In 2017, a year before its 20th anniversary, Netflix announced that it had passed a new milestone:Netflix now has 100 million subscribers. Netflix now has over 100 million subscribers. Netflix now has over 100 million subscribers. Clicking away for fear of getting bored, there's some pretty interesting information to be found in the Q2 2017 results. Read More .
This guide is available to download as a free PDF. Download the ultimate Netflix guide:Everything you ever wanted to know about Netflix now . Feel free to copy and share this with your friends and family.Those are world numbers. When we look at it by country, we see that only half of them are US users. It's still an impressive achievement, but that means that 60 percent of the United States still hasn't given in to the lure of Netflix (assuming a total of 125 million households).
If you're thinking about subscribing to Netflix but aren't sure if it's right for you, you've come to the right place.. In this article, you'll learn everything you need to know about Netflix, how it works, what you can watch on it, and various nifty tips and tricks that even dedicated Netflix users won't even know about.
Go ahead:
As of this writing, Netflix is available in almost every country in the world. Notable exceptions include China (due to blanket censorship), as well as Crimea, North Korea, and Syria (due to embargoes put in place by the US government).
However, just because Netflix is available it does not mean that you can access the entire Netflix content library.
Due to the way content licensing works, Netflix can only show a certain title in a certain country. These limits depend on your IP address:US IP addresses can access US Netflix, UK IP addresses can access UK Netflix, etc.
In other words, if you travel to another country, you will only be able to access that country's version of Netflix. You may be able to bypass the restrictions by using a VPN. Which VPNs still work with Netflix? Which VPNs still work with Netflix? Netflix is cracking down on VPNs, but there are some that still work. Here are the best VPNs to use with Netflix. Read More
Netflix is a subscription service with three-tier plans:
In other words, the only difference between the plans is the maximum streaming quality and number of simultaneous streams, which only matters if you have a large family or share your Netflix account. (Don't worry, Netflix loves when you share!)
New users start with a free 30-day trial for any level.
A lot but not all.
In terms of variety of content, Netflix runs the gamut:just about every genre imaginable is represented in one way or another. You'll find plenty of TV shows and movies, but you'll also find that many of your favorites aren't included.
The Netflix library changes regularly. Every month some titles expire and are removed while new titles are added. (A “new” title means new to Netflix, not newly produced.)
Perhaps Netflix's biggest draw is its commitment to creating original content. Despite the occasional high-profile flop, Netflix has an excellent track record overall. For example:
Netflix's second biggest draw is its movie collection, which includes everything from indie disasters to Oscar-winning masterpieces. If you're itching for cinematic prowess, just hit one of these:
And if none of them catch your eye, go ahead and explore our master list of the 100 best Netflix movies. Some you may not have heard of:
Comedies are popular on Netflix, with notable titles like:
Anime is also popular, although the selection tends to focus on series with a lot of buzz:
It's not all entertainment either. The library contains all kinds of educational material, like these science-based TV series:
And speaking of science and science shows, let's not forget that Netflix is a haven for unconventional and biting documentaries. Not only is the library full of them, but Netflix continues to fund the production of dozens of new documentaries each year. Our favorites include:
Here we have barely scratched the surface. Netflix has plenty of other genres to explore – whatever genre you like, you'll probably find it. I mean, Netflix is even embracing the slow TV genre Netflix and Really Chill:A Quick Guide to Slow TV Netflix and Really Chill:A Quick Guide to Slow TV Slow TV is a strange phenomenon that you may not understand, with people watching hours of footage of really boring activities. It's weird, but is it worth it? Let's find out... Read More
As of this writing, the United States library is the largest of all Netflix libraries, containing just under 4,500 TV shows and movies. Combining all of that can take a while, but luckily you have a few ways to speed it up.
At the top of the Netflix website, pull down the Glance menu to see more than 20 main categories, such as Action, Classics and Horror. On other devices, the categories may or may not be directly accessible in this way. For example, on some smart TVs, Netflix only shows categories that align with your viewing habits.
You'll also be able to browse three special side categories:Originals, What's New, and Audio &Subtitles. Originals are TV shows and movies you won't find anywhere else. New Arrivals is a list of recently added content, sorted by category. Audio and subtitles allows you to filter the library based on the availability of copy and copy languages.
If you want to watch something specific, just type it into the search bar to see if you can stream it. The interesting thing is that, in addition to titles, you can also search by people and gender.
