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Netflix’s ad-free Basic plan is discontinued in the United States. The cheapest generally available option is now Standard with ads at $8.99 per month, while Standard costs $19.99 and Premium costs $26.99, according to Netflix’s U.S. plan page checked August 18, 2026. Taxes, partner billing and bundles can change the amount you actually pay.
What Netflix discontinued
Netflix ended its ad-free Basic plan, not its entire entry-level offering. Basic was a one-stream, ad-free tier. The current low-cost replacement is Standard with ads, which provides two simultaneous streams and 1080p video but inserts commercials and excludes some licensed titles.
Netflix originally launched the U.S. ad-supported tier as Basic with Ads on November 3, 2022, at $6.99 per month. At launch, it was an additional choice alongside ad-free Basic, Standard and Premium—not a replacement for Basic. See Netflix’s launch announcement.
When the phaseout happened
- October 13, 2022: Netflix announced its ad-supported subscription.
- November 3, 2022: Basic with Ads launched in the United States at $6.99 per month.
- July 18, 2024: Netflix told investors it was phasing out ad-free Basic in the United Kingdom and Canada and beginning the process in the United States and France, as described in its Q2 2024 shareholder letter.
- By August 18, 2026: Netflix’s U.S. Help Center listed Basic as discontinued.
This was a staged, market-by-market change rather than one worldwide cutoff. New and returning U.S. customers cannot select Basic. Existing subscribers may receive different instructions depending on their account history and whether Netflix is billed directly or through a partner.
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Current Netflix plans in the United States
The following prices and features were listed by Netflix on August 18, 2026. Netflix says prices can change, taxes may apply, and plans can differ when purchased through a wireless carrier, cable company, app store or other package provider. The authoritative comparison is Netflix’s Plans and Pricing page.
| Plan | Monthly price | Ads | Simultaneous streams | Video quality | Downloads | Extra members |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard with ads | $8.99 | Yes | 2 | 1080p / Full HD | 2 supported devices | Not available |
| Standard | $19.99 | No | 2 | 1080p / Full HD | 2 supported devices | 1 eligible slot |
| Premium | $26.99 | No | 4 | 4K / Ultra HD + HDR | 6 supported devices | Up to 2 eligible slots |
Netflix lists extra-member pricing of $7.99 per month with ads or $9.99 without ads where the feature is available. Eligibility varies by country, plan and billing arrangement.
What each plan means in practice
Standard with ads
This is the lowest listed U.S. price and includes two streams, 1080p playback and downloads on two supported devices. Commercial breaks appear during viewing. Netflix says most movies and shows are available, but licensing restrictions can block particular titles. Some older devices also cannot run the ad-supported experience.
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Standard
Standard removes advertising while retaining 1080p video, two simultaneous streams and downloads on two devices. It provides access to the full Netflix catalog available in the country, subject to normal regional availability, and can include one eligible extra member. It does not include 4K or HDR.
Premium
Premium is the only listed tier with 4K/HDR. It supports four simultaneous streams, downloads on six devices, Netflix spatial audio and up to two eligible extra members. Its advantages matter most in a household with a compatible 4K setup or several people watching at once.
What ad-supported subscribers lose
Some titles are locked
“Most” does not mean all. A lock icon can appear in search results, Top 10 rows, title pages, My List or Continue Watching when a movie or show is unavailable on the ad plan because of licensing restrictions. Netflix explains the indicator in its locked-title guidance. Moving to an ad-free plan provides the complete catalog available in that country.
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Older devices may not work
A small percentage of televisions and streaming devices cannot be updated to support ads. In the Netflix app, open Get Help and choose Plan Compatibility. If that option is absent, Netflix says the device cannot be used with an ad-supported experience. Casting or mirroring Netflix from a phone to a television is also unavailable on an ad-supported plan. See Netflix’s device-compatibility instructions.
No extra members on the ad plan
Netflix accounts are intended for people in the same household. Extra members may be available on Standard and Premium, but Netflix says they cannot be added to ad-supported plans. Country and partner-package rules can also limit eligibility. Its account-sharing guidance explains the household rule.
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What former Basic subscribers should do
Choose Standard with ads to minimize the bill
Pick this option if price is the priority, your must-watch titles are not locked, your devices support ads, and you do not need an outside-household member. You receive two streams and 1080p, which is more simultaneous viewing capacity than the old Basic tier.
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Choose Standard to stay ad-free
Standard is the least expensive ad-free choice. It suits viewers who want 1080p and two streams but do not need 4K/HDR. The price is substantially higher than Standard with ads, so compare the cost against how often you watch.
Choose Premium for a large or 4K household
Premium makes sense when several people regularly watch at the same time, multiple devices need downloads, or the household has a 4K/HDR television and compatible setup. Paying for Premium solely for a 4K label is poor value if the display and viewing habits cannot use it.
Cancel or rotate if Netflix is occasional
If you subscribe for only one or two releases each year, canceling between viewing periods may be more economical than maintaining a monthly plan. Netflix’s cancellation path is Manage your membership → Cancel → Finish Cancellation. Deleting the app or signing out does not cancel billing. If you cancel with time remaining, viewing continues through the end of the billing period. Partner-billed customers may need to cancel through the partner; see Netflix’s cancellation instructions.
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How existing customers are handled
The public U.S. plan table confirms that Basic is discontinued, but it does not describe one identical migration for every legacy account. Netflix may email a customer that a plan is ending or changing and present Standard with ads or Standard as alternatives. A subscriber billed by Verizon, T-Mobile, a cable company or another partner may receive different instructions from that provider.
Check the notice sent to the account email, the membership and payment pages, and any partner statement before changing plans. Netflix says direct-billed customers generally receive price-change notices one month before the billing date affected; partner-billed customers may receive notice from the partner. Details are in Why your Netflix price changed.
Why Netflix is emphasizing ads
Netflix has described advertising as serving two purposes: offering a lower consumer price and creating an additional revenue stream. In its July 2024 shareholder letter, the company said the ad tier was becoming a meaningful source of sign-ups in markets where it operated and connected that growth with phasing out Basic in several countries. That is Netflix’s stated strategy, not proof that every subscriber benefits financially from the change.
Netflix’s June 30, 2026 SEC filing says its plans globally range from the equivalent of $1 to $38 per month and that the company may test other plans and prices. Those figures are worldwide context, not a substitute for U.S. prices.
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Before you switch: a practical checklist
- Confirm the titles you care about do not show a lock icon on Standard with ads.
- Check Get Help → Plan Compatibility on every older television or streaming device.
- Calculate the total with taxes and any extra-member fees.
- Check a mobile, broadband or cable bundle before subscribing directly.
- Verify whether Netflix or a partner controls plan changes and cancellation.
- Compare your expected viewing over the next year, not just the monthly headline price.
Prices outside the United States
Do not apply the U.S. prices or feature set internationally. Netflix says currency, plan names, catalog availability, pricing and extra-member eligibility vary by country. Customers who move should consult Moving with Netflix and the local Plans and Pricing page.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
