Netflix's Limited Free Access Works on Mac and iPad, but Not iPhone

[MacRumors]

Netflix is offering limited free access to a variety of original programming, reports OnlyTech. iOS appears to be inexplicably excluded from the limited free access, which is available on Android and in-browser.

The limited free access includes admission to "Stranger Things," "Murder Mystery," "Élite," "Boss Baby: Back in Business," "Bird Box," "When They See Us," "Love Is Blind," "The Two Popes," "Our Planet," and "Grace and Frankie."

The feature allows users to watch a movie or the first episode of a series for free, after which they will be prompted to subscribe for continued access. One 30-second skippable ad for Netflix is played before every title. The feature is available worldwide, no account or sign-up is needed, and the available content will reportedly change on a regular basis.

A Netflix help page spotted by Gadgets360 reveals that only browsers on computers, tablets, and Android devices are supported. iOS devices are unable to use the limited free access.

The help page does not explain why iOS blocked from access. Given that the free access is available on macOS and iPadOS in-browser, it is unclear why Netflix has excluded iOS.

Amid an increasingly competitive video streaming market, free access to selected Netflix programming hopes to attract more subscribers to the platform. Last week it was reported that Apple is planning to extend the free trial of Apple TV+ in an effort to lure in more subscribers.

Article Link: Netflix's Limited Free Access Works on Mac and iPad, but Not iPhone

 

[WiiDSmoker]

Netflix has every right to dictate which platform can watch their free content.

 

[Jakewilk]

I guess the costs of a walled garden are starting to show. Who needs the fastest processor when you can stream AAA games to your android with xbox game pass? And why not go android when it comes with free netflix? More evidence suggesting that apple doesn’t have a monopoly or monopoly level control, but also stronger indication that industry is getting fed up with apple’s strict rules

 

[macsrcool1234]

no doubt there's some 'rule' somewhere in the ios store preventing this

 

[826317]

Strange to not allow it on iPhone, but it's not the end of the world. It's a solid marketing move by Netflix.

 

[ViDeOmAnCiNi]

Is iOS excluded because they cannot link to external site for the subscription cost? I'm sure NF does not want to take that 15-30% hit from Apple app store...

 

[Unami]

Duh, it‘s pretty obvious why they don‘t do it on iOS - nothing „unclear“ about it. There’s no in-app subscription to netflix on iOS, because they don’t want to pay the 15-30% to apple (which makes absolutely sense, it‘s quite a steep cut if applied every month - especially when compared to a „pay once“ app that get‘s the same service from apple for a fraction of the price). so that free promo with the „buy now“-link won‘t work in the app store.

 

[I7guy]

I guess the costs of a walled garden are starting to show. Who needs the fastest processor when you can stream AAA games to your android with xbox game pass? And why not go android when it comes with free netflix? More evidence suggesting that apple doesn’t have a monopoly or monopoly level control, but also stronger indication that industry is getting fed up with apple’s strict rules

We should thank Netflix as this will play out very well into the trial as showing Apple is not a monopoly and Netflix has a monopoly on the content they are allowed to distribute.

It's not a crime to not like the policies of Apple (google, facebook etc)

 

[Krizoitz]

To all the people making the snarky comments about in app purchase and the App Store, note that this feature is available on THE iPAD. It’s got nothing to do with either of those things.

 

[iBluetooth]

We should thank Netflix as this will play out very well into the trial as showing Apple is not a monopoly and Netflix has a monopoly on the content they are allowed to distribute.

It's not a crime to not like the policies of Apple (google, facebook etc)

Netflix is available on every smart TV, PlayStation, Xbox etc. so there is no Walled Garden for them to climb.

 

[ruka.snow]

You can request desktop site or change user agent. Though it seems the video has a technical issue on the iPhone Safari. Perhaps enabled a experimental feature will get it going.

 

[ouimetnick]

Can’t be related to Apple’s App Store policies. Remember iPadOS is basically iOS anyway (it was until last year) same App Store, same rules.

 

[cmaier]

Is iOS excluded because they cannot link to external site for the subscription cost? I'm sure NF does not want to take that 15-30% hit from Apple app store...

This is in the browser. It has nothing to do with App Store rules.

Netflix simply didn’t bother to make this work with the iphone browser. Hell, it might just work if you “request desktop site” from an iphone.

 

[sw1tcher]

We should thank Netflix as this will play out very well into the trial as showing Apple is not a monopoly and Netflix has a monopoly on the content they are allowed to distribute.

You don't think Apple has a monopoly on their store which it uses to distribute apps for iOS (is there another store I can get apps for iOS from?), but you believe Netflix has a monopoly on the content they distribute? 🤣

You do know that you can buy Netflix shows and movies on disc, right? Netflix produced movies are sometimes shown in movie theaters too. So there's more than 1 way to watch Netflix produced content than through Netflix directly. You can't say the same about iOS apps.

 

[ruka.snow]

Can’t be related to Apple’s App Store policies. Remember iPadOS is basically iOS anyway (it was until last year) same App Store, same rules.

iPadOS has a more desktop Safari. It seems a limitation on mobile Safari.

 

[Stella]

Watching TV content isn't optimal on an iPhone, better using a larger sized screen.

 

[DotCom2]

To all the people making the snarky comments about in app purchase and the App Store, note that this feature is available on THE iPAD. It’s got nothing to do with either of those things.

iPad browser ONLY. Not the app.

 

[PSeg90]

This is certainly the future of Netflix, free-mium content with ads.

 

[I7guy]

You don't think Apple has a monopoly on their store which it uses to distribute apps for iOS (is there another store I can get apps for iOS from?), but you believe Netflix has a monopoly on the content they distribute? 🤣

You do know that you can buy Netflix shows and movies on disc, right? Netflix produced movies are sometimes shown in movie theaters too. So there's more than 1 way to watch Netflix produced content than through Netflix directly. You can't say the same about iOS apps.

Along the same lines, one can only get content from Netflix that they allow one to get.

 

[ruka.snow]

Watching TV content isn't optimal on an iPhone, better using a larger sized screen.

I have to disagree. If I am on the train and all I have with me is a phone, too right I'll watch something. Less we forget these phones have a better viewing experience than most peoples televisions.

 

[Bug-Creator]

iPadOS has a more desktop Safari. It seems a limitation on mobile Safari.

The Safaris included in the public betas for OSX and iPadOS won't work too.

-> can't be bothered further

 

[I7guy]

Netflix is available on every smart TV, PlayStation, Xbox etc. so there is no Walled Garden for them to climb.

As a consumer, I want Ms. Maisel to be available on Netflix, should I sue Netflix.

 

[Stella]

I have to disagree. If I am on the train and all I have with me is a phone, too right I'll watch something. Less we forget these phones have a better viewing experience than most peoples televisions.

Does that make watching content on a small screen better than a larger screen? No. Your example is situational.

 

[ruka.snow]

Does that make watching content on a small screen better than a larger screen? No. Your example is situational.

The content does not change between a bigger screen than a smaller one. iPhones have lovely crisp OLED screens with good contrast and deeper blacks than a iPad or most televisions. There is no clear and definitive one is better than the other, nor should there be. No TV show or movie gets magically better on a bigger screen.

 

[derekamoss]

This is in the browser. It has nothing to do with App Store rules.

Netflix simply didn’t bother to make this work with the iphone browser. Hell, it might just work if you “request desktop site” from an iphone.

I am curious if request desktop site works. Second thought, if you are a subscriber of netflix can you log in on the mobile site and still watch or is that not possible? If you can do that then Netflix blocking iOS users is completely deliberate and also I think I am on Netflix side completely if so because they are not violating any app store policy with this.