31.4% selected none, i cancel everything i can. 26.7% selected spotify or apple music; 21.0% selected netflix or a streaming service; and 21.0% selected amazon prime.
How all 105 respondents answered
Respondents selected one answer from four options.
Percentages are based on the published response counts. Where whole-number percentages are shown, totals may differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Subscription value is being judged against what students can justify paying for
Cost-consciousness is visible
The largest group said they cancel everything they can.
Music performs strongly
Spotify or Apple Music was the most selected named subscription category at 26.7%.
Video and convenience are tied
Netflix or another streaming service and Amazon Prime each received 22 responses.
Students may value subscriptions, but 'essential' is a high bar
Subscription services can easily become part of the assumed cost of student life, but this poll suggests many respondents are selective about what they regard as necessary.
The close spread between named services matters too. There is no overwhelming winner, so price, student discounts and frequency of use may all influence whether a recurring cost feels worth keeping.
How to report this poll accurately
Keep the response base and indicative audience label attached to the headline finding.
How this poll was recorded
- Question
- Which subscription service do you consider absolutely essential as a student?
- Responses
- 105 total responses
- Date recorded
- 26 August 2026
- Collection
- Unifresher audience poll
- Evidence label
- Indicative first-party Unifresher audience poll
This is an audience poll rather than a population survey. It is useful as a snapshot of the respondents who took part and should not be described as representative of every UK university student.
Questions readers ask next
What was the most common answer?
31.4% selected “None, I cancel everything I can”, making it the largest answer in this poll.
How many respondents chose the top answer?
33 of 105 respondents selected “None, I cancel everything I can”.
What was the second most selected answer?
26.7% selected “Spotify or Apple Music”, equal to 28 responses.
Is this representative of all UK students?
No. This is an indicative Unifresher audience poll with 105 responses, not a nationally representative student survey.
How should this result be reported?
Keep the 105-response base, collection date and indicative-audience label attached to the finding.
Explore more student attitudes
Cite this poll
Unifresher poll, “Which subscription service do you consider absolutely essential as a student?”, 105 responses, recorded 26 August 2026. Unifresher Data Hub.
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