Netflix was as soon as a enterprise that mailed DVDs. Now, it is among the greatest video streaming platforms on the planet. Its 300 million subscribers can select from hundreds of titles, together with motion pictures and TV reveals in HD or 4K that look beautiful on the finest Android tablets. Nevertheless, Netflix has by no means been free to take pleasure in. The corporate is not any stranger to cost hikes, a few of that are extra controversial than others. The latest improve got here in January 2025, setting the month-to-month subscription value between $8 with adverts and $25 for Premium service. How did we get right here?
2014: Minor value hikes, massive plans
Netflix made cautious value changes to fund unique and 4K content material
Supply: Netflix/The Wayback Machine
The Netflix homepage in 2014
Let’s rewind to 2014. The yr noticed a few Netflix subscription plan shake-ups, together with a value hike in Could, as reported by The Verge. A Customary subscription elevated from $8 to $9 per thirty days for brand spanking new subscribers. Current Customary subscribers may hold paying the cheaper price for 2 extra years. The $12 value of a Platinum (a.ok.a. Premium) subscription didn’t change that yr.
On the identical time, Netflix launched a Primary plan for $8 a month. Nevertheless, that solely allowed SD-quality streaming to 1 display. For reference, the Customary plan allow you to watch in HD or 4K on as much as two screens, and Platinum account holders may stream on as much as 4 screens at a time. Later in October, Netflix made its small however rising 4K library accessible solely to Platinum subscribers, The Verge reported.
2015: One other small value hike for the Customary plan
These adjustments didn’t go unnoticed, however they have been gentle in comparison with Netflix’s earlier makes an attempt at elevating costs. The corporate was treading fastidiously after its 2011 fiasco, when it cut up its DVD-rental and video streaming providers into two subscriptions with the next mixed value. Netflix inventory plummeted, and subscribers left.
Netflix continued with the cautious value changes in 2015, when the Customary value went up from $9 to $10 per thirty days. The rise was straightforward to swallow and largely justified. Netflix invested closely within the manufacturing of unique reveals, together with hits like Narcos and Home of Playing cards. Its 4K library was additionally rising.
2017: A value bump for Customary and Premium plans
Netflix’s library of Originals was rising, and the worth adopted
Supply: Netflix/The Wayback Machine
The Netflix homepage in 2017
Netflix had change into a world phenomenon with a worldwide viewers by 2017. It additionally added goodies like 4K HDR high quality and the power to obtain content material offline. No much less importantly, the corporate was planning to speculate $6 billion on unique content material, so a value hike was roughly within the playing cards.
As Mashable reported in October 2017, Netflix elevated the worth of its Premium plan from $12 to $14, and the Customary subscription went up from $10 to $11 a month. Solely the Primary plan stayed the identical value at $8 per thirty days. Nevertheless, that tier was restricted to streaming in non-HD high quality on a single display solely. Issues weren’t going to remain like this for lengthy.
2019: A daring value bump
However was the worth honest?
All Netflix tiers noticed a value improve in 2019. For the primary time since its introduction, the Primary plan acquired a bump from $8 to $9. In the meantime, Netflix’s Customary subscription tier went from $11 to $13, a $2 improve. The value of a Premium plan elevated from $14 to $16 month-to-month. When it comes to options and high quality, the three plans didn’t introduce something new.
The 2019 Netflix value hike was considerably daring however not out of contact with actuality. Netflix supplied a wealthy number of reveals individuals wished to look at, together with The Witcher and Stranger Issues. Moreover, its value was akin to what opponents requested for his or her providers.
2020: A world in lockdown
Netflix progress fueled by a brand new actuality
Supply: Roku
As individuals worldwide spent extra time at residence, Netflix adopted with one other value hike in 2020. This time, nothing modified for subscribers on the $9 Primary plan. Nevertheless, these on the Customary plan needed to pay a greenback additional, as the worth rose from $13 to $14 per thirty days. Netflix Premium subscribers have been hit the toughest, because the tier went up from $16 to $18 per thirty days.
Once more, Netflix touted investments in high quality unique content material to justify the worth adjustment. We suspect the restrictions and lockdowns taking place worldwide may have contributed to that. In any case, Netflix stored on rising. It reached the 200-million subscriber milestone by the tip of 2020.
2022: A giant yr for Netflix
Simply not in a great way
Supply: Netflix
Netflix introduced value hikes throughout the board in early 2022. Its Primary plan grew to become $1 dearer at $10 per thirty days. The favored Customary plan and the Premium tier acquired dearer, climbing to $15.50 and $20, respectively.
Subscribers weren’t comfortable about this. Additionally, Netflix’s progress, fueled by the pandemic, was dropping momentum, and password sharing was nonetheless a factor. Maybe that’s the reason the corporate began slowly dropping subscribers, inflicting its inventory value to plummet. Netflix needed to do one thing shortly.
Cracking down on password sharing, welcoming adverts to Netflix
Whereas Netflix had been providing separate person profiles since 2013, these have been solely meant to be used inside the identical family. Nevertheless, it was frequent for individuals to share an account with family and friends exterior their residence. Netflix knew it was time to do one thing about it, as this was slicing into its backside line. The corporate introduced the choice to share a Netflix subscription for a charge in 2022, and launched tighter restrictions on freeloaders within the following yr.
One other key change got here in October of 2022: the addition of an ad-supported Netflix tier. Referred to as Primary with Adverts, it value $7 per thirty days and supplied as much as 720p HD streaming of most of Netflix’s library. For context, that was $3 cheaper than the Primary plan with out adverts.
2023: One more value hike
And bye bye, Primary plan
Jules Wang / AP
Netflix shocked no person with one other value hike in 2023. What got here as extra of a shock was the discontinuation of the Primary plan. The tier stayed for present subscribers at $2 additional or $12 a month. New subscribers nonetheless had the Primary with Adverts plan for $7 a month as an entry-level tier. The most important improve affected Premium subscribers, which noticed their month-to-month invoice rise to $23. The Customary plan remained unchanged at $15.50 per thirty days.
Regardless of the worth hike, Netflix’s subscriber base stored on rising, partly as a result of firm imposing limitations on password sharing. The growing reputation of the service’s ad-supported tier was additionally an element.
2025: A brand new value excessive for Netflix
The place’s the restrict, anyway?
Jules Wang / AP
The prices of being a Netflix subscriber right this moment are the very best they’ve ever been. After the final Netflix value hike in January 2025, a Customary subscription prices $18 per thirty days, and a Premium account will set you again $25 a month, a $2 improve for each. The most cost effective tier stays ad-supported, priced at $8 per thirty days, or a greenback greater than final yr. That is what having a Customary Netflix account used to value years in the past.
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What’s the way forward for Netflix pricing?
The one approach is up, it appears. Whereas Netflix retains increasing its portfolio with high quality content material, its costs have steadily risen. Whereas $8 acquired you a Customary subscription in 2014, that now prices $18 month-to-month. A Premium tier which used to value $12 is now $25. Nevertheless, you get entry to a richer library.
Regardless of this, Netflix costs will doubtless proceed to rise within the coming years, as subscriber progress stays wholesome. The corporate not too long ago reported having over 300 million subscribers, with 70 million on the most cost effective, ad-supported tier. That is a report determine, making Netflix the largest platform of its form. With Netflix all-in on live-streaming content material, the numbers are prone to attain new peaks within the foreseeable future.