Netflix may be one of the best streaming services, but it's also one of the most expensive – so lots of people will be happy that it's just slashed its subscription prices in over 30 countries. Unfortunately you probably don't live in one of them.
As the Wall Street Journal reports, in some cases the cuts are halving the cost of a Netflix subscription. That's great news if you're living somewhere like Croatia or Thailand, but unfortunately the US, UK and Australia aren't on the list.
Where is Netflix cutting the cost of its subscriptions?
According to the WSJ, the list includes Middle Eastern countries including Yemen, Jordan, Libya and Iran; sub-Saharan African markets including Kenya; and European countries such as Croatia, Slovenia and Bulgaria.
There have also been reductions in Latin America and in Asia, including Nicaragua, Ecuador, Venezuela, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.
It seems likely that the cuts are designed to drive growth in markets where Netflix isn't already a behemoth and where its competitors are investing. In markets where Netflix is more dominant, such as the UK and US, Netflix is keen to raise prices rather than drop them – and if you have a family who don't all live under the same roof, the imminent restrictions on Netflix account sharing will drive the price up even further.
This isn't the first time Netflix has cut its prices – the WSJ reports that it did the same in India in 2021 to boost market share – but if you're in the US, UK or Australia I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for price cuts there. For the foreseeable future, the standard and premium Netflix packages aren't going to get any cheaper now there's a more affordable ad-funded option.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Writer, musician and broadcaster Carrie Marshall has been covering technology since 1998 and is particularly interested in how tech can help us live our best lives. Her CV is a who’s who of magazines, newspapers, websites and radio programmes ranging from T3, Techradar and MacFormat to the BBC, Sunday Post and People’s Friend. Carrie has written more than a dozen books, ghost-wrote two more and co-wrote seven more books and a Radio 2 documentary series; her memoir, Carrie Kills A Man, was shortlisted for the British Book Awards. When she’s not scribbling, Carrie is the singer in Glaswegian rock band Unquiet Mind (unquietmindmusic).
-
Skip sit-ups – these four low-impact exercises are enough to strengthen your deep core muscles
Easy on the back, tough on the core
By Bryony Firth-Bernard Published
-
Long-awaited Steam Deck 2 could actually be a Steam TV box to rival Shield TV
Valve reportedly working on a set-top-box to connect to your TV
By Rik Henderson Published
-
This Netflix thriller with a Slow Horses star looks incredibly stressful
Missing You is a guaranteed pulse-raiser
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
3 alternative Christmas movies to stream on Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+
Elf and Home Alone are obviously brilliant, be here are three other films you might not have thought to watch this holiday season
By Brian Comber Published
-
How does this Netflix disaster series look so good? I'll be watching
La Palma shouldn't be as flashy as it is
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
I can't believe I only just watched this Oscar-winning Netflix movie
This one blew me away big-time
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
A much-loved streaming service is closing down, but not before everyone gets one month for free
Content set to switch to Netflix in January
By Rik Henderson Published
-
A new trailer has made this my most anticipated Netflix film ever
Wallace and Gromit are back, and I cannot wait
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Netflix in December: 5 top new shows and movies to stream
The streamer will be busy over the holidays
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
The biggest sci-fi show in the world gets another enticing Netflix trailer
Squid Game 2 looks simply huge
By Max Freeman-Mills Published