Netflix is by far the biggest name in the video streaming market, with over 130 million members. It has achieved that position for several reasons, by producing a series of acclaimed and hit original shows, first from the US and then from all around the world since its worldwide expansion in 2016; and providing access to thousands of hours of content licensed from other companies. Altogether, Netflix is set to spend $13 billion on films and TV shows with 85 percent going towards originals in 2018, according to estimates. And the numbers are staggering: 82 movies, nearly as many as the major Hollywood studios put together, and over 700 series, which dwarfs everyone else easily. Here’s everything you need to know about Netflix.
Subscription-based video streaming services such as Netflix license or produce thousands of hours of content across film and TV, which is then made available to users through specialised servers – they are called content delivery networks or CDNs – around the world. You pay a monthly fee to access all of it, but the catch is you don’t own anything: if Netflix loses a license to a movie or series, there’s nothing you can do about it.
Licensing is also why Netflix downloads have a timer, post which the downloads expire on your device. The restriction on how many devices you can watch Netflix at the same time or download content, which changes from plan to plan, isn’t a by-product of licensing though but stems from Netflix trying to ensure accounts aren’t shared between too many people.
In India, Netflix pricing starts at Rs. 500 per month and goes up all the way to Rs. 800, depending on what you want. The ‘Basic’ plan at Rs. 500 allows you to watch on a single screen and standard-definition (SD). If you want HD quality and an additional screen, you must fork over Rs. 650 for the ‘Standard’ plan. The highest ‘Premium’ plan at Rs. 800 currently offers 4K HDR content and a total of four simultaneous screens. In the US, Netflix is priced at $8 per month for Basic, $11 for Standard, and $14 for Premium.
There are several ways to sign up for Netflix. You can visit the website, click the big red ‘Join Free for a Month’ button and follow the instructions. Signing up on other platforms, including Android, is similar to the website process.
You can no longer sign up via the iOS app though in select countries and will have to visit the Netflix website via Safari or any other browser on your iPhone/iPad. In other regions, you can still sign up for Netflix via the iOS app by clicking the big red ‘Join Free for a Month’ button and following the instructions.
Netflix is available via the website in any browser, or you can download apps for a long list of platforms including Android and Android TV, iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, Windows 10, Windows Phone, Xbox One and Xbox 360, Amazon Fire TV, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Nintendo 3DS, Wii and Wii U, most smart TVs and Blu-ray players, and even some set-top boxes. Netflix mobile apps also support Google Chromecast devices.
Logging onto Netflix requires a user name (it’s your email address) and a password, which you entered during initial set-up. If you have forgotten the email or password, you can reset it using the ‘forgot email or password’ option on the login page, which will send instructions to your registered email address or the linked phone number.
Netflix doesn’t currently offer two-step authentication, if you’re wondering.
Glad you asked. We have compiled a list of the 100 best movies on Netflix in India, which includes films from both India and across the world. You should give that a look.
We have you covered on that front as well: here are the best 50 TV shows on Netflix in India, which includes 19 Netflix original series such as Black Mirror and Jessica Jones.
Netflix offers a one-month free trial for first-time users. It's tied to your method of payment, so you can’t keep creating new accounts with different email addresses. Of course, no one can stop you from applying for new credit cards just to enjoy a free Netflix trial, so good luck with that.
Both Airtel and Vodafone are offering one-time free subscription to select postpaid customers, for a limited period of three months and a year respectively. While details of Airtel’s offer aren’t available yet, Vodafone credits Rs. 500 per month – the value of a 'Basic' subscription – into your Netflix account.
Sony also offers three free months of Netflix with annual PlayStation Plus subscriptions, available globally. In the US, those on an eligible T-Mobile ONE plan can also avail a ‘Standard' Netflix subscription at no additional cost.
Yes, that is possible. Netflix supports international debit cards as well, so you can use those to sign up for a free trial. However, you can’t sign up for Netflix without adding a payment method first.
That would be a no, since Netflix doesn’t have a free ad-supported tier as with Hotstar and Spotify. But you can get a free trial as long as you’ve a compatible payment method. Though Airtel and Vodafone offer free subscriptions, they are for a limited period and not for life. Only T-Mobile in the US provides Netflix subscription free for life as long as you are on an eligible T-Mobile ONE voice plan.
Netflix downloads are currently supported on Android, iOS and Windows 10 devices only.
How to Download Netflix Shows and Movies, and Watch Offline
The Netflix app for Windows 10 is available in the Microsoft Store. Netflix doesn’t have an app for macOS as of now.
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