Paying for Netflix, Spotify and other subscriptions from Ghana

Streaming and app subscriptions are sold in Ghana, but two different ways: some in cedis, and most in US dollars. The dollar ones are where payments fail.

Spotify: in cedis

Spotify sells Premium in Ghana in cedis:

It also sells Individual once, without renewal: ₵26 for a month, or ₵240 for a year, which works out cheapest. A one-off payment never charges you again, which suits a card that may not be there next month. Prices are on https://www.spotify.com/gh/premium/; the payment page shows which methods it takes on the day.

Netflix and the dollar services

Netflix bills Ghana in US dollars, as do most apps, cloud storage and software. The usual problem is a Ghanaian debit card that is declined:

• Many cards are not enabled for online or foreign payments. Ask your bank to switch on international online transactions, or do it in its app. This is the commonest fix.
• The bank may limit foreign spending on a card each month.
• The card may need to be a Visa or Mastercard - a card that only works in Ghanaian ATMs will not do.

If your bank’s card still will not work, the options are:

• A dollar virtual card from a fintech app, funded from MoMo or your bank. Several Ghanaian and African apps offer them. Check the app is licensed by the Bank of Ghana, and read its exchange rate and fees: the rate is where the cost hides.
• Paying through Google Play or the App Store, where the service allows it and your account can pay.

Keeping the cost down

• Use the prepaid or yearly options where they exist; they cost less and never renew by surprise.
• Watch the exchange rate. A dollar subscription costs more cedis every time the cedi falls, without the price changing.
• Stream on wifi, and lower the quality on mobile data: an hour of video can use more data than a day of browsing.

— Cheapest data bundles — DStv packages — Fintech apps in Ghana — Checking an app is licensed