For example, searching for “John” lists all shows and movies with a John in their cast. Use full names for more precision. Most people don't know about this trick, but it comes in handy when you're in the mood to watch something with your favorite actor or actress.
Occasionally you'll search for something and see that it's not available for streaming but is available as a DVD (US only). To learn more about this, read the “Does Netflix still send DVDs by mail?” section below.
To find titles in a particular genre, you could use the search bar... but you'll get better results with Netflix Genre Secret Codes 20 Netflix Secret Codes Guaranteed To Help You Find New Content 20 Netflix Secret Codes Guaranteed To Help You Find Content Here's Our Top 20 List secret Netflix codes guaranteed to help you find new content. Read more . This method requires the use of a web browser.
To view a secret genre, use this URL...
... where ### is the genre code. To see a full list of the 1,000+ gender codes, click here. For a more user-friendly option that only covers about 100 of the most popular secret genres, visit the NetflixCodes site where the genres are presented as clickable links.
A final option is to use a site like JustWatch, a search engine and database that catalogs all the TV shows and movies available on dozens of streaming services.
JustWatch is great because it has filters that Netflix doesn't have. For example, you can limit JustWatch results to movies or TV shows. You can also restrict titles released between certain years, or titles that received a score higher than X on IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes.
One of Netflix's big claims to fame is its recommendation engine. The more you watch, the more he learns about your interests and misfortunes. It takes that data and recommends other shows you might like, in hopes of keeping your queue full and your experience engaging.
All combined, the more than 100 million user base watches. billions of hours of TV shows and movies each month. No other company has direct access to such a large volume of viewing habits data.
Explaining how Netflix classifies and analyzes all of that is beyond the scope of this guide, but if you're interested, you can learn more by checking out our post on how Netflix knows what you want to watch. How Netflix knows exactly what you want. To see how Netflix knows exactly what it wants Watch Netflix's rise to being the world's leading streaming service was no fluke. It was based on a recipe of data and emotions that means the company always knows what it wants to see. Read more.
Netflix is compatible with all major web browsers on Windows, Mac, and Linux (Linux users will find Chrome easier How to watch Netflix natively on Linux:the easy way How to watch Netflix natively on Linux:the easy way Netflix on Linux simplified considerably in recent months. With the right browser, you can enjoy your favorite shows and movies from the popular subscription service on your Linux device. Read More Unfortunately, not all web browsers are created equal.
For whatever reason, each browser has a different maximum video resolution. These limitations are due to the browsers themselves, not an artificial limitation implemented by Netflix:
These limits are subject to change as browsers improve. But for now, if you're thinking of getting a Premium plan for 4K streaming but you'll be watching primarily in Chrome, you may want to reconsider.
If you're using a Windows desktop or laptop, the Netflix version of the Windows 10 app may be more enjoyable than the web version. Not that there's anything wrong with the web version, but the Windows 10 app offers several additional benefits.
Most importantly, it can stream videos in resolutions up to 4K. You can also download videos for offline playback, though downloaded videos are capped at 1080p. For more information, check out our tips and tricks for Netflix on Windows 7. Netflix tips and mods for Windows users. 7 Netflix Tips and Tweaks for Windows Users. You can download Netflix movies and TV shows with the Windows 10 app. But you can do a lot more with Netflix on Windows, like add subtitles, use voice commands, and more. Read more.
Netflix apps are available for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, including the iPod Touch. While mobile Netflix is more convenient for portability, video resolution is limited depending on your device and OS version.
One of the benefits of watching Netflix on Android or iOS is that you can download videos for offline playback. Not all Android devices support this feature, but most modern ones do.
Netflix is available on all major streaming media players, including Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Nexus Player, and Roku devices. Simply plug in the device, connect to your home network, and watch. We've explained how to watch Netflix on your Apple TV Apple TV and Netflix Guide:Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting Tips Apple TV and Netflix Guide:Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting Tips In this article, we've explained how to watch Netflix on your Apple TV. will help you set up Netflix on your Apple TV and offers some tips, tricks, and troubleshooting tips to get you started. Read More
Just like web browsers, each device has its own limit on maximum supported video resolutions:
Netflix apps are available for most recent and current generation game consoles. Due to weaker hardware, some of these devices have the highest maximum video resolution limits:
Most smart TV brands have an official Netflix app that can stream up to 4K video. As of this writing, the following smart TV brands are supported:
Some smart TVs, particularly older devices, may be region locked. In that case, they will only be able to play Netflix in the same region in which they were purchased.
