Data from Google Trends reveals that searches for “cancel Netflix” spiked 100 percent worldwide on January 21 at 9 p.m. EST the streaming service announced it is increasing its prices.
This is the fourth price hike since 2011, but the last two increases happened within less than two years.
Netflix raising prices
Users of the streaming giant will soon have to pay $17.99 a month to watch shows and movies without commercials, up from the current price of $15.49, according to reports from The Verge, CNN and AppleInsider.com. Those with a standard account, meaning with ads included, will soon have to pay $7.99 a month, the reports said.
RELATED: Netflix announces it will raise prices to $17.99; Premium to $24.99/month: Reports
Premium subscribers, those watching shows and movies with 4K video quality, will soon be charged $24.99 a month, marking a price bump of $2, according to the reports.
Netflix did not say when the price hikes will be in effect.
How to cancel Netflix
According to the company, you can cancel your Netflix account at any time. You will have to log in to cancel.
This is the only way to cancel your account and end your membership. Signing out of your account or deleting the Netflix app doesn’t cancel your account.
You won’t be charged again unless you restart your account. If you cancel with time left in your billing period, you can use Netflix until the account cancels automatically at the end of the billing period.
If you don’t see the cancelation option in your account, you’ll need to cancel the account with your payment partner. Go to your Account page and look under the Membership section. You’ll see either a link to guide you through the cancelation process or instructions to contact your payment partner to cancel.
If you cancel with time left in your billing period, you can use Netflix until the end of the billing period. To see when your account will close, check your billing details.
What if I change my mind?
Rejoining Netflix:
You can restart your Netflix account at any time.
Netflix keeps your Viewing Activity for 10 months after your account closes, so it will be available if you restart within that time.
What they’re saying:
Valentijn Bakker, editor of Nieuwe Casino, commented on the findings, “It’s incredible what the influence of certain TV shows or movies can have on the fate of streaming services. Netflix added over 19 million subscribers in the last months of 2024 due to the release of titles such as Squid Game 2 and the newly introduced live sports section, which included a boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. Following this surge in subscribers, the streaming giant has decided to ask the subscribers to pay more to reportedly further invest in improvements. However, it’s probable that this move is also influenced by the rising cost of living, which compels platforms to increase their prices more often in the last few years.
“This is frustrating for many, as streaming services have become an integral part of everyday life. Yet, subscribing to all the top four services mentioned above now costs users almost $60 a month. This trend is something that Americans have noticed and started to feel in their budgets, prompting them to decide, based on their possibilities and interests, whether to keep their subscriptions to certain services, as evidenced by the surge in searches for ‘Cancel Netflix.’”
The Source: Information in this article is from Nieuwe Casino, Google Trends, Netflix, and FOX Television Stations’ previous coverage.
