Netflix Promo Codes ( Netflix Coupon Codes) May 2026 Canada

What is Netflix?

Netflix is the original major streaming option for home television audiences. When it started nearly 20 years ago, Netflix was a subscription-based DVD service that would mail DVDs straight to your home. It still does that too (more on that later), but in 2007, Netflix debuted its streaming service, allowing viewers to watch thousands of on-demand TV shows and movies ad-free. Ten years later, Netflix has become one of the biggest names in entertainment, producing critically acclaimed TV shows (Daredevil, House of Cards, Stranger Things, and Luke Cage, to quickly name four) and movies and hosting original comedy specials.

Netflix now offers up a wide range of content across every genre you can imagine. From full seasons of today's hottest TV shows to classic movies, Netflix has more entertainment than you could ever possibly watch.

How does Netflix work?

If you've ever used a streaming service, Netflix's interface will be instantly familiar, but even for first timers, getting started is a breeze. Your primary source of movies will be your queue. As you look through content on the Netflix website and app, you'll see a little plus sign in a circle. This button adds things to your queue for later viewing.

When you start using Netflix, your queue will be empty. Enjoy this period. It will be the last time as a Netflix user your queue will be fresh and new. One day you will look out at the expense of your queue and say, 'When the hell did I get so into shows about cake?'

Under your queue, Netflix offers several rows of options for movies and television shows, sorted by genre. As you watch more content, Netflix will learn about your viewing habits, offering up custom genres with colourful names like '80s action comedies' or 'gory unconventional horror films for feminists.' Netflix's algorithm is one of the smartest in the industry, so once you've moved past the stage where you're just watching every big movie, take a chance on Netflix's recommendations. You'll be surprised how often they're correct.

Netflix's library contains a broad range of hit movies and shows from major networks. TV series like Arrow, The Flash, Scandal, Grey's Anatomy, and The Walking Dead come to the service a few months after their official air date.

Thanks to Netflix's deal with Disney, it's the first streaming service to find new Marvel Studios releases like Captain America: Civil War and Doctor Strange.

Netflix still has the strongest library of new and old classic films, but as the company has grown and competitors like Hulu and Amazon Prime bid for exclusive rights, studios have demanded more money for their content, shrinking Netflix's options. That's why Netflix has invested incredible amounts of money in producing their content, working with film-makers like David Fincher on the Emmy-nominated House of Cards and Marvel Studios on Daredevil, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage not to mention the upcoming The Punisher and The Defenders. Netflix is the exclusive home of Adam Sandler's next few comedies, with films like The Ridiculous 6 already released on the service. Fans of foreign films will appreciate investments in films by directors like Bong Joon-Ho (Snowpiercer).

But wait, there's more: Netflix also features an incredible amount of original stand-up comedy. This year alone they've released two specials from Dave Chappelle, along with new material from Louis C.K., Sarah Silverman, Tracy Morgan, and Norm MacDonald among dozens of other comedians. There's no better service for stand-up comedy right now than Netflix. The company has also heavily invested in documentaries, most notably true-crime thrillers Making a Murderer and The Keepers and the Academy Award-nominated 13th.

How much data does Netflix use?

A lot, but that might not matter depending on your mobile and internet plans, and it's easy enough to adjust. Here's a breakdown of how much data Netflix uses:

Low: Basic video quality uses up to 0.3 GB of data per hour

Medium: Standard video quality uses up to 0.7 GB of data per hour

High: Best video quality uses up to 3 GB of data per hour for HD and 7 GB of data per hour for Ultra HD

Automatic: Quality determined by your connection

Unlimited: The highest quality possible for your device and the show or movie you're watching, peaks at the same rate as High.

If you need help adjusting your settings, go here.

Can you download with Netflix?

If you watch a lot of video on the road and want to save your data, Netflix has a leg up on the competition. You can easily download videos to their smartphones and tablets so you can keep the entertainment rolling even on the road without killing your cell phone bill. It's easy. Jut look for the white download arrow on whatever you're watching.

How much does Netflix cost?

