The willingness to pay for Artificial Intelligence (AI) has increased significantly in Germany over the past year. According to a survey published by the IT industry association Bitkom, 13% of AI users now pay for at least one AI application, a notable rise from 8% in the previous year. Furthermore, more users anticipate future paid upgrades: 29% are prepared to switch to paid versions, an increase from the 22% figure reported last year. Conversely, the opposition to paid AI also decreased, with 49% of respondents now declining paid options, down from 62% previously.
Regarding spending habits, the monthly expenditures for AI vary widely among those who pay. Thirteen percent of paying users spend less than €10 per month, while 25% spend between €10 and €20. The largest segment-43%-spends between €20 and €30 per month. Approximately one-fifth (19%) of users spend €30 or more monthly on AI applications.
Paying for AI primarily targets performance improvements. Two-thirds (67%) of users stated that paid models grant access to more powerful AI systems. Supporting this, 55% look forward to better result quality, 51% desire greater technical stability, and 30% are motivated by increased speed. Beyond pure performance, paying users highly value functionality and convenience. Forty percent pay specifically for additional features, while 36% prioritize fewer or no usage limitations. Other key factors include wanting dedicated customer support (33%), avoiding advertisements (22%), and, significantly, upgrading to a paid version due to better data privacy protection (38%).
This data was collected through a Bitkom Research survey that questioned 1,003 individuals in Germany aged 16 and older across the eighth through eleventh calendar weeks of 2026. The survey included feedback from 579 people who actively use AI technologies.
