Netflix has officially discontinued its Basic plan in Germany, the last remaining ad-free tier at a budget price point. Subscribers who were on the Basic plan are now being migrated to the Standard tier, which costs €15.99 per month — a 60% increase from the old €8.99 Basic rate.
The move is part of Netflix's global strategy to eliminate its cheapest ad-free option. The Basic plan was previously removed in the US, UK, and other major markets. In Germany, Netflix simultaneously raised prices across all remaining tiers by €2 per month: Standard with ads rises to €6.99, Standard to €15.99, and Premium to €21.99.
For price-sensitive subscribers — particularly in a market where Netflix's ad-supported tier costs just €4.99 — the discontinuation forces an uncomfortable choice: accept the 60% hike, downgrade to the ad-supported plan (which doesn't carry Netflix's full content library), or cancel entirely.
The German consumer reaction has been sharp, with social media threads filled with complaints about the compounding price increases. Netflix has raised prices in Germany multiple times since 2022, and the Basic plan's elimination removes the last option for subscribers who wanted to avoid both ads and premium pricing.
Netflix's strategy is clear: drive subscribers toward either the cheaper ad-supported tier (which generates additional ad revenue) or the higher-margin Standard/Premium plans, while eliminating the low-revenue middle ground.
