How to Pay Monthly for Netflix
By Aaron Parson
Whether you want to stream a movie every few weeks or binge watch through 10 seasons of a TV show, Netflix instant streaming costs the same amount every month: $8.99 for the Standard plan, which includes unlimited HD videos on up to two screens at a time. All you need to start your subscription is a credit card, debit card, PayPal account or Netflix gift card.
Payment Methods and Dates
Netflix accepts payments with a credit or debit card -- Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover -- or through PayPal. Netflix bills you every month on the same day that you signed up, starting after your free trial; so if you want to have your payment process on a certain day each month, sign up for Netflix on that day. Netflix also accepts gift cards, sold at retail stores including Walmart, Target, Walgreens and GameStop.
Start an Account
To sign up for Netflix for the first time, visit the Netflix home page on a computer and click Start Your Free Month. (If you want a disc-only plan, visit the Netflix DVD home page instead.) Create an account, choose a subscription plan and then enter your payment details. If you have a gift card, you do not need a credit card or PayPal account to sign up -- visit the gift redemption page to start. You'll still get a free month when joining with a gift card.
If you've used Netflix previously and ended your subscription, log in to update your payment information and reactivate the plan. You don't get another free month for resubscribing.
Streaming Subscription Plans
As of publication, Netflix has three streaming video plans: Basic, Standard and Premium. The default, Standard, costs $8.99 per month and lets you watch Netflix on up to two computers or other devices at once. For a dollar less, the $7.99 Basic plan limits you to a single machine at once, and does not include HD video. The premium plan at $11.99 per month raises the limit to four simultaneous machines and adds Ultra HD video on select programs. No matter which plan you choose, you get access to unlimited streaming hours and the same video library.
Disc Rental Plans
Renting DVDs from Netflix requires an additional monthly charge on top of your streaming plan, or you can subscribe to DVD rentals alone. The cheapest option, the Limited Plan, costs $4.99 and limits you to two discs per month. Other plans include unlimited discs per month, and are priced based on how many discs you can rent at once: $7.99 for one, $11.99 for two or $15.99 for three. Adding access to Blu-ray discs costs an additional $1 on a limited plan, or $2, $3 or $4 for the unlimited plans, respectively.
To add disc rentals to an existing streaming subscription, log in to Netflix and visit the DVD plan subscription page.
Writer Bio
Aaron Parson has been writing about electronics, software and games since 2006, contributing to several technology websites and working with NewsHour Productions. Parson holds a Bachelor of Arts from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash.