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 (though its DVD service has officially ended.)
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
Netflix recently made a big change with its plan options, removing the lowest-cost, ad-free Basic plan. This is what the streaming service currently offers new subscribers:
- Basic with Ads: $6.99 per month
- Basic: $11.99 (only for existing subscribers)
- Standard: $15.49 per month
- Premium: $22.99 per month
In addition, with Netflix cracking down on password sharing for accounts, subscribers can still share their account, but they will have to pay to add a new member, which costs $7.99 for each new member per month and only applies to the Standard and Premium plans.
UK
Just like in North America, UK Netflix subscribers have lost the ability to sign up for the Basic plan, leaving only Standard and Premium.
- Basic with ads: £4.99 per month
- Basic: £7.99 per month (existing subscribers only)
- Standard: £10.99 per month
- Premium: £17.99 per 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 has four streaming plans to choose from:
Netflix Basic with ads: $6.99/£4.99 a month
Netflix Standard: $15.49/£10.99 a month
Netflix Premium: $19.99/£15.99 a month
Netflix Standard With Ads
The Netflix Standard with Ads tier allows you to watch just about everything that Netflix has to offer (there are a few exceptions), but as the name suggests, unlike other plans, it includes ads. However, it is the most affordable tier of Netflix, costing just $6.99/£4.99 per month.
With this plan you can watch Netflix on two supported devices at a time and watch in full HD.
Netflix Standard
There's a few more things that differentiate Standard and Standard with Ads than just the removal of ads from this plan. First, the Standard plan gives you access to all Netflix content, no restrictions. It also allows for subscribers to download content on two supported devices at a time and gives subscribers the ability to add one extra member who doesn't live with you.
The similarities between the two plans is that Standard offers subscribers the ability to watch Netflix content in full HD and the ability to watch on two supported devices at the same time.
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 can be viewed on 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 six 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.
Additional features include the ability to add two extra members to your account that don't live with you and Netflix spatial audio.
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. You can also read what we think are the best shows to enjoy on Netflix right now.
