Netflix Updates Subscription Costs Once More
Netflix's ever-changing prices can be a headache to keep track of, especially when they introduce new plans and increase their existing ones. One significant change came in May 2023, when Netflix put an end to free password sharing in the U.S. Now, if you want to lend your Netflix account to someone else, you'll need to pay an additional monthly fee.
During its Q4 2024 earning results call on Tuesday, Netflix announced they would be raising prices for all subscriptions and extra users. Here are their current plans, as of January 2025:
Standard with Ads ($7.99 per month)
Netflix's most affordable option is the ad-supported plan, launched in November 2022. It grants access to most of Netflix's library of movies and TV shows, along with all mobile games. While the titles without ads are marked with a lock icon, you can still stream in Full HD (1080p) on two devices at once. Title downloads are also limited to two devices. Unfortunately, this plan doesn't support adding additional users. After spending some time at $6.99, Netflix raised the price to $7.99 in January.
Standard ($17.99 per month, $8.99 for an extra user)
Unlike the ad-supported plan, Standard is free of ads. You can stream seamlessly and download titles on up to two devices. This plan also allows you to add an outside user to your account for an additional $8.99 per month. However, you can only add one external user, raising the overall cost to $26.98. Despite being ad-free, video quality is still capped at 1080p.
Premium ($24.99 per month, $8.99 for each extra user)
Topping the list is the Premium plan, which offers full access to Netflix's library and streaming in 4K HDR when available. Premium allows you to stream on up to four devices simultaneously and download titles on up to six devices. Currently, Premium is priced at $24.99, but adding extra users increases the cost to $33.98 for one user and $42.97 for two users. The price hikes might seem steep, but remember that in 2022, watching season four of Stranger Things might've cost less than $43 a month.
In response to the rising costs, some Netflix users might consider alternative sources for their entertainment needs, such as free streaming services or pirated websites. Despite this, Netflix's pricing changes continue to reflect the ongoing expenses associated with producing and licensing high-quality content for their streaming platform. In light of the new pricing structure, users may need to reevaluate their entertainment budgets or consider sharing their accounts more strategically, utilizing the additional user fee option for lending access to Netflix.
