Those who have paid for Netflix through iTunes over the past few years will soon have to say goodbye to their discounted, lower rates. The company confirmed The edge that it began removing users' access to their iTunes billing plan for the streaming service. “Basic plan members who were using an iTunes payment method” will now have to pay the company directly using a credit or debit card, Netflix representative Momo Zhao told the publication.
Netflix stopped letting new customers are signing up for in-app subscriptions on Apple devices in 2018 to avoid giving them a commission. This allowed those already paying through Apple to retain their payment preference, and at least one person said they still benefit from the $10 per month price of the service until they are kicked out of their grandfathered rates.
The company killed its basic package at $10 in the US and UK last year, which was the cheapest ad-free option in those regions. After a price increase a few months after this event, new customers had to pay at least $15.49 to receive a viewing experience uninterrupted by advertisements. The ad-supported option now costs them $7 per month, while the Premium tier which supports four devices and Ultra HD now costs subscribers $23. Customers who were paying through iTunes will now have to pay these prices, if they still wish to keep their subscriptions active.