Netflix Basic with ads is finally available with a lower cost Netflix subscription for $6.99 per month. This includes the drawback that you could be required to view advertisements with your films and television shows.
Netflix claims that you should expect an “average of 4 to 5 minutes of ads per hour.” This is the same as what I’ve experienced, and I was shocked by the timing at which advertisements would show up. This isn’t broadcast television where you could know precisely when and frequently the number of ads you’d need to watch prior to the show’s return.
One of the major disadvantages of the ads tier is that certain shows aren’t available to stream. These shows and films will be identified by a red padlock in the upper right-hand corner if you notice that you cannot enjoy the show.
It is possible to use click-on shows by using the padlock. On the internet, Netflix will helpfully take you to a new page which allows you to immediately upgrade to a premium plan that gives you access to all. For iOS, Netflix just suggests that you choose an ad-free option; however, it doesn’t direct you to any content, probably because of Apple’s strict App Store guidelines.
Netflix Basic with Ads is exactly what I was expecting to find: Netflix but with ads. If you’re able to bear it, and you’re okay with other compromises, such as the quality of the video at 720p and the absence of offline downloading, then saving a few dollars with the lower version could prove worth the cost. Personally, I’ll stick to the no-ads alternatives since I see many ads on the internet already.
