Netflix's ad-supported plan is a smashing hit

Wanna feel old? Netflix's controversial ad-supported plan is already two years old. That's right. Time flies when you're having fun (and making loads of money).

So, how are things going?

Things are going so well, Netflix is 'celebrating' its ad-nniversary. Two years after launching the plan, here are the highlights from this key product pricing decision:

• As of November 2024, there are now 70 million monthly active users on the ad-supported plan. To blow your mind even further, in May 2024 they reported 'only' 40 million users on the same plan. I'll save you the trouble of doing the maths on your fingers: yes, it's almost double.

• 50% of new sign-ups select the ad-supported plan. This may or may not have to do with the fact that the ad-supported plan is so much cheaper (see below).

• In Canada, Netflix have launched their own advertising platform — sure to save a few bucks there.

Everyone's flocking to the ad plan

When Netflix first announced their ad-supported plan, the internet was enraged (when is the internet not enraged by a product decision?).

Yet, today, it's their most popular plan. What gives?

It might have something to do with this:

As the graph neatly shows, the ad-supported plan is dramatically cheaper than the other plans — as much as one-third of the price of the Premium plan.

There you have it, folks. If you'd like to watch a young buck square up against a 58-year-old boxing legend in the ring, fork up the $6.99 and sit through some ads.