Pay more or watch ads: Netflix is killing its ad-free Basic plan in the US

Legacy Basic plan subscribers in the US and France will soon have to make a tough decision.

Pay more or watch ads: Netflix is killing its ad-free Basic plan in the US
Netflix logo on smartphone, next to other devices stock photo (1)
Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
  • After initially testing this strategy in the UK and Canada, Netflix is discontinuing its $11.99 Basic plan in the US and France.
  • Netflix’s cheapest ad-free plan is now the Standard one, which costs $15.49 monthly.
  • Basic plan subscribers who prefer not to pay more for Standard or Premium can opt for the ad-supported tier, which costs $6.99/mo.

To maximize its revenue and keep shareholders happy, Netflix has been devising innovative plans to make customers pay more. Instead of focusing on its content’s quality and developing useful features, the company has been busy exploring new ways to inconvenience its users. Following the password-sharing crackdown, Netflix is now discontinuing its cheapest ad-free plan in the US and France.

Netflix announced through its second quarter earnings report (via The Verge) that it will phase out its $11.99 Basic plan in the US and France. The change was first tested in the UK and Canada, pushing users to watch ads on a cheaper tier or pay more for the ad-free Standard and Premium plans.