May 26, 2022, 9:16 am | Read time: 6 minutes

For those who enjoy watching movies and series, it’s been a paradise for quite some time. Many different providers offer a vast array of titles. Besides the major, mostly American platforms, Germany also has offerings from media groups ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE and Discovery, as well as RTL. Both combine live TV from their channels with a streaming library, focusing accordingly on German productions. So, which of the two services should you subscribe to: Joyn or RTL+?

Joyn vs. RTL+ – What Can the Streaming Services Do?

The German provider Joyn is backed by ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE and Discovery. The service includes over 60 channels in its stream and library, such as ProSieben, Sat.1, ARD, ZDF, DMAX, Nickelodeon, and Comedy Central. In addition to channel content, there are now plenty of original productions and acquired titles from the U.S. market. Initially launched as a free platform, Joyn upgraded in late 2019 to include the subscription service Joyn Plus.

The second streaming service, RTL+, belongs to the RTL media group and primarily includes channels like RTL and Vox, but also NITRO and ntv. RTL launched the platform in 2007, initially under the name RTLnow, later TVNOW. It was rebranded as RTL+ in 2021, but original content has been produced since 2019.

The offerings of both services consist of live television, which can be streamed simultaneously or watched later, as well as movies, series, and shows on the platforms.

Price

Joyn and Joyn Plus are available in two versions: The basic version “Joyn” is free and provides users access to various content. “Joyn Plus” costs 6.99 euros per month; with the paid subscription, more titles are available, and ad clips during streaming are eliminated. Additionally, new episodes of major series like “Grey’s Anatomy” can be streamed before they air on TV. Those who want to test the service can also take advantage of a free trial month.

RTL+ follows a slightly different concept: While there is also a free version with limited access, there are two additional options. The Premium package for 4.99 euros per month provides access to the provider’s originals, delivers videos in higher quality, and offers the so-called Pre-TV option. Users can stream episodes of popular formats like “The Bachelor” before they air on linear TV. Additionally, starting with the Premium tier, the RTL+ app can be used. For 7.99 euros, there’s the Premium Duo package. In addition to the aforementioned benefits, this option is the only one completely ad-free, and foreign content is also available in the original language. Furthermore, two users can stream simultaneously on the account.

Content

Joyn and RTL+ each offer the content of the channels behind them. This is not only the key difference from other streaming services like Netflix but also the crucial point that weighs in the decision between the two providers.

Joyn features major TV shows like “Germany’s Next Topmodel,” “Late Night Berlin,” or “Joko & Klaas.” Joyn Plus subscribers can also enjoy series like “Jerks.” Additionally, there are major U.S. imports like the aforementioned “Grey’s Anatomy” or “Seattle Firefighters,” as well as movies like “Zombieland.” For some time now, there’s also plenty of sports on Joyn (Plus). Everything available on Eurosport and ran, for example, can also be streamed on the platform: from the Four Hills Tournament to the NFL to darts and the Handball World Championship. Joyn also produces its own formats specifically for the streaming service, such as “Das Internat.”

Also interesting: The major streaming services compared

RTL+ offers its own channel content, including shows like “The Bachelor,” “Princess Charming,” “Shopping Queen,” or “Let’s Dance.” Additionally, there are acquired contents like “Downton Abbey,” “Dexter,” “O.C., California,” or “La La Land.” In comparison, it is noticeable that currently, the names at RTL+ are somewhat bigger, but series like “The Handmaid’s Tale” or “Outlander” are only available for a very limited time, often not with all seasons. Furthermore, RTL+ now also offers a considerable amount of sports, such as the UEFA Europa Conference League. With series like “Der König von Palma” and “Sisi,” RTL+ is also producing its own content for the service. Also a real tip: the provider’s crime section.

Availability

Via app, both Joyn (Plus) and RTL+ are available on various smart devices. The services are available on smartphones from Android 5 or iOS 11/12. They also work on various smart TVs, via Apple TV, Fire TV, and Google Chromecast. For the web version, at least Windows 7/8.1 or macOS X 10.11/10.6 is required. Unlike RTL+, Joyn can also be streamed on PS4 and PS5.

Conclusion: Who Benefits from Which Provider

Deciding whether to subscribe to Joyn or RTL+ is indeed a tough choice. Price-wise, the two providers are quite similar: Joyn (Plus) offers a slightly cheaper ad-free model, while RTL+ offers more content for less money due to the three-tier package structure. Both services are available on almost all modern devices, and the apps are clear and intuitive in both cases.

Regarding content, which is the essence of a streaming service, Joyn and RTL+ are similarly well-positioned. Both focus on German productions, with a well-developed share of notable international series and films. In terms of scope, RTL+ might have a slight edge, but Joyn offers a significantly more extensive sports package beyond soccer and many more channels. The main difference lies simply in the channel content. The question is, do you prefer watching “The Voice” or “DSDS”? “GNTM” or “The Bachelor”? “The Masked Singer” or “Let’s Dance”? “Wer sieht mir die Show” or “Die Höhle der Löwen”?

The good news is that both services are often significantly cheaper than the international competition. So if you absolutely can’t decide, you might consider subscribing to both. The content on Joyn and RTL+ does not overlap. In the future, both could add a lot of worthwhile content, especially in the originals section.