Netflix is prompting subscribers on the basic plan to choose another plan if they wish to continue using the service seamlessly. The streaming service has been gradually phasing out the Basic plan.
This change means that the Basic plan, which is Netflix’s most affordable ad-free option, is no longer available for new sign-ups. It appears that Netflix intends to discontinue this plan altogether.
This decision directly affects existing Netflix customers currently on the basic plan. The Basic plan, priced at $9.99 in the United States and some other countries, offers HD content streaming and the ability to download content on one device.
Netflix last increased the price of the Basic plan in October 2023.
Netflix is now asking customers to “choose a new plan to keep watching.” The company acknowledges customer loyalty but is proceeding with removing the Basic plan regardless.
The Alternatives
Customers have two main choices:
- Switch to a different Netflix plan.
- Take no action and have the membership automatically canceled.
The available plans include:
| Basic | Standard with Ads | Standard | Premium | |
| Price | $9.99 | $5.99 | $16.99 | $22.99 |
| Resolution | 720p | 1080p | 1080p | 4K HDR |
| 3D Audio | No | No | No | Yes |
| Stream on | 1 device | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Download to | 1 device | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Extra Members | No | No | 1 | 2 |
Netflix provides three alternative plans for customers to select from:
- Standard with Ads – priced at $5.99, includes advertisements, Full HD videos, watch and download features on up to 2 devices. Some movies and TV shows may not be available. Previously known as Basic with Ads.
- Standard – priced at $16.49, offers Full HD videos, watch and download capabilities on up to 2 devices, with the option to add 1 extra member.
- Premium – priced at $22.99, provides Ultra HD videos, watch and download access on up to 4 devices, with the option to add 2 extra members and Netflix spatial audio support.
Customers who do not switch to a different plan before their current subscription period ends will have their memberships canceled. The final billing period for this initial group of users is June 1, 2024. This means that unless they switch to another plan, their memberships will be terminated on July 1, 2024.
Final Remarks
Netflix has not revealed the exact number of customers affected by this change. The company anticipates that most customers will transition to another plan as all alternatives are more feature-rich than the Basic plan, according to Netflix. Netflix mentioned that its ad-supported plan had reached 23 million members as of January 2024.
For customers seeking continued access to Netflix content, this development means choosing between paying more for an ad-free experience or paying less but enduring occasional interruptions due to advertisements.
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