South African Netflix subscribers are now paying more for their favorite shows and movies, as the streaming giant quietly rolled out price increases across multiple plans in May 2025.
This is Netflix’s second price adjustment in South Africa since its debut in 2016, following a similar hike in 2021. The changes affect nearly all subscription tiers except the Basic plan.
Here’s How Much More You’ll Pay:
| Plan Type | Old Price | New Price | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile | R49 | R59 | 20% |
| Standard | R159 | R179 | 13% |
| Premium | R199 | R229 | 15% |
| Basic | R99 | Unchanged | 0% |
Who’s Affected and When?
- New subscribers: Pay new rates from June 2025
- Current subscribers: Notified a month in advance; increases kick in based on individual billing cycles
- If billed before June 7: Enjoy old pricing for one more month
Why the Price Hike?
Netflix hasn’t given a clear breakdown, instead citing general reasons like:
- Service improvements
- Inflation
- Local taxes or regulatory shifts
This comes as streaming services worldwide face mounting pressure to balance content investment with profitability, especially in emerging markets like South Africa.
What’s the Reaction?
While some users say the increases are modest, others feel it adds strain amid ongoing economic pressure, especially with high inflation, food costs, and rising data prices in the country.
Several subscribers on social media are questioning whether the extra cost comes with better content or user experience, with others threatening to downgrade or cancel in favor of cheaper competitors.
