The willingness of German consumers to pay for Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications has increased over the past year, according to a survey published by the IT industry association Bitkom on Monday. Currently, 13 percent of AI users pay for at least one AI application, up from 8 percent in the previous year. Furthermore, while 29 percent of users anticipate upgrading to a paid version in the future (compared to 22 percent previously), a significant minority-49 percent-have firmly stated they will not pay for paid AI services, down from 62 percent in the prior year.
Regarding spending habits, the monthly costs vary widely among paying users. Three out of ten (43 percent) spend between 20 and 30 Euros per month, while 25 percent spend between 10 and 20 Euros, and 13 percent spend less than 10 Euros. Notably, approximately one in five (19 percent) spends 30 Euros or more monthly on AI applications.
The primary motivations for paying relate to functional improvement. Two-thirds (67 percent) of users pay for better access to high-performance AI models. Other key drivers include seeking better quality of results (55 percent), higher technical stability (51 percent), and increased speed (30 percent).
Beyond core performance, users prioritize other features. Forty percent are paying for additional functionality, 36 percent value having minimal or no usage restrictions, and 33 percent are paying for customer support. Privacy was also a factor, with 38 percent having switched to a paid version due to better data protection, while 22 percent specifically want to avoid advertisements within their AI applications.
The findings are based on a survey conducted by Bitkom Research. The study polled 1,003 people in Germany aged 16 and over via telephone, including 579 individuals who use AI technology. Data collection took place during the eighth through the eleventh calendar week of 2026.