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A pioneer in the streaming market, this media giant was first known for its red envelope mail service.
| Pricing | $8.99 |
|---|---|
| Free trial | No |
| Number of devices | 4 |
|---|---|
| Simultaneous streams | 4 |
| Closed captions |
Yes |
Netflix started as a DVD delivery service, known for its red envelopes. Today, it keeps up with the online streaming competition with its extensive movie selection and original content.
It’s expanded its reach with service to more than 190 countries including the UK, Australia, New Zealand and countries across Europe. But content is limited in some regions, and you can’t stream primetime TV shows like Hulu can.
Watch hundreds of your favorite shows with a free Hulu + Live TV trial.
This popular streaming service lets you watch multiple shows at a time and offers parental protections to curate a child-friendly experience.
With hundreds of original titles, Netflix has captured the attention of millions of users. Its content has taken home Emmys, Academy Awards, Grammys and Golden Globes.
With its premium plan, users can stream on up to four devices at a time.
You can download content to any registered device to save on using up your data. There are limitations based on what you download, but most expire after seven days and can only play on the device you downloaded them on.
Add as many profiles as you need to keep all your favorite shows in one place. It also curates its recommendations and content according to your history. And it’s an easy way to monitor what kids watch, with multiple levels of parental controls and a watch history.
Netflix is available on a broad range of devices, including some obscure ones, like the Nintendo 2DS and Ubuntu PCs. No matter what device you’re using, the Netflix interface is consistent and easy to use. It allows you to pause and pick up on another device too.
| Plan | Quality | Streams | Price a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Standard definition | 1 | $8.99 |
| Standard | Up to high definition | 2 | $13.99 |
| Premium | Up to 4K ultra-high definition | 4 | $17.99 |
Netflix raised the prices on Standard and Premium plans in October 2020.
| Plan | Disc format | Maximum rentals at a time | Price a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Standard DVD | 1 DVD | $7.99 |
| HD Blu-ray | 1 DVD | $9.99 | |
| Premier | Standard DVD | 2 DVD | $11.99 |
| HD blue-ray | 2 DVD | $14.99 |
Netflix no longer offers a 30-day free trial. Instead now you’ll be required to sign up if you want to stream Netflix. Since the 30-day trial has now been removed Netflix is instead offering a free upgrade for a limited time.
If you sign up for a Basic subscription you’ll be moved up to Standard free for 30-days. The same goes for signing up to Standard, so you’ll get 30-days of Premium for free. There’s no free upgrades for those that sign up to Premium.
Upgrade to the premium can be worthwhile if you want to stream on up to four devices. Another benefit of upgrading is the quality of your viewing experience. Users with smaller and older TVs report that the basic plan works well — but if you have a high-definition TV, it’s worth the upgrade.
Netflix offers so many options, it’s name has become a verb, not to mention synonymous with wink-wink meme-worthy slang. Watch award-winning series like Breaking Bad and The Office, binge Netflix originals like House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black or discover cult favorites like Bojack Horseman and Bob’s Burgers all with this streaming giant.
The amount of data Netflix streaming uses depends on your resolutions and how long you stream. Download content to save data and watch shows offline. It offers four data usage settings:
Low: 0.3 GB an hour
Medium: 0.7 GB an hour
High: Best quality up to 3 GB an hour, and 7 GB an hour for Ultra HD
Auto: Adjusts to give you the highest quality possible based on your Internet connection speed.
My top Netflix feature is the ability to access your account simultaneously on multiple devices, meaning family members can share the same account with their own content suggestions.
Review by
Brodie Fogg was the publisher for Finder's streaming and entertainment comparisons. Brodie has a background in education and is passionate about breaking down complicated topics and tech garble to make it more palatable for a wider audience.
Netflix is good for users wanting to stay current with top new series and movies. It’s one of the most popular streaming services, driving it to strive to compete with better, and more content.
And if you’re still using DVDs, you can get its red envelopes in the mail. But if you’re looking for live-streaming or network TV shows, consider another service like Hulu.
