Netflix has quietly removed its Basic plan from its plans and pricing page in the US and UK, making it no longer available for new or rejoining subscribers. The Basic plan, which was priced at $9.99 / £6.99 per month, bridged the gap between the cheaper ad-supported tier and the more expensive ad-free Standard plan.
Current subscribers on the Basic plan can continue to use it until they choose to switch plans or cancel their account. With this change, Netflix now offers three options for new subscribers: the Standard plan with ads, the Standard plan without ads, and the ad-free Premium plan.
This move was expected as Netflix had been subtly directing customers towards its ad-supported Standard plan for some time. The streaming service has been pushing for more ad revenue and saw positive results when it launched its ad-supported option in Canada and other countries, leading to increased subscribers and revenue growth.
While there has been no official explanation for the removal of the Basic plan, it seems to be part of Netflix’s strategy to focus on ad-supported plans and boost its subscriber numbers. The decision comes ahead of the company’s next earnings report, which is set to be announced on July 19, 2023.
