It's no secret that Netflix's subscription prices have steadily increased over the last few years. While cheaper services are available, Netflix has maintained its relatively high prices. But, in mid-2022, the company finally revealed plans to offer a cheaper tier supported with ads. Dubbed Basic with Ads, the subscription plan is more affordable than existing plans but not without a few tradeoffs.

Here's what you need to know about Netflix's ad-supported plan, including the price, available countries, features, and launch date.

Netflix’s Basic with Ads: What’s the Difference?

Netflix's Basic with Ads plan is essentially a cheaper alternative to the existing Basic plan. It includes 15 or 30 seconds ads and will play before and during the content. It's not officially specified how many ads will be shown per hour but expect to watch an average of four to five minutes of ads per hour, according to Netflix.

Running the numbers reveals that in the best-case scenario, Netflix will show eight 30-second ads or a maximum of 20 15-second ads in an hour. Remember that we're dealing with averages here since the four to five minutes is also Netflix's estimated average ad length per hour.

If the estimates shock you, you'll be surprised to know that it's not out of the norm. A 2021 report from MediaRadar shows that Netflix's competitors with ad-supported tiers like HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock, Discovery+, and Paramount+ display between eight and 23 ads per hour.

Aside from the price, Basic with Ads also tops out at 720p (HD) streaming like Netflix's existing Basic plan. However, you can't download titles for offline viewing, and you won't have access to specific movies and TV shows which Netflix says is due to licensing restrictions.

Like the Basic plan, you can binge-watch titles across mobile, TV, and other Netflix-supported platforms. Although the company has not specified how many people can simultaneously watch Netflix Basic with Ads per account at the time of writing, it's safe to assume the plan will only allow one screen at a time. A similar limit is available in the standard Basic plan.

How Much Does Netflix’s Basic with Ads Cost?

If you were expecting a free video streaming plan from Netflix, look elsewhere. Basic with Ads cost $6.99/month in the US ($6.99 in Australia, $5.99 in Canada, and £4.99 in the UK). That's $3 cheaper than Netflix's $9.99/month basic plan. So if the price is what determines the best Netflix subscription plan for you, then Basic with Ads is here for you.

When Will Netflix's Ad-Supported Tier Launch?

Netflix's ad-supported plan will officially launch in November 2022. It will be first available in Canada on November 1 at 9 AM PT, followed by the US and UK on November 3 at 9 AM PT (4 PM GMT), and on November 4 in other supported territories. Unfortunately, the plan will not be available at launch in all countries and territories where Netflix is supported.

Basic with Ads will only be available in 12 countries for a start. The select countries include Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, the UK, and the US.

However, all is not lost, as the streaming company expects to introduce Basic with Ads in more countries as time passes. Once launched, you can sign up for Netflix Basic with Ads via the usual procedure.

Should You Get Netflix Basic with Ads?

Being cheap doesn't mean value for money. And if you're wondering whether Netflix's ad-supported tier is worth giving a shot at, think twice. First, as mentioned previously, Basic with Ads is only $3 cheaper than the Basic plan. For less, it has additional limitations, like the inability to download titles and, most importantly, a limited number of TV shows and movies.

Throw in the four to five minutes average of ads per hour, and the $3 savings is not well convincing. Plus, at $6.99/month, Netflix's ad-supported plan is undoubtedly not the cheapest. Discovery+, Peacock, and Paramount+ have $4.99 ad-supported plans. Some even have free plans with no credit card required. But if you value Netflix's original programming and would love to get it for less, Basic with Ads is your go-to plan.