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How much does Netflix cost? A breakdown of the streamer’s plans

Netflix’s U.S. plans cost $8.99, $19.99, or $26.99 per month before taxes. Here’s what each plan includes, plus extra-member prices and the limits that matter for watching documentaries.
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Netflix costs $8.99 to $26.99 per month in the U.S., before applicable taxes, depending on whether you choose the ad-supported, Standard, or Premium plan. The main differences are advertising, picture quality, simultaneous streams, and downloads—not access to a separate documentary catalog.

Netflix’s former Basic plan is no longer available in the U.S. The prices below reflect Netflix’s lineup after its March 2026 price increase, checked on August 9, 2026.

Netflix plans and prices in the U.S.

Plan Monthly price Ads Simultaneous streams Maximum quality Downloads
Standard with ads $8.99 Yes 2 devices 1080p Full HD 2 devices
Standard $19.99 No 2 devices 1080p Full HD 2 devices
Premium $26.99 No 4 devices 4K Ultra HD + HDR 6 devices

Netflix bills monthly on the date you originally signed up. The prices do not include any applicable taxes, and your total can differ if you receive Netflix through a partner package or another third-party billing arrangement.

What each plan includes

Standard with ads: the cheapest option

At $8.99 per month, Standard with ads is the lowest-cost way to access Netflix’s catalog. It supports two simultaneous streams and provides 1080p Full HD video. You can download titles on two supported devices.

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Most movies and shows on this plan have short commercial breaks, usually before and during selected titles. Ads cannot be skipped or fast-forwarded. A small number of titles are unavailable because of licensing restrictions; Netflix marks those titles with a lock icon.

There are also practical restrictions that matter if you use Netflix for travel or offline viewing:

  • Smart Downloads is not available.
  • Downloads are limited to 15 per device per calendar month. The limit resets on the first day of each month.
  • Some older or insufficiently updated devices do not support the ad-supported experience.
  • Ads are not currently shown on Kids profiles or in Netflix games.

Live events can include commercial breaks on any Netflix plan, including the two ad-free plans.

Standard: ad-free Full HD

Standard costs $19.99 per month. It removes regular ads from Netflix movies, shows, and games, while retaining 1080p Full HD quality, two simultaneous streams, and downloads on two supported devices.

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For a documentary viewer watching on a Full HD television, laptop, or tablet, Standard is the middle option: it costs $11 more per month than the ad-supported plan, but avoids regular commercial interruptions. It also qualifies for one extra-member slot, subject to Netflix’s eligibility rules.

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Premium: 4K and more simultaneous viewing

Premium costs $26.99 per month and includes ad-free movies, shows, and games, except that live events may still contain commercial breaks. It raises the limit to four simultaneous streams, allows downloads on six supported devices, and supports 4K Ultra HD with HDR. Premium also includes Netflix spatial audio.

Premium does not automatically make every documentary play in 4K. The title must be available in that format, and your television or display, cables, ports, software, and internet connection must support it. Netflix recommends at least 15 Mbps for Ultra HD streaming.

How much do extra members cost?

Netflix’s household rules mean that people outside the account owner’s household generally need their own account or an eligible extra-member slot. Extra members are available only with eligible Standard and Premium plans; Standard with ads does not support them.

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Account plan Available slots Extra member with ads Extra member without ads
Standard 1 $7.99 per month $9.99 per month
Premium Up to 2 $7.99 per month $9.99 per month

The account owner pays for each extra-member slot. An extra member receives a separate login and profile, but the account must be activated in the same country where the owner created the account. The extra-member account is limited to one profile and one device watching at a time.

Netflix-included packages, add-ons, and accounts billed by a third party may not support extra members. Their prices and eligibility can also differ.

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What happened to Netflix Basic?

The Basic plan has been discontinued in the U.S. It should not appear in a current comparison of Netflix’s available U.S. plans.

Older articles may also quote prices of $7.99 for Standard with ads, $17.99 for Standard, or $24.99 for Premium. Those figures are outdated after Netflix’s March 2026 price increase.

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How many people can watch at once?

The simultaneous-stream number describes how many devices can watch at the same time. It is not a limit on how many devices can sign in to the account.

  • Standard with ads: two devices at once.
  • Standard: two devices at once.
  • Premium: four devices at once.

Netflix accounts are intended for people who live in one household. Sharing with someone outside that household requires their own account or an eligible extra-member arrangement. An extra member is more restricted than a standard account: only one device can watch at a time.

How to change your Netflix plan

  1. Open Netflix’s Change Plan page in a web browser and sign in if prompted.
  2. Select the plan you want.
  3. Choose Continue or Update.
  4. Select Confirm Change or Confirm.

An upgrade takes effect immediately. Netflix may prorate the charge or adjust the billing date. A downgrade takes effect on the next billing date, although the higher-tier features remain available until then.

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If Netflix is billed through a partner package, you may not be able to change the plan directly through Netflix. In that case, the billing partner’s account page or support team may control the change.

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Which Netflix plan makes sense for documentary viewing?

Choose Standard with ads if the lowest monthly price matters most and you can tolerate commercial breaks, title restrictions, and the download limit.

Choose Standard if you want ad-free documentary viewing in 1080p and do not need more than two simultaneous streams or 4K playback.

Choose Premium if you have a compatible 4K/HDR setup, want the best available picture quality for supported documentaries, need four simultaneous streams, or require downloads on up to six devices. A faster plan does not improve titles that are not offered in 4K, and Netflix recommends a connection of at least 15 Mbps for Ultra HD.

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FAQ

What is the cheapest Netflix plan in the U.S.?

Standard with ads is the cheapest current U.S. plan at $8.99 per month before applicable taxes. It includes 1080p video and two simultaneous streams, but most selected titles include unskippable ads.

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Does Netflix still offer a Basic plan?

No. Netflix has discontinued the Basic plan in the U.S. Current U.S. options are Standard with ads, Standard, and Premium.

How much is Netflix without ads?

The ad-free Standard plan costs $19.99 per month, and Premium costs $26.99 per month. Both include Netflix movies, shows, and games without regular ads; live events may still contain commercial breaks.

Can I share Netflix with someone outside my household?

Netflix accounts are intended for one household. Someone outside that household generally needs their own account or an eligible extra-member slot. Extra members cost $7.99 per month with ads or $9.99 without ads, and are available only on eligible Standard and Premium plans.

The Bottom Line

For U.S. customers, Netflix costs $8.99, $19.99, or $26.99 per month before taxes. Standard with ads is the budget choice, Standard removes regular ads while staying at 1080p, and Premium adds 4K/HDR, spatial audio, four simultaneous streams, and downloads on six devices. The Basic plan and its older prices are no longer current.

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