What you need to know
- Netflix is raising prices again across the board in the US and Canada – its second increase in about 14 months.
- The ad-supported plan goes up to $8.99 (+$1), while the ad-free plans go up to $19.99 and $26.99 (+$2 each).
- Adding additional members now costs more, too, with rates increasing to $7.99 (ads) and $9.99 (ad-free).
If you were hoping prices would finally stop rising, Netflix has disappointing news. A little over a year after its last increase, the streaming giant is raising prices again for all subscription levels in the US and Canada.
Netflix has raised the price of its advertising plan at one dollar and its ad-free plans at two dollars, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This is what the new monthly costs look like:
- Standard with ads: $8.99 (was $7.99)
- Standard (ad-free): $19.99 (was $17.99)
- Premium (4K + spatial audio): $26.99 (was $24.99)
If you share your account with family members who don’t live with you, there is another price increase. The cost to add an additional member has increased by $1, so it is now $7.99 for ad-supported plans and $9.99 for ad-free plans.
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Aggressive timeline
If this sounds familiar to you, that’s because it is. This is Netflix’s second price increase in about 14 months. after January 2025. Analysts thought the company would wait until the end of 2026 to make another increase, but that changed.
The reason for these price increases is a combination of big spending and deals that didn’t work out. Netflix recently dropped its $83 billion offer to buy Warner Bros. Discovery. Although that deal fell through, Netflix still plans to spend $20 billion on content this year, including live events like the MLB Opening Day broadcast and new formats like video podcasts and cloud gaming.
For new subscribers, these prices are already in effect. If you’re already a member, watch your email: Netflix says it will let you know at least 30 days before the new rate appears on your bill.
Be sure to consider your options before your next bill. With the Premium plan approaching $30, it’s harder for casual viewers to see the value. You can upgrade to the $8.99 ad-supported tier to save money, but if prices continue to rise each year, even the budget option may not remain affordable.
Android Central’s opinion
Honestly, I’m having a hard time finding the value in this latest price increase. Netflix would have us believe that paying almost $30 a month for 4K is worth it because of new features like MLB games and cloud gaming, even though most people didn’t ask for them. It looks like we’re paying for their failed $83 billion deal. While the company says we’ll get more content, it really just means paying more for the same library. At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if they add a “remote control convenience fee” by 2027. If you’re testing how much we’ll pay before we cancel, you’re approaching the limit.
