Fact Check: Is Netflix raising its subscription price to $49.99 starting March 1?
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA: In recent times, a claim has been circulating on social media that streaming platform Netflix will raise its subscription price to $49.99 starting from March 1, a figure far above the company’s usual fee. The rumor has sparked speculations among netizens, with many questioning the authenticity of the claim. Let us fact-check it.
Claim: Netflix is doubling its subscription price
Netflix will be raising its monthly subscription to $49.99, starting March 1st. pic.twitter.com/LF89ge1uw9
— Hoops Crave (@HoopsCrave) February 4, 2026
Days after Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos defended the company’s acquisition deal with Warner Bros. before the Senate antitrust subcommittee on February 3, an online claim began circulating claiming that Netflix would soon increase its monthly subscription price to $49.99.
The rumor was sparked by a post on X, with more than six million views. The post came with a caption stating, 'Netflix will be raising its monthly subscription to $49.99, starting March 1st.'
The post was reposted by many, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Fact Check: False, the rumor originated as a satire
However, there is no evidence supporting the claim. Moreover, Hoops Crave, the account that posted the claim, is a popular parody account that described its output as being humorous or satirical. Its bio states that it is a parody account.
As of this writing, Netflix last increased its subscription fees in January 2025, raising the cost of the Premium plan to $24.99 a month, and those prices continue to hold.
If the acquisition, which includes HBO and HBO Max, passes federal regulatory review, the deal should be completed sometime in 2026.
Right now, it is unclear how the merger would affect subscription prices; however, during the February 3 Senate hearing, Sarandos suggested that a price increase might happen, but the details of any potential price hike remain unconfirmed as of this writing.
Price hikes depend on consumers' perceived value
When Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., asked Sarandos whether the acquisition would provide further incentive to increase subscription costs, he responded, "We can only [raise subscription fees] if the consumer sees the value. We are a one-click cancel."
"So if at any point the consumer says, 'That's too much for what I'm getting,' they can just with one click of the button cancel Netflix."
