What Netflix charges for each plan
Netflix offers four subscription tiers in the United States, each with different video quality, number of screens you can watch on at once, and price. The Standard with ads plan costs $6.99 per month. Standard costs $15.49 per month. Premium costs $22.99 per month. The Basic plan, which Netflix phased out for new members in late 2023, remains available to existing subscribers at $9.99 per month but cannot be purchased by new customers.
Prices vary outside the United States. In Canada, for example, Standard with ads is $5.99 CAD, Standard is $16.49 CAD, and Premium is $20.99 CAD. In the United Kingdom, Standard with ads is £4.99, Standard is £10.99, and Premium is £17.99. Netflix updates prices periodically, and the amounts listed here reflect rates as of early 2024. Check Netflix's website or your account settings to see the current price for your region and plan.
Netflix does not offer a free trial for new members in most countries, though some regions or promotional periods may include temporary free access. If you already have a Netflix account, you can change your plan at any time through your account settings, and the new price takes effect on your next billing date.
Key Takeaways
- Netflix has four active plans in the US: Standard with ads at $6.99/month, Standard at $15.49/month, Premium at $22.99/month, and Basic (existing members only) at $9.99/month.
- The main differences between plans are the number of screens you can watch on simultaneously and the video resolution available to you.
- Prices are different in every country and change periodically, so the amount you pay depends on your location and when you signed up.
- You can switch between plans whenever you want, and the new price applies starting with your next billing cycle.
How many screens and what video quality you get with each plan
The Standard with ads plan lets you watch on one screen at a time in standard definition (SD), which is 480p resolution. You see ads during playback. The Standard plan also limits you to one screen at a time, but the video plays in high definition (HD), which is 1080p resolution, and there are no ads.
The Premium plan is the only one that lets you watch on four screens simultaneously, and it streams in 4K Ultra HD (2160p resolution) on devices that support it. Premium members also have no ads. The Basic plan, available only to existing subscribers, allows one screen at a time in HD (1080p) with no ads.
If you live with other people and want to watch different shows at the same time, only the Premium plan supports that without upgrading. The Standard and Basic plans will pause playback on one device if you start watching on another device in a different location.
How ads work on the Standard with ads plan
The Standard with ads plan includes commercials before, during, and after shows and movies. Netflix does not publish the exact number of ads per hour, and the amount varies by title. Some content has fewer ad breaks than others.
A small number of films and TV shows are not available on the Standard with ads plan at all. Netflix licenses content from studios, and some studios restrict certain titles to ad-free plans only. You will see a note on the title's page if it is not available on your plan.
You cannot read content to watch offline on the Standard with ads plan. Downloading is only available to Standard and Premium members.
Differences between Standard and Premium
The main practical difference is the number of screens and video resolution. Standard streams to one screen in HD (1080p). Premium streams to four screens at once in 4K (2160p) when available. Both plans have no ads and both allow offline downloads.
Premium also includes access to Netflix's spatial audio feature on supported devices and titles. This is a surround-sound technology that creates a more immersive audio experience. Standard members do not have access to spatial audio.
If you watch alone or with one other person and do not have a 4K television, Standard and Premium deliver nearly the same experience. Premium makes sense if you have a 4K TV, if multiple people in your household watch at the same time, or if you want the spatial audio feature.
How to change your plan or cancel
To change your plan, sign into your Netflix account on a web browser or in the app, go to Account settings, and select your membership. You will see all available plans and their prices. Click the plan you want, and Netflix will show you the change date and new price. The change takes effect on your next billing date, not when ready.
If you downgrade to a cheaper plan, the change happens right away on your next billing date. If you upgrade to a more expensive plan, Netflix prorates the difference — it charges you the difference between your current plan's price and the new plan's price for the remainder of your current billing cycle, then charges the full new price starting next month.
To cancel, go to Account settings, select Membership, and choose Cancel Membership. Netflix will ask you to confirm and may offer you a discount to stay. Once you cancel, your access ends at the end of your current billing period. You can restart your membership at any time by signing back in.
Sharing your account across households
Netflix's terms of service state that your account is for your household only. In 2024, Netflix began enforcing this rule by asking members who share passwords across different households to add those people as separate paid members or to transfer their profile to a different account.
If you live in the same household as someone else on your plan, you can create separate profiles within your account so you each have your own watch history, recommendations, and settings. This does not cost extra and works on all plans.
If someone outside your household uses your account, Netflix may ask you to verify your identity or to add them as a paid member. The cost of adding an extra member varies by region and plan. In the United States, adding an extra member to a Standard or Premium plan costs $7.99 per month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Netflix on my phone, tablet, and TV at the same time?
Only if you have the Premium plan, which allows four simultaneous screens. Standard and Basic plans allow one screen at a time. If you try to watch on a second device, Netflix pauses the first one.
Do I have to watch ads on every plan?
No. Only the Standard with ads plan includes commercials. Standard, Premium, and Basic are all ad-free. The trade-off is that Standard with ads is the cheapest option.
What happens if I downgrade from Premium to Standard?
Your account switches to the Standard plan on your next billing date. You lose access to 4K video and the ability to watch on four screens at once. Your watch history and profiles stay the same. The lower price takes effect when ready on your next bill.
Can I pause my Netflix subscription instead of canceling?
Netflix does not offer a pause feature. You can cancel your membership and restart it later by signing back in. When you restart, your profiles and watch history remain, but you will be charged the current price for your plan at that time.
Does Netflix offer student discounts?
Netflix does not currently offer a student discount in the United States. Some countries have promotional pricing for students, but this varies by region. Check Netflix's website for your country to see if a student plan is available where you live.