Netflix users are canceling subscriptions after second price hike in just over a year

by

Many Netflix customers are canceling their subscriptions, or planning to, after the company announced its second price increase in a little over a year.

Man, I remember the good old days with Netflix! They used to be totally cool with password sharing – they even tweeted about loving it! But things changed, you know? With so many other streaming services popping up, Netflix had to switch things up and get serious about who was using accounts.

Streaming services like Disney+, Crunchyroll, HBO Max, Prime Video, and Paramount+ have all become more expensive lately. However, Netflix, which has around 325 million subscribers globally and leads the market, tends to get the most notice when prices go up.

The streaming service last increased its prices in January 2025. The standard plan, without ads, went up by $2.50, from $15.49 to $17.99 monthly. They also raised the price of their ad-supported plan for the first time, increasing it from $6.99 to $7.99 per month.

Netflix users are canceling or changing their subscriptions

Netflix announced on March 26, 2026, that it’s raising the price of all its subscription plans. Many users have expressed their dissatisfaction, and some are already canceling their subscriptions in response.

Several Reddit users announced they were canceling their Netflix subscriptions. One user wrote, “Welcome to the streaming rotation Netflix. See you in three months,” while another simply stated, “Cancelled.” A third shared that they didn’t even pay the bill directly, explaining their partner received an offer for Netflix at a reduced price of $8 per month.

Look, I’m with this other gamer – it’s time we really let this company know we’re not happy. They’ve gotten way too comfortable and are just going to keep raising prices if we let them. I think a huge group of us canceling our subscriptions is the only way to get their attention. If they see a massive drop in subscribers, I bet those price hikes will disappear pretty quickly.

I’ve noticed a lot of people are doing this thing where they subscribe for a month or two just to binge-watch the shows they love, and then they cancel their subscription. It’s like, get your fix and move on! It seems to be pretty common now.

I canceled my permanent subscription – I just can’t keep paying for it every month. I might subscribe for a single month if there’s something I’m really excited about, but I won’t be doing recurring subscriptions anymore.

Netflix recently received $2.8 billion simply for not acquiring Warner Bros. Shortly after, they increased subscription costs. Their ad-supported plan, originally created in 2022, served as a way to retain customers when prices started to rise and people thought about canceling their subscriptions, offering them a more affordable…

— Anish Moonka (@AnishA_Moonka) March 26, 2026

Many people are drawing parallels between today’s streaming services and traditional cable TV. One person commented that they’d prefer fewer shows at lower prices instead of streaming services constantly adding more and more content, much of which isn’t very good. They worry streaming is starting to resemble the expensive, bloated cable packages of the past.

Streaming services are constantly raising the cost of ad-free subscriptions, making it difficult for most people to afford more than one or two, or forcing them to use many services with ads.

Eventually, the cost of these streaming services will likely increase until we’re paying around $80 a month again, similar to what we used to pay for cable with commercials, especially if you subscribe to three or four different platforms.

Someone else commented that they’re going back to cable. They’ve decided not to pay for any streaming services for a year, preferring to keep a month-to-month plan so they can cancel at any time.

Many people commenting on the issue feel the price isn’t the main problem, but rather the lack of new content. One commenter pointed out, “We’ve seen prices increase twice in two years, but there haven’t been improvements to the service. Standard users are paying 25% more – where’s the investment in new shows and movies?”

I want to know if they’ll be making significantly more shows and sequels, and if they can shorten the wait time between seasons. Ideally, they’d also streamline production to avoid major issues like the one we saw with only three bodies available.

It shouldn’t be a problem to let people in the same household stream on multiple devices at the same time, but they won’t allow it. Instead, we’re facing price increases in both 2025 and 2026.

Someone suggested Netflix could have used the $3 billion they reportedly received after losing the Warner Bros. deal to give each subscriber a small discount on their monthly bill.

Please accept our apologies for prematurely announcing a deal with Warner Bros. that ultimately fell through. As a token of our continued partnership, we’re sending a small gift. We understand that no company would typically act this way, but there was a period when Netflix might have been willing to take such a risk. Now, however, Netflix seems to be following the established norms instead of leading the way.

