7 Best European Netflix Alternatives in 2026
The best European alternative to Netflix in 2026 is Viaplay, based in Sweden. All 7 options below are European-owned, GDPR-native and ranked by feature parity and relevance.
By the EU Alternatives team Last updated
Our top pick this year is Viaplay, but every option on this list is European-owned, GDPR-native, and production-ready. Worth a closer look: MUBI, RTL+, ARTE, Cinobo.
Netflix alternatives are mainly Content & Media. Browse that category for a wider shortlist beyond this list.
Top European Netflix alternatives compared
| # | Alternative | Country | Open source | Free tier | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Viaplay | Sweden | No | No | vs Netflix → |
| 2 | MUBI | United Kingdom | No | No | vs Netflix → |
| 3 | RTL+ | Germany | No | No | vs Netflix → |
| 4 | ARTE | France | No | Yes | — |
| 5 | Cinobo | Greece | No | No | — |
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Leading Nordic streaming platform featuring 150+ original series, films and documentaries. Specializes in crime, thriller and dramedy content available worldwide.
Viaplay is a European streaming platform offering a curated catalogue of Nordic original series, live sports, films, and kids' programming to audiences across the Nordics, the Netherlands, and the Baltics. The service is best known for its award-winning "Viaplay Originals" (high-end crime, thriller, and dramedy productions filmed in Scandinavia) alongside rights to major European football, ice hockey, motorsport, and winter-sport competitions.
The platform streams on smart TVs, consoles, streaming sticks, web, and mobile apps, with downloads for offline viewing, multi-profile households, and local-language audio and subtitles. Viaplay commissions and produces its own Nordic dramas in-house and licenses international hits, giving European subscribers content they cannot find on US-centric catalogues and keeping home-language productions in prime position.
Key benefits:
- Nordic Originals including acclaimed crime, thriller, and dramedy series
- Live sports rights for football, ice hockey, motorsport, and winter sports
- Family-friendly profiles with kids' content and parental controls
- Multi-device streaming on smart TVs, consoles, web, and mobile
- Offline downloads for travel and commutes
- Local languages with native audio and subtitle tracks across markets
Viaplay Group is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, and operates under Swedish and EU consumer, broadcasting, and data protection law with full GDPR compliance. As a European-owned streamer, it offers audiences and regulators a sovereign alternative to US-owned platforms, with editorial decisions and subscriber data staying under European jurisdiction.
Trusted by millions of subscribers across Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, and the Baltics for premium Nordic storytelling and live sport.
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MUBI offers curated film streaming for viewers who treat choosing a film as part of the pleasure of watching it. Its mix of arthouse cinema, discoveries and established filmmakers sits alongside film criticism and publishing. The appeal is an editorial point of view: a place to follow cinema beyond the familiar franchises and television seasons.
Films play through a browser, mobile apps and supported television devices. Offline mobile downloads make selected viewing possible away from a connection, while casting brings playback to a larger screen. Availability depends on local rights, so a film discussed in the database or Notebook should not automatically be assumed to be included in a country's streaming catalogue.
Key benefits:
- Curated selection gives film discovery a recognisable editorial perspective across the catalogue.
- Notebook criticism adds essays and discussion for viewers interested in cinema culture.
- Offline downloads let supported mobile devices carry films for viewing without connectivity.
- Living room playback supports compatible smart televisions, streaming players and casting options.
- Two simultaneous screens allow viewing together or separately within the advertised device allowance.
- MUBI GO adds cinema visits through a separate offering in supported locations.
The service is operated on behalf of MUBI UK Limited, with a London contact address. This is a European company outside the EU, rather than a promise of EU-only hosting or anonymous viewing. Its privacy policy describes account processing and personalised recommendations, and explains how subscriber information is used.
Streaming requires a paid subscription after any eligible trial; the advertised introductory trial lasts seven days. Prices and catalogues vary by country. MUBI GO also has geographic limits, so its cinema benefit needs checking locally before choosing a membership.
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RTL+ combines German television and on-demand entertainment with films, reality shows, documentaries and audio. Its value is strongest for viewers already following RTL, VOX or related channels who want programmes beyond their broadcast slot. Live television is available through selected packages, making this a broader broadcaster service than a subscription devoted only to films and series.
The packages separate access to the catalogue from extras such as live channels, downloads and music. Premium includes selected offline content and two simultaneous household video streams, while Basic concentrates on on-demand programming. The Musik package adds Deezer and a monthly audiobook credit. Those distinctions make choosing a package more consequential than simply picking a video resolution.
Key benefits:
- Broadcaster catalogue brings programmes from RTL and related channels into one service.
- On-demand viewing lets audiences follow shows outside their scheduled television broadcast slots.
- Premium live channels combine selected broadcast streams with the on-demand entertainment catalogue.
- Selected downloads make some Premium content available for viewing without a connection.
- Household streams support two simultaneous video sessions with the Premium package.
- Musik package adds Deezer listening and a monthly credit for selected audiobooks.
RTL+ is operated by RTL interactive GmbH, based in Cologne, Germany, within RTL Deutschland. Its EU operator is also the controller identified in the privacy notice. The service describes personalised recommendations and advertising-related processing; German headquarters should not be taken as a guarantee of tracking-free entertainment.
The terms reference a Free offering alongside paid packages, although current availability and prices need checking at signup. Advertising can remain in Basic, and even Premium Werbefrei has exceptions for live broadcasts and integrated promotions. Content and booking eligibility also depend on country and licensing rights.
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Stream European cultural content free on ARTE.tv - documentaries, concerts, films, and magazine shows available on-demand in 7 languages across all devices.
Free on-demand streaming from ARTE.tv: documentaries, concerts, films and magazine shows built around European culture, available in 7 languages across every device.
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Stream hundreds of handpicked films and series including Oscar-winners, festival favorites, Greek cinema, and timeless classics. 7-day free trial from €7.49/month.
A handpicked Greek streaming catalog of Oscar-winners, festival titles, Greek cinema and classics. Start with a 7-day free trial, then continue from EUR 7.49 a month.
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Discover curated independent films, documentaries, and classic cinema from Europe and beyond. Premium streaming service for discerning viewers.
Spanish streaming service with a curated catalogue of independent films, documentaries, and classic cinema drawn from Europe and beyond.
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German streaming platform offering complete episodes, movies, and sports content. Watch live TV or catch up on missed shows anytime, anywhere with flexible viewing options.
German streaming service with full episodes, films and sport, plus live TV and catch-up viewing so you can watch missed shows on any device.