Netflix quietly hikes prices for Australian subscribers
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Australian Netflix subscribers will have to stump up a few extra dollars every month after it increased its prices by up to 14 per cent, although many are yet to be told by the streaming giant.
The cost of a premium subscription has risen from $22.99 to $25.99, a standard subscription has gone from $16.99 to $18.99, while a standard subscription with ads is up from $6.99 to $7.99.
While the streaming giant has updated its website with the new prices, many existing users haven't received any communication about the hike yet.
9news.com.au has been told everyone will be notified by email 30 days before they have to pay the new prices, with the exact timing varying depending on each customer's billing cycle.
"We offer a range of prices and plans to meet a wide range of needs, and as we deliver more value to our members, we occasionally ask them to pay a bit more," a Netflix spokesperson said.
"We're adjusting prices in Australia with plans starting at $7.99."
The price increase comes after Netflix launched a strict crackdown on password sharing last year.
According to comparison service Finder, the hike means the cost of an ad-free Netflix subscription has now doubled in less than ten years since it launched in Australia, up from $8.99 to $18.99.
The price increase comes after Netflix launched a strict crackdown on password sharing last year.
That's a larger increase over that time than inflation, which is just under 29 per cent.
Finder personal finance expert Sarah Megginson said the price increase could lead to people cancelling their subscriptions.
"As Australians grapple with cost of living pressures, streaming services could be on the chopping block," she said.
"They're a low-hanging fruit compared to other bigger bills, but price hikes for these once-affordable entertainment options are forcing many people to re-evaluate their subscriptions.
"With content scattered across various streaming platforms, people are often subscribed to multiple services.
"They all started affordably at under $10 each per month, but significant increases mean it's becoming really expensive to remain subscribed."
Nine, the publisher of this website, owns competing streaming service Stan.