With so many streaming platforms available now, the cost of subscribing to them can add up fast. That’s where ad-enabled plans come in.
Major streaming platforms now offer monthly subscriptions that include adverts both before and during content, and are considerably cheaper than ad-free plans.
Whether you’re trying to save money or just want to know how ad-plans work, you’ve come to the right place. We explain whether Netflix has adverts or commercial breaks, how to remove them and how Netflix compares to other platforms.
Does Netflix have ads?
Yes, one of the available Netflix subscription plans includes ads. Netflix actually has a choice of three plans for users to choose from: Standard with Ads, Standard and Premium.
The Standard with Ads plan is the cheapest of three and allows users to watch all Netflix content at a lower price, in exchange for receiving adverts typically before and at some points during streaming.
At the time of writing, the Standard with Ads plan is £5.99/$7.99 a month, while the Standard plan rises considerably to £12.99/$17.99 a month. Finally, the Premium plan will set you back £18.99/$24.99 a month.
It’s also worth noting that other than the inclusion of adverts and being cheaper, the Standard with Ads plan offers the same features as the Standard tier.
How to remove ads from Netflix
To remove ads from your Netflix subscription, you’ll need to upgrade to a different plan. If you’re happy with the video and sound quality of the Standard with Ads option, and having just two devices permitted to stream simultaneously and download content, then you can upgrade to the Standard plan.
Alternatively, to benefit from the “best” video and sound quality that Netflix has to offer, up to 4K resolution, HDR and Spatial Audio support (via a compatible TV) alongside the ability to have four devices stream at once and a whopping six download devices, then you should opt for Netflix’s Premium plan instead.
How do the Netflix ads compare to other streamers?
Netflix explains that it aims to place ads during “natural plot breaks for a seamless experience” with some newly released movies only having ads before the film starts for uninterrupted viewing.
Ad breaks are shown on the progress bar when playback is paused, and you’ll see the number of ads that will be shown in the upper-right corner when the break starts.
Other streaming platforms that have ad-enabled plans include Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video. Like Netflix, Disney Plus also shows ads before or during movies and series, but it doesn’t specifically state that ads will be shown during natural plot breaks. However, if a profile is on Junior Mode then no ads will be shown, regardless of the plan type.
On the other hand, Disney Plus also says that while its Standard and Premium plans don’t have ads, they may include promotional content, clips and trailers for Disney content, products and services “in addition to branded or sponsored content”.
Amazon Prime Video is similar to Netflix and will include limited advertisements in movies and TV shows “before and during playback”.
