Which countries are the most expensive and cheapest for Netflix?

Over the last few years, we’ve regularly analyzed the differences in library sizes and monthly costs of Netflix subscriptions around the world, often finding a huge disparity. The problem seems to be getting worse rather than better.

Recently, a number of countries saw price hikes, including the UK, US, France, and some of the most cost-effective countries in previous years – Egypt, Colombia, and Nigeria. In the US, for example, the cost of a premium HD Ultra subscription with four users is now up to $24.99 per month (from $22.99).

Over the last few years, Netflix has also made basic plans unavailable to new customers in several countries, including the UK and US. Basic plans in those countries have now been replaced with standard subscriptions with ads. While these new plans have also seen price increases, they do still offer a cheaper alternative. They currently range from $3.63 per month in Brazil to $7.99 per month in the US.

The big question is, have these price hikes and restrictions affected Netflix’s value for money? And, where in the world do you get the best bang for your buck with a Netflix subscription? Keep reading to find out!

Please note: the prices included in our study are the base price as advertised by Netflix. They do not include the various taxes and other charges users may face. We are aware that several countries, including Argentina, have these charges but our study focuses on the price charged by Netflix.

Is Netflix in your country good value?

To gather this data, we’ve looked at several factors.

First, we looked at the figures based on the number of TV shows and movies available in 128 countries as per JustWatch. We then divided the total number of titles available by the monthly subscription price to establish each country’s cost per title per month. For the standard and premium plans, we also factored in the number of users for each account (2 and 4, respectively), multiplying the library total by this to give the number of titles available to all users.

Second, we evaluated the cost per month in each country and how these shape up against others (based on current exchange rates at the time of writing). We have also analyzed the 14 countries with ad-based subscriptions (Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Guernsey, Italy, Japan, Mexico, San Marino, Spain, South Korea, UK, and US) separately to see how these plans compare.

The results?

Our study shows a massive disparity when cost per title is analyzed between different countries–regardless of the plan you choose.

TIP – How to access different Netflix catalogs: You can securely access your usual Netflix catalogs from different countries when traveling abroad with a VPN. However, not all VPNs work with all Netflix country catalogs. We recently tested 78+ different VPNs with 30 different country catalogs so be sure to pick a VPN that works with the Netflix country version you want access to. You can see our list of recommended Netflix VPN services here.

Top 10 places where Netflix is good value for money

Due to their incredibly cheap prices across all three plans (without ads), Egypt, Pakistan, and India are the most cost-effective countries to watch Netflix. And with close-to-average library sizes, they certainly seem to offer more for less.

The average cost per title for basic plans is $0.00095. Pakistanis and Egyptians pay $0.00025 and $0.00030 respectively, while Indians, Nigerians, and Kenyans each pay $0.00033 per title. And all of these countries have library sizes over 6,300–with Indians, Nigerians, and Kenyans having the largest with around 7,000 titles each.

This makes Pakistanis’ cost per title nearly four times cheaper than average and over seven times cheaper than the least cost-effective country, Denmark, where titles are $0.00185 each. This is due to Denmark having one of the most expensive basic plans at 89 DKK ($12.37) combined with a slightly below-average library of 6,680 titles.

The 10 places where Netflix isn’t good value for money

At the other end of the scale are Switzerland, Liechtenstein, the United States, and Denmark. This is largely due to high monthly costs, particularly in Liechtenstein and Switzerland, as both of these countries have above-average library sizes.

Denmark, Switzerland, the United States, and Liechtenstein are in the bottom three across all of the plans. Their cost per title across basic plans are $0.00185, $0.00178, $0.00169, and $0.00166 respectively. This is nearly two times more than the average cost per title ($0.00095) in Denmark’s case.

While Denmark, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein have frequently featured at the bottom in our comparisons, this is the first time the United States has been one of the top 10 least cost-effective countries across all three of its plans. This is thanks to recent price increases on its standard and premium plans. Standard plans have increased from $15.49 to $17.99 and premium from $22.99 to $24.99. The US’s library size is around average (7,101 titles in total).

