Of all the streaming platforms, Netflix is by far the most prolific, with beloved classic movies and shows like Friends to must-see originals like The Witcher.
Unlike many other rivals, Netflix offers many plans to suit different budgets and needs. But what is the best plan for you? We compared Netflix Standard with Ads, Netflix Standard and Netflix Premium and ranked them according to which is best for what. You can sign up now on the Netflix website.
Before we break down the three plans, here are a few things to consider when signing up for Netflix. You can also check out the best TV shows and movies on the platform right now. We also have a similar guide for Spotify Premium plans, and you can read how to avoid Peacock’s price hike.
The truth about Netflix packages
The first thing to know is that Netflix no longer offers a 30-day free trial. Instead, it is sometimes possible to have a free upgrade to a higher plan during your first month when you sign up.
Therefore, if you are joining Netflix for the first time and you are not sure whether to go for a more expensive plan, subscribe to one of the lower plans and enjoy the upgrade without having to pay anything. supplement for 30 days. At the end of your trial, you’ll have the option to keep your current plan or upgrade to a higher plan.
You can only save one payment option to your account, but if you want, you can share your email address and password with members of your household so they can create their own profiles. Make sure that the information you share is not sensitive, for example by using the same password for your Internet banking services.
Note that you cannot share a password with anyone who does not live in your household, although they can be added to your account for an additional fee as additional members.
If you want to split your account payment, you can either have people set up a simple standing order, pay through PayPal, and split the cost here, or use something like Monzo. You can create up to five profiles on all plans, but the type of subscription you have will affect things like simultaneous streaming.
If cost is your primary concern, we’ve also calculated what a monthly subscription will cost you per year. However, keep in mind that you can only pay Netflix monthly – no annual plan is offered. You can cancel a rolling monthly subscription at any time.
Some TV packages such as Virgin and Sky also offer Netflix as an add-on in their packages, so if you plan to use it for your entertainment needs, you can combine it with your TV bill and get it all out at the same time.
Is Netflix Standard with Ads right for me?
Cost: £4.99/$6.99 per month (equivalent to £59.88 or $83.88 per year)
Best for: Those who want to spend as little as possible and don’t plan to share Netflix
netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads is the latest tier from the streaming giant. Although this is the cheapest tier on the list, there are plenty of restrictions to keep in mind.
The number of ads depends on the content you are watching, but there will usually be a few pre-roll ads and then one or two mid-roll ad breaks. The ads themselves can last between 30 and 75 seconds, although they aren’t as intrusive as some other ad-supported streaming platforms.
The main downside to this Netflix tier is that some major third-party shows and movies are missing, including The Office, The Good Place, Arrested Development, and Skyfall – the missing content will depend on your region. You can learn more with our Netflix level hands-on.
The streaming quality is 1080p, and there are no simultaneous streams or downloads available – so we’d recommend that tier for home users only, really.
Is Netflix Standard right for me?
Cost: £10.99/$15.49 per month (equivalent to £131.88 or $185.88 per year)
Best for: Those looking to balance cost and benefit, small groups
The most popular plan on Netflix is the Versatile Standard account. Improvements to the Standard plan with ads (besides the obvious lack of ads) include two simultaneous streams, two devices to register for downloads, and a nice boost when it comes to your resolution.
On Netflix Standard, you’ll be able to stream up to 1080p, so your picture quality will be reasonably good for whatever you’re streaming.
Double the concurrent streams makes this account ideal for friends who watch Netflix around the same time as you, or multiple family members who like to tune in from different parts of the house. But again, this plan still doesn’t give you the maximum number of screens you can have.
Consider who you will be sharing your plan with and what is the maximum amount of dosh you want to shell out each month.
Is Netflix Premium right for me?
Cost: £15.99 / $19.99 (equivalent to £191.88 or $239.88 per year)
Best for: Large groups and tech pros
If cost isn’t an issue – or if you’re sharing your account with a lot of people – then it’s worth considering Netflix Premium.
If you want to get the most out of your 4K TV or laptop, Netflix’s Premium tier offers Ultra High Definition (UHD), which is 4K streaming. Of course, be aware that not all shows and movies on the platform are available in 4K – these are mostly newer releases and will be labeled as such (for more, check out our guide to watching Netflix in 4K).
Large groups and families will also be happy to take advantage of Netflix Premium, as it includes four simultaneous streams and four devices to store downloads on, making it the easiest account to share within your household, if so. is your main goal.
Of course, if all of those streams are in a household (and all of them are in 4K), keep in mind that you’ll need a fast broadband connection to avoid any buffering issues.
What about Netflix Basic?
Cost: For existing members only – £6.99/US$9.99 per month (adds up to £83.88 or US$119.88 per year)
Best for: Cost-conscious individuals or couples, those with older TVs
Netflix Basic is no longer an option for new and existing customers, but if you’re already subscribed to this plan, you can stay on it until you cancel or change it.
Netflix Basic always has access to the entire library of TV shows and movies, so you don’t miss a thing when it comes to content. The main restrictions relate to the resolutions you can stream in and the number of simultaneous streams.
Netflix Basic now offers streaming in high definition (HD), which is 720p. This applies to all devices – your TV, phone and laptop. If you’re watching Netflix on an older TV that’s not capable of higher definitions, this won’t be a real problem for you.
Although Netflix lets you create up to five profiles across all plans, the basic version only allows one stream at a time, meaning there’s no simultaneous streaming. So if you want to get Basic, you’ll have to settle for being exclusive to one device in your household or be really good at juggling your viewing habits with family or friends.
You’re also only allowed to download content to one phone or tablet, so that’s something to keep in mind if you like streaming.
Basic uses the least data, but you can adjust data usage in other plans.
So which Netflix plan is the best?
Honestly, it depends on you and your viewing habits.
If you’re just planning on showing weird stuff here and there and only watching on one device, you can save some money with Standard with Ads. If you’re on the other end of the scale and want the best picture quality, plan to stream a lot, and share your account with friends, go Premium. Or, get the best of both worlds when it comes to price and benefits and stick with Standard.
Consider who you want to share the account with, the effect it will have on cost and the type of devices you can watch your content on – there’s no point in streaming in 4K if you don’t have a 4K device! And don’t forget that you can always switch between accounts until you find the one that’s right for you.
Table of Contents
