Why You Really Want to Subscribe to Netflix With Ads
For years, Netflix has been an ad-free paradise. No matter how much you streamed, ads were never around the corner. Since then, Netflix and the streaming industry it spawned have changed: in addition to cracking down on users who use shared accounts , we know that Netflix has been interested in putting ads on the platform. Well, this ad plan is almost ready and you should consider signing up for it.
What’s new in the Netflix Basic with Ads plan?
Netflix officially announced the details of its new ad tier in a press release on Thursday. The plan will launch on Wednesday, November 3 at 9:00 AM PT and will cost $6.99 per month. With this reduced cost, you have access to “a huge amount of great TV shows and movies” at 720p. This is a blow to the current basic Netflix subscription, which limits video resolution to 480p. However, once the Basic with Ads version is released, the Basic version will also be upgraded to 720p at no additional charge.
Due to licensing restrictions, there is a “limited number” of movies and shows that will not be available in the basic version with ads. Netflix does not currently have a list of this content, but since the issue is related to licensing, it is likely that most if not all of Netflix’s own content will be included with this subscription. Also, Netflix says they’re working on it, so hopefully some of those missing titles will find their way back.
One of the big drawbacks of the plan is the inability to download content. If you often rely on Netflix downloads to survive a flight or deal with a poor internet connection, Basic with Ads is probably not for you.
Netflix ads might not be so bad
Now about the elephant in the room: advertising. Netflix claims ads will run four to five minutes for every hour of content. They will appear both before and during shows and movies, which can create a potential pacing issue. None of Netflix’s own content has ever been created with ads in mind, so 15-30 second ads between scenes can lead to clutter. It is unclear how these commercial breaks will be organized, if at all. You may find them running in clear transitions in the show or in the middle of an emotional monologue. We’ll only know about this once Netflix unveils the new plan.
Comparison of all Netflix plans
Netflix plans are expensive these days: Basic is $9.99/month, Standard is $15.49/month, and Premium is $19.99/month. Of course, the latter is essential if, like me, you want your content to be streamed in 4K. But that’s a lot of money if you don’t treat video resolution in such high esteem.
If you watch Netflix on your phone or tablet most of the time, you probably won’t notice a drop in quality when you go to 720p. In fact, Netflix doesn’t even support 4K content on many of these devices . Sure, the Standard will let you upscale to 1080p, but is that worth the extra $8.50 a month? It’s a minor difference, especially on these small devices. On a 4K TV, of course, 720p will show a lack of resolution, so there’s plenty to see.
The next obstacle is the number of streaming devices at the same time. Premium offers four parallel streams at the same time, while Standard offers two. However, Basic and Basic with Ads only allow you to stream Netflix from one device at a time. If you share your account with other people, this is another breach of the deal.
But here’s the thing: if you know that only one device will be streaming Netflix at any given time, you don’t care so much about the “best” video quality, and you can use ad breaks as a top-up opportunity. your snacks, Basic with ads is a good deal. At $6.99, Netflix positions the plan competitively among major streaming services: it’s two dollars cheaper than ad-supported HBO Max , one dollar cheaper than Hulu’s ad plan , and just $2 more expensive than Apple TV+ and Peacock Premium .
In its current form, advertising seems to be the way of the future for streaming services. Hulu has had the ability to host ads for years, and now most platforms do too. Even Apple is in talks to add ads to TV+ by next year . These plans are here to stay and I think they are in place. You can follow the latest Netflix shows for a lot less than ever before, even if it takes you four to five extra minutes an hour compared to ad-free plans. Plus, it’s the cheapest way to “outbid” your Netflix subscription : if Netflix has a show you’re interested in watching, you can spend $7 a month to check it out and then cancel.
Of course, if you regret the ads, you can always upgrade to Basic next month for an extra $3. If you need an extra screen, you can spend another $5.50 to upgrade to the standard version. And if 4K isn’t enough for you, there’s always a $20 premium plan for you.