Netflix Pros and Cons – Is it Worth it?

Netflix is superb. You pay relatively little per month and get access to thousands of movies, TV shows and streams of all kinds, from all over the world. It isn’t all positive though and Netflix is having a knock-on effect on the rest of the broadcasting industry. Cable is especially vulnerable to streaming services. So what are the pros and cons of Netflix?

I have used Netflix for years. It has provided a way for me to access content from anywhere. As someone who is often out and about, the ability to while away an hour with a TV show instead of staring at a wall or aimlessly surfing is a real bonus. I regard viewing as a positive use of my time rather than a waste so this works for me. I have noticed some changes in behavior since using Netflix though which I will integrate into the pros and cons of Netflix.

The pros of using Netflix

The positives of Netflix far outweigh the cons in my opinion. Here are just a few of them.

Cheap to use with a free trial

Netflix offers a free month for new users and is then $10 a month. There is a Standard Definition service at $8, but who would use that? There is also a UHD option which is $12 a month. For that you can watch as much as you like, wherever you like, whenever you like. You’re not tied to a cable or satellite box and can stream content on any device capable of doing it.

Easy to live with

Netflix has its own smartphone app, smart TV app, games console app, computer app, works in a browser, works on streaming dongles and works just about anywhere. Whatever app or device you use, the experience is largely the same. The app works the same on iPhone as it is on a PC. If you use the app on one device, you intuitively know how to use it on another.

Downloading and offline viewing

If you’re going to be traveling or don’t want to rely on your data plan you can download some content for offline viewing. This is a neat addition and allows you to plan ahead for journeys or wherever you might want to view without an internet connection. You can’t do it with all shows but some of them allow it.

Netflix Originals

Netflix Originals is the company’s way of paying us back for our patronage. It’s a huge undertaking that the company invests billions of dollars into making its own shows. Orange is the New Black is a Netflix Original, The Crown, The Last Kingdom, Narcos, Designated Survivor and others are all created by Netflix for Netflix. It is investing in making its own movies too.

Reminiscence

As well as new shows and Netflix Originals, there is also the opportunity to catch up with older shows. Netflix features older TV like Supernatural, Friends, Top Gear, Fargo and others all offer a blast from the past if you’re ever in the mood for it.

The cons of using Netflix

Netflix isn’t all good though, there are some downsides to it as there are with any disruptor.

Lowers the value of TV and movies

One common theme with streaming services is that they lower the value of media. As it is so easily come by it is also easily disposed of. When we used to buy CDs or DVDs, we would watch or listen continuously until we grew tired of whatever it was. Now, we watch something once, move on and forget about it. There is no real sense of value to what we stream.

Geolocking

Netflix is geo locked. The Netflix we have here in the US differs quite a lot from the Netflix in Europe or Asia. That isn’t the fault of Netflix. It is the fault of the studios and networks that cling to their outdated licensing models that still think the world is separated by continents and that different places should pay different prices and have individual licenses.

We have more programming here than anywhere else. Travel to the UK and France to see just how different it is!

Too much choice

Have you ever spent more time browsing and trying to choose than actually watching something on Netflix? It’s a regular occurrence in our house. We spend ages navigating the content and can never decide what to watch. Sometimes there is such a thing as too much choice and this is one of those times.

Overall there are many more pros to Netflix than there are cons. Otherwise it wouldn’t be so popular. What are your pros and cons of Netflix? Tell us about them below!