Are Netflix and the other streamers worth the price?: A consumer’s guide
By Sabrina Reed
Is Netflix worth the price?
Netflix is the most talked about streamer, mainly because it’s the first one to really gain traction with consumers in a way that set it apart from those that were around when it got its start and services that were introduced after the platform became a household commodity. It became so popular that the phrase “Netflix and chill” entered the pop culture lexicon and became an innuendo that inspired skits, jokes, and more.
From month-to-month, the streaming service provides subscribers with a constantly updating library that includes U.S. Netflix original series and movies, as well as content from its global partnerships, and licensed films and shows as well. However, its price continues to rise, making it less and less affordable for those who were used to its basic plan. So, is it still worth it to be a Netflix subscriber? Let’s see what Reelgood’s data has to say.
How much does Netflix cost?
Currently the plan is $15.49/month. Subscribers can watch ad-free movies and TV shows as well as play mobile games. This plan can accommodate two supported devices at a time and includes the ability to download titles on said devices. Media is viewable in Full HD. There is also an option to add one extra member to the plan if they do not live with the subscriber.
How many shows are available to watch on Netflix?
According to Reelgood, Netflix had about 2,435 series on the U.S. version of their platform at the time of their analysis. Using IMDb to determine the quality of the titles, the streaming aggregator determined that of this total, 353 were high quality (rated 8.0+ with at least 300 votes) and 1,100 were quality (rated 6.5 to 8.0 with at least 300 votes), leaving 982 more shows to tune into even if they weren’t rated as high on the database.
Breaking that down per dollar, that means you’re getting about 157 shows total for each dollar you spend on the service with 23 of them being of high quality, 71 being quality, and 63 shows rounding out the total. Meaning 60% of series on offer are worth viewing.
How many movies are available to watch on Netflix?
There were about 3,864 movies on the streamer when the data was aggregated. The majority–1,815–weren’t considered to be quality or high quality. However, that doesn’t mean quality films weren’t a part of the mix. Those movies came in at a total of 1,676, so there was only a 139 title difference between the two categories, showcasing the streamer does have plenty of good movies for subscribers to watch. But if you’re looking for high quality films, there isn’t a four digit number to share. There are about 373 S-tier movies on the platform.
Given the above data, this means you get 249 movies per dollar with Netflix. Of that total, only 24 are high quality but there isn’t a big difference between the number of quality films available and what else is on offer. 108 have a rating of 6.5-8.0 on IMDb while those that fall below that range come in at 117. As such, 53% of the movies on the platform could match your viewing tastes.
Verdict: Yes, Netflix is worth the price. However, while the streamer has a vast library of films to watch, it’s better known for its original series. You’ll get the most out of your subscription if you’re a TV lover. If you’re not, you may find that you don’t use the platform as often, making it an expensive month-to-month service charge if you’re subscribed to its $15.49 ad-free standard plan. The streamer does have a $6.99/month ad-supported plan if you don’t mind commercials and are an infrequent user of the platform. But it’s not available through all third-party partners and packages, so you should check with your provider to make sure its available for your household.