I used to always go to open my Netflix app on either my TV or phone without thinking twice. It had been part of my daily routine without the amount of content they produce. I would immediately scroll for a few minutes, pick something that looked appealing, and put it on.
Now, I go to other platforms that cost less, for better quality entertainment.
The main question for me is always this; is Netflix still worth it?
Netflix has raised its prices again, and this time around it’s hard to overlook. The standard plan is now $19.99 a month and the premium plan is $26.99. That’s a considerable increase, especially when it feels like this is becoming more frequent than ever before.
And for that amount, I think the quality of content and production should be categorically top tier compared to others.
That’s where I believe the main issue is for me.
It’s not that Netflix doesn’t have quality content—they undoubtedly have plenty of it. Shows such as Stranger Things, Tires, Peaky Blinders, and documentaries keep audiences wanting to come back. But after that it seems like Netflix lacks the consistency of delivering audiences with desirable shows.
Having an abundance of content and having content that continuous to bring back audiences are two entirely different things. Recently, whenever I go on Netflix it feels like there’s been a lot more to scroll through and less that catches my interest, especially with the introduction of ads being placed into the foundation of streaming services.
On most days, I’ll open Netflix, scroll for a while, and I’ll constantly have trouble finding anything I want to watch. Sometimes I’ll find a random show, maybe get through an episode or two, and then never go back to it. That’s happened more often than it should, and it makes it feel like I’m paying more without using it the way I used to in the past.
Of course, when Netflix does produce prominent shows, it still is one of the best streaming services today. Movies, shows, documentaries, and sometimes sports events still get people wanting to come back. But those instances feel more spread out over time.
And with the price steadily going up, that disparity of content, to me, has become more noticeable.
What really makes me think twice about Netflix is when I view other platforms and their content to subscription costs.
Services like Disney+ start at $10.99 a month with ads and go up to $15.99 without ads. HBO Max also starts at $9.99 and goes up to about $15.99 for its highest tier. Even Amazon Prime Video is cheaper at $8.99 a month for the standard version or included with a $14.99 Prime membership.
Netflix is one of the most expensive options, but it doesn’t always feel like the most reliable to audiences. Other platforms might not have as much content overall, but what they do have feels more deliberate—like it’s actually worth watching instead of just filling space.
And that’s really what it comes down to for me.
If I’m paying close to $20 or even $27 a month, I expect to feel like I’m getting my money’s worth on a regular basis—which to me is important when it feels like only one big show drops every few months.
I’m not at all saying Netflix is bad. It’s one of the largest and most notable platforms for a reason, and when it puts out something good, it’s still worth watching.
But at the end of the day, it comes down to value to audiences.
And right now, I think a lot of people—including myself—are beginning to ask whether Netflix is worth continuing to pay for with prices going up and the need for valuable content produced at a quicker pace.