Netflix's service comes in three tiers; Basic, Standard, and Premium. No matter what kind of subscription you have, you get access to the same content as everyone else. None of Netflix's content is locked behind a paywall after you've subscribed.

For the $8.99 Basic plan, you can watch Netflix content on one screen at a time on any device that supports the service. Also, your streams will be in standard definition, which is as good as a clear standard broadcast TV show.

For the $12.99 Standard plan, you can watch Netflix on up to two screens at the same time, and it comes in high-definition. For most users, this tier will be ideal, letting you avoid any nasty arguments where your roommate or spouse wants to watch Breaking Bad while you're enjoying The Great British Bake Off.

If you own a 4K TV and have a strong enough internet connection, the $15.99 Premium option is worth considering. You get access to 4K Ultra HD content, and the ability to stream on up to four devices at the same time. At every tier your first month of the service is free, so you can figure out exactly which level is right for you.

It's worth noting that Netflix has raised its rates a few times in recent years. In 2015, the standard two-stream HD plan only cost $8.99, while a non-HD plan cost $7.99. Of course, that was before Netflix started pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into content production, but it's worth keeping in mind for budget-focused viewers.

What to watch on Netflix

We can't stress this enough: There's more content on Netflix than you'll ever be able to watch, and there more being added every month. (Here's our regularly updated list of what's new on Netflix.) You can spend hours looking for the right thing to watch on any given night. If you need some help getting started, our critics have curated a bunch of different guides that will ensure you find something worth streaming. They're all updated monthly and vetted by our Upstream team. If you don't find something below, well, you can always try this nifty Netflix hack.

The 105 best movies on Netflix

The best Netflix original movies

The 30 best standup specials on Netflix when you really need a laugh

20 movies on Netflix guaranteed to make you cry

30 must-watch indie movies on Netflix

Ranking the best Netflix original series

20 classic movies on Netflix everyone should see

The 15 best movies based on true stories on Netflix

The 10 best drama movies on Netflix

The best horror movies on Netflix

The 12 best war movies you'll find on Netflix

14 mind-blowing nature and science documentaries on Netflix

Best kids movies on Netflix

Best TV shows on Netflix

So, how do you get started with Netflix?

Most smart TVs come with Netflix preloaded. All you have to do is sign up for a subscription and add some things to your queue.

You can watch on every device you can imagine, be it a game console, laptop, or smartphone, and you can use streaming media players like Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, or Google's Chromecast to stream from those devices on your TV. Streaming media players are surprisingly affordable. Here's a quick guide if needed.

Still, not sure what to watch tonight? Here are our guides for the absolute best movies on Netflix, must-see Netflix original series, documentaries, docuseries, and movies.

Go to Netflix.com, sign up and choose your plan. And then pay the amount from debit or credit card, or a PayPal account. It's a monthly subscription and the first month is free but you will have to enter card details to activate it.

Our Basic Plan lets you stream TV shows and movies from Netflix on one device at a time in standard definition (SD). ... Our Standard Plan lets you stream TV shows and movies from Netflix on two devices at the same time and in high definition (HD) when available.

How to Share a Netflix Account

Log in to Netflix. ...

Scroll down to the "Preferences" section near the bottom of the page. ...

Click "Add Profile."

Enter the first and last name of the new profile holder. ...

Select a maturity level from the pull-down menu; optionally enter a gender for the new profile.

Netflix lets you watch video on multiple devices at once, which is convenient for families that share a single Netflix account. Depending on the kind of Netflix plan you have, you can stream video on one device (Basic), two devices (Standard), or four devices (Premium) at a time.

While only a limited number of devices can be used to watch television and films on the streaming platform, password sharing can allow multiple individuals to use the same Netflix account, circumventing Netflix's business model, according to which each household needs to have its own account.

Cancelling your Netflix account

Sign in to Netflix.

Click the down arrow at the top right of the page, next to your profile name.

Select the Account section.

Under Membership and billing, click the grey Cancel membership box.

Click Finish cancellation to confirm you want to cancel.