As of October 2026, Netflix costs $8.99 a month for Standard with ads, $19.99 a month for Standard and $26.99 a month for Premium in the US. Every plan is billed monthly, and Netflix says it doesn't offer annual, multi-month or lifetime plans.
Netflix has only three plans now, so the price question is simpler than it used to be. What catches people out is everything around the headline number: the old Basic plan has gone, sharing with someone outside your home costs extra, and the cheapest plan doesn't show you the whole catalogue. Here's the full picture from Netflix's own help centre.
Netflix plans and prices side by side
These are the US dollar prices on Netflix's Plans and Pricing help page, as of October 2026. Taxes may be added on top depending on where you live.
| Plan | Price a month | Screens at once | Video quality | Download devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard with ads | $8.99 | 2 | 1080p (Full HD) | 2 |
| Standard | $19.99 | 2 | 1080p (Full HD) | 2 |
| Premium | $26.99 | 4 | 4K (Ultra HD) and HDR | 6 |
Netflix says it bills you on the date you signed up, every month. There's no yearly discount to chase, which also means there's no long commitment: you can change plan or cancel at any time. Netflix also offers several payment options at sign up, and its help centre has a separate page explaining each one, so check it if you'd rather not use a card.
What the cheapest plan leaves out
Standard with ads is the plan most people pick on price alone, and it's a fair deal for casual viewing. Netflix describes it as ad supported with all games and most movies and TV shows available. The key word is most. Titles that aren't included on the ad plan show a lock icon, so you'll occasionally find a series you want and can't watch without upgrading.
The ad plan still gives you two screens at once, Full HD and downloads on two devices, so for a couple sharing one home it covers the basics. If your household watches on lots of devices at the same time, it won't stretch far enough.
How extra members work and what they cost
This is the part of the Netflix price that surprises people. Netflix says you can't share an account outside your household, which it defines as the devices connected to the internet at your main home. If someone who doesn't live with you wants to keep using your account, you add them as an extra member and pay for them.
- Standard lets you add 1 extra member.
- Premium lets you add up to 2 extra members.
- Each extra member costs $7.99 a month with ads or $9.99 a month without ads.
- Extra members get their own account and password, but the person who invited them pays.
So a Premium account with two extra members on the ad free option costs far more than the plan price alone. If you're paying for a grown up child or a parent at another address, factor that in before you decide whether to keep them on your account or let them take their own cheaper plan.
Standard or Premium: which plan suits you?
The jump from Standard to Premium buys three things: two more screens at the same time, 4K Ultra HD with HDR, and downloads on up to six devices. Premium also adds Netflix spatial audio. If you don't own a 4K television, or nobody in your home watches at the same time, Premium is hard to justify.
- Count how many people in your home watch at the same time on a busy evening. Two or fewer points to Standard.
- Check whether your main TV supports 4K. If it doesn't, Premium's best feature is wasted.
- List anyone outside your home who uses your login. Standard allows one extra member and Premium allows two.
- Decide whether ads bother you. If they don't, Standard with ads saves the most each month.
- Change your plan in your account settings whenever your needs change, as Netflix lets you switch at any time.
If anime is the reason you subscribe, our guide to Crunchyroll's plans sets out the tiers.
Things that change what you pay
A few details on Netflix's page can move your bill up or down without you changing plan:
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- Taxes: Netflix says you may be charged taxes in addition to the membership price, depending on where you live.
- Bundles: if you get Netflix through a phone, broadband or TV package, Netflix says plan prices and extra member options may differ, so check with that provider.
- Third party billing: Netflix asks you to check with your provider whether an ad supported plan is available to you.
- The Basic plan has been discontinued, so you can't switch back to it once you leave it.
If you're reviewing every streaming bill at once, my guide to other streaming services worth a look helps you compare what you'd get elsewhere, and this simple subscription audit is the method I use to spot plans nobody in the house is watching.
My verdict
For most households, Standard at $19.99 a month is the sweet spot: no ads, the full catalogue, two screens and an extra member slot if you need one. Pick Standard with ads at $8.99 if you mostly watch alone and don't mind breaks, and only pay $26.99 for Premium if you've got a 4K TV and several people watching at once. Before you upgrade to share with family elsewhere, compare the extra member fee with them simply having their own ad plan.
Comparing it with a family-friendly rival? Read our Disney+ price guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Netflix a month?
As of October 2026, Netflix lists Standard with ads at $8.99 a month, Standard at $19.99 and Premium at $26.99 in the US.
Does Netflix have an annual plan?
No. Netflix says plans are billed monthly and it doesn't offer annual, multi-month or lifetime memberships.
How much does an extra member cost on Netflix?
Netflix charges $7.99 a month for an extra member with ads or $9.99 a month without ads. Standard allows one and Premium allows up to two.
Can I still get the Netflix Basic plan?
No. Netflix says the Basic plan has been discontinued.
Does Standard with ads include everything?
Not quite. Netflix says most movies and TV shows are available, and titles that aren't show a lock icon.
Which Netflix plan has 4K?
Only Premium. It streams in 4K Ultra HD with HDR on up to four devices at once.
