Netflix UK Price Rise: The Ads Plan Jumps a Third to £7.99, and Premium Hits £20.99
Netflix has raised its prices in the UK, and the cheapest plan took the hardest hit: Standard with Ads climbs 33.4% from £5.99 to £7.99 a month. The new rates went live on 3 September and apply to new and existing members alike, so current subscribers will see the higher figure on their next billing date rather than at renewal of a contract.
What does each Netflix plan cost in the UK now?
Three tiers moved, and the ad-supported one moved furthest in percentage terms. The current monthly prices listed by the platform are:
- Standard with Ads — £7.99, up from £5.99 (+33.4%)
- Standard — £13.99, up from £12.99 (+7.7%)
- Premium — £20.99, up from £18.99 (+10.5%)
Extra member slots are listed at £5.99 a month with ads and £6.99 without. Standard allows one extra member, Premium allows two, and Standard with Ads allows none. The Basic plan has already been discontinued, so there is no cheaper ad-free rung to drop down to.
Why the ad tier rise matters most
The ad-supported plan was the escape hatch. At £5.99 it sat £7 below Standard, which made putting up with ad breaks a straightforward trade. At £7.99 that gap narrows to £6. The cash gap between the cheapest plan and Premium is unchanged at £13, but as a multiple it has closed: Premium used to cost more than three times the ad plan, and now costs about two and a half times as much.
For a household on the ad tier, the increase works out at £24 more a year. On Premium it is £24 a year as well, on a base that was already the most expensive.
What did Netflix say about the increase?
Confirming the change, the platform said the rises reflect improvements to its range of entertainment and the quality of its service. Its statement added that the approach remains offering a range of prices and plans, and that it updates prices as it reinvests in programming.
No feature changes were announced alongside the increase. Ultra HD and spatial audio stay on Premium, Full HD stays on both Standard tiers, and the ad plan still carries ad breaks with the same two-device limit.
Does this affect Netflix prices outside the UK?
No. This change covers the UK only, and prices elsewhere are set market by market. It does, however, land in a busy few weeks for streaming costs — a Peacock price increase took effect in August, and the Apple TV and Peacock bundle went up at the start of September.
UK viewers do have more routes to Netflix than they did a year ago. VodafoneThree confirmed this week that Vodafone TV launches in the UK in October with Netflix and HBO Max bundled alongside free channels, which is worth pricing against a standalone subscription before you renew. Content churn is worth watching too: Halo leaves Netflix on 1 October in the US, and catalogue departures land on a rolling basis in every market.
Should you switch plans?
Work out what you actually use before you pay the new rate. If nobody in the house watches on more than two screens and you have no 4K set, Premium is £7 a month of headroom you may not need. If you are on Standard mainly to skip ads, the ad tier is now a smaller saving than it was, so the calculation is tighter than it looked in August.
Downgrading takes effect at the start of your next billing cycle rather than immediately, and cancelling leaves access running to the end of the period you have already paid for. The wider market is moving in the same direction — JioHotstar launched in the UK this month from £19.99 a quarter, which is the kind of alternative worth checking if your Netflix viewing has thinned out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Netflix in the UK now?
Standard with Ads is £7.99 a month, Standard is £13.99 and Premium is £20.99. Extra member slots cost £5.99 a month with ads or £6.99 without, and only the Standard and Premium plans can add them.
When will I be charged the new Netflix price?
The new rates took effect on 3 September and apply to existing members as well as new ones, so the higher amount appears on your next monthly billing date rather than on an anniversary or contract renewal.
Can I downgrade my Netflix plan to avoid the increase?
Yes, you can change plan at any time from account settings, but the switch takes effect at the start of your next billing cycle rather than straight away. The Basic plan no longer exists, so the cheapest option is Standard with Ads at £7.99.
Did Netflix raise prices in the US too?
No. This increase covers the UK only. Netflix sets prices market by market, and no matching change to US or other regional pricing was announced alongside it.
Is the Netflix ad plan still worth it after the rise?
It saves £6 a month against ad-free Standard, down from £7 before the change. You still get Full HD and two simultaneous streams, but no extra member slots and ad breaks throughout, so the saving is now smaller for the same trade-off.
