Netflix launched its cheaper ad-supported plan (Basic with Ads) with several limitations in streaming quality, functionality, compatibility, and content. Some of these are going away now.
- "So this month we’ll upgrade the feature set of our ads plan to include 1080p versus 720p video quality and two concurrent streams in all 12 ads markets – starting with Canada and Spain today," Netflix wrote in its earnings report.
In other words, subscribers to Netflix's Basic with Ads plan get the same video streaming quality as those on the $15.50/month Netflix Standard plan. The $20/month Premium plan is still required for 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos.
While this is good news, other limitations remain. Downloads are not supported on the ad plan and a good handful of titles are still missing.
Netflix also recently made its app on Apple TV compatible with the ad-supported plan.
Netflix Basic with Ads is available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In the US, it costs $7/month versus $10/month for Netflix Basic (without ads). The company is planning to roll it out to additional countries later.
