Disgruntled Netflix subscribers have been told the Basic plan is being discontinued in the coming weeks.
In an email, Netflix has said the popular subscription option will be completely removed in June and any customers still using it will be automatically switched to the Standard with Ads plans.
The news comes after Netflix removed the Basic plan as an option for new customers last year. It had said in January that the $9.99/£7.99 Basic plan would be retired in the middle of 2024, but the email is news to many of those who happily subscribe in markets including the UK, USA and Canada.
Agatha Sutcliffe / Foundry
When will Netflix Basic be discontinued?
The exact date of the switch depends on when your rolling contract normally renews. For example, my colleague’s email above states it will swap on 1 June but I’ve seen others such as 4- and 13 June on social media.
You should also be wary as watching certain Netflix content could land you a £1,000 fine.
What happens now?
Many are threatening to cancel altogether, despite Netflix putting a positive spin on the move by telling customers the switchover will save them 35% a month.
This is true at $6.99/£4.99 per month and the Standard with Ads plan does also benefit from Full HD (1080p) video quality, as well as the ability to watch on two devices simultaneously.
However, as the name suggests, viewers will have to sit through adverts on a regular basis – including during a show.
Fans are understandably upset about the loss of this sweet spot plan as the only way to watch Netflix with no ads is to upgrade to the Standard plan for $15.49/£10.99 per month – resulting in a 37% increase in their monthly bill.
Find out which Netflix plan is right for you.
Why is Netflix removing the Basic plan?
Although the firm understands the move may result in losing some subscribers, the decision is clearly a financial one.
Netflix is set to earn around $1 billion in ad revenue in 2024, according to Reuters. The figure is a 50% increase on 2023, so you can see why Netflix wants to move users to the Basic plan with Ads.
And if anyone feels strongly enough about not watching ads, but doesn’t want to simply cancel, they will have to pay for the more expensive Standard option.
How many customers walk away for good is the key to whether this move will be a success for the streaming service. If enough customers boycott Netflix, perhaps we’ll see a chance of tack in the future, but for now, the choice is to watch adverts or pay more.
Is Netflix worth it? Find out in our round-ups of the best TV shows and best movies on Netflix.