Netflix is increasing monthly subscription fees across all tiers in Germany and Austria starting September 2026, according to reports from WinFuture and Digital Fernsehen. Most plans will rise by 2 euros per month, and the company is permanently discontinuing its ad-free Basic plan, forcing those users to migrate to other subscription models.
New Netflix Subscription Pricing for Germany and Austria
The price adjustments affect every available tier. The Standard plan with ads will rise from 4.99 euros to 6.99 euros, representing a 40 percent increase, according to nordbayern.de. The ad-free Standard plan, which provides Full-HD resolution, will cost 15.99 euros, up from 13.99 euros. The Premium plan, featuring 4K resolution, will increase from 19.99 euros to 21.99 euros.
In Austria, the Basic plan—which remains available there unlike in Germany—will rise to 10.99 euros. The ad-supported version is not expected to launch in the Austrian market until 2027, per WinFuture.
Netflix is also raising the cost for “extra members” living outside the primary household. According to Digital Fernsehen, adding a member to an ad-supported account will now cost 4.99 euros, while adding a member to an ad-free plan will cost 5.99 euros.
Investment in Live Sports and Content Licensing
Netflix attributes these price hikes to the rising cost of maintaining and expanding its content library. According to WinFuture, the company specifically cited the need for higher investments in licenses for live sports as a primary driver for the increased fees. This strategic shift toward live broadcasting requires significant capital, which the company is passing on to the subscriber base regardless of whether individual users consume sports content.
The removal of the ad-free Basic plan further signals a push toward the ad-supported tier. This model provides Netflix with dual revenue streams: monthly subscription fees and advertising payouts.
Account Requirements and Global Growth Trends
Under German law, existing customers must explicitly agree to the price increase before the new charges can be debited. According to nordbayern.de, if a user refuses the new terms, their subscription will be terminated. This follows a previous price adjustment in April 2024.
Despite these increases, Netflix continues to grow its user base. Nordbayern.de reports that the service surpassed 300 million subscribers globally in early 2025, reaching over 325 million by 2026. This growth puts Netflix significantly ahead of its primary competitors; Prime Video has approximately 210 million users, and Disney+ has roughly 130 million, according to the same report.
Comparison of Monthly Plan Changes
| Plan Tier | Previous Price | New Price (Sept 2026) | Percentage Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard with Ads | 4.99 € | 6.99 € | ~40% |
| Standard (Ad-Free) | 13.99 € | 15.99 € | a percentage increase |
| Premium (4K) | 19.99 € | 21.99 € | ~10% |
For context, the US market remains more expensive. According to WinFuture, US customers currently pay 26.99 US dollars (approximately 23 euros) for the Premium tier.