Ad-supported Netflix won’t let you skip ads or watch shows offline

The ad-supported Netflix service will cost less than its current tiers, but some restrictions will apply, such as no ad-skip and offline viewing.

Netflix Ad Support Level Excludes Offline Viewing

Lines of code found in the Netflix iOS app strongly suggest that the ad-supported service does not support offline viewing. “Downloads are available on all plans except Netflix with Ads,”the warning message reads. This string is already present in the app to support the upcoming ad-supported tier when it launches.

Bloomberg reports that Netflix with ads will prevent the viewer from skipping the ad. To ensure ads continue to run, the app will temporarily hide playback controls until the ad has finished playing. Read: How to Loop YouTube Videos and Playlists

Netflix did not say how much an ad tier would cost consumers. The company is currently working on it and plans to launch it sometime in 2023.

How much does Netflix cost?

Netflix currently offers three different subscriptions: Basic, Standard, and Premium.

The basic plan costs $10 a month and limits your streaming to a single screen at a measly 480p resolution. The Standard Plan upgrades your viewing resolution to 1080p for $15.49 per month. The Premier flagship plan upscales resolution to 4K and allows you to stream to up to four devices simultaneously.

There are other benefits and drawbacks to each plan, which you can explore in detail on the Netflix Help Center. Beyond an ad-supported service (something Netflix has never done since its inception), the company will try to mitigate the loss of users and revenue by imposing restrictions on password sharing.

Streaming services are getting more expensive

There is no denying the fact that the stream landscape is now undergoing quite tectonic shifts. For example, the bundle is back – as we’ve seen with Disney offerings that combine access to Hulu and ESPN.

Everyone and their brother now have a streaming service. But most importantly, we are seeing nasty price spikes, with the latest Disney and Hulu services getting more expensive.