Netflix customers fuming over ‘sneaky’ new fee

Netflix users... you might want to check your emails.

2 min read

February 13, 2025 - 3:13PM

Lifestyle

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By now, we all know that just about everything is getting more and more expensive, and if it’s not getting more expensive, changes are instead being made to services to make them more affordable for companies - and that’s just what’s happening with Netflix.

Globally, Netflix has been making all kinds of changes to its subscriptions, and today, these changes have officially made their way to Australia.

But, as users prepare to weigh up whether cost or convenience is really more important, it’s become apparent that the answer might be neither.

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Image: iStock.

Cop ads, or pay more

If you’ve previously been paying for Netflix’s basic subscription, and getting to watch all of your favourite movies and TV shows ad-free, I’m sorry to burst your bubble.

Over the last 24 hours, Netflix users on the basic plan have been receiving emails saying that the plan is no longer, and whether you haven’t seen it yet, or you have and have been hoping it was fake, we’re here to tell you that unfortunately, it’s all true.

Any member currently on the basic plan will need to move to a different plan, with ‘Standard with Ads’ now the cheapest plan at $7.99 per month - though it does also offer the ability to watch on two devices at once, and has full HD video quality and downloads.

The alternative, ad-free version, is a whopping $18.99 a month.

According to Netflix, the change is a positive thing, enabling them to provide users with high quality content at a lower price.

“They get a better plan than basic, more streams, higher resolution with downloads. And of course, the real benefit is they get access to all these amazing stories at a lower effective price,” said Co-CEO, President and Director Greg Peters.

The platform has had an option including ads for just over a year both here in Australia and overseas, which they say has been incredibly successful, accounting for 40% of new member sign-ups in their ads countries.

It’s also important to note that regardless of your subscription, ads will not be shown on Kids profiles.

“RIP Netflix Basic”

Despite all the positives being offered by Netflix, Aussies on the receiving end of these emails aren’t so happy with the change.

One Reddit user took to the platform after receiving their email, fuming that people will now have to cop ads, or pay more.

“I think for our household we are going to go without paid streaming for a while and think about what we actually want,” the user said.

“With three kids under 10 who have grown up without ads, I'm not about to start now that's for sure. If that will entice me to part with extra money is the question though.

“RIP Netflix basic. It's been....ok-ish but progressively worse.”

“That’s a huge difference!”

Commenters on the post were just as angry, with many saying that they’re now considering cancelling altogether.

“Soon to cancel every streaming service for this exact reason. You pay a monthly access fee, then some content is paywalled behind another layer of shit and ads are becoming far too common,” said one commenter.

“That’s a huge difference in price between the levels,” said another.

“If I want a streaming service with ads I'll watch 7, 9, 10. Miss the old days where streaming felt valuable,” a third agreed.