‘Guess I’ll be cancelling’: viewers sigh as Netflix bill suddenly rises for Apple users

NETFLIX subscriptions have risen overnight for viewers who were previously paying through Apple’s iTunes.

It means viewers subscribing through Apple are finally subject to the price rises that came into effect earlier this year for customers who subscribe directly with Netflix or via third-parties like Sky.

2

2

The streaming giant abruptly removed the cheapest ad-free plan from its subscriptions options last year, before hiking prices in October.

The so-called Basic plan cost £7.99/$11.99 per month, but disappeared for customers in the UK , US and Canada at the beginning of 2024.

However, the removal of the Basic plan has only just come into effect for customers billing their Netflix through iTunes.

Ugh! Guess I’ll be cancelling my Netflix account. It’s cool I use Hulu and Max more anyways.

@Elyi1M, Twitter

Apple removed the option for Netflix billing via iTunes for new and rejoining subscribers some time ago.

But now, members will need to sign up to Netflix directly, a spokesperson told The Verge.

Customers who previously paid through Apple will have to update their payment information with Netflix.

Subscribers must note that they will be charged a higher membership fee once they update their payment details.

“Netflix stopped working with Apple Pay and didn’t inform me,” one viewer complained on X (formerly Twitter).

“Now I’m locked out of my $9.99 a month price I had paid for years and I had to get charged $31 until I get a refund through Apple.”

Another added: “It’s so convenient tho. Ugh! Guess I’ll be cancelling my Netflix account. It’s cool I use Hulu and Max more anyways.”

While a third viewer tweeted: “Makes sense as Apple is now one of Netflix’s competitors.

“No way any company wants to be constantly sending money to the competition if they don’t have to.”

Netflix Subscription Cost Breakdown

Standard with ads (originally launched as “Basic with ads” last year)

• £4.99 ($6.99) a month
• 1080p picture quality
• no downloads – yet
• your date of birth will be used for advert personalisation purposes
• add one out-of-household user for a fee
• watch on two devices simultaneously

Basic (soon to be disappearing)

• Now £7.99 ($11.99) a month
• no ads
• watch on one device
• not available to new or rejoining subscribers.

Standard

• £10.99 ($15.49) a month
• 1080p picture quality
• downloads allowed
• no ads
• add one extra out-of-household user for a fee
• watch on two devices simultaneously

Premium

• Now £17.99 ($22.99) a month 
• 4K UHD picture quality
• High Dynamic Range (HDR) support
• downloads allowed
• no ads
• add two out-of-household users for a fee
• watch on up to four devices simultaneously

Must-know Netflix TV tips

Get the most out of your Netflix account with these handy hack

This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk