TL;DR: The "Basic" ad-free plan is officially dead in 2026, forcing families to choose between seeing ads or paying a significant premium. Netflix has also rolled out "Experience Levels" for kids' profiles and expanded its Netflix Games library. If you’re tired of the price hikes, it might be time to audit your "Standard with Ads" usage or finally look at the best Netflix alternatives for families.
It feels like every six months we get that "Updates to our terms and pricing" email that we all want to delete immediately. As of early 2026, the Netflix landscape has shifted. The "Basic" plan—that middle-ground, ad-free tier many of us clung to for years—has been phased out globally.
Here is the breakdown of what your monthly statement looks like now:
- Standard with Ads: The "budget" option. You’re looking at about $7.99–$9.99/month. You get 1080p, but your kids are going to see commercials for toys and sugary cereal unless you’re strictly on a "Kids" profile (and even then, the "internal" promos are getting aggressive).
- Standard (Ad-Free): This has jumped to roughly $18.99/month. This allows for two devices and the ability to add one "extra member" who doesn't live in your house for an additional fee.
- Premium (4K + Ad-Free): The big one. At $24.99/month, this is a steep investment. It’s the only way to get spatial audio and 4K, which matters if you just bought a fancy TV, but for a toddler watching StoryBots, it’s total overkill.
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For years, the Basic plan was the "intentional parent" sweet spot. It was cheap enough to justify but kept the commercial influence out of the house. Now, Netflix is essentially "nudging" (read: shoving) us toward the ad-supported tier because they make more money from advertisers than they do from your $12 subscription.
If you opt for the Ads tier to save $100+ a year, keep in mind that while Netflix claims "limited" ads on kids' content, the line is blurring. You’ll see "sponsored content" and "pre-roll" trailers that look a lot like ads. If you're trying to reduce consumerism in your house, the "Standard" ad-free plan is unfortunately the new entry price for sanity.
Netflix finally realized that a "Kids" profile for a 4-year-old shouldn't look the same as one for a 12-year-old. They’ve introduced Experience Levels, which allow for more granular control than the old "TV-Y" or "PG" toggles.
- Preschool Level: Locks the interface into a simplified, character-based navigation. It filters out everything except the gentlest content like Puffin Rock or Trash Truck.
- Bridge Level (Ages 6-9): This is where things get tricky. This level allows for more "action" but filters out the "brain rot" influencers that have started migrating from YouTube to Netflix.
- Tween/Teen Level: This opens up the library to things like Stranger Things while still keeping a lid on the MA-rated "prestige" dramas.
If we're paying $20/month, the content better be good. Here is the Screenwise-approved list of what to actually watch in 2026, and what to skip.
For the Little Ones (Ages 2-6)
- Watch: Blue Eye Samurai — Wait, NO. Just checking if you’re paying attention. That is very much for adults.
- Actually Watch: Puffin Rock. It is the ultimate "low-stimulation" show. No flashing lights, no screaming, just a cute puffin learning about nature. It’s the anti-brain-rot.
- Actually Watch: Octonauts. Still the gold standard for teaching kids about marine biology without them realizing they’re learning.
- Skip: CoComelon. I know, I know, it’s a babysitter in a box. But the frame cuts are so fast it’s basically caffeine for a toddler’s brain. If you need 20 minutes of peace, try Leo the Truck instead.
For the "Big Kids" (Ages 7-12)
- Watch: The Dragon Prince. This is top-tier fantasy storytelling. It handles complex themes like war, disability, and family loyalty with incredible grace.
- Watch: Is It Cake?. It’s mindless, yes, but it’s "family-bonding mindless." It’s great for a Friday night when everyone is fried.
- Skip: Most of the "Netflix Original" live-action tween sitcoms. They are often filled with weirdly aged-up social dynamics and "sass" that you’ll hear echoed back at you at dinner ten minutes later.
For Teens (Ages 13+)
- Watch: Heartstopper. A genuinely sweet, healthy look at teenage relationships. It’s a breath of fresh air compared to the trauma-heavy teen shows on other platforms.
- Watch: Avatar: The Last Airbender (Live Action). While the original Avatar: The Last Airbender (Animated) is still superior, the live-action version is a great way to bridge the gap with older kids.
One of the biggest "hidden" values in your Netflix sub is Netflix Games. You download them on your phone or tablet, but you log in with your Netflix account.
If your kid is begging for Roblox but you’re worried about the "entrepreneurship" (read: gambling) aspect, check out these instead:
- Storyteller: A brilliant puzzle game where kids build stories using visual building blocks.
- Oxenfree: A supernatural thriller for teens that is incredibly well-written.
- Terra Nil: A "reverse city builder" where you restore an ecosystem. It’s peaceful, smart, and totally ad-free.
Netflix is designed to keep you watching. For a kid, the "Auto-Play Next Episode" feature is the enemy of a peaceful transition away from the screen. In 2026, the algorithm is even more aggressive.
Pro-Tip: Go into your account settings on a web browser (not the app) and turn off "Autoplay next episode in a series on all devices." This creates a "natural stopping point" that allows you to say, "Okay, that episode is over, time for shoes," without fighting a 5-second countdown timer.
If you decide to downgrade to the "Standard with Ads" plan to save money, talk to your kids about it.
- Ages 5-8: "We're trying a new version of Netflix that has short breaks for commercials. When a commercial comes on, it's a great time to stand up and stretch or grab a water."
- Ages 9+: "Netflix raised their prices again, so we're using the version with ads to save money for [Family Vacation/New Bike/etc.]. It’s a good reminder that 'free' or 'cheap' content usually means someone is trying to sell us something."
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Netflix in 2026 is no longer the "no-brainer" subscription it was five years ago. It’s expensive, and the loss of the Basic plan makes the ad-free experience a luxury.
Our take? If your kids are mainly watching CoComelon Lane or Gabby's Dollhouse, you might be better off rotating your subscriptions. Cancel Netflix for three months, get Disney+ to catch up on Bluey, and then swap back when a new season of The Dragon Prince drops.
- Check your plan: Log in and see if you were auto-migrated to a more expensive tier when the Basic plan died.
- Audit the "Games" section: See if there are titles your kids would enjoy that could replace some of their more "addictive" mobile games.
- Update your "Experience Levels": Spend 5 minutes in the profile settings to make sure your 10-year-old isn't seeing trailers for the latest TV-MA slasher flick.