Could there BE any worse streaming news?! Friends has officially been given the countdown clock of leaving Netflix UK, after an impressive seven years on the platform.
You’ll be able to watch all ten seasons of the 90s/2000s sitcom up until 30 December 2025, after which it will be taken off the service. The question is… where will you be able to stream it next?
I’ve watched every episode probably more than I should have, and I track where to stream shows across the world for a living. Here is everything you need to know about the new possible UK home for Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross (and co).
Where can I stream Friends after it leaves Netflix?
At the time of writing, no official streaming platform has been confirmed to have the rights to Friends in the UK after it leaves Netflix.
You may have heard rumours about HBO Max being the new home, as it’s mentioned in this BBC article. But, it’s worth knowing that HBO Max doesn’t actually even exist in the UK yet.
We know that the streaming platform is launching next year on British soil, but at the time of writing, no specific release date for HBO Max UK has been confirmed. Sky’s official press release just says ‘early 2026‘.
Warner Bros. Discovery
Friends would be a huge draw for subscribers, so it’s understandable why there’s speculation about this. Many outlets have reached out to HBO for clarification, so we can update this article when we know more.
If HBO Max’s launch date is a while after Friends leaves Netflix (and it’ll be at least a day, as the service is meant to go live at some point in 2026, so that doesn’t account for 31 December 2025), then you have a few options.
The show airs consistently on Comedy Central throughout weekdays and weekends. While you can’t watch episodes on demand, this channel is bundled with many packages such as Sky and Virgin.
You can also buy episodes, series and the whole box set on stores such as Amazon Prime Video, the Sky Store and Apple TV. If you’re craving a specific episode, then this may work for you, as they cost under £2.
If those options still aren’t right (for example, if you only use Netflix/streaming apps), then there is something else you can try.
Can I watch Friends with a VPN?
The answer is yes, but it may be a bit more complicated than you’re anticipating.
Other Netflix libraries that also have Friends (such as Germany, Italy, Switzerland and South Africa) will also lose the sitcom as the same day as the UK. So, we can’t direct you to just using a VPN for Netflix.
What you can do is sign up to HBO Max in the US, by using a VPN. We’ve successfully signed up for the platform from the UK multiple times by using NordVPN, which has a wide range of reliable servers, decent pricing and a good user interface.
However, due to the platform’s sign-up process, you’ll need to take some extra steps to pay for a subscription, which starts from $10.99 per month. You can read our detailed sign-up guide here.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Where is the most likely place for Friends to stream in the UK after 30 December?
We’ve already mentioned HBO Max, but without a launch date it’s very hard to know when this could happen. That said, there is one other possible home for Friends after it leaves Netflix that seems viable.
HBO Max is owned by Warner Bros, and the streaming service in Britain that typically syndicates shows and film from these studios is Now, Sky’s flexible streaming platform.
It’s worth saying that this service is also the home of the Friends Reunion, a HBO Max original.
You can sign up to an Entertainment Membership from as little as £4.99 per month, though you’ll have to pay extra for FHD and 4K streaming (not that this is imperative for Friends, which will just be upscaled anyway).
We will reach out to Now for comment on this piece, and will update it if we get any news.
