Another price hike. It feels like every few months, Netflix finds a new reason to dig deeper into our pockets, and frankly, it's exhausting. You are not imagining it, and you are definitely not alone in your frustration. Netflix currently holds a dismal 1.3-star rating on Trustpilot, with a flood of recent reviews citing billing issues and the relentless price increases as their primary complaint. It gets worse. The company has an F rating from the Better Business Bureau, a testament to a long history of unresolved customer issues. This latest increase, which quietly rolled out in late 2023 for the Basic and Premium tiers, is just one more reason why so many long-time subscribers are finally looking for the door.
Best Ways to Lower Your Netflix Bills
| Lowering Bill Method | Ease of Action | Why use this method |
|---|---|---|
| Downgrade Your Plan | Easy | The most direct way to immediately lower your monthly cost without losing access completely. |
| Switch to the Ad-Supported Plan | Easy | If you can tolerate commercials, this is Netflix's cheapest offering and a quick fix for a higher bill. |
| Pause Your Membership | Easy | A great short-term solution if you want to take a break for 1 to 3 months without fully canceling. |
| Check for Carrier Bundles | Tricky | Companies like T-Mobile offer 'Netflix on Us' with certain plans, potentially eliminating the bill entirely. |
| Cancel and Wait for an Offer | Easy | Sometimes canceling is the only way to get their attention. They might email you a 'welcome back' deal later. |
Step-by-step Guide on Lowering Your Netflix Bill After Complaining
1 Identify and review the bill
It's time for a reality check. Log in, go to your account settings, and look at your billing details. Confirm exactly how much the price went up and which plan you're on. No more ignoring that monthly charge.
2 Consider downgrading your plan
Do you really need 4K streaming on four devices? Downgrading from Premium ($22.99) to Standard ($15.49) or the Ad-Supported plan ($6.99) is the simplest way to slash the cost. You can change it right in your account settings.
3 Removing add ons
Netflix's password sharing crackdown came with a new fee for an 'extra member'. If you're paying for someone outside your household, it might be time to cut them off. It's a tough conversation, but it saves you $7.99 a month.
4 Look for promotions and offers
Don't look on Netflix's site, you won't find them there. Check if your mobile provider (like T-Mobile) or internet company offers a streaming bundle. This is one of the only ways to get a 'free' or discounted subscription these days.
5 Check for Student, Military, or Low-Income Discounts
Let's be blunt, Netflix doesn't offer these. Unlike Spotify or other services, they don't provide special discounts for these groups. It's a frustrating reality, so don't waste your time looking for a code that doesn't exist.
6 Use Credit Card Streaming Credits
Some credit cards, like certain American Express cards, offer monthly or annual credits for streaming services. Check your card benefits to see if you can get a statement credit to offset the cost of your Netflix bill. It's free money if you have it.
🔍 How to Negotiate for a Lower Bill with Netflix
Your Goal:
To get a one-time credit or at least a clear reason for the price hike, while making it clear you're ready to cancel.
The Script:
Hi, I'm writing to express my disappointment with the recent price increase on my account. I've been a loyal subscriber for over [Number] years, and my bill just went from [Old Price] to [New Price]. Honestly, with the cost of everything going up, I'm re-evaluating my subscriptions. Before I decide to cancel and switch to a competitor like Hulu or Max, I wanted to ask if there are any loyalty offers, promotions, or a one-time credit you can apply to my account to help offset this new cost. Thank you for your time.
Key Phrases to Use:
- "Long-time subscriber for X years"
- "Considering canceling my service"
- "Disappointed with the price increase"
- "Are there any loyalty offers available?"
- "What are my options to lower this bill?"
If They Say No (And They Probably Will)
- Immediately downgrade your plan to the cheapest option you can tolerate.
- Pause your account for a few months to save money and see if you miss it.
- Follow through and cancel. There are plenty of other streaming services happy to take your money.
Best Alternatives to Netflix
Sometimes, no amount of negotiating is worth the headache. If you've had enough of Netflix's price hikes and poor service, you have options. Here are a few of the top competitors people are switching to:
| Competitor | Why it's Better Alternative to Netflix | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Hulu | Perfect for users who want to keep up with current TV shows, as many episodes are available the day after they air. | Offers a cheaper ad-supported plan and can be bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+ for a comprehensive entertainment package. |
| Max | The best choice for prestige, high-budget TV series and a massive library of Warner Bros. films. Think quality over quantity. | Includes content from HBO, Discovery+, DC, and Warner Bros. The Ad-Free plan allows for downloads for offline viewing. |
| Peacock | A strong budget-friendly option, especially for fans of NBCUniversal content, WWE, and live sports like the Premier League. | Frequently offers aggressive introductory pricing (like $1.99/month for a year). It has a smaller library but provides unique live content. |
Consider the following before leaving Netflix
- Check Who's Watching: Are you sharing your account (within your household, of course)? Make sure you're not canceling a service your family or roommates use daily.
- Download Your Data: You can download your viewing history from your account settings. It can be a fun, nostalgic list to have, or a good way to remember shows you want to find elsewhere.
- Use Up Gift Card Balances: If you have any gift card balance on your account, make sure to use it up before you cancel, otherwise you're just leaving money on the table.
- The 'Welcome Back' Ploy: Remember that you can always resubscribe in a month or two. Sometimes they even send a discount offer to lure you back in.
Let Pine AI Help Lower Your Netflix Bill
Feeling drained from just thinking about all this? We get it. Dealing with subscription hikes is a hassle nobody has time for. Instead of navigating Netflix's unhelpful help center, let Pine AI take over. Our AI-powered assistant can analyze your subscription, identify the fastest way to lower your bill (like that downgrade you've been putting off), and even help you draft the perfect message to customer service if needed. We handle the annoying parts so you can save money and get back to, well, watching something else. Stop letting these companies chip away at your bank account. Let Pine AI sort it out for you.
Frequently Asked Questions When Trying to Lower Your Netflix Bill
What if Netflix doesn't lower my TV Streaming bill?
Should I email rather than phone to complain about my TV Streaming bill costs?
What's the easiest way to contact Netflix TV Streaming?
What is the average Netflix TV Streaming monthly bill?
Why did my Netflix TV Streaming bill suddenly increase this month?
How to get a discount on my Netflix TV Streaming bill?
What promotions does Netflix offer to lower bills?
Chloe Anne-Bennett
Streaming & Entertainment Editor
Chloe Anne-Bennett is the Streaming & Entertainment Editor at Pine AI. Chloe is a leading voice on the business of streaming, entertainment and the evolving landscape of digital media. Before contributing to Pine AI, Chloe was an entertainment correspondent for a major news outlet, where she reported on everything from box office trends to the impact of streaming services on traditional media. At Pine AI, Chloe leverages her deep industry knowledge to provide our readers with insightful analysis of the latest trends, helping them make sense of their subscriptions and where to hit the sweet spots in how to handle customer service reps.
