A subscription to an international streaming service can cost anywhere from per month (approximately US $10–$15). For a large portion of the population, especially in rural areas where the average monthly income is lower than IDR 5 million, this expense is prohibitive. INDO18 eliminates the monetary barrier entirely.

Despite periodic takedowns, the decentralized nature of the internet makes permanent removal difficult. Operators can shift domains, use proxy servers, or mirror the site on offshore hosting services. Moreover, the sheer volume of user traffic—often measured in millions of visits per day—makes it logistically complex for authorities to monitor every infringing stream.