Martin Lewis’ MSE warns Netflix users of major change coming in weeks – move to make to avoid paying more

MARTIN Lewis’ MSE has warned Netflix users of a major change to services coming in weeks.

The streaming giant is now discontinuing its “basic” plan for existing subscribers, following its removal for new users last year. 

Customers will be automatically rolled onto Netflix’s “standard with adverts” plans, which cost £4.99 a month – £3 less than they pay on the existing £7.99 basic plan.

However, as the title suggests, this means that basic customers will now have to watch adverts to access the streaming giant’s content.

Subscribers on the basic plan will need to pay an additional £3 a month (£36 a year) to continue watching without adverts by signing up for Netflix’s standard plan (£10.99 a month).

Martin Lewis‘ team and MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) said: “If you’re a Netflix subscriber on its ‘Basic’ plan, you’ll have to pay £3 more a month (£36 a year) to watch without adverts at the lowest price.

“The streaming giant dropped the plan for new users last year, but it’s now being scrapped for existing subscribers too.

“Standard with adverts costs £4.99 a month compared to basic at £7.99.

“So you’ll be saving £3 a month (£36 a year).

“But you’ll now see ads before and during selected TV shows and films.”

Netflix has now begun moving existing basic subscribers to the standard with adverts package, but the exact date you’ll move will depend on your current billing cycle.

Customers wishing to retain their ad-free streaming can switch to Netflix’s standard plan at any time.

The MSE team added: “That’s £3 a month (£36 a year) more, though you may want to wait until your basic plan is due to end to make the most of the lower subscription price.

“Also check if you can save by sharing an account with a friend or family member that lives with you.

“With standard, you can watch on two screens at once.

“So, getting one subscription and splitting the cost means you’ll both only pay £5.50 a month.”

Martin’s team added that if you live with two or three other Netflix users, you can save even more with a premium plan.

This is £17.99 a month, but if you’re in a household of three, it would work out at just £6 a month each.

Here’s some other ways you can reduce some of your streaming costs to minimise the impact on your bank balance.

PAY ANNUALLY

Sometimes it can seem daunting to pay for a whole year’s subscription all at once.

But if you know you’re going to stick with the service, it can save you money to pay in one lump sum.

Customers can save £13 a year on Amazon Prime membership by paying annually.

The full membership is £95 upfront for 12 months, but if you pay monthly at £8.99 a month you’ll end up paying £107.88 over the year.

Disney+ standard plan customers can also save up to £21.98 a year by paying their bill a year ahead.

ROTATE AND DOWNGRADE

If you have multiple TV and film subscriptions, you could save money by rotating what you pay for each month.

If you’re signed up to everything, you could be forking out a fortune.

Netflix is £10.99 a month, Amazon Prime £8.99 and Disney+ £7.99 – adding up to £27.97 a month if you have them all, or £335.64 a year.

However, each of these services allows users who pay monthly to cancel their subscription at any time without a fee.

So if you can plan what you want to watch, you could alternate which service you’re signed up to and save.

And if you don’t mind a few commercial breaks and want Netflix or Disney+, consider their standard plans with ads.

Both Disney and Netflix’s cheapest plans with ads cost just £4.99 a month.

BUDDY UP

Sharing streaming subscriptions between a household is one of the easiest ways to save money.

Spotify is one platform that has this option.

While the music streaming service costs £10.99 for a single membership, you can get its Premium Duo plan for £14.99 a month.

This saves £83.88 a year compared to the price of two individual subscriptions.

Netflix standard and premium account plans also allow for users to be added outside the household for an extra £4.99 a month.

You could save by doing this with a friend and splitting costs.

USE FREE TRIALS

Streaming services often let you try before you commit, and will give you one month for free.

For example, a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime Video is worth doing if you are just signing up to watch a particular show.

Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited and YouTube Premium also give new users a one-month free trial.

And new Spotify Premium members get the first three months for free.

Set a reminder to cancel before the end of the promo period so you don’t end up with an unwanted subscription.

WATCH TV FOR FREE

Hundreds of films and box sets are available via free streaming services such as All 4, ITVX, UKTV Play, and My5.

You’ll usually need to sit through ads, but the savings tend to make it worthwhile.

BBC iPlayer is also free if you already pay for a TV licence – though you can’t watch it without one.

You could even get a subscription service free of charge for a selected period when buying a new mobile phone contract or taking out a new credit card.

For example, O2 offers newbies up to three months of free Apple TV+, too.