Netflix has made a significant shift in its offering in Spain.: it's over basic plan without ads And the company is decisively pushing toward an ad-supported model. This move leaves many users with a clear choice: pay less and watch ads or upgrade your plan to maintain a seamless experience.
The changes have been implemented in phases. First, the option to subscribe to the basic plan without ads disappeared, and now, customers who still have it are being notified by email: if they don't take any action, will be migrated to the Standard plan with ads. There are therefore three modalities with very different prices and characteristics.
What changes and when
The platform withdrew at the end of July Basic plan without ads for €9,99 for new registrations. In the next step, Subscribers who still have it will receive an automatic migration to the Standard with ads (€6,99) if they do not choose another rate before the date indicated in the email.
Netflix presents the change as a "savings" for those who go down to the ad-supported option, but it should be noted: this lower price implies advertising breaks and a partially limited catalog compared to ad-free plans, in addition to differences in image quality.
Those who wish to retain the uninterrupted experience will need to upgrade to the Standard plan for €13,99 or the Premium plan for €19,99. In practice, this means pay €4 more per month than in the old basic version to continue without advertising, or go even higher if you want the highest quality.
How much does Netflix cost now and what does each plan include?
- Standard with ads (€6,99): includes advertising, Full HD or with a catalog with limitations regarding ad-free plans.
- Standard (€ 13,99): no advertising, Full HD y access to the entire catalog.
- Premium (€ 19,99): no advertising, 4K with image enhancements, spatial sound and reproduction in up to four devices simultaneous.
The plan that's disappearing (basic, ad-free, €9,99) offered 720p HD and several limitations. With its withdrawal, the price and feature scale There is a greater gap between seeing ads or paying more to avoid them.. Additionally, if you want to understand how to manage your subscriptions and make the most of the available options, we recommend checking out our guide Tricks to save on Netflix.
The difference between the step with ads and the first step without them is notable: going from €6,99 to €13,99 almost doubles the monthly cost, a gap that explains why the company is pushing the ad-supported plan as an entry option.
It is worth remembering that Netflix has already made other relevant changes in the past, such as the end of account sharing in 2023 or the introduction of the plan with announcements in 2022. There have also been upward revisions to several tariffs, so it cannot be ruled out that prices move again later.
Why Netflix is pushing the ad-supported model
Since introducing ad-supported mode, Netflix has seen a strong leap in its adoption: the company has communicated tens of millions of users in this option, with accelerated growth in recent months. For the business, the calculation is clear: advertising pays off price reduction through additional revenue per user.
In parallel, the streaming sector has experienced between 2020 and 2024 cumulative increases of 30%-50% in many subscriptions. Faced with this pressure and a market saturated with offers, the ad-supported option has become the access pillar for price-sensitive users, while a smaller portion prefers to pay more to avoid any cuts.
Netflix's own pricing structure pushes for this segmentation: on the one hand, those who prioritize Pay less accept to see ads; on the other hand, those who value the experience without interruptions assume higher rates and full access to the catalog and the highest quality. To understand how to best manage your account, you can consult our guide Kodi on Android.
If you are automatically switched to the ad-supported plan for 6,99€, you will pay 3€ less per month than in the old basic one (9,99€), but you will accept advertising and limited catalog. If you prefer to remain ad-free, the Standard by 13,99€ implies 4€ more per month (about €50 per year), with an annual cost of 167,88€. The jump to Premium by 19,99€ It means adding advantages of image, sound and devices, in exchange for an increase in € 120 per year in front of the missing basic.
It is worth remembering that Netflix has already made other relevant changes in the past, such as the end of account sharing in 2023 or the introduction of the plan with announcements in 2022. There have also been upward revisions to several tariffs, so it cannot be ruled out that prices move again later.
The final decision will depend on your usage and priorities: if you use the platform daily and value the full experience, Standard or Premium may be the best option; if what matters is adjust spending, the ad-supported plan offers access at a lower price, assuming the waivers on interruptions and catalog.
With this redesign of its offering, Netflix consolidates a model with two well-defined paths: accessibility with advertising to expand user base and ad-free plans For those who demand quality, a complete catalog, and no cuts. The user ultimately decides which side of the scale they want to stand on.