All four of the aforementioned countries are also among the most expensive based on the cost per month. Denmark just drops out of the top four for its premium plan pricing and is replaced by Ireland. Ireland’s premium price recently increased from €20.99 to €23.99 ($21.75 to $24.86).

Guernsey and the United Kingdom also have some of the most expensive costs per month for standard and premium plans. And both also saw price hikes recently. Standard plans increased from £10.99 to £12.99 ($13.68 to $16.17) and premium from £17.99 to £18.99 ($22.40 to $23.64).

Are Netflix plans with ads worth it?

One of the biggest advantages of streaming platforms over standard TV channels is their lack of adverts. So are the cheaper plans with ads on Netflix worth it? And do they offer the best value for money when we compare them to basic plans without ads from around the world?

Ad-based plans as these are now based on standard plans rather than basic plans – but prices remain the same. This effectively means that you can have more users on one plan, which will add to their cost-effectiveness. As with the above analysis, we’ve multiplied the library sizes by two to get a cost per title for each country.

It probably goes without saying that all 14 countries save a reasonable amount of money per title when opting for the standard plan with ads. But as the above table demonstrates, some get a better deal than others.

One of the most expensive countries, the United States, saves the most per title when choosing the standard with ads plan (saving nearly $0.00071 per title), while Brazil (which boasts the most cost-effective standard with ads plan) saves less than a half of what the US users do ($0.00929 per title).

Still, none of these countries get a better deal per title than Pakistan, where the cost of a basic plan without ads is the same as that of the most cost-effective standard ad-supported plan (in Brazil). However, Brazil ($0.00025) and South Korea ($0.00026) do enjoy more cost-effectiveness with their standard-with-ads plans than Egypt ($0.00030) and India, Nigeria, and Kenya ($0.00033) with their basic plans.

The cheapest places to get Netflix

Here we can compare all of the countries Netflix is available in (245 in total) to see which countries pay the most and least for their subscriptions on a cost-per-month basis. We can also see just how the recent price hikes and cuts have affected these costs.

As well as being the most cost-effective country on a cost-per-title basis, Pakistan is also the most cost-effective country on a cost-per-month basis. At just $1.61, $2.87, and $3.94 per month for a basic, standard, and premium subscription, Pakistani prices win hands down.

On average, users are now paying $6.93, $10.80, and $14.22 per month for their basic, standard, and premium Netflix subscriptions. This means Pakistanis are paying as much as $10.28 less than average for their subscriptions.

Meanwhile, the UK’s and US’s recent price hikes mean users there are paying more than average for their subscriptions.

UK users pay up to $9.42 more than average with monthly prices of £7.99 ($9.95), £12.99 ($16.17), and £18.99 ($23.64) for basic, standard, and premium plans. US users pay up to $10.77 more than average with plan prices of $11.99, $17.99, and $24.99. Moreover, neither of these countries offers basic subscriptions for new members anymore, so if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, you’ll have to settle for an ad-supported plan.

But this is nothing compared to the two most expensive countries – Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Users in these countries pay $7.20 more than average for basic plans ($14.13 compared to $6.93), $12.09 more than average for standard plans ($22.89 compared to $10.80), and $16.34 more than average for premium plans ($30.56 compared to $14.22).

If you are looking to securely access your Netflix library from abroad, here are the best VPNs for Netflix currently available on the market.

Netflix cost FAQs

Does Netflix offer an annual subscription plan?

No, Netflix doesn’t offer an annual subscription plan. Instead, it offers multiple monthly subscription tiers: Basic, Standard with ads (currently only available in 26 countries) Standard, and Premium.

The basic subscription tier lets you stream content in 720p HD on one device at a time. Both standard plans (with ads and ad-free) support 1080p full HD streaming and up to two devices at once. Only a premium subscription allows you to watch Netflix in 4K UHD on four supported devices at a time.

Why did Netflix discontinue the Basic plan in my country?

Netflix discontinued the Basic plan in some countries (including the US and the UK) as part of its efforts to adapt to the latest market trends and enhance its service model. The strategy is aimed at simplifying the subscription offerings and encouraging users to opt for other plans like Standard with ads or Premium, which provide more features or content. Obviously, these plans bring more financial gain to the company too.

