How to switch between Netflix plans on your account

You can change your Netflix plan at any time through your account settings — there is no waiting period or penalty. Netflix will adjust your next billing date based on the price difference between your current plan and the new one. If your new plan costs more, you pay the difference right away and your billing cycle resets. If it costs less, Netflix credits the difference toward your next bill.

The process takes about two minutes and happens entirely within the Netflix app or website. You do not need to contact Netflix support unless something goes wrong during the change.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Netflix, go to Account settings, and select your current plan under "Membership and Billing" to see all available options.
  • Changing your plan takes effect when ready, though you may see the new plan name on your next billing statement.
  • Downgrading to a cheaper plan does not refund money you already paid — Netflix credits the difference to your next billing date.
  • Some plans are not available in all regions, and Netflix occasionally retires older plans, which may limit your choices.
  • If you cannot see the change option, your account may be on a promotional rate or managed by someone else, which requires different steps.

Steps to change your plan on a computer or phone

Start by opening Netflix and signing in with your account. In the top right corner, click or tap your profile icon, then select "Account" from the menu that appears.

On the Account page, look for a section called "Membership and Billing" or "Plan Details" — the exact name varies slightly by region. Under this section, you will see your current plan listed with a button that says "Change Plan" or "Upgrade Plan" or "Downgrade Plan" depending on what you are doing. Click that button.

Netflix will show you all plans available in your region with their prices and features side by side. Select the plan you want, review the price change on the confirmation screen, and click "Confirm" or "Update Plan". The change happens when ready, and you will see the new plan name the next time you log in.

What happens to your billing when you change plans

If you upgrade to a more expensive plan, Netflix charges you the difference between the two plans right away. Your billing cycle then resets to today's date, meaning your next full charge will be one month (or one year, depending on your billing period) from now.

If you downgrade to a cheaper plan, Netflix does not refund the money you already paid for the current month. Instead, it credits the price difference toward your next billing date. For example, if you paid $15.49 for a Premium plan and downgrade to Standard at $6.99, Netflix credits $8.50 to your account. On your next billing date, you will be charged only $6.99 minus that $8.50 credit, which means no charge that month.

You can see exactly how much credit you have and when your next charge will be by returning to the Account page after you change your plan.

Plans available and what each one includes

Netflix offers between three and five plans depending on where you live. The cheapest plan usually includes ads and lower video quality. Mid-tier plans remove ads and allow standard or high definition video. The most expensive plan adds the ability to watch on four screens at once and offers the highest video quality available.

Not all plans are available everywhere. Some regions have fewer options, and Netflix occasionally removes older plans when you try to change to them. If a plan you previously had is no longer listed, you can only choose from the plans Netflix currently offers in your country.

Each plan page on Netflix shows exactly what you get: the number of screens you can watch on at the same time, the video quality, and whether ads appear. Read these details before confirming your change, because some plans have real limits — for example, the ad-supported plan may not let you read shows to watch offline.

When you cannot change your plan yourself

If the "Change Plan" button does not appear in your Account settings, one of three things is usually happening. Your account may be on a promotional or discounted rate that Netflix does not let you change through the normal method. Someone else may have created the account and set it up under their payment method, which means they control plan changes. Or your account may have a temporary hold because of a billing problem.

If your account was created by someone else — a family member, a friend, or a partner — you will need to ask them to make the change. They can do it from their own device using the same steps above, and the change will affect everyone on that account.

If you think your account is on a promotional rate or has a billing hold, contact Netflix support through the Help Center in your Account settings. They can tell you why the change option is not available and walk you through the next steps.

Changing plans on a shared or family account

If multiple people watch from your Netflix account, changing the plan affects everyone. A downgrade might remove features that other watchers use — for example, dropping from Premium to Standard means only two people can watch at the same time instead of four.

Before you change plans, think about who else uses the account and what they watch. If you share the account with family or roommates, let them know about the change first, especially if you are downgrading. Some people may want to create their own separate Netflix account instead of staying on a shared plan.

Netflix also offers a "paid sharing" feature in some regions that lets you add people outside your household to your account for an extra monthly fee. If you have paid sharing set up, changing your plan might affect those extra members, so check your Account page to see if this applies to you.

What to do if your plan change does not go through

If you click "Confirm" and the page does not change, or if you see an error message, the most common cause is a payment problem. Netflix may have declined your card or found an issue with your billing information. Go back to Account settings, find "Payment Method" or "Billing Info", and make sure your card details are correct and up to date.

If your payment information looks correct, try changing your plan again from a different device or browser. Sometimes a technical glitch on one device clears up when you try from another. If the problem persists, use the Help Center link in your Account settings to contact Netflix support and describe what happened.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my plan in the middle of my billing cycle?

Yes. If you upgrade, you pay the difference when ready and your billing cycle resets. If you downgrade, Netflix credits the difference to your next bill. You can change your plan as many times as you want, whenever you want.

Will I lose my watch history or saved shows if I change plans?

No. Your watch history, saved shows, and all your preferences stay exactly the same no matter which plan you choose. The only thing that changes is the video quality, number of screens, and whether ads appear.

What if I downgrade and then want to upgrade again soon?

You can upgrade back to your previous plan or any other plan at any time. Netflix will charge you the difference between the plans, and your billing cycle will reset again. There is no penalty for changing plans frequently.

Do I need to cancel and restart my account to change plans?

No. Changing your plan is completely separate from canceling. You stay on the same account with the same login, history, and settings. You only cancel if you want to stop your Netflix subscription entirely.

Why does my plan option say "current plan" instead of showing a change button?

That means you are already on that plan. If you want a different plan, look for the other options listed below it and click the one you want. If you only see one plan listed, your account may be on a promotional rate or managed by someone else.