip Germany entirely.

Why it happens: German licensing costs more due to GEMA regulations and fragmented distribution agreements. Netflix Germany pays higher fees per title, so they license fewer shows.

Disney+ Germany vs. Disney+ U.S.

Disney+ launched in Germany in 2020, but the catalogs aren’t identical.

Content differences: While both versions include core Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars content, release dates differ. New Marvel series and Star Wars shows premiere in the U.S. first. German viewers wait weeks for the same content.

Star vs. Hulu: Disney+ Germany includes the “Star” section (adult-oriented content from FX, 20th Century, etc.). Disney+ U.S. doesn’t have Star because that content goes to Hulu instead. But Hulu has far more content than Star, meaning Germans still get less overall.

Amazon Prime Video Germany vs. Prime Video U.S.

Prime Video operates globally, but regional libraries vary dramatically.

German focus: Prime Video Germany emphasizes local German productions and European content. American exclusives (particularly Amazon Originals and licensed U.S. shows) frequently don’t appear in the German catalog.

Rental restrictions: Want to rent or buy a movie not in your region’s library? Too bad. Digital purchases are region-locked just like streaming content.

HBO Max / Max

Completely unavailable in Germany.

HBO content in Germany gets distributed through Sky Deutschland and WOW (previously Sky Ticket). But the catalog is incomplete. Many HBO Max Originals never reach German platforms. And when they do, releases lag behind the U.S. by weeks or months.

If you want the full HBO experience, you need a U.S. HBO Max account. Which requires a U.S. payment method.

Hulu

Doesn’t operate outside the United States. At all.

Hulu hosts thousands of exclusive shows, next-day TV episodes, and original series unavailable anywhere else. German viewers have no official access to Hulu’s catalog.

Peacock TV

NBC’s streaming service is U.S.-only.

Peacock offers NBC shows, Universal Pictures movies, live sports (Premier League, NFL), and exclusive originals. None of this is accessible from Germany through official channels.

Paramount+

Not available in Germany.

Paramount+ content gets scattered across multiple German platforms (Sky, Pluto TV, etc.), but there’s no unified Paramount+ service. CBS shows, MTV programming, and Paramount Pictures movies remain difficult to access comprehensively.

Now that you understand what German viewers are missing, here’s why these restrictions exist and persist.

Why German Streaming Costs More But Offers Less

This isn’t just bad luck. It’s the result of specific regulatory and commercial factors.

Streaming Rights Are Licensed Country by Country

Content owners don’t sell global streaming rights. They sell them per country or region. A studio might sell German rights to Sky, French rights to Canal+, and U.S. rights to Netflix.

Result? The same show appears on different platforms (or not at all) depending on which country you’re in.

GEMA Drives Up Licensing Costs

GEMA collects royalties for music and content use in Germany. Their fees are higher than comparable organizations in other countries. Streaming platforms pay more to license the same content in Germany than they do in the U.S.

To offset these costs, platforms either charge higher subscription fees or reduce the number of titles they license. Usually both.

Mandatory Investment Requirements

As of 2026, Germany requires streaming platforms to invest in local German production. This is good for German filmmakers but adds another cost layer for platforms operating here.

These mandatory investments get passed to subscribers through higher prices or reduced content budgets for international licensing.

Fragmented Distribution Agreements

German broadcasters (ARD, ZDF, ProSieben, RTL) have long-standing distribution deals that predate modern streaming. These legacy agreements often give traditional broadcasters first rights to new content, leaving streaming platforms with delayed access or no access at all.

This is why shows that stream immediately in the U.S. take months to reach German platforms.

Two Users, Same Platform, Different Value

You and your friend in New York both pay for Netflix. They get 5,800 titles. You get 5,400. Plus you’re paying the Rundfunkbeitrag on top of it.

Your location determines what you can watch. Your payment method determines what you can subscribe to.

This is why German viewers consistently get less value for their streaming budget than American viewers do.

Understanding these restrictions is frustrating, but there’s a practical solution that addresses the payment barrier blocking access to U.S. streaming platforms.

How US Unlocked Solves the Payment Barrier for German Viewers

US Unlocked removes the payment method restriction that prevents Germans from subscribing to U.S. streaming services.

What US Unlocked Actually Provides

US Unlocked gives you virtual payment cards with U.S. billing addresses. These function exactly like U.S.-issued credit cards when you subscribe to American streaming platforms.

You get:

• Virtual Visa or Mastercard with valid U.S. billing addresses
• Access to Netflix US, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock TV, Paramount+, and thousands of other U.S. services
• The ability to load your card balance from Germany using local payment methods

The streaming platform sees a legitimate U.S. payment method. You get access to the U.S. content library.

Learn more about how US Unlocked works →

The Benefits German Users Actually See

Subscribe to U.S.-Only Platforms

Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock TV, and Paramount+ all accept US Unlocked virtual cards. These services are completely unavailable in Germany otherwise, even with a VPN.

