Netflix Review: Our Top Pick in a Sea of Streaming Choices

Editors’ observe: A various content material choice and reliable person interface throughout various kinds of gadgets make Netflix our best choice amongst streaming providers. Worth will increase apart, the streamer affords a continuing stream of authentic TV and movie releases (together with KPop Demon Hunters, Stranger Issues and Adolescence), licensed hits, video games and stay programming, like WWE. The app’s options, availability and content material have helped earn it one other CNET Editors’ Alternative Award in 2025.

Netflix is commonly individuals’s go-to streaming service for watching TV exhibits and flicks. Even with value will increase and difficult competitors from providers like Prime Video, Hulu and Disney Plus, Netflix nonetheless stands out because the ultimate option for streaming entertainment, due to its huge choice and user-friendly format. It additionally has the largest 4K library round for video-on-demand platforms.

Netflix contains all kinds of acquainted community exhibits in addition to extra authentic collection, movies, documentaries and specials than any of its myriad rivals. Regardless of its password crackdown, the phasing out of one of its subscription plans and the addition of an ad-supported tier, the world’s first main streaming service stays our favourite alternative, due to its large library of regularly refreshed content material and its simple accessibility throughout totally different gadgets. And if you’d like, now you can get monetary savings in your subscription by bundling Netflix with other streaming services like HBO Max (via Verizon) or Peacock and Apple TV.

For the seventy fifth annual Emmys, the streamer earned 107 nominations and received 24 awards, with collection like Child Reindeer and Blue Eye Samurai capturing high honors. For those who’re on the lookout for one thing new to look at, Netflix ought to be your first decide.

Relying on the plan you select, Netflix prices between $8 and $25 per thirty days, which is on the greater finish for a streaming service, as you’ll be able to see within the chart beneath. Nevertheless, the pricier bundle permits you to watch as much as 4 screens without delay and create totally different person profiles. Due to its sheer selection and variety of new issues to look at, Netflix additionally provides you probably the most bang on your buck.

Netflix then vs. now

Between 2012 and 2013, Netflix premiered its first authentic TV exhibits, together with Lilyhammer, House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black. At the moment, it has a catalog of more than 2,000 original TV shows and movies, together with international hits like Stranger Things, Emmy winners equivalent to Bridgerton and The Crown, in addition to Oscar-nominated films equivalent to The Six Triple Eight and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.

The corporate launched its ad-supported tier in November 2022 for $7 per thirty days. It is since gone up in value to $8 a month and turn out to be the streamer’s hottest plan, even with the corporate’s password-sharing crackdown.

We must always point out that Netflix’s slate of video video games is rising at a speedy tempo, with the streamer launching new video games each month. Although entry is simply absolutely out there for cell customers, the corporate has been conducting checks for the TV app, and chances are you’ll discover a beta model in your display.

Netflix with advertisements: Here is what it is like

Like HBO Max’s ad-supported subscription, the Netflix with ads $8 plan guarantees roughly 4 to five minutes of commercials per hour of content material. The streamer additionally stated it will implement frequency caps to forestall viewers from seeing the identical advertisements time and again whereas they’re watching an episode or film. Nevertheless, we discovered that not each title, new or outdated, options advertisements, and the size of every advert break varies. Moreover, generally the advert breaks do not run advertisements in the course of a present or movie.

As an illustration, I did not see any advertisements in Seinfeld, not even a preroll earlier than an episode of the present begins. Den of Thieves 2 had 10 advert breaks unfold all through the film’s 2-hour, 20-minute runtime. Satan Could Cry had two advert breaks in a 30-minute episode: One 15-second preroll and a 30-second advert in the course of the present. Whereas watching three episodes of the anime collection, I observed that generally the commercials did not play, even with the progress bar exhibiting after they had been supposed to seem.

The Equalizer 2 had no preroll, there have been eight advert breaks, starting from 17 seconds as much as 30, that includes a single business, and The Strolling Useless had no commercials. After I watched the Netflix authentic Nonnas, it had zero advertisements. This appears to mirror Netflix’s dedication to omit advertisements from new films.

The streamer additionally appears to maintain its phrase about advert selection, and I barely noticed the identical business twice whereas watching one title. Commercials for the Nintendo Change, snack meals corporations and a neighborhood Volkswagen supplier had been amongst people who aired. Child-friendly content material I examined within the grownup profile for exhibits like Avatar: The Final Airbender, Cocomelon, Elevating Dion or Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitsu lacked commercials.

The advertisements do not function as pop-up surprises. Yellow dots on the progress bar point out when and what number of advert breaks will seem in a TV present or film. For those who do not see the dots, there are no commercials in that exact piece of content material. There’s additionally a countdown clock that tells you ways lengthy every break will final.

What’s lacking from Netflix’s ad-based plan?

