Netflix raises its prices. Here’s what you’ll have to pay

By Trevor Mogg October 29, 2020

Netflix is raising the monthly fee of its standard and premium plans in the U.S.

The change will see the monthly rate for its Standard plan rise by $1, from $12.99 to $13.99, while its Premium plan will increase by $2, from $16 to $18 The Basic plan remains at $9 per month.

The new subscription rates take effect on Thursday, October 29 for new members signing up to the video streaming service.

Existing subscribers don’t escape the hike, however, with the new prices coming into effect over the next couple of months.

“Current members will be notified through email and will also receive a notification within the app 30 days ahead of their price increase,” the company confirmed. “Timing will be based on the specific member’s billing cycle and will be rolled out over the course of the next two months.”

The price increase is the first to be imposed by Netflix since January 2019 when it added one or two dollars to each of its tiers.

“We’re updating our prices so that we can continue to offer more variety of TV shows and films — in addition to our great fall line up,” Netflix said in a statement, adding, “As always we offer a range of plans so that people can pick a price that works best for their budget.”

The box below shows the differences between each tier:

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If the price hike is a big switch-off and you fancy taking similar services for a spin, Hulu, for example, offers a month of free viewing, while Amazon Prime also gives you access to its library of movies and TV shows — among other benefits — for a monthlong trial. Apple TV+ currently offers a free 7-day trial (you get a year for free if you buy an Apple product), while Showtime offers 30 days for free.

Disney+ offered a free 7-day trial in its early days, but it has since ended the offer. Netflix, too, recently ended its own free trial, instead offering a small selection of free content for potential customers to try.

Digital Trends also has a helpful article offering an overview of the leading video streaming services to help you find the best one for you.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Audio / Video

Why you can ignore those ‘streaming vs. cable price’ stories

App icons on the Apple TV homescreen.

There’s been a rash of stories of late that declare “streaming” (I’ll explain the quotes shortly) dead because it costs more than cable. You can ignore those stories. And there’s been a bevy of stories in response debunking those stories because contrarianism is sexy, and because bad facts deserve to be called out. But you can ignore those stories, too.

None of them matters. First, because lumping all “streaming” (this is where the quotes come in) into the same bunch is lazy and dumb. All video is “streaming.” If you watch Netflix, you’re “streaming.” If you watch YouTube TV or Sling — or any of the newfangled free streaming services — you’re “streaming.” If you rent a movie from iTunes or Amazon or Google or wherever, you’re “streaming.” Digital bits make their way into your home and are decoded by a little electronic doodad and then presented on your TV or computer or phone. By the way, “cable” also takes digital bits and feeds them into your home before decoding them with a little electronic doodad (often doing so with a far inferior user experience), just in a somewhat different manner, insofar as the bits and bytes are concerned. So we’re sort of splitting hairs here.

Audio / Video

Netflix kills Basic plan in U.S., U.K. as ads bring in more revenue

Netflix has pared down its subscription options, starting with accounts in the U.S. and U.K. As noted by U.K. site CordBusters, the $10-a-month Basic plan is no more, at least for new subscribers. That option got you the ability to watch ad-free on a single device, limited to 720p resolution.

The move isn't unprecedented — Netflix quietly did the same thing in Canada in June. On its pricing page, Netflix says that the change affects new and returning members. Current subscribers of the Basic plan can keep it "until you change plans or cancel your account."

Audio / Video

DirecTV Stream will have NFL RedZone, for what it’s worth

DirecTV Stream app icon on Apple TV.

One of the most exciting things about the 2023 NFL season is that NFL Sunday Ticket is going to be available to a lot more people — basically, everyone, since it'll be streaming on YouTube TV and YouTube proper. This raises a good question: Does DirecTV have anything left for football fans?

Today, the NFL answered that question: NFL Network and NFL RedZone will be available on the legacy satellite service, on the DirecTV Stream streaming service, and on the old U-verse DSL service, keeping the dream alive after two decades. NFL RedZone is a channel that shows scoring opportunities as they're about to happen, hoping from game to game in the process. And NFL Network has the occasional game and plenty of news and features beyond that.