A basic, ad-free Netflix account has risen from $7.99 in 2010 to $16.49 in 2023.DADO RUVIC/Reuters
It’s not only groceries and rent getting pricier. Inflation has also come for streaming services.
In Canada, most streaming services have increased their prices since their initial launch. A basic, ad-free Netflix account has risen from $7.99 in 2010 to $16.49 in 2023. The company has also cracked down on password sharing, charging an extra $7.99 a month to add up to two non-household members to your account.
Last week, Spotify announced it was raising its prices by $1 or $2, depending on plans. Individuals with premium plans will go up to $10.99 per month, while the duo plan for two people is now $14.99.
Take a look at how streaming services have changed their prices since launching in Canada.
Streaming services’ prices today
vs. their original price
Monthly fee for lowest ad-free single-user plan
Increase
Service
Debut*
Price
No change
Crave
2016
7.99
19.99
Netflix
2010
7.99
16.49
Apple TV+
2019
5.99
12.99
Disney+
2019
8.99
11.99
YouTube Premium
2018
11.99
Spotify Premium
2014
10
10.99
Apple Music
2018
9.99
10.99
YouTube
Music Premium
2018
9.99
Amazon
Prime Video
2016
7.99
9.99
CBC Gem Premium
2018
4.99
5
10
15
$20
*In Canada.
THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Streaming services’ prices today
vs. their original price
Monthly fee for lowest ad-free single-user plan
Service
Debut*
Price
No change
Increase
Crave
2016
7.99
19.99
Netflix
2010
7.99
16.49
Apple TV+
2019
5.99
12.99
Disney+
2019
8.99
11.99
YouTube Premium
2018
11.99
Spotify Premium
2014
10
10.99
Apple Music
2018
9.99
10.99
YouTube
Music Premium
2018
9.99
Amazon
Prime Video
2016
7.99
9.99
CBC Gem Premium
2018
4.99
5
10
15
$20
*In Canada.
THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Streaming services’ prices today vs. their original price
Monthly fee for lowest ad-free single-user plan
Increase
No change
Debut*
Service
Price
Crave
2016
7.99
19.99
Netflix
2010
7.99
16.49
Apple TV+
2019
5.99
12.99
Disney+
2019
8.99
11.99
YouTube Premium
2018
11.99
Spotify Premium
2014
10
10.99
Apple Music
2018
9.99
10.99
YouTube Music Premium
2018
9.99
Amazon Prime Video
2016
7.99
9.99
CBC Gem Premium
2018
4.99
0
5
10
15
$20
*In Canada.
THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Crave, Bell’s Canadian streaming service, has increased to $19.99 a month for an ad-free experience, up from $7.99 in 2016. Its cheapest plan, which allows users to watch from one device with ads costs $9.99 and its mid-tier plan, which lets users stream from four devices with ads, costs $14.99.
A Disney+ subscription now costs $11.99, up from $8.99 when it launched in Canada in 2019.
Amazon Prime Video is available to Canadians who pay for an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $99 for an annual subscription today compared to $79 in 2016 when the video streaming offer launched in the country.
Apple TV+, which launched in Canada in 2019 now costs $8.99, up from $5.99.
Some streaming services have kept their pricing models consistent through the years. CBC Gem still offers a free membership and a premium membership for $4.99 a month. Similarly, YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium have not increased their prices since launching in 2018.
Other, more specialized services not included here have changed their pricing models too. DAZN, a sports streaming service, has gone up to $29.99 a month from $20 on its launch in 2017. Tidal, which offers high-fidelity audio streaming for music lovers, has lowered the price of its original HiFi account by $10 but offers a higher-quality plan for the original price of $19.99 a month.