Netflix’s latest price hikes are coming into effect for many users as they reach the end of their subscriptions, and it’s not going down too well.
At the time of writing, Netflix holds the monopoly of online streaming, with more than 275 million paid subscribers worldwide as of 2024.
But amid rising costs, divisive cancellations, and streaming service bundles modeling cable TV, Netflix’s reputation as the best in this world has taken a hit in recent months.
Users were further riled up when the streaming service axed its Basic plan – aka its cheapest ad-free subscription – for new subscribers last summer.
It also hiked the price of its Basic plan for existing customers from $9.99 to $11.99 a month. However, now it’s phasing this out altogether, meaning users are having to go with another option.
With talks of further cost increases in the future, some subscribers are saying they’re being “pushed” to illegal piracy to watch their favorite shows and movies.
Taking to Reddit this week, one customer said, “Netflix automatically changed my plan. I just got an email from Netflix stating that the Basic plan is being discontinued and my new plan with ads starts on October 3.
“I have been paying $11.99 a month, for no ads. I have been reading about this happening in other countries and knew it was going to happen here in America eventually.”
They added, “The plan without ads is now $15.49. So, $3.50 more a month… I’m more upset that they automatically try to put me on an ad plan. They have been trying for months.”
Another replied, “I just got the email too, but they’re switching me in September. I’m canceling once that hits. I don’t use it enough to pay more monthly. I’ve only kept it this long because I was on this basic plan.”
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“I also got the email,” added a third. “I contacted customer service and told them if I saw one ad I was canceling. I hope that if enough people warn them, they will abandon this stupid plan.”
But, as said, others are turning to more extreme measures. As stated by one, “Just pirate it instead of paying anything, it’s the best message!”
A second chimed in, “They’re pushing us back to pirating and/or free streaming sites. Netflix had a gross profit of 15 BILLION for 2023. You cannot tell me that they need ad revenue.”
One Redditor predicts the streaming industry will experience a similar downfall to cable if prices continue to rise.
“Rampant piracy is what killed the sh**ty multi-subscription cable model. When people got p*ssed and/ or couldn’t afford it they learned to pirate,” they wrote.
“Cable became very unprofitable and Netflix came along and said ‘What if we put all your content in one place’ and we all said ‘Well that’s more convenient and less time-consuming than piracy’.
“Seems nobody learned from the death of the multi-subscription cable model, perhaps they need reminding what happens when they get greedy.”
For more on this subject, take a look at our views on the Godzilla Minus One piracy debacle, and why Deadpool & Wolverine’s director pirated his own movie.