How many streaming services do you pay for? Five? Six? Seven? And how many of them are giving you the same shows, movies, or documentaries over and over again? If you’ve ever scrolled through Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime Video just to find the same movie on two of them - you’re not alone. In 2026, the average Irish household subscribes to 4.3 streaming platforms. But here’s the kicker: nearly 60% of those subscriptions overlap in content. That means you’re paying for duplicates - and most people don’t even realize it.
Why You’re Paying for the Same Thing Twice
Streaming services don’t compete just on price or interface. They compete on exclusives. But here’s the problem: not every exclusive stays exclusive forever. Shows and movies rotate. Licensing deals expire. A show like Grey’s Anatomy might be on Disney+ in Ireland this year, but last year it was on Netflix. Now it’s on both. Or maybe you subscribed to Apple TV+ for Severance, but later found out Ted Lasso was already on Netflix. You didn’t cancel because you thought they were different.It’s not just about originals. It’s about libraries. HBO Max (now Max) has a ton of Warner Bros. movies. Disney+ has Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. But guess what? Many of those same movies are also licensed to SkyShowtime in Ireland. You don’t need both if you’re only watching the same 10 titles on repeat.
How to Find Your Overlapping Subscriptions
The first step is simple: list every service you’re paying for. Write them down. Then go to JustWatch - it’s free, works in Ireland, and tracks what’s available where. Type in a show or movie you’ve watched recently. See which services have it. Do this for five of your most-watched titles.Let’s say you love Stranger Things. JustWatch tells you it’s only on Netflix. Good. But what about Yellowstone? It’s on Paramount+ and also on Sky Showtime. If you have both, you’re paying twice for the same show. Same with The Crown - it’s on Netflix, but also on Disney+ in some regions. In Ireland, it’s only on Netflix. But if you’re in a household where someone else subscribed to Disney+ thinking it was there, you’ve got redundancy.
Here’s a quick trick: open your bank or credit card statement. Look for recurring charges from streaming services. You’ll likely spot one or two you forgot about. Maybe you signed up for a free trial six months ago and never canceled. Or maybe your partner subscribed on their phone and you never knew.
Use a Free Tool to Map Your Subscriptions
There’s no need to do this manually every month. Use Truebill or Trim - both work in Ireland and connect to your bank. They automatically detect subscription payments and group them by type. You’ll see a visual breakdown: 3 video services, 2 music services, 1 fitness app. Click into the video section, and it shows you which services have overlapping content.Truebill even gives you a “Duplicate Risk Score.” If your score is above 60%, you’re likely paying for too much overlap. The tool will suggest which service to cancel based on usage. For example: you watch 80% of your content on Netflix, 15% on Disney+, and 5% on Apple TV+. Apple TV+ becomes the easy target.
What to Cancel - And What to Keep
Not all overlaps are bad. Some services are worth keeping for one or two shows. But ask yourself: Is this the only place I can watch it? If the answer is no, it’s a candidate for cancellation.Here’s a real example from a Dublin household:
- Netflix - Watched 22 hours/month. Has Money Heist, The Crown, Stranger Things. Keep.
- Disney+ - Watched 4 hours/month. Only for Obi-Wan Kenobi. But Marvel’s Daredevil is also on Netflix. Cancel.
- Apple TV+ - Watched 2 hours/month. Only for Severance. No other shows watched. Cancel.
- Sky Showtime - Watched 10 hours/month. Has Yellowstone, House of the Dragon, and some HBO content. But House of the Dragon is also on Sky Atlantic, which is included in your Sky TV package. Cancel.
After canceling two services, they saved €24 per month - €288 a year. And they didn’t miss a single show they cared about.
How to Avoid This Next Year
Set a reminder every six months to review your subscriptions. Use your calendar. Label it “Streaming Audit.” When you see a new show advertised, don’t immediately sign up. Ask: Is this available anywhere else? Use JustWatch before you commit.Also, watch for bundled deals. Sometimes your internet provider (like Vodafone or Eir) offers free access to one streaming service. If you’re already paying for Netflix, you might not need the free one. But if you’re not using Netflix, take the free one and cancel your own.
And if you have kids? They might be using their own devices with their own subscriptions. Talk to them. A 14-year-old might have a YouTube Premium subscription you didn’t know about. That’s €11 a month - gone.
What You’ll Save
Most people think they’re saving money by choosing cheaper services. But the real savings come from cutting duplicates. Here’s what the average Irish household loses to overlap:| Service | Monthly Cost (€) | Overlap Risk | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | 15.99 | Low | Keep |
| Disney+ | 10.99 | Medium | Cancel if not using originals |
| Apple TV+ | 10.99 | High | Cancel unless you watch Severance or Ted Lasso |
| Amazon Prime Video | 8.99 | Medium | Keep if you use Prime delivery |
| Sky Showtime | 12.99 | High | Cancel if you have Sky TV |
| Paramount+ | 11.99 | Medium | Cancel unless you watch Yellowstone |
Even if you keep three services, cutting just one duplicate can save you €10-€12 a month. That’s €120-€144 a year. Enough for a weekend trip, a new pair of shoes, or an extra month of groceries.
What Happens When You Cancel
Some people worry: “What if I miss something?” You won’t. Most shows stay available for at least 30 days after you cancel. Use that time to binge what you want. Then, if you really miss it, you can always resubscribe. Most services let you restart with no penalty.And here’s the truth: you’ll forget you ever needed it. The content you thought you couldn’t live without? You’ll find something else. Maybe you’ll rewatch an old favorite. Maybe you’ll read a book. Maybe you’ll go for a walk. The world doesn’t end when you cancel a streaming service. You just get your money back.
Final Checklist: Are You Paying Twice?
Do this now - it takes five minutes:- Check your bank statement for streaming charges.
- Write down every service you’re paying for.
- Go to JustWatch.com and search for your top 3 most-watched shows.
- See which services have them - and cross-check with your list.
- Ask: “Do I need both?” If not, pick one.
- Cancel the one you use least.
You don’t need more streaming services. You need fewer duplicates. The goal isn’t to have the biggest library. It’s to pay for what you actually watch - and nothing else.
How do I know if two streaming services have the same shows?
Use JustWatch.com. It’s a free website that shows you exactly which platforms carry a specific movie or TV show. Just type in the title, and it lists every service that has it - including which ones require extra pay-per-view. It works for Ireland and updates daily.
Can I get a refund if I cancel a streaming service?
Most services don’t offer refunds for partial months. But if you cancel before the next billing date, you’ll still have access until the end of your current period. That means you get the full value - you just won’t be charged again. Always check the cancellation policy on the service’s website.
Is it worth keeping multiple services for exclusive content?
Only if you watch those exclusives regularly. For example, if you only watch one Marvel show a year on Disney+, it’s not worth €11/month. But if you watch every new Apple TV+ drama as soon as it drops, then Apple TV+ is justified. Track your usage - don’t guess.
What if my partner has their own subscriptions?
Talk to them. Many households have multiple accounts without realizing it. Use a shared calendar or spreadsheet to list all subscriptions. Check which ones overlap. Split the cost of one service instead of paying for two. You’ll save money and avoid arguments later.
Do free trials count as duplicates?
Yes - if you forget to cancel. Free trials are the #1 reason people pay for services they don’t use. Set a calendar reminder for 3 days before the trial ends. If you don’t want to keep it, cancel then. Don’t wait until you’re charged.