For some, the name Netflix is synonymous with "streaming service" — it's one of the most popular video on demand services for streaming movies and TV shows, even though it actually began as a DVD mail service.
Netflix is currently ranked as What to Watch's best streaming service, with a massive library of originals and third-party videos, making it a great pick. And while we don't often see streaming deals that make Netflix cheaper, the launch of the ad-enabled tier in 2022 means it's not too expensive either.
While Disney Plus technically claims more subscribers than Netflix, that figure combines the numbers of Disney's three streaming services, including ESPN Plus and Hulu. So despite the rise of big-name streaming rivals and a 2022 that saw some dips, Netflix is still one of the leaders in streaming.
Those are the big strokes, of course. Here's everything else you need to know about Netflix:
How much does Netflix cost?
North America
- Basic: $9.99 per month
- Basic with Ads: $6.99 per month
- Standard: $15.49 per month
- Premium: $19.99 per month
- DVD plans*: $9.99 per month (one disc at a time); $14.99 per month (two discs at a time); $19.99 per month (three discs at a time)
*Netflix has announced that it is ending its DVD mailing service in September.
UK
- Basic: £6.99 per month
- Basic with ads: £4.99 per month
- Standard: £10.99 per month
- Premium: £15.99 per month
- Basic: €8.99 per month
- Standard: €14.99 per month
- Premium: €20.99 per month
Netflix has four streaming plans to choose from:
Netflix Basic with ads: $6.99/£4.99 a month
Netflix Basic: $9.99/£6.99 a month
Netflix Standard: $15.49/£10.99 a month
Netflix Premium: $19.99/£15.99 a month
The Netflix price will vary a little bit depending on which country you live in, but the bigger question is which plan you're subscribed to.
Plan details
Netflix Basic
Netflix Basic is the least expensive ad-free Netflix plan. You can watch as much as you want, there are no limits here, at least not as far as the amount of content is concerned.
But the basic plan does put a limit on resolution. Those subscribing to the basic plan can watch titles in standard HD, which has a resolution of 720 pixels.
The Basic plan also puts a limit on the number of screens you can watch at any given time. And that limit is one. So if you have more than one person who's going to want to watch something at the same time on the same account, you'll need to look at one of the other plans.
The Basic plan also limits the number of phones or tablets to which you can download content. You guessed it ... one.
Netflix Basic With Ads
The newest Netflix tier is like the Basic tier for all intents and purposes, with a few key differences.
Firstly, the price is different: this is the most affordable tier of Netflix, costing just $6.99/£4.99 per month.
Secondly, as the title suggests, you get ads playing in your videos with this tier. Netflix says that you get four or five minutes of content per hour played, which is less than on most live TV channels.
There are some issues though that might stop people picking this option — not all of the Netflix library is available, and you can't download shows on this tier.
Netflix Standard
The Netflix Standard plan is the next step up. It has the same basic limits as the Basic plan, it's just that they've been doubled. So you can watch on as many as two devices at the same time. And you can download movies or shows for offline viewing on as many as two separate devices. No more, though.
The other big improvement with the Standard plan is that the maximum streaming resolution has been increased to "full HD," and it's pretty much the acceptable minimum these days. So unless you just absolutely know that you want the Basic plan and the limits it imposes, Standard is the plan to go with.
Netflix Premium
If you're serious about your Netflix and you're serious about it looking as good as it possibly can, you're going to want the Netflix Premium plan.
This plan opens up as many as four devices at a time. So you can be watching on the TV in the living room while your spouse is watching in the bedroom and your kids are vegged out in their own rooms on tablets. Or whatever. The point is you've got four different devices going at once. You also can download content for offline viewing on as many as four devices at once, so there's that.
But the big jump for the Premium plan is that you now have access to "Ultra HD" content — otherwise known as 4K. The Premium plan also opens up things like HDR, which stands for high dynamic range and gets you a broader spectrum of color — basically making everything look better.
The caveat to all this is that you're going to need hardware that supports 4K resolution. If your TV doesn't do it, you're out of luck. If whatever device you're using to stream Netflix doesn't do it, you're out of luck.
But if your hardware is good to go, you're good for 4K Ultra HD. Huzzah.
Where is Netflix available?
The better question here is to ask where Netflix isn't available. Netflix itself says it's available in more than 190 countries, with the notable exceptions of China, Crimea, North Korea and Syria.
In the past few years, Netflix has made a concerted push to offer more "international" content. That is, movies and shows from countries that speak a language other than the native language of the country you're streaming from. And it's done so with pretty marked success with the likes of Money Heist — known as La Casa de Papel in its native Spain — or the "not-quite-porn" movie 365 Days from Poland. That's all possible thanks to subtitles and language dubbing, and it's definitely opened up a new world of content for Netflix's millions of viewers.
That's not to say that all content is available in all countries, however. Due to licensing agreements, a movie or series available in the United States may not be available in, say, the United Kingdom. Or vice-versa.
Can you use a VPN with Netflix?
Considering that it's the biggest and one of the oldest streaming services, you might be a little surprised to learn that Netflix also remains pretty progressive. While it doesn't condone password sharing, it recognizes that it's something people do and hasn't shut down the practice...yet.
Netflix also is pretty tolerant of people using a VPN to bypass regional restrictions. In fact, it comes right out and says that "when using a VPN to access Netflix, your region is hidden, so Netflix displays content that is available to all regions globally." That actually depends on how your VPN is set up, but the point still stands. Netflix is mostly cool with you using a virtual private network to route your internet traffic through a specific country to be able to watch content in that country.
Something about having 220 million paying subscribers maybe makes that a little easier to take.
Sharing Netflix
Netflix has cracked down on sharing subscriptions between people that are not in the same household. As of May 23, the streamer has two options if users want to share their account with someone outside:
Transfer a profile
This feature allows a subscriber to transfer a profile on their account to a new membership that they would then pay for.
Buy an extra member
If you want someone outside of your home to still be included as part of your account, you can do so but it is going to cost you an additional $7.99 per month to whatever Netflix subscription you already subscribe to.
What's good on Netflix?
That's the $1 million question. There are good shows on Netflix. There are some great shows on Netflix. There are movies that were incredible a long time ago and movies that quickly become new classics.
Netflix filters in new movies and shows every month. Some are original to Netflix. ("Netflix Originals," they call them.) Some are movies and series you've seen elsewhere. Some are new, others may be decades old.
That's actually a big part of what makes Netflix so great. It's not just destination TV. Sure, you can show up to binge the latest season of the aforementioned Bridgerton or Stranger Things. But you also can just open up Netflix and casually find something new, thanks to the power of the algorithm. And Netflix has gone even farther with the addition of its "Play Something" feature, which basically is a button that will randomly serve up something it thinks you might want to watch.
You don't even have to think about finding something to veg out on.
Isn't the future great?
Find out what's new on Netflix this month.
More on Netflix