Netflix made upgrades to its advertisements plan, and also you’re now capable of obtain any content material to 2 gadgets. That is not like different platforms like HBO Max and Hulu, which require you to have an ad-free subscription to obtain.

Previous to launch, Netflix stated that some titles wouldn’t be out there on the ad-supported model as a consequence of licensing restrictions. This content material is marked with a lock icon indicating which titles are behind a paywall, and means it’s important to improve to an ad-free account to look at any of it. A fast observe on the thumbnail lets you recognize the title is unavailable as a consequence of licensing. However in the event you click on on it, Netflix will immediate you to decide on an ad-free plan to look at it.

Along with exhibits like Home of Playing cards, a variety of animated titles and flicks are unavailable to stream except you improve to a higher-priced subscription. They embody Venom: The Final Dance, The Hateful Eight, Boss Child: Again within the Crib and Paddington in Peru. Netflix’s Children’ Profile does not play advertisements in any respect, however some kids could also be dissatisfied to study all of the Boss Child titles aren’t out there to look at. It is in all probability price spending the additional cash on the ad-free plan simply to entry Netflix’s complete catalog.

What exhibits and flicks does Netflix have?

Netflix could have had the first-to-market benefit on the earth of streaming providers, however it’s saved its momentum with its growing variety of authentic exhibits and flicks — a lot of which have received crucial acclaim and main awards and nominations.

Learn extra: The Netflix Secret Menu Is Your Key to Unlocking Hundreds of New Movies

In comparison with different streaming platforms, you’ll be able to’t beat Netflix’s slate of authentic TV exhibits that at the moment are thought of among the many better of the fashionable period of tv, together with these talked about above plus many extra, equivalent to Beef,  Wednesday, The Residence, Cash Heist and Adolescence.

Exterior of TV exhibits, Netflix’s authentic applications embody a variety of international movies and exhibits, documentary collection, anime, stand-up comedy specials, stay occasions and reality dating and competitors exhibits. Not all of them are runaway hits, however a lot of them are, and there is sufficient to discover fascinating exhibits that will not have discovered a house on conventional community TV. The corporate’s dip into stay occasion streaming has been increasing prior to now yr. Netflix affords sports activities occasions like The Netflix Cup, an upcoming boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, and NFL video games on Christmas. The platform additionally streams stay comedy specials, together with the Tom Brady roast and Katt Williams’ stand-up show.

Although the theater expertise has turn out to be normalized once more for moviegoers, Netflix affords your individual dwelling as a spot to search out new movies. The choice spans throughout genres and geography, and it contains K-dramas, animated options and fantasy e book variations.

Netflix sometimes provides exhibits a full season at a time, although not whereas a present is airing on community TV — so if you do not have cable or one other platform like Hulu, you may have to attend to look at for a number of months to look at seasons in full. In some circumstances, — like Bridgerton — there are cut up seasons the place the primary 5 episodes will stream one month and the final half of the season will premiere within the following month or so.

One criticism: Netflix content material generally can come and go with out warning. The one strategy to inform if one thing is leaving the service within the subsequent 30 days is in the event you see the Leaving Quickly label on the tile for a given present or film — or search on-line for every part coming and entering into a given month.

What’s it like to make use of Netflix? 

I first subscribed to Netflix again within the early streaming days of 2007, so utilizing the platform appears like second nature at this level. Even in the event you’re new to it, it is fairly user-friendly: Open the app and faucet in your profile (if in case you have one arrange), and you may see a homepage with totally different class rows: We Suppose You may Love These, Proceed Watching, New on Netflix, Prime Picks for You and a variety of (generally oddly particular) different classes based mostly on exhibits you’ve got watched earlier than. Mine embody Epic Worlds and Tales with Humor and Coronary heart. 

Netflix’s design encourages scrolling — there are such a lot of totally different classes to look by, after which exhibits and flicks inside these classes to proceed scrolling into. You may create a watch listing that will help you minimize down on this, however the huge, colourful library makes it simple to spend extra time trying by choices than truly watching a present, so watch out.

The Netflix app operates equally throughout numerous gadgets. My dwelling web page on the net browser is sort of equivalent to that on my Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV Stick, each in content material and format. It is extra condensed on the smaller iPhone and Android telephone screens, however nonetheless follows the identical format, and has a transparent “Downloads” tab to search out content material to save lots of to look at offline in your gadget. 

One distinction between gadgets is voice instructions: You may discover it kind of troublesome to fireplace up a Netflix present out of your gadget’s dwelling display relying on which voice-capable gadget you are utilizing.

