Mobile, Basic, Standard, or Premium: How to choose the right Netflix plan for yourself

Netflix has four different plans available for subscribers - Mobile, Basic, Standard and Premium. All of these plans come with different levels of access. So, how do you decide what’s best for you? Let us help you out.

Netflix has four subscription plans in India - Mobile, Basic, Standard and Premium. They all come with different access options, but all have one thing in common - no ads. So, how do you choose? (Pixabay)

If you are using someone else's Netflix account, deciding exactly what kind of subscription plan you must be on is not your headache. However, if you have been kicked off the friend list and the password has been changed and now you need a Netflix account of your own, you need to take a call. 

First, answer these questions for yourself:

1. So you live alone? Or do you live with friends/family who also need access to your Netflix account?

2. What device are you going to watch Netflix on?

3. How important is it for you to get the best video and audio experience? Can you compromise on either aspect?

We'll now tell you exactly who these four different subscription plans are meant for and what they come with so you can decide what works best for you.

Mobile plan

The Netflix Mobile plan is perfect for anyone who lives alone and does not need to share access to the platform with anyone else. Also, as the name suggests, this plan is for smartphones and tablets. You get the option to download movies and shows you w3ant to watch later and save some of the bandwidth for other important things. Priced at ₹199/month, this plan will let you stream Netflix on your smartphone or your tab in SD resolution. SD resolution means Standard-definition television resolution or standard resolution, the content in this kind of resolution is not high or enhanced. The problems with this plan are that you can stream content only on one screen (a phone or a tab) and you cannot cast it on a bigger screen like a TV. Also, don't share your password with others, it won't work.

Basic plan

If you want to watch Netflix on your phone, tab, and also on TV, the ₹499/month Basic plan is an option. You can stream Netflix across devices but only on one at any given time. Like the Mobile plan, it works on one device/one device so someone else cannot use this account even if they have the password. The Basic plan also gets SD content, but it is ad-free and you can download movies/shows as well. If you live alone, the Mobile or the Basic plan is best for you depending on what device you want to watch content on.

Standard plan

The Standard plan is priced at ₹649/month and is good for sharting with one other person. You can watch Netflix in HD (1080p) on two screens at any point in time and you can use this across devices. Content on this plan is also ad-free, obviously. Since it is FHD (full HD) content, this is a better plan to opt for particularly if you are going to watch Netflix on the TV.

Premium plan

If you need to share your Netflix account with more than one person, the ₹799/month Premium plan is your best option. This accommodates four screens at any point in time and across devices. This plan also gets you UHD (ultra HD) content so it is perfect for those 4K TVs and that audio system since it comes with Dolby Atmos support. So if sound and picture quality are paramount for you - this is the plan you need.

Irrespective of what plan you choose, you can always upgrade or downgrade your plans at any point in time. Stay at home, happy watching!