Netflix costs between $7.99 and $24.99 per month, depending on which of the three plans an individual or household signs up to. The three plans currently available are Standard with ads, Standard, and Premium, and each one is designed to cater to different needs.
Some of the factors that can affect which plan is best for a home include how many people are likely to be sharing the same account, how many people are likely to be watching at the same time, and whether a home prefers to watch without or without ads.
Here is a summary of the main differences between the Standard with ads, Standard and Premium plans.
| Netflix | Standard with ads | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (p/m) | $8 | $18 | $25 |
| FHD | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| UHD | ✔ | ||
| Streams | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Downloads (devices) | 2 | 4 | |
| Spatial audio | ✔ | ||
| Extra members | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Understanding the differences between the three main Netflix plans can help new subscribers decide which one will be best for them. Likewise, existing subscribers may find they get more (or save more) by switching from their current plan to one of the others.
Netflix’s Standard with ads plan – Explained
The Standard with ads plan is the cheapest way to sign up to Netflix and currently costs $7.99 a month. Unlike the other plans, a Standard with ads subscription includes ads before and during videos. It is this use of ads that helps to reduce the cost to as low as $8 a month.
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While there is no difference in the level of access, other than ads, there are some other differences that you’ll need to be aware of before signing up to this plan.
The first is that the Standard with ads plan offers the option to watch on up to two devices at the same time. Standard with ads is also the only Netflix tier that doesn’t offer the option to download titles to watch offline.
Another caveat to be aware of is that some titles are unavailable to stream with this plan. Netflix doesn’t provide a list of these titles although we have often found that Sony titles are unavailable.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Cheap | Ads |
| 2 streams | No downloads |
| FHD | Some unavailable titles |
Netflix’s Standard plan – Explained
The Standard plan currently costs $17.99 a month and is likely to be the one that appeals to most individuals and households. While it doesn’t offer the best experience that Netflix has to offer, it comes with enough features to suit the needs of most homes.
Similar to the Standard with ads plan, the Standard tier also limits the resolution to Full High Definition (FHD) and only allows subscribers to stream on up to two devices at the same time.
However, the main selling point over Standard with ads is that Standard is an ad-free tier. As a result, subscribers won’t have to sit through ad breaks before or during videos.
Another benefit is that Standard unlocks the option to download videos to watch offline. Similar to the number of streams, the Standard plan allows the ability to store downloads on to two at the same time.
A final difference with the Standard plan is Extra member support. Netflix now allows subscribers to share their subscription with another home (an ‘Extra member’) for an additional monthly fee. Standard subscribers are able to add one Extra member to their subscription.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ad-free | Expensive |
| 2 streams | Limited to FHD |
| Downloads | All titles available |
| 1 Extra member |
Netflix’s Premium plan – Explained
For those looking for the ultimate Netflix experience, Premium currently costs $24.99 a month. Even though Premium costs almost three times as much as Standard with ads, subscribers get a lot more in return for the higher monthly cost.
One of the main reasons to consider Premium is the 4K support. At present, Premium is the only way to watch videos in Ultra HD. While Premium does unlock 4K support, not all titles available to stream on Netflix are also available to stream in 4K.
Another major difference is that Premium allows members to stream on up to four devices at the same time. Adding to this, the number of devices that downloads can be stored on is also increased to four.
The Premium plan also comes with spatial audio support. Similar to 4K, not all titles support spatial audio, but for those that are available, subscribers will get an improved audio experience, and without the need for any surround sound speakers or home theater equipment.
Similar to the Standard plan, Premium also allows subscribers to add Extra members to their account. Unlike Standard, however, Premium subscribers are able to add two Extra members to their subscription.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ad-free | Expensive |
| 4K Ultra HD | |
| 4 streams | |
| Downloads | |
| Spatial audio | |
| 2 Extra members |
Netflix plans and prices —recap
Netflix offers three main plans, with consumers able to choose between Standard with ads, Standard and Premium.
None of these subscription tiers differ too much in terms of content, and all three support the same devices. However, Standard and Premium are the only plans that offer an ad-free viewing experience, and access to every single title on Netflix.
If a single subscriber, or in a household where everyone is likely to be watching together, the Standard with ads plan is likely to be enough. For those that want an ad-free viewing experience, as well as the option to download videos to watch offline, Standard is the plan to go for.
For those homes that want the ultimate Netflix experience, including the option to watch in 4K and support for spatial audio, the Premium plan is going to be the best option, albeit the most expensive option as well.
$8-$25/mo
- Netflix Originals
- Live Events
- Free games
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