BritBox Review & Guide
Do you believe that there’s nothing more comforting than classic television comedy, improved only by the inclusion of a British accent? Can you name all 13 Doctors in order of appearance, along with their companions? Is there nothing that gets you hooked like a brooding main character solving mysteries in a sleepy English town with a sinister underbelly? If you’ve answered yes to any of the above, do we have the streaming platform for you.
Streaming service BritBox delivers a unique viewing experience to Australian audiences, thanks to a specially curated selection of all things UK television, from crime dramas to comedy. So kick back with some tea and biscuits and soak up some good, old-fashioned British telly with this Canstar Blue guide.
What is BritBox?
BritBox is, as the name would suggest, the home to British-themed telly, the result of a partnership between BBC and ITV. Coming to the Australian streaming scene in late 2020 after a slight delay, the platform promises to provide the “ultimate collection of British comedy and drama, from brand new shows to loved favourites”, according to the platform.
Aside from the fact that it is bursting with British telly, there are a few notable inclusions that have been highly anticipated by audiences around the country. The entire Doctor Who collection will be available to stream on BritBox, spanning all 13 Doctors in their time bending glory, alongside classic British television series All Creatures Great and Small, with its recent reboot also available. There are a number of BritBox original series which will be made available to Australian audiences after airing express from the UK, as well as exclusive content from a range of genres.
How much does BritBox cost in Australia?
For a BritBox subscription in Australia, it costs $8.99 each month or $89.99 for a year. Unlike other streaming platforms such as Stan and Netflix, there are no tiered payment plans for different levels of streaming quality or number of devices, with everything consistent across the board, regardless of how long you sign up for.
Does BritBox have a free trial?
BritBox offers a seven-day free trial, however you must cancel your subscription within the trial period to avoid paying for the following month.
How to watch BritBox
You can stream BritBox on your phone, tablet, computer, Chromecast, Apple TV, Fetch TV or Telstra device, as well as through LG and Samsung Smart TVs. There is no mention at this stage of an Android television app, but it’s likely to assume that the British are coming (to more TVs).
Sign up to BritBox Australia
This table includes links to a referral partner.
| Brand | Subscription Type | No. of Screens/same time viewing | Advertised Cost^^/month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
BritBox Monthly Subscription:
min. cost $8.99 over 1 month |
5 | $8.99 | Go To Site |
|
BritBox Annual Subscription
min. cost $89.99 over 1 year |
5 | $89.99 | Go To Site |
 |
^^View important information | |||
What to watch on BritBox
BritBox has a collection of classic and contemporary British content covering a range of genres, including drama, crime, comedy, documentary and lifestyle. While British telly is the main aim of the game, there are a number of telemovie gems included if you’re looking for something closer to movie-length. Plus it wouldn’t be the BBC without some classic BBC miniseries (we’re looking at you Mr. Darcy).
Shows on BritBox
Some of the shows that are available on BritBox include:
- Doctor Who
- Absolutely Fabulous
- All Creatures Great and Small
- Victoria
- Spooks
- Pride and Prejudice
- Death in Paradise
- Extras
- Bleak house
- Luther
- Broadchurch
- Blue Planet and Planet Earth
- Blackadder
If you want some help deciding on a show, check out our guide on the best shows on BritBox.
Is a subscription to BritBox worth it?
There’s something quite nostalgic about classic British television, so if that’s your thing then a BritBox subscription will be well worth the money. Although quite niche, the BritBox library covers enough genres for you to make your way through without it getting repetitive. You’ll also be able to spot numerous familiar faces, as many of the British greats are present including Rowan Atkinson, David Attenborough, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley… the list goes on!
It may be worth keeping in mind that there is not much in the way of children’s television, so it may potentially not be the best investment if you’re looking to keep the kids entertained for an afternoon. In saying that, there is plenty of opportunity within the BritBox catalogue to introduce the young ones to some of the classics and discover old family favourites for a new generation, and with a month-by-month subscription option that’s more affordable than other streaming services, it certainly won’t hurt to try. And if you’re not sure, check out our ratings on Pay TV and streaming services to see how they all stack up against each other.
Sign up to BINGE!
Are you looking for something binge-worthy? Why not check out BINGE? With multiple subscription plans available, you can choose a plan that suits you (or your family) and settle in for a night on the couch with a wide range of movies and shows!
| Brand | Subscription Type | No. of Screens/same time viewing | Advertised Cost^^/month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $10 over one month |
1 | $10 |
Go To Site |
|
min. cost $19 over one month |
2 | $19 |
Go To Site |
|
min. cost $22 over one month |
4 | $22 |
Go To Site |
|
^^View important information | |||
What are the best internet plans for streaming BritBox?
If you’ve decided to sign up to BritBox, you’ll need to make sure that your internet plan will be able to cope with video streaming requirements. The NBN Co website suggests that NBN 25 Standard Evening Speed are adequate for SD video streaming, while HD video streaming requires a minimum of NBN 50 Standard Plus Evening Speed.
While these NBN speeds are the recommended options for video streaming, the actual speeds you experience may differ due to a range of factors, including network congestion, especially around peak evening times (7pm-11pm). The number of people in your house using the internet, can also impact your internet speeds.
Perhaps the most popular NBN speed tier is NBN 50 as it suits a range of uses including HD video streaming, online gaming and households of two or more heavy internet users.
NBN 50 plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 50 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost (excluding discounts), from lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
About the author of this page
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Site Editor, Dean Heckscher. He’s our resident expert on all things automotive, health & fitness, streaming and more. Dean is also one of Canstar Blue’s customer research report producers, helping to turn complicated subjects into easily-digestible information for our readers. He’s passionate about helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services.
Photo Credit: Dejan Dundjerski/shutterstock.com, BritBox