It means if you want to enjoy Netflix without adverts, you’ll now have to pay £10.99 a month to upgrade to the more expensive ‘Standard’ plan
Netflix is axing its “Basic” plan for existing subscribers – meaning you’ll have to pay £3 more a month to watch shows and TV films without adverts.
If you’re on the “Basic” plan, which costs £7.99 a month, you’ll automatically be moved to the “Standard with Adverts” plan, which is cheaper at £4.99 a month. Netflix dropped its “Basic” plan for new users last year, but now existing subscribers will no longer be able to stay on this package.
Netflix began moving subscribers off its basic plan in April. It means if you want to enjoy Netflix without adverts, you’ll now have to pay £10.99 a month to upgrade to the “Standard” plan – this works out an extra £3 a month, or £36 over the year. If you live with two or three others who use Netflix, you could save money by splitting the cost of a “Premium” plan which is priced at £17.99 a month.
In a financial update in April, Netflix said it added 9.3 million customers in the first quarter, bringing its total number of subscribers to almost 270 million, partly thanks to its password sharing crackdown. Its profits in the first quarter also soared to more than $2.3billion (£1.85billion).
How to save money on your subscription services
If you don’t actually make use of all the subscriptions you’re signed up to, now could be a good time to check what ones you can do without. If you’re a monthly payer, the small cost might not seem a lot – but add it up over the year and you’ll get a bigger picture of what you’re paying.
Netflix only offers monthly subscriptions. Those paying yearly for other streaming services will have already forked out the cost of their service up front – so keep in mind you might not get a full refund. Instead, make a note in your diary of when your subscription is due for a renewal so you can decide then whether you want to pay again for another year.
