Is a Netflix Account in Singapore Worth the Money?

With its recent launch in Singapore, Netflix has the world riled up in anticipation for (legal) movie and TV streaming at a small monthly price. But should you sign up for an account?

Last week, couch potatoes and movie buffs all over the nation rejoiced as Netflix made its launch in Singapore (and many other parts of the world).

Netflix has built a huge fanbase across the globe with its online streaming service that allows users to watch their favourite TV shows and movies whenever they want to. (It had a fanbase here as well, with users using a proxy server to access Netflix in the United States. Although this might technically be illegal.)

Also known for its original content like the famous (or infamous) House of Cards, Netflix has gone on to create more shows that are massively raved about and loved by its viewers, such as Marvel’s Daredevil (IMDB rating: 8.8/10) or Narcos (IMDB rating: 9/10).

But is signing up for Netflix even worth it?

The Pros:

1. Very Affordable Price Plans

With three price plans starting from just S$10.98 a month, you can choose to stream one screen at a time up to four screens at a time. Say, you have a family of four and they’re all fans of movies but you can never agree on a show to watch, a four screen plan (the Premium at S$16.98 a month) will allow all four of you to stream each of your shows at the same time.

Even the Premium plan is a lot cheaper than the average cable TV subscription. Take StarHub’s Knowledge HD Pack for example, you’ll have to pay S$26.75 a monthly for 50 channels. That’s more than twice the price of Netflix’s Basic Plan! Plus, you get to choose what you want to watch, when you want to watch it.

2. Stream Your Shows Anywhere

Unlike cable TV (or illegally downloading movies and TV shows), you can watch any of the shows available on Netflix on almost any device--think iPhone, iPad, Smart TVs, xbox, Playstation and, well, the list goes on.

Just download the app when applicable or log on to its website and you’ll be able to watch your shows anywhere, as long as you have a working internet connection. If you’re waiting for your flight, you can get on your Netflix account and kill time with Daredevil.

3. Get First Access to New Netflix Original Shows

Netflix has this lovely habit of uploading entire seasons of shows online, so you don’t have to wait to watch the next episode. And when it’s time to launch a new Netflix original show, you’ll get to watch it first before anyone can even spoil it for you.

Original content from Netflix are usually binge-worthy, and you’ll know when a good show is about to launch. You don’t have to wonder what to do during the weekend when a new series is about to launch because you know it’s going to be good.

The Cons:

1. A Smaller Catalogue of Shows

Netflix Singapore is still in its early stages, so the distribution rights for a lot of shows and movies are still in the works. Already many users have complained of the small catalogue of shows compared to its US counterpart.

When Netflix launched in France and Germany, they both had small catalogues to start with. But in less than a year, the content more than doubled. We can only hope that the same thing would happen in Singapore as well, especially since the MDA is very welcoming of its arrival.

2. Requires a Decent Broadband Speed

Like streaming every other video, you’ll need a decent broadband speed to load your Netflix shows. If you’re a family of five using a broadband plan of 25mbps, you’re going to struggle a little with streaming.

You wouldn’t need an exorbitant plan though, just decent enough to accommodate everyone in your household. It is also really dependent on broadband plan you are on, if it has dual routers or not.

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