Netflix plans have changed considerably since 2007, and the company’s current top tier costs $10 more per month than the top plan offered that year. Netflix plans now include three options, and the gap between what they cost and what they deliver has widened in subscribers’ favor, according to a comparison of the service then and now.
How Netflix plans evolved over two decades
Over the following decade, Netflix added a range of new options, including Premium, Standard, Basic, a standard-definition-only plan, Basic with ads and Ad-Free, along with other variations. Each new arrangement typically came with annual price increases, usually between $1 and $3 more per month depending on the plan. Netflix has been known for these near-annual price hikes over the past 20 years, and the company has kept raising prices as its plans expanded.
The changes reflect a broader shift in how the service is sold. Early on, Netflix was a DVD rental business with a streaming add-on. Over time, streaming became the core product, and the company built its plan lineup around screen quality, the number of devices and the number of household members who can use an account.
The three Netflix plans available today
Netflix currently offers three plans. The Standard with ads plan costs $8.99 per month and provides ad-supported access to most, but not all, shows and movies in the Netflix catalog. Subscribers can stream and download in 1080p HD on two supported devices at a time.
The Standard plan costs $19.99 per month and includes everything in the Standard with ads plan without commercials, along with unlimited access to Netflix TV shows, movies and games. Subscribers can also add one extra member who does not live in the same household for $7.99 per month with ads, or $9.99 per month for an ad-free experience.
The Premium plan costs $26.99 per month and offers unlimited access to the entire Netflix library. Video is available in 4K Ultra HD with HDR and Netflix spatial audio. Subscribers can watch on four supported devices at the same time and download on six supported devices. Premium accounts can add up to two more members who do not live at the same address, at the same add-on prices as the Standard plan.
What the 2007 top plan included
The top plan in 2007 cost $16.99 per month. It included three DVDs at a time and 18 hours of streaming, which was limited to 1,000 titles. Streaming was only viewable on a Windows PC, and the picture quality was described as poor by the standards of later years.
Today, the most expensive plan costs $10 more per month. For that money, subscribers get access to more than 8,000 titles, including hundreds of original series and movies and exclusive sporting events. Video is available in 4K Ultra HD with premium audio, and the content can be watched and downloaded on a TV, tablet, phone or computer. The jump in price is noticeable, but the scope of the service is far larger than what the 2007 plan offered.
Price increases compared with the value gained
Prices have risen since 2007, and the period has included several economic downturns and periods of high inflation. Over 20 years, the cost of nearly every consumer service has changed, so the comparison is not only about Netflix. What stands out is how much more the service includes at each step compared with the earlier top tier.
Measured by content and quality, the difference is large. The 2007 plan was a DVD rental service with limited streaming, while the current Premium plan supports 4K HDR video, spatial audio, multiple simultaneous screens and a much bigger library. Whether the extra cost is worth it depends on how much a household uses those features, but the change in what is included is clear.
What the changes mean for subscribers
For most viewers, the choice comes down to budget and how many people share an account. The Standard with ads plan is the least expensive option, while the Premium plan suits households that want 4K video and the ability to watch on more screens at once. Extra members can be added to the Standard and Premium plans for an additional monthly fee, which makes sharing with people outside the household a paid option.
Subscribers who compare plans should check the device limits, the picture quality and the ad settings before choosing a tier. Netflix has raised prices regularly, so the cost of each plan may change again in the future.