Here’s how much a Netflix subscription costs in 2016 compared to 2016. 2026

Netflix started its business sending DVDs to homes long before launching its streaming service in 2007. It wasn’t until January 2016, however, that Netflix launched in 130 countries. That was ten years ago, and a lot has changed since then, both in the streaming landscape and that of television and cinema in general, as well as for Netflix. Any subscriber knows that rising costs have become a recurring theme every couple of years, sometimes more frequently. This is one of the biggest complaints from Netflix users.

The latest occurred in March 2026, marking the second price increase in a year, bringing the cost of the ad-supported plan to $8.99 per month, an increase of $1 from $7.99 per month. The standard ad-free plan went from $17.99 per month to $19.99 per month and the premium plan went from $24.99 per month to $26.99. This adds up quickly, especially when you consider how much the price has increased over the years. But it’s still much cheaper than a standard cable or satellite TV subscription. That said, it’s also a significant increase over what Netflix cost a decade ago, even when accounting for inflation.

In 2016, when the monthly cost of Netflix increased from $7.99 to $9.99, the deal was such that Netflix warned its subscribers two years in advance of the increase. It wasn’t that hard of a pill to swallow since Netflix was already pretty cheap. By then, the company had launched massively successful original shows that justified the price hike. “Stranger Things” launched in 2016, while shows like “Narcos,” “Daredevil,” “Sense8,” and “Grace and Frankie” all came out in 2015.

Plus, the price included HD access, which previously cost subscribers $8.99 per month anyway. In the meantime, it became $11.99 per month for those who wanted to enjoy up to four simultaneous HD streams and access a limited number of 4K titles at the time. Based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation calculations, the base price of $9.99 would equate to $14.13 today, with the premium plan of $11.99 equating to approximately $16.95.

That means subscribers pay a few dollars a month above what inflation would dictate. There’s no doubt that you get a lot more now with a Premium membership than in 2016, which justifies paying more than standard inflation. Additionally, the ad-supported plan launched in November 2022 as a significantly cheaper alternative, even though the concept negates a big advantage of streaming in the first place.

After the 2016 price hike, the price increased another $1 in 2017, although existing subscribers were given a grace period before having to fork out more. In 2019, Netflix moved to a tiered approach with Basic, Standard, and Premium plans. Basic increased by another dollar, and Standard and Premium increased by $2. In 2020, Standard and Premium increased by $1 and $2, respectively. Then 2022 saw more increases: Basic increased by $1, Standard by $1.50, and Premium by another $2.

To soften the blow, Netflix launched Basic with Ads for $6.99 in 2022, but removed the Basic (no ads) plan a year later. In 2023, it introduced its biggest price increases yet, with Basic increasing by $2 and Premium by $3. The next increase occurred in January 2025, with Standard with ads increasing by another $1, Standard increasing by $2.50, and Premium increasing by $2. The latest concerns the aforementioned price hikes from March 2026.

This 100% change between 2016 and today, from $9.99 to $19.99 for Standard, represents silent inflation thanks to gradual price increases over the past decade. Netflix had promised big changes in 2026 to justify it, including investing heavily in content and revamping its mobile app. Warner Bros. Purchase Agreement failed, however, with Netflix pulling out after an intense bidding war with Paramount. The value proposition therefore remains evolving. Either way, you can expect prices to continue to rise not only in line with inflation, but probably beyond it.