I don’t mean to brag, but I’ve gotten pretty awesome at jumping back and forth between Netflix rate plans.
Why? Because they keep going up and I keep throttling down. I’m a cheapskate.
But I also have three kids, and their collective interest in Netflix—which ebbs and flows—determines which plan I need to subscribe to in order to keep them all happy.
And while I can assure you that Netflix will inevitably raise its rates at some point in the future, here’s what to look out for with each plan in order to make sure you’re not paying too much or getting too little.
Netflix plans: what’s the difference?
OK, there are three Netflix plans and aside from their respective price tags, there are a few main things to look out for with each plan.
They are:
- How many devices you can stream to at once
- How many devices you can download videos to at once
- Video quality (1080p vs. 4K)
This is not an exhaustive list! But these are the big three.
Here’s a look at what you get, plan by plan.
Netflix Standard with ads: some strings attached
Features:
- Price: $7 per month
- Video Quality: Full HD (1080p)
- Simultaneous Streams: 2
- Downloads: 2 devices at a time
The ad-supported plan is a budget-friendly option for those who don’t mind occasional ads. The ads aren’t nearly as frequent as TV ads, but . . . there are ads.
And while this plan offers full-quality video streams, not all movies and shows are available—check the list here. It’s a short list in the context of Netflix’s entire catalog, but there are some big names missing.
Netflix Standard: Best for most people
Features:
- Price: $15.49 per month
- Video Quality: Full HD (1080p)
- Simultaneous Streams: 2
- Downloads: 2 devices at a time
- Freeloader accounts: 1 available
This is the current Aamoth family plan. Household harmony wobbles precariously based on the assumption that not all three kids will try to stream three separate shows to three different devices at the same time.
With this plan, you also have the option of adding Grandma for $8 a month. She gets her own account—which you pay for—and she can stream to one device at a time.
Netflix Premium: Expensive but feature-filled
Features:
- Price: $23 per month
- Video Quality: Ultra High Definition (4K)
- Simultaneous Streams: 4
- Downloads: 6 devices at a time
- Freeloader accounts: 2 available
I begrudgingly switch to this plan a few months each year when we’re doing a lot of traveling because we can pre-download a bunch of stuff to our arsenal of tablets and phones beforehand.
On paper, this plan offers higher-quality video than the other two, but I’m embarrassed to admit that I can’t tell the difference. Must be our cheapo 4K televisions.
At any rate, this plan is perfect for larger families or households with multiple users who want to watch different shows or movies at the same time. You can add two nonfamily accounts at $8 a pop as well.
This plan also features spatial audio for fancy headphones, Apple, Google, and Samsung devices.
Choosing the right Netflix plan
Again, when deciding which Netflix plan is right for you, consider the following factors.
Video quality: If you have a 4K TV and want the best possible picture quality, the Premium plan is the way to go. For most users, however, the HD quality offered by the other plans is fine. You can switch plans willy-nilly, so see if you can detect a meaningful difference.
Simultaneous streams and downloads: Think about how many people in your household will be using Netflix at the same time. If you have a large family or do a lot of traveling, the Premium plan’s four streams and six downloads might be necessary.