Netflix price increase. Let’s all cancel! Oh wait, even if 32 million people cancel they’ll STILL make more money than it cost them.
byu/RobRobbieRobertson innetflix

Many users feel powerless to effect change with their decisions. One person pointed this out in a discussion about Netflix’s price hike, saying that even a massive cancellation of subscriptions – like 32 million people – wouldn’t significantly impact the company’s profits.

It won’t significantly impact the company if you cancel your subscription. With 300 million users, they’d actually profit from the surge in attention, even if everyone here cancelled, outweighing any lost subscription revenue.

I’ve been seeing a lot of discussion about this, and honestly, a lot of fans feel the same way I do. One person put it perfectly: they don’t want to pay more for a service that doesn’t seem worth it anymore. Another fan explained they weren’t canceling to hurt the company, but to protect themselves from what felt like a declining experience. It’s not about being malicious, it’s about self-preservation.

Honestly, a lot of people are talking about canceling their streaming services, but I’m not one of them – at least, not Netflix. I said to a friend, it’s the only one I’d keep, because I actually think it’s worth the money. I get way more use out of Netflix than any other service, even if others don’t feel the same way.

New Netflix prices explained 

The price of our standard plan with ads is increasing by $1. Our standard and premium plans, without ads, are both going up by $2.

Netflix is increasing its monthly prices again. Here’s how much more you’ll pay, depending on your plan:

With ads: from $7.99 to $8.99
 Standard: from $17.99 to $19.99
* Premium: from $24.99 to $26.99

— ScreenTime (@screentime) March 26, 2026

So, the new prices, which have been updated on Netflix’s website, are as follows: 

  • Standard With Ads – $8.99 per month (up from $7.99)
  • Standard (No Ads) – $19.99 per month (up from $17.99)
  • Premium (No Ads) – $26.99 per month (up from $24.99)

The company increased the price of its add-on member fee – the one that lets the main account holder include another person. It now costs $6.99 per month for plans with ads, or $9.99 for plans without ads – an increase of $1.

These price changes will affect all customers, both current and new. New customers will see the updated prices starting March 26, 2026.

Why is Netflix increasing its prices?

Netflix has raised prices in the past to cover its investments in new shows and movies, improvements to the streaming service itself, and the increasing costs of making content. The company is also working to increase revenue in a more competitive streaming market.

In January 2025, when Netflix raised its prices, the company explained to investors that these occasional increases allow them to continue improving the service by funding new shows and movies and providing even more value to subscribers.

We’re updating prices for most of our plans in the US, Canada, Portugal, and Argentina today. These changes for Argentina were already included in the financial forecast we shared in October 2024.

Netflix is removing its most affordable ad-free plan, currently priced at $11.99. The company also suggests that subscription prices may increase further in the future as they continue to improve the service. According to Netflix, these price adjustments help cover the costs of those improvements.

— ScreenTime (@screentime) January 23, 2024

The situation hasn’t changed, according to a recent statement to Variety. A spokesperson explained that they are still providing different pricing options and plans to suit various customer needs.

We’re adjusting our prices to allow us to continue providing high-quality entertainment and a better experience for our members. This change will help us reinvest in improvements and deliver even more value.

Netflix tells its customers that prices and plan options can change as they work to improve the service and expand their library of movies and shows.

Prices can also change due to local economic factors, like shifts in taxes or the cost of living.

Tubi trolls Netflix over price hikes

With all the discussion about streaming price increases, Tubi jokingly responded to a tweet by saying they’re raising their price from free to free.

raising my price from free to free

— Tubi (@Tubi) March 26, 2026

Tubi is a free streaming service that’s completely legal. Instead of paying a subscription, you watch ads – that’s how Tubi funds its content.

People are really happy with how the company is responding to their needs, and many are impressed by the wide range of older shows and movies available. One Reddit user pointed out, “Tubi has Columbo, which Netflix doesn’t, and that’s a big win for Tubi!”

One person recommended watching the show Mr. Robot, which is available on Tubi. Another viewer praised Tubi, describing it as similar to traditional cable TV, with the added benefit of continuous, automatic playback of shows and movies.

People are really impressed with Tubi’s consistent response, with one user joking that it’s a joke that always lands. Others agree it’s a winning strategy, and many point out that, like its content, it’s completely free!

Read More

2026-03-27 14:51