Pay for U.S. Subscriptions Without a U.S. Bank Account

No need for an American credit card or bank account. US Unlocked’s virtual cards handle the payment processing using funds you load from Germany.

Access Full U.S. Content Libraries

Once subscribed with a U.S. payment method, you get the U.S. catalog. No more regional restrictions. No more wondering why your German Netflix looks different from what everyone online discusses.

Better Value for Your Streaming Budget

Stop paying for multiple fragmented German services to watch what Americans get on one or two platforms. Consolidate your streaming budget into platforms that actually deliver comprehensive content.

Reliable Renewals

Your subscriptions renew automatically. No declined payments. No account suspensions because your German bank card got flagged.

What US Unlocked Doesn’t Do

US Unlocked doesn’t provide VPN services. You’ll need your own VPN to make streaming platforms think you’re browsing from the United States.

US Unlocked handles the payment barrier. Your VPN handles the geographic barrier.

Together, they create the complete solution: U.S. payment method accepted + U.S. location verified = full American streaming access.

Learn about VPN options for Germany →

Setting Up US Unlocked from Germany

Getting started takes about 15-20 minutes.

Step 1: Create Your US Unlocked Account

Sign up at usunlocked.com. You’ll need to provide your name, German address, and date of birth for verification.

Step 2: Get Approved and Fund Your Account

Once approved, load funds using one of these methods available from Germany:

• Sofort / giropay: Direct bank transfer from German banks (€2.00 + 2% fee)
• SEPA Bank Transfer: Transfer from any EU bank account ($2.00 + 2% fee)
• Crypto / Stablecoins: Load using USDC, Bitcoin, or other cryptocurrencies (2% fee)
• Apple Pay / Google Pay / Credit Cards: Use your German bank card to load funds ($1.00 + 5% fee)

All funds convert to USD in your account balance.

Step 3: Choose Your Membership Plan

US Unlocked offers two tiers:

• Monthly: $4.95/month (includes 10 virtual cards)
• Annual: $39.95/year (save 33%, includes 10 virtual cards)

Additional virtual cards cost $2 each if you need more than 10.

View complete pricing details →

Step 4: Create Virtual Cards for Each Service

Generate virtual payment cards from your US Unlocked dashboard. Each card comes with a unique U.S. billing address automatically assigned.

Card types available:

• US Unlocked Cards: Open-to-buy cards that work at most U.S. merchants
• Store Locked Cards: Lock to the first approved merchant (ideal for streaming subscriptions)
• One-Time Use Cards: Delete after single use (for trial signups or risky transactions)

Step 5: Subscribe to U.S. Streaming Services

Use your US Unlocked virtual card details and U.S. billing address when signing up for Hulu, HBO Max, Netflix US, or any other American service.

Step 6: Connect Your VPN and Start Streaming

Activate your VPN (connect to a U.S. server) before accessing streaming platforms. Log into your accounts. Your U.S. content library is now accessible.

US Unlocked Pricing for German Users

Here’s exactly what you’ll pay (converted to EUR for clarity):

Membership Fees

• Monthly plan: $4.95/month (approximately €4.60)
• Annual plan: $39.95/year (approximately €37, works out to €3.08/month)

Card Fees

• First 10 virtual cards: Included in membership
• Additional cards: $2 each (approximately €1.85)
• One-time use cards: $2 each

Loading Fees (When Adding Funds)

• Sofort / giropay: €2.00 + 2%
• SEPA Bank Transfer: $2.00 + 2%
• Crypto/Stablecoins: 2%
• Apple Pay/Google Pay/German Credit Cards: $1.00 + 5%

Transaction Fees

None. Once your card is loaded, there are no additional fees when you spend.

Real Cost Comparison

Current German Streaming Setup:

• Rundfunkbeitrag: €18.36/month (mandatory)
• Netflix Germany: €12.99/month
• Disney+ Germany: €8.99/month
• Amazon Prime Germany: €8.99/month
• Total: €49.33/month for limited content

Alternative with U.S. Access:

• Rundfunkbeitrag: €18.36/month (still mandatory)
• Hulu: $7.99/month (€7.40)
• HBO Max: $9.99/month (€9.25)
• Peacock Premium: $5.99/month (€5.55)
• US Unlocked: €4.60/month
• VPN: €4/month (annual plan pricing)
• Total: €49.16/month for complete U.S. streaming access

Similar cost. Dramatically more content. Access to platforms that don’t exist in Germany.

Frequently Asked Questions

Stop Overpaying for Limited Content

Streaming in Germany doesn’t have to mean paying more for less.

You’re already dealing with mandatory broadcast fees. Your voluntary streaming budget should go toward platforms that actually deliver comprehensive content libraries, not fragmented catalogs restricted by German licensing agreements.

US Unlocked makes sure you can actually subscribe to American streaming services and access the content everyone else is watching. No more delayed releases. No more missing platforms. No more wondering why your Netflix looks different from what people discuss online.

Ready to stop overpaying for restricted content?

Get started with US Unlocked → and stream like you’re getting what you’re paying for.

Your wallet will thank you.