Say good-bye to the most affordable way to stream Netflix without ads.
After confirming back in January that it would “retire” its least expensive ad-free plan, Netflix is now warning the last remaining Basic users that they must switch to a new plan after July 13.
With Netflix’s $11.99/month Basic going away, just two ad-free Netflix tiers remain, and both are considerably more expensive.
There is a cheaper option for Basic subscribers who don’t want to pony up more for Netflix, but there’s a catch–two, actually: First, you’ll have to sit through ads, and second, not all Netflix titles are available on the “with ads” plan (more on the latter in a moment).
No more Basic: Netflix’s remaining ad-free plans
Standard
Cost: $15.49/month
What you get: Netflix’s Standard plan gives you the run of Netflix’s mammoth catalog of TV shows and movies, everything from Baby Reindeer and Bridgerton to 3 Body Problem and Ripley. You can also stream movies like Hit Man, Godzilla Minus One, Set It Up, and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Finally, you can tap into Netflix’s growing list of mobile games.
Video quality: You can stream videos in up to full-HD (1080p) quality on Netflix’s Standard plan.
Number of streams: You can stream on two devices at once.
Downloads: You can download videos for offline viewing on up to two devices.
Extra members: You can add up to one “extra member” to your account (remember, it’s the new way to share your subscription following Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown). An extra member costs $7.99 a month.
Premium
Cost: $22.99/month
What you get: The same selection of TV shows, movies, and games that are available through the Netflix Standard plan.
Video quality: Premium subscribers get to stream video on Netflix in 4K, including Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. You also get Netflix spatial audio for stereo playback devices.
Number of streams: You can stream Netflix on up to 4 devices at the same time.
Downloads: You can download videos on up to 6 devices.
Extra members: You can add up to two extra members at $7.99/month each.
Netflix’s ad-supported plan
Standard with ads
Cost: $6.99/month
What you get: Expect “all but a few” of the TV shows and movies available on Netflix’s ad-free plans. If you do run across a video that’s unavailable on the Netflix Standard with Ads plan, you’ll see a padlock on the title, or a “Change plan to watch” banner in place of the standard “Play” button. (Netflix blames “licensing issues” for the missing content.) You also get mobile games, same as on the Standard and Premium plans.
Commercial breaks: Yes, there are ads on the Standard with ads plan—about 4-5 minutes of commercials an hour, with each ad running either 15 or 30 seconds. It’s worth noting that for some shows, you may be “rewarded” with a bonus ad-free episode after binge-watching several episodes in a row.
Video quality: Up to full-HD, same as the Standard tier.
Number of streams: Standard with ads subscribers can stream Netflix on up to 2 devices at once.
Extra members: Sorry folks, but Standard with ads viewers can’t buy “extra members” on their accounts (meaning you’ll have to share your subscription the old-fashioned way, wink wink).
Downloads: You can download videos for offline viewing on up to two devices.
What happened to Netflix’s Basic plan?
Netflix first began phasing out its Basic tier a little more than a year ago, when it pulled the plan from its menu of options for Netflix users in Canada. Shortly thereafter, Netflix pulled the Basic plan in the U.S. and U.K., too, followed later by other territories.
At the time, existing Netflix Basic subscribers were grandfathered in, although they weren’t immune from price hikes. Last October, Netflix boosted the price of Basic to $11.99 a month, up from $9.99/month.
By January 2024, Netflix made it official, announcing that it would “retire” its Basic plan in “some of our ads countries.”
The Basic shutdown would start in Canada and the U.K. in the second quarter of 2024, and it appears that Netflix is now making good on its promise.
Author: Ben Patterson, Senior Writer, TechHive
Ben has been writing about technology and consumer electronics for more than 20 years. A PCWorld contributor since 2014, Ben joined TechHive in 2019, where he has covered everything from smart speakers and soundbars to smart lights and security cameras. Ben's articles have also appeared in PC Magazine, TIME, Wired, CNET, Men's Fitness, Mobile Magazine, and more. Ben holds a master's degree in English literature.