Among the countries that have discontinued this option are: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and the US. As you can see, most of these are either large or developed countries (or both) whose purchasing habits can greatly affect Netflix’s global finances.

How many subscribers did Netflix lose in 2023?

In 2023, Netflix lost customers. During the second quarter of the year, the company reported a loss of approximately 970,000 subscribers. This was the largest quarterly subscriber loss that Netflix experienced since it launched. The good news for Netflix is that this loss was less severe than expected. Netflix had initially projected that it was going to lose 2 million following unexpected growth caused by the pandemic.

During the early phase of the pandemic in 2020, Netflix gained nearly 26 million subscribers in the first half of the year. Following this explosion, a readjustment was always expected and the fact that it lost 1 million fewer subscribers than predicted actually demonstrates impressive retention.

Is Netflix losing or gaining subscribers in 2024?

According to Statista, Netflix saw an increase of over eight million subscribers in the second quarter of 2024 (277.7m), compared to the quarter before (269.6m).

The increase is even more significant if we compare it to the two last quarters of 2023. In December 2023, Netflix counted 260.28 million users and, three months before, only 247.15 million subscribers.

From this, we can conclude that the year 2024 is seeing positive growth for the famous entertainment platform – which gained over 39 million users from mid-2023 to mid-2024 (it went from 238.39 million users in June 2023 to 277.65 million users in June 2024). It seems that the company’s latest customer-gaining strategies have worked, despite the prices spiking in many countries.

Is Netflix different in every country?

Yes, Netflix content is different in every country. This is due to licensing restrictions. As such, you may find that when you travel abroad on vacation, you can no longer stream some TV shows and movies. This is one of the reasons why we recommend you use a VPN to securely access your Netflix account as normal.

Note that when it comes to the most popular Netflix Original series, Netflix owns global rights which means these titles are available in most countries.

How can I get Netflix for free?

While Netflix did used to offer free trials, this is unfortunately no longer the case. Its cheapest plan is Standard with ads which costs $7.99 a month in the US and £4.99 in the UK (prices vary by country).

The Netflix password-sharing crackdown means that getting free Netflix from a friend or family member is no longer on the table either.

With the exception of the basic tier, all Netflix plans support at least two devices at a time. So you may be able to get Netflix for free if you live with someone who is happy to share their subscription.

Alternatively, it’s worth keeping an eye out for promotions from telecommunications companies, be it from mobile or internet providers. It’s not technically free, but if you were planning on signing up with a company, you may be able to take advantage of an offer to get Netflix for free.

Can I use a VPN to get a Netflix account for less?

Yes. If you are an expat or somebody who is living abroad for work or studying, you can easily take advantage of cheaper Netflix prices back home. As you already have a valid payment method in your home country, it is extremely easy for you to connect to a VPN server in your home country to purchase a cheaper subscription.

For this reason, it is a good idea to check the difference in cost between where you are now and your home country. If you are visiting the UK, the US, or some other country where Netflix is expensive, the savings could be pretty decent. Netflix might require a local form of payment.

The only caveat to all of this is that using a VPN to buy a cheaper Netflix subscription is technically against the terms of service. So, doing so, even if you are only living abroad because of your studies, is technically a breach. For this reason, you should remember that you always use a VPN at your own risk and Netflix withholds the right to cancel an account if it believes its policies were breached.

Does Netflix offer student discounts?

No, Netflix does not currently offer student discounts. Unlike some other streaming platforms that provide special pricing for students, Netflix maintains the same pricing structure for all users. However, students looking for a more affordable option can consider the Standard with ads plan, which is the lowest-priced subscription available in some countries.

Additionally, some business partners of Netflix, like Verizon and T-Mobile, occasionally include free or discounted Netflix services as part of their bundles, so it’s worth checking the current offers.

Why does Netflix cost more in some countries than others?

Netflix pricing varies significantly across different countries due to a variety of factors, including local market conditions, competition, purchasing power, and government regulations. In wealthier countries with higher living costs, Netflix usually charges more, while in regions with lower average incomes, subscription fees are often lower.

Additionally, some countries receive smaller content libraries due to licensing agreements, which can make the service seem less cost-effective in those regions. Exchange rate fluctuations and tax policies can also impact subscription prices.