Netflix bundled with broadband and TV: Does it save you money?

It's actually getting harder and harder to get a broadband and TV (or even just broadband) deal without getting a basic Netflix subscription thrown in. Virgin Media sometimes includes Netflix even with just broadband-only, Sky rolls it into all Sky Stream and Sky Glass packages, and both BT and EE offer it whenever you take broadband and TV.

But the fact is most of us either have a Netflix subscription already, or we're not too bothered if we don't have one. If a basic Netflix subscription is going to be foisted on us anyway, where's the real benefit? Does it actually save any money if we're already subscribed? What if we don't want Netflix at all? These are the questions we intend to answer.

Which providers bundle Netflix?

Not every broadband and TV provider bundles Netflix, and even among the ones that do, the inclusion rules aren’t the same. Virgin Media throws it in liberally, sometimes even with broadband only, Sky bakes it into any Sky Stream or Sky Glass package, including broadband and TV bundles, while BT and EE only include it (via EE TV) when broadband and TV are taken together. TalkTalk, meanwhile, doesn’t bundle it at all.

Here's a quick overview:

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Note that although 'Standard with ads' – Netflix's most basic and inexpensive tier – is the norm when it comes to bundling it in for free, in most cases you can upgrade that. So if you need Netflix Premium, in most cases you'll be able to get it, with the cost of Standard with ads deducted. It means everyone can benefit, whether you have Netflix already or need something with more pizazz than entry-level.

Case in point: Netflix bundled with Sky

Let’s take a real example to show how bundling Netflix can save money even when you already subscribe to Netflix at a higher tier than Standard with ads. In this case, we're looking at the Sky Full Fibre 300 with Stream Ultimate TV.

• You’re already paying for Netflix Premium – £18.99/month separately
• You switch to Sky – Netflix Standard with ads is included in the bundle price
• To keep Premium – You only pay the upgrade difference instead of the full subscription cost
• Sky effectively covers £5.99/month – (The value of Standard with ads), so Premium becomes £13 extra instead of £18.99
• Outcome – Bundling saves you £5.99/month if you're upgrading to Premium, and the base tier becomes free if you're happy just to have that

If you're already a Netflix subscriber, this is where bundling pays off anyway. Instead of continuing a standalone subscription at £18.99/month, Sky absorbs the Standard with ads tier and you just pay to upgrade. It's a small monthly saving, sure, but across a two-year deal it'll save £143.76. That's nothing to be sniffed at!

And, if you're happy with the included Standard with ads subscription, it’s even better. You can cancel simply link your existing Netflix account and pay nothing for it for the next two years.

Pricing: Netflix standalone versus bundled

Because most bundles include Netflix Standard with ads by default, the real question is 'is Netflix free and if not how much will I actually pay?'. There is only one package currently that offers anything beyond Standard with ads bundled in (BT/EE Full Works). Nonetheless, nothing makes clearer what you'll actually be paying than laying it all out in black and white.

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If you already have Netflix – linking your account

Actually transferring your existing Netflix subscription is seamless with all providers, and pretty painless and simple, but we'll go over the finer details anyway.

Here’s how it works, depending on who you’re with: