Netflix basic subscription finally abolished: does this bother you?

Dissatisfied Netflix subscribers have been told that the basic subscription will be discontinued in the coming weeks.

In an email, Netflix said that the popular subscription option will be removed completely in June and that any customers still using it will automatically be moved to the Standard with Ads subscriptions.

The news comes after Netflix removed the Basic subscription as an option for new customers last year. In January it said the basic $9.99/£7.99 plan would be discontinued in mid-2024, but the email is news to many of those keen to subscribe in markets such as the UK, US and Canada.

Agatha Sutcliffe / Foundry

Agatha Sutcliffe / Foundry

Agatha Sutcliffe / Foundry

When will Netflix Basic be discontinued?

The exact date of the switch depends on when your ongoing contract is normally renewed. For example, my colleague’s email above says the swap will take place on June 1, but I’ve seen others, like June 4 and June 13, on social media.

You should also be wary because if you watch certain Netflix content you could be fined £1,000.

What happens now?

Many are threatening to cancel altogether, despite Netflix putting a positive spin on it by telling customers the switch will save them 35% per month.

This goes for $6.99/£4.99 per month and the Standard with Ads plan also benefits from Full HD (1080p) video quality, as well as the ability to watch on two devices at the same time.

However, as the name suggests, viewers will have to watch advertisements regularly, including during a show.

Fans are understandably angry about the loss of this sweet spot subscription, as the only way to watch Netflix ad-free is to upgrade to the Standard plan for $15.49/£10.99 per month – resulting in a increase of 37% on their monthly bill.

Find out which Netflix subscription suits you best.

Why is Netflix removing the basic subscription?

While the company understands that the move could result in the loss of some subscribers, the decision is clearly of a financial nature.

According to Reuters, Netflix will generate approximately $1 billion in advertising revenue by 2024. The figure is a 50% increase from 2023, so you can see why Netflix wants to move users to the basic plan with ads.

And if someone feels strongly enough about not seeing ads, but doesn’t want to just cancel, they’ll have to pay for the more expensive Standard option.

How many customers leave for good determines whether this step will be a success for the streaming service. If enough customers boycott Netflix, we might see an opportunity for a tack in the future, but for now the choice is to watch ads or pay more.

Is Netflix worth it? Find out in our overviews of the best TV shows and best movies on Netflix.