Netflix users beware: New prices hit this week

By Molly McHugh August 30, 2011

When Netflix announced a price hike earlier this summer, it nearly ignited a user revolt. Renting both DVDs and using Netflix streaming meant subscribers would be forced to pay more, and try as it might, Netflix failed to sell this as an improvement. The company has kept its claim over the living room, but its stock performance felt some hurt as a result of the price changes.

And now it’s decision time. This Thursday , September 1, the higher prices will officially hit Netflix subscribers. Just as a quick reminder, users were previously able to rent one DVD at a time as well as stream unlimited content for $10 a month. This plan will be wiped out beginning Thursday, replaced by a $7.99 a month for unlimited streaming plan and a separate respective $7.99 a month for one DVD at a time plan. Both services will cost $15.98 a month, a nearly $6 hike.

Recommended Videos

If you subscribed to the hybrid plan, Netflix will automatically switch you over to the $15.98 a month plan. Not the case? Then you need to head over to the site and switch your subscription over.

How many users Netflix will lose between now and Thursday remains to be seen. Given consumers initial response to the price change, it could be more than a few. No matter how much business sense the decision makes, users don’t have to like it.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…

Audio / Video

The Digital Trends guide to FAST streaming services

Amazon Freevee.

When you talk about the best streaming services, you typically talk about video-on-demand (VOD) services like Netflix. Or Disney+. Or Amazon Prime Video. Or Hulu. And for good reason — they have a ton of paying subscribers. Netflix alone is closing in on a quarter-billion. Disney+ is about halfway there.

And while the numbers drop off a good bit from there, another flavor of streaming should constitute a good bit of the discussion. FAST services — that's the industry acronym for free advertising-based streaming television — continue to grow both in numbers and in popularity. Think of FAST like the streaming version of broadcast TV, or your cable box. Shows are on at the same time for everyone, and everyone is watching the same thing, with ads. Only unlike YouTube TV or Hulu With Live TV, you don't have to pay anything upfront. It's all supported by advertising — you just don't get the "good" channels like you will on the paid services.

Audio / Video

Comcast rolls out a $20 streaming bundle, with a catch

A promo image for Comcast's Now TV.

Because the state of streaming video isn't confusing enough, Comcast today announced Now TV, a streaming bundle that includes more than 40 channels from the likes of A&E, AMC, Hallmark, and Warner Bros. Discovery (as in the parent company of the new revamped Max streaming service), as well as more than 20 free ad-supported channels from NBC (which is owned by Comcast), Sky, and Xumo Play. And they're throwing in a subscription to Peacock Premium (that's the streaming service from NBCUniversal), just because.

That's actually a decent amount of streaming video for a decent price of $20 a month.

Audio / Video

Netflix free trial: Can you stream for free in 2023?

Netflix is the godfather of streaming. It basically started the entire movie streaming concept and reinvented it when it launched its first original program, House of Cards. The streaming market is a bit more crowded now, but Netflix still has some unbeatable programming. Netflix prices have risen over the last few years, and there are some hints that it might keep rising. If you're thinking about joining or rejoining the streaming giant, but aren't quite sure, you're probably looking for a free trial. We've collected all the information you need to know on how to save some money with a new Netflix account.
Is there a Netflix free trial?

Just as there's no Disney Plus free trial, you're out of luck if you're hoping to find a Netflix free trial on offer right now. There was a 30-day free trial in the past but Netflix scuttled it a couple of years ago, and we don't anticipate it coming back any time soon. Unlike some other streaming services (the excellent 30-day Hulu free trial comes to mind), Netflix doesn't appear to feel obliged to run free-trial offers. That's a tough break for the "try before you buy" crowd, but the sad truth is that, like Disney+, Netflix has a pretty captive audience and doesn't really need to do much to entice people to sign up. The good news is that Netflix has flexible plans, allowing you to upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your subscription at any time with no punitive fees. There are no contracts or commitments to worry about if you decide the service isn't for you, or just want to take a break for awhile.