For instance, once you say, “Watch Stranger Issues” on the Apple TV and the iOS app on iPhone, it would first have you ever click on which particular present (Stranger Issues or Past Stranger Issues), after which will take you to an Apple TV web page for the present, and there it will provide you with the choice to open Netflix and begin episode 1. On Amazon Fireplace TV Stick, you’ll be able to say, “Watch Stranger Issues,” and it’ll open Netflix routinely in the event you’re logged into the app. On the Roku 4K stick, in the event you say, “Watch Stranger Issues,” it would take you proper to the primary episode within the app. These are extra hardware-side considerations, however fascinating to notice. 

When you’re within the Netflix app, although, voice instructions work the identical throughout gadgets: Go to the Search tab, maintain the microphone button to dictate, and say the title of the present you are on the lookout for. 

When you choose a present or film to look at, you could have the choice to fast-forward, rewind, add subtitles and alter your audio settings. In case you have a Premium account and a sufficiently big 4K TV, watching in Extremely HD makes for a really cinematic expertise. The present or film you select can even present up in your “Proceed watching” part on the high of your homepage for simpler entry. 

How a lot does Netflix price?

Netflix affords three value plans: Customary with advertisements, Customary and Premium. The essential, ad-free choice is now not out there and has been phased out. For those who select to share your account with anybody exterior your foremost family, the month-to-month charge is $8 per additional member if in case you have the Customary or Premium plans. Clients with the ad-based subscription have the choice to pay $7 a month so as to add additional members. Right here is how the prices and options break down:

All plans embody the power to look at on any gadget. The essential ad-supported plan doesn’t embody roughly 5 to 10% of Netflix’s catalog, however all different subscribers have its full, limitless assortment of flicks and TV exhibits. All plans permit cancellation at any time. 

Netflix’s ad-free plan prices greater than Prime Video ($12 a month) and fewer than Hulu’s ad-free plan plan, (which is now $18). Its new ad-supported model is lower than Hulu’s and now comes with two streams — beforehand it was one display. For those who’re on a shared Netflix account with individuals in a single family, likelihood is it is a Premium one ($25 a month) — in the event you’re truly splitting it between 4 individuals, that is about $6 a month every, and a nonetheless a worth for all the authentic content material out there, together with some in 4K Extremely HD. 

Downloads can be found for all subscription varieties, however clients with the ad-supported model can solely have 15 downloads a month per every gadget. That rely begins over initially of every month, whereas the ad-free plans can have 100 downloads with no month-to-month limitations.

What options do you get on Netflix? 

Exterior of normal streaming, if in case you have the Customary or Premium plan, you’ll be able to create totally different profiles for various customers, and discover your individual listing of customized suggestions. 

Netflix’s advice recreation is robust, from As a result of You Watched carousels that’ve been improved by the “two thumbs-up” feature, to the choice to remove content from your house web page. New options have been rolled out over the previous few years for each the cell model and TV app to make it easier to find something to watch, and the corporate is at the moment testing AI-powered search on cell.

The platform additionally has a very interesting children part, with a stable catalog of content material, together with CoComelon, Pokemon: Grasp Journeys, and Trolls: The Beat Goes On! and a way more kid-friendly person interface.

For those who subscribe to the Premium plan, you’ll be able to watch sure exhibits and flicks in 4K Ultra HD on 4K TVs. You may want a gradual web connection pace of no less than 25 megabits per second, and streaming high quality set to auto or excessive. 

Netflix has extra 4K content material than simply about every other streaming service, and numerous its 4K exhibits and flicks are additionally out there in HDR. Excessive dynamic vary supplies an excellent larger enchancment in picture high quality than 4K based on CNET’s checks, with higher distinction and colour, and the distinction is very obvious on massive, higher-end televisions. Netflix helps the 2 main HDR codecs, generic HDR (aka HDR-10) in addition to Dolby Imaginative and prescient. In case you have a tool that handles Dolby Imaginative and prescient, Netflix will play content material (if out there) in that format by default.

Knowledge utilization varies by format, starting from about 1GB per hour for the standard-definition video to as much as 7GB per hour for the highest-quality 4K streams. Downloading and streaming take up the same quantity of knowledge, based on Netflix. If you wish to keep away from having Netflix eat up your whole knowledge, you’ll be able to take sure steps laid out on Netflix’s web site to adjust your data usage settings. 

All subscribers can obtain TV exhibits and flicks on the Netflix app on cell gadgets for offline viewing, although sure titles aren’t out there to obtain. 

Learn extra: 16 Underrated Netflix Tips That Create a Better Experience

Must you get it? 

Netflix stays our favourite streaming platform of the more and more massive bunch. It has an enormous collection of films and TV exhibits outdated and new, tons of high-quality authentic applications, and an easy-to-navigate interface. Though there isn’t any free trial, it is price making an attempt Netflix for a month if you’d like one thing new to look at.

Watch this: Secret Netflix codes: Uncover higher streaming suggestions with this hidden trick

02:15