The right Netflix plan depends less on how many people are in your household than on how you watch. For a solo viewer using a 1080p television, Standard with ads may be enough. A documentary fan who wants uninterrupted films, offline downloads, phone-to-TV casting, or 4K nature and history programming may get better value from an ad-free plan.
The prices below are Netflix’s current U.S. retail prices before taxes. Third-party bundles, add-ons, and prices in other countries can differ.
Netflix plans compared
| 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 slot |
| Premium | $26.99 | No | 4 | 4K Ultra HD and HDR | 6 supported devices | Up to 2 slots |
Netflix has discontinued the former Basic plan. It is not a current option, despite appearing in older comparisons.
Best for the lowest price: Standard with ads
At $8.99 per month, Standard with ads is the cheapest Netflix plan in the U.S. It still provides 1080p Full HD and allows two people to watch at the same time, so it is not a low-resolution plan. For a viewer watching occasional documentaries on a laptop, phone, or ordinary television, those specifications may be sufficient.
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The compromises are more significant than the word “ads” suggests:
- Commercial breaks appear before or during selected films and shows. They generally amount to a few short ads per hour.
- Ads cannot be skipped or fast-forwarded, although they can be paused.
- Some titles are unavailable because of licensing restrictions. Netflix marks unavailable titles with a lock icon.
- Phone-to-TV casting is not available on an ad-supported plan.
- Downloads are limited to 15 total downloads per device per calendar month, in addition to the two-device download allowance.
- Some older televisions, streaming devices, phones, and tablets cannot run the ad-supported experience.
This plan is sensible if keeping the bill low matters most and you do not need a complete catalog. It is a poor fit for someone who chooses Netflix specifically for uninterrupted documentary viewing or who regularly saves films for travel.
Best ad-free value: Standard
Standard costs $11 more each month than Standard with ads. The resolution remains 1080p and the account still supports two simultaneous streams, but movies, series, and games are ad-free and the catalog is not reduced by the ad-plan licensing restrictions.
Standard is the practical choice for most households with one or two viewers. Choose it if:
- Your television or monitor is 1080p rather than 4K.
- No more than two people need to watch Netflix at once.
- You want uninterrupted documentary films and series.
- You download occasionally to two supported devices.
- You want to cast Netflix from a phone to a television.
Standard also includes one extra-member slot. The account owner pays for that slot, while the extra member receives a separate account, password, and profile. An extra member can watch on only one supported device at a time and has one profile.
Rank #2
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Best for 4K documentaries and larger households: Premium
Premium costs $26.99 per month and is the only current Netflix plan with 4K Ultra HD and HDR. It also increases simultaneous streams from two to four, allows downloads on six supported devices, includes Netflix spatial audio, and permits up to two extra members.
Premium is worth considering when you regularly watch visually demanding documentaries—such as wildlife, space, travel, and landscape films—on a genuine 4K HDR setup. It also makes sense for a household where three or four people may watch independently at the same time.
However, paying for Premium does not automatically make every documentary play in 4K. The title must be available in that format, and the rest of the system must support it. Netflix identifies several requirements, including:
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- An HDMI port supporting HDCP 2.2 or later.
- A Premium High Speed HDMI or Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
- Compatible receiver or sound equipment where the signal passes through an audio system.
- A sufficiently fast, stable internet connection.
Netflix may begin playback at a lower quality and increase it as the connection stabilizes. A Premium subscription cannot overcome a slow Wi-Fi connection, an incompatible HDMI chain, or a title that is only offered in HD.
Extra-member costs
Extra members are available on Standard and Premium, but not Standard with ads. Netflix lists these monthly prices:
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| Account setup | Approximate monthly total before tax |
|---|---|
| Standard with one ad-supported extra member | $27.98 |
| Standard with one ad-free extra member | $29.98 |
| Premium with two ad-supported extra members | $42.97 |
| Premium with two ad-free extra members | $46.97 |
The account owner pays for the slot. Extra members must be activated in the same country where the account was created, and some partner-billed or package subscriptions cannot use the feature.
