Netflix to end free subscription plan in Kenya next month

Streaming giant Netflix will effective November 1, 2023 discontinue its free plan in Kenya.

Netflix informed its free plan users of the announcement via emails on Tuesday.

"On November 1, 2023, the Free Plan will no longer be available and your membership will end. If you want to cancel; no action is required. Your membership will be automatically canceled when the Free plan ends," the correspondence seen by Citizen Digital reads in part.

Should users want to continue with the service, they will have to upgrade to Netflix's other available packages.

"If you want to keep watching, upgrade to one of our paid plans. Starting as low as Ksh.200 per month, you can unlock all shows and movies, more features and the option to watch on your phone, TV or laptop," said Netflix.

The free plan, first launched in the country in December 2021, allowed Kenyans to watch ad-free Netflix content from the convenience of their smart phones, without having to make payments for the service upon registration.

"All you have to do is enter your email, confirm you are 18 or over and create a password. Then you can sit back and watch many of Netflix’s most popular series and films, as well as enjoy our personalized recommendations, parental controls, and profiles (including kids)," Netflix said on its website during the plan's launch.

"If you’ve never watched Netflix before — and many people in Kenya haven’t — this is a great way to experience our service. And if you like what you see, it’s easy to upgrade to one of our paid plans so you can enjoy our full catalog on your TV or laptop as well."