It depends, but in general, yes.
Netflix's core library contains a significant amount of adult content:graphic violence (thrillers), gruesome imagery (horrors), explicit language and dark themes (dramas), and nudity/sex (across all genres). Allowing a young child free access to Netflix is probably not a good idea.
But parents have two kid-friendly options.
First, the child-friendly portal at netflix.com/kids . Everything is the same, except the content is curated for toddlers, tweens, and teens:safe enough for kids to browse and watch on their own.
Second, enable parental controls.. If you create a separate profile for each child, you can set a Maturity Level per profile to limit what they can see. Or, restrict your entire Netflix account to a certain maturity level and protect it with a PIN. Learn more about Netflix parental controls.
In general, Netflix is as intuitive as it gets. It's pretty easy to use, and even if you just use its "face value" features, you'll find it to be quite nice. But if you want to kick it up a notch, here are some key Netflix tips and tricks to take your Netflix experience to new levels.
To learn more about these, check out our guide to changing Netflix settings How to make Netflix better by changing a few settings How to make Netflix better by changing a few settings Whether you're new to Netflix or have been using it for a number of years, there are a few settings that you can change to improve Netflix. Read more . If you need troubleshooting help, check out How to Solve 10 of the Most Annoying Netflix Problems How to Solve 10 of the Most Annoying Netflix Problems How to Solve 10 of the Most Annoying Netflix Problems Netflix isn't perfect. Here are some common problems people have with Netflix and some simple solutions you can try. Read more.
In a word yes!
Although Netflix is now a streaming giant, it started out as a humble DVD delivery service. And unlike sites like Blockbuster, which had strict hours and expensive late fees, Netflix rose to fame with its free shipping system and no late payment policy.
The system works like this:you browse the online catalog, create a queue, and Netflix sends you the next one. You keep it for as long as you like, but to rent another you have to return it. When Netflix receives notification of the return, it immediately sends the next title in its queue.
The DVD-by-mail service still exists, but requires a separate subscription plan. If you have a regular Netflix account then this would be on top of it. You can also rent Blu-ray discs, but the plans are more expensive.
If you're in the continental US, you can expect disc shipments to arrive within two days. Return shipping is prepaid. Returning is as simple as putting the disc back in the sleeve, in the provided envelope and sending it as usual. Free trials are available for each plan.
Netflix disc rentals are only available to US subscribers.
Usually the first or last thing a person asks about Netflix is whether it can actually replace a cable TV subscription (called "cutting the cord").
After all, the average cable TV bill for Americans in 2016 was $103 per month. Switching that to a Premium plan on Netflix would save $91 per month, over the course of a year the savings are huge How to Reduce Your Household Expenses in 7 Easy Steps How to Reduce Your Household Expenses in 7 Easy Steps Does your income go toward bills and expenses? You're not alone We show you some of the best ways to reduce your household expenses. Read more.
However, while consumers are moving in that direction may not be a good move for you … yet. Netflix itself is fine, but there are several drawbacks to cutting the cord. 7 Cord Cutting Mistakes You Should Consider First 7 Cord Cutting Mistakes You Should Consider First Before you cut the cord to save money, there are a few things you should be aware of Read More cable 10 Questions To Ask Before You Cancel Cable 10 Questions To Ask Before You Cancel Cable You're probably considering canceling your cable right now. And you are certainly not alone. However, there are some questions to ask yourself before you cancel the cable. Read more . Some of the most important considerations include:
To truly replace cable TV, you'll likely need Netflix along with a streaming service or two to fill in the gaps. Hulu's non-commercial plan is a solid option if you want some extra variety. Do these streaming services cancel cable? 8 TV Streaming Apps To Fill The Canceled Cable? 8 Streaming TV Apps to Fill the Gap If you've canceled cable, you may be wondering what to watch next. These TV streaming apps may be the answer as they offer a traditional viewing experience. Niche streaming services for those who hate Netflix 10 niche streaming services are useful for those who cut the cord, or maybe you prefer a niche streaming service. What can you do if you want to see something a little less conventional? You better check out these alternative streaming services full of niche content. Read more.
If you read this complete guide, then you have come to know almost everything there is to know about Netflix. Now you can take full advantage of the world's largest streaming service, including all of its original content that keeps the world talking.
Do you have unresolved issues or unanswered questions? Or additional tips and tricks we may have overlooked? Feel free to share them with us in the comments below!