For a Netflix-billed account, add an extra member from netflix.com/account by selecting Buy an extra member slot, choosing Next for the ad-supported option or Or pay for no ads for the ad-free option, then selecting Continue.
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Older devices may not be compatible
On a television or streaming device, check compatibility inside Netflix. If the menu is at the top, open the profile icon, choose Get Help, then Plan Compatibility. If the menu is on the left, choose Get Help at the bottom and then Plan Compatibility. If Plan Compatibility does not appear, that device cannot be used with an ad-supported plan.
Netflix lists Android 7 or later for Android phones and tablets, and iOS or iPadOS 15 or later for iPhones and iPads. Ad-supported plans are not available on VR headsets.
Casting is restricted
Netflix supports casting or mirroring from a mobile device on Standard and Premium. The ad-supported plan does not allow casting Netflix from a phone or tablet to a television. Netflix also does not support AirPlay from an iPhone or iPad. The alternatives are the Netflix app built into the television or streaming device, a compatible cast device, or a supported cable and adapter.
Rank #4
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Downloads are less useful for frequent travelers
Standard with ads permits downloads on two supported devices, but the separate 15-download-per-device monthly limit can matter if you save several episodes or films for a trip. The limit resets on the first day of the next calendar month. Standard or Premium is the better choice for frequent offline viewing.
Ad-free does not mean every live event is commercial-free
Live events are included with every plan, but Netflix may show commercial breaks during live programming even on Standard and Premium. The ad-free plans remove commercial breaks from regular movies and television shows, not necessarily from live events.
Which plan should you choose?
- Choose Standard with ads if you want the lowest bill, watch on compatible devices, mostly stream rather than download, and can accept ads and occasional locked titles.
- Choose Standard if you want the best balance for one or two viewers, prefer ad-free documentaries, use a 1080p screen, or need mobile casting.
- Choose Premium if you own a properly equipped 4K HDR television, need four simultaneous streams, download to several devices, want spatial audio, or need up to two extra-member slots.
Do not choose Premium solely because an account has four or five people in the household. Netflix allows up to five profiles on an account; the plan controls simultaneous viewing, not the number of profiles or the number of devices on which the account can be signed in.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to change your Netflix plan
- Open Netflix’s Change Plan page in a web browser.
- Select the plan you want.
- Choose Continue or Update.
- Select Confirm Change or Confirm.
An upgrade takes effect immediately. Netflix may adjust the billing date or apply a prorated charge. A downgrade takes effect on the next billing date, and the current plan’s features remain available until then. If Netflix is billed through a mobile carrier, television provider, or other partner, the available plans and changeover timing may be controlled by that provider.
FAQ
Which Netflix plan is best for watching documentaries?
Standard is the best choice for most documentary viewers who want ad-free 1080p streaming and do not need more than two simultaneous streams. Premium is better for a 4K HDR television, four simultaneous viewers, or extensive downloads.
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Is Netflix Standard with ads 720p?
No. Netflix currently lists Standard with ads as 1080p Full HD. Its main drawbacks are commercial breaks, some unavailable titles, device restrictions, casting restrictions, and download limits.
Can I watch every Netflix title on the ad-supported plan?
No. Some movies and shows are unavailable because of licensing restrictions. Netflix displays a lock icon on titles that cannot be watched on the ad-supported plan.
Does Premium guarantee 4K quality?
No. Premium is required for Netflix 4K and HDR, but the title, television, streaming device, HDMI port and cable, audio equipment, playback settings, and internet connection must also support 4K HDR.
The Bottom Line
For most viewers, Standard is the safest recommendation: it removes ads, keeps 1080p quality, supports two simultaneous streams, allows mobile casting, and avoids the ad plan’s locked titles. Pick Standard with ads only when the $8.99 price is the priority. Pick Premium when you can actually use 4K HDR, four streams, six download devices, spatial audio, or additional extra-member slots.
Quick Recap
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.
