How can we get a cheap Netflix subscription?

Netflix subscribers have increased, yet the prices have hiked. Entertainment has become expensive in the UK. People are now figuring out ways to trim down OTT subscription charges to get by in tough times. Netflix hit the UK market in 2012, and it quickly became a fad as one of the most popular streaming service platforms.

It enabled UK households to watch thousands of movies and television programmes through the internet on their screens. You can watch videos on Netflix whenever you want. You can pause, rewind and fast forward as you please. It is easier to access Netflix content by downloading an app though you can watch content on any browsers.

Netflix made several changes to clamp down on the free sharing of accounts outside the family. Prices were also raised. Netflix has hiked prices by up to £24 per annum for some. You can trim down your subscription cost using the following tactics:

·        Be happy with the standard plan

There are three Netflix plans:

·        Standard with adverts

·        Standard

·        Premium

Look at the following table to understand how each plan varies

Features	Plans
	Standard with adverts	Standard	Premium
Number of screens you can watch on at a time	2	2	4
Number of mobile devices you can download to	2	2	6
Extra number slots	0	1 (+£4.99)	2 (+£4.99 each)
Video quality	HD	HD	Ultra HD
Monthly price	£4.99	£10.99	£17.99

 

Switch to the standard plan if you are not obsessed with Ultra HD video quality. You can save £84 per annum. If your budget is too tight, you should switch to the “standard with adverts” plan. Video quality will remain the same, but half will straightaway slash prices. Please be informed that some of the Netflix shows will not be available on this plan.

Ads should not bother you because you watch them when watching movies on the TV. You can save up to £156 per annum by downsizing your plan. You can avoid taking out a quick loan in minutes in case of emergencies when you manage to save this much money.

·        Use a split trick

The standard plan lets you download the app on two mobile devices, and content can be independently watched on two screens at a time. This means you do not have to watch the same thing that someone in your family is watching. The split trick works when others in your household are looking to sign up. You can split half of the cost through this method.

The splitting cost method works among those sharing a room. Three or more roommates living together can sign up for the premium plan and save some more money. You will enjoy Ultra HD quality in exchange for “standard with advert” prices.

Netflix, however, has warned users not to share their accounts beyond households. Sharing it with someone living somewhere else is forbidden and illegal.

·        Ditch your cable connection

You do not need a cable connection to watch Netflix and similar OTT platforms. You should ditch your TV licence if you do not watch anything on Channel 4 or BBC iPlayer. You can save up to £159.

·        Check if you can use other alternatives

Netflix is quite popular, but it is far from the only OTT service platform. Do not assume that it is the best platform just because many other people prefer this to other streaming services. Do not hesitate to try other streaming video services as well. You might like their content better than Netflix and for lower prices.

Here are the other streaming alternatives:

·        Amazon Prime (£5.99 per month, £8.99 with all Prime benefits, and £11.98 per month without ads)

·        Apple TV+(starting from £8.99 per month)

·        Disney+ (£4.99 per month with ads, £7.99 per month without ads, and £10.99 per month premium)

·        Paramount+ (£6.99/month or £69.90/year)

You should check if they have valuable content. They can easily fit into your budget. Contact your cable service provider to see if they can let you add any streaming channel to your basic package. You will be able to watch streaming videos by paying a lower sum. Some cable operators will likely offer you a combo pack at a good bargain. Weigh up your options carefully.

·        Check if you can save through cashback

Cashback sites will likely offer you money back when you first sign up for Netflix. Monthly charge your account using your credit card and see if you get rewards. Some credit card companies offer cashback of up to 5%, for instance, on using a card for any purchase. Make sure to pay off your balance in full.

Be careful while using your credit card. You may end up inadvertently maxing it out, which will have a bad impact on your credit score. A good credit score is necessary to get 100% acceptance loans with no guarantor from a direct lender.

·        Avoid exhausting your mobile data

Mobile data can be quickly burnt out after spending hours watching streaming videos. Thankfully, there are some tactics to reduce your mobile data limit. Go to the playback settings and limit the data consumption to 0.3GB per hour.

Switch to “save data” mode. You can also choose “Wi-Fi only” mode. You will watch videos only when you are connected to the Wi-Fi. So, you will not use your mobile data at all. If you love a show or movie that you tend to watch on and off, you should download the video. This will prevent you from exhausting your mobile data every time you watch it.

This tactic will not help you save money on your Netflix plan, but you can save money on your mobile data.

·        Use Netflix only when you want to watch a show

Are you not an ardent viewer? Do you seldom watch Netflix? If so, there is no point in paying monthly subscriptions. You should watch out when any new movie or show is to be streamed. Note down the date and then subscribe to your account. So, you will have one whole month to watch your favourite content. After watching it, you can simply cancel your account. This will help you save a lot of money.

The bottom line

Netflix subscriptions have hiked, but there are a few tactics to save money and enjoy watching streaming content. Switch to a lower plan. Split the cost with your households. Drop your cable connection. Subscribe to your account only when you have to watch a movie or show. Figure out ways to avoid exhausting your mobile data.