What Netflix Removing Its “Basic” Plan Means for Subscribers
The tide has turned. After killing its Basic plan in Canada, Netflix has gotten rid of it in the US and UK, cutting the number of plans offered from four to three. But what does the change mean for new and existing subscribers? Find out below.
Netflix Removes Its Basic Plan in the US and UK
Netflix quietly killed its Basic plan in the US and UK in July 2023. This comes less than a month after Netflix phased it out in Canada in June 2023. The option has been removed fromNetflix’s Plans and Pricing pagein those regions.
The removal of Netflix’s Basic plan comes amid some significant changes the streaming service has made. For one, Netflix introduced its ad-supported plan in late 2022 after dodging the idea for years. Netflix alsocontinued to crack down on password sharingin June 2023. Surprisingly, following these changes, Netflix added 5.9 million subscribers in the three months ending June 2023.
While Netflix hasn’t shared its reasons for axing its Basic plan, one can’t help but think it’s the samereason Netflix launched an ad-supported tier—money. The streaming giant is most likely trying to corner you into getting a pricier plan. If you can’t stand ads, you’ll have no choice but to get the Standard plan, which doesn’t come cheap.
What This Change Means for Netflix’s Subscribers
By now, you’re probably wondering how Netflix’s move to drop its Basic plan affects you as a current Basic subscriber. Fortunately, you won’t be impacted. Netflix is letting you keep your subscription at the same price, provided you don’tchange your Netflix streaming planor cancel it. Otherwise, nothing is required on your part, and everything will stay as is.
However, if you decide to take a break from Netflix by temporarily canceling your subscription, you won’t be able to get your Basic subscription back when you return. You’ll have to choose a different plan instead—be it Standard with ads, Standard, or Premium. Of course, this means you’ll have to pay more than you currently do or sit through ads.
This should make you think twice about canceling your Basic plan. It’s also worth noting that, at the time of writing, subscribers in other countries won’t be affected unless Netflix expands the change to more regions in the future.
What This Means for New Netflix Subscribers
Netflix’s removal of its Basic plan impacts new subscribers the most. If you were eyeing the Basic plan, you’re now looking at a significant price jump for the next ad-free option—Netflix’s Standard plan—which costs $15.49/month. That’s assuming you don’t want to deal with ads. If you don’t mind them or are willing to consider them, the Standard with ads plan is an option.
If you have more cash to throw around, you could look into getting Netflix’s Premium plan for $19.99/month, which gives you more bang for your buck. For example, it allows you to stream on four supported devices at a time instead of two.
you’re able to also download content on six supported devices instead of two and add two more members instead of one. Learn more abouthow many downloads you’re allowed on Netflix.
Decisions, Decisions
If you’re already a Netflix subscriber, the changes don’t affect you. If you’re on the Basic plan, you may want to stick with that option as long as you’re able to unless you want to upgrade for more value or downgrade to save some money. Just keep in mind that you won’t be able to get the Basic plan again if you change it.
And if you plan to sign up for Netflix in the future, note that your options for ad-free viewing will come at a higher cost. Keep that in mind when budgeting for Netflix. If you don’t mind ads, the Standard with ads plan is $3 cheaper than what you would’ve paid for the Basic plan.
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