Netflix scrapped the cheap ad-free plan for new subscribers last year. It has now discontinued the “Basic” plan for all subscribers.
Existing customers on the Basic plan are now being moved to the “Standard with adverts plan”, with the cost falling to £4.99 per month. This equates to a £3 per month – or £36 per year – saving on the previous price of £7.99 per month for the Basic plan.
However, Netflix warns that this plan “may not be available through all third-party billing partners and packages” and suggests users check with their provider to confirm availability.
Those viewers who want to watch shows on Netflix ad-free will need to pay for the “Standard” plan at £10.99 per month; this is £3 per month, or £36 per year, more than the previous ad-free offering of £7.99 per month.
The Standard plan allows subscribers to watch on two screens at once. So couples living together can get one subscription and split the cost, meaning they only pay £5.50 per month each.
You need to live together to save money on Netflix this way, as the streaming service has clamped down on account sharing, with its website stating that “a Netflix account is for people who live together in a single household.”
If you live with more people who use Netflix, you can save even more by splitting the “Premium” plan. This is £17.99 per month, so three people living together would pay £6 per month each. You’ll be able to watch in ultra HD, too.
Some shows unavailable ‘due to licensing restrictions’
A statement on the Netflix website said: “A Netflix ad-supported plan allows you to enjoy movies and TV shows at a lower price. Our ad-supported plan includes commercial breaks in most TV shows and movies.
“While the vast majority of TV shows and movies are available on an ad-supported plan, a small number are not due to licensing restrictions. These titles will appear with a lock icon when you search or browse Netflix.”
Customers not happy with the new pricing structure can cancel Netflix penalty-free at any time. You’ll be able to keep using Netflix as normal for the remainder of your billing period.
