Why do you like Netflix? Is it because of various Netflix plans or the collection of amazing TV series? For me, it’s the ease of access to some exclusive features that no other OTT platform serves. One such setting is to change the billing date for a Netflix subscription. So, if your monthly salary date changes and you want to restructure your finances, Netflix understands you. In this article, we will discuss direct and indirect ways to change your billing date on Netflix. So, without any further ado, let’s begin.
Are you one of those super-organized people who likes to pay bills before they’re due? Or maybe your paycheck timing doesn’t align perfectly with your Netflix billing date? Whatever your reason I’ve been wondering the same thing can you pay your Netflix bill early?
The short answer is YES, you absolutely can pay your Netflix bill ahead of schedule! As a Netflix subscriber for over 6 years now, I’ve figured out several ways to handle early payments, and I’m gonna share all the details with you in this guide.
Understanding How Netflix Billing Works
Before jumping into how to pay early, it’s important to know how Netflix normally bills you:
- Your billing date is set to the same day each month that you originally signed up
- If you signed up on the 15th, Netflix charges you on the 15th of every month
- Your billing date might shift by a day because of time zone differences
- If your billing date falls on a day that doesn’t exist in some months (like the 31st), Netflix will charge you on the last day of that month instead
- Netflix automatically charges the payment method you have saved in your account
4 Ways to Pay Your Netflix Bill Early
Let’s look at the different methods to pay your Netflix bill before your regular billing date
Method 1: Make a Manual Payment Through the Netflix Website
The most straightforward approach is to simply log into your Netflix account and make a one-time payment ahead of schedule:
- Sign into your Netflix account online
- Navigate to “Your Account” page
- Look under “Billing Details” and click “Make a Payment”
- Enter your payment info and pay the amount due for the current month
- Netflix will hold this as credit on your account and apply it on your regular billing date
This method works great if you just need to occasionally pay early. The downside is you’ll need to manually do this each time you want to pay ahead.
Method 2: Change Your Netflix Billing Date
If you find yourself wanting to pay early every single month, it might be better to permanently change your billing date to better match your pay schedule:
- Go to “Your Account” on Netflix
- Under “Billing Details” click “Change Billing Date”
- Select a new billing date at least 2 days in the future
- Confirm the change
- Pay the prorated amount right away to cover service until your new date kicks in
Important note: The “Change Billing Date” feature isn’t available in all countries. If you don’t see this option, try one of the other methods below.
Method 3: Cancel and Restart Your Membership
If you can’t change your billing date directly, this alternative method works just as well:
- Go to “Your Account” and click “Cancel membership” in the Membership & Billing section
- Confirm your cancellation
- Your Netflix access continues until the end of your current billing period
- Wait until your preferred new billing date comes around
- Restart your membership on that date
Don’t worry – Netflix keeps your viewing history and recommendations for 10 months after cancellation, so nothing will be lost!
Method 4: Change Your Netflix Plan
Here’s a clever trick that not many people know about: changing your Netflix plan can shift your billing date.
If you upgrade from Standard to Premium (which costs more), Netflix:
- Upgrades your plan immediately
- Adjusts your billing date based on the price difference
- Usually pulls your next billing date forward
For example, if your normal billing date is the 20th and you upgrade 10 days before that date, your new billing date might move to around the 15th. This only works when upgrading, not downgrading.
What Happens If You Pay Early?
When you pay your Netflix bill ahead of schedule:
- The payment is held as credit on your account
- It gets applied automatically when your billing date arrives
- If your regular payment also goes through (like if you forgot you paid early), the extra funds stay as credit for future months
- You cannot get a refund for early payments if you later decide to cancel
FAQ About Paying Netflix Bills Early
Q: What’s the earliest I can pay my Netflix bill?
A: You can pay up to a full month in advance if you want!
Q: What if my early payment fails or bounces?
A: Your account would go unpaid on the billing date, so add a backup payment method to avoid service interruption.
Q: Can I pause my Netflix account instead of paying early?
A: Yes! Put your account on hold by going to the Cancel Membership page and selecting “Pause Membership.” You’ll only be charged for active days when you restart.
Q: Will Netflix delete my info if I cancel to change my billing date?
A: Nope! Netflix keeps your viewing history, preferences and recommendations for 10 months after you cancel.
Q: Can I use prepaid cards to pay Netflix ahead of time?
A: Yes! Netflix accepts prepaid cards with major credit card logos, and this is a great way to prepay your subscription.
Alternative Payment Options for Netflix
If you’re wanting to pay early because your current payment method isn’t ideal, consider switching to one of these alternatives:
- Credit/debit cards
- PayPal
- Netflix gift cards (great for prepaying multiple months)
- Various third-party payment services (depending on your country)
To change your payment method:
- Log into Netflix.com
- Select your profile icon > Account > Manage payment info
- Click “Add Payment Method”
- Select “Make preferred” next to your new method
- Remove the old one if desired
When the “Change Billing Date” Option is Unavailable
Many Netflix users don’t have the “Change billing date” option because it’s not available in all countries. If that’s the case for you, try these workarounds:
-
Cancel and restart method: Cancel your membership but continue watching until your current period ends. Then restart on your preferred date.
-
Stop automatic payments: If you’re not using an automatic payment method, Netflix will put your account on hold until you manually pay, letting you control exactly when you’re charged.
-
Plan upgrade trick: Upgrade your plan to shift your billing date forward (as described earlier).
Final Thoughts
Paying your Netflix bill early is definitely possible, whether you do it as a one-time thing or make it a regular habit. The easiest method is simply making a manual payment through the Netflix website, but changing your billing date permanently might be more convenient in the long run.
I’ve been a Netflix subscriber for years, and I find their payment system pretty flexible once you understand how it works. Whether you’re trying to align your bills with your paycheck or just like staying ahead of due dates, these methods should help you manage your Netflix payments more effectively.
Remember that if you ever have billing problems like declined payments or unexpected charges, you can always check your billing history on Netflix’s account page or contact their customer support for help. Happy streaming!
What if The “Change billing day” Option is Unavailable
It is common among users not to have the “Change billing day” option on their accounts. It is because this function is not available for all the countries. Don’t worry though, here are a few secondary options that will ultimately change the billing date for you.
Yes, you read that right. It’s a smart way to get a new billing date. You will still be able to enjoy your subscription for the remaining days of the current plan even after cancellation. After that, wait for the preferred date to come and restart your membership. If you are having second thoughts to lose your recommendations, don’t worry. Netflix won’t delete your information and choices for ten months. Therefore, you can come back anytime in the period and restart your membership flawlessly. Here’s how to cancel your membership on Netflix.
- Go to your Account Settings on Netflix.
- Then, click on “Cancel membership” in the Membership & Billing section.
- Lastly, confirm your cancellation on the next page.
If you aren’t using an automatic payment method, you can forget about the membership for a while. Netflix will put your account on hold unless you pay the amount for the coming month. This way, you only have to pay when you want to watch something. Given that, the subscription will be active for the next 30 days from the day of payment. But, you won’t get charged unnecessarily even if you are not using Netflix.
Imagine Netflix as a salaried employee. Your prepaid payment is distributed equally for every day of the month. What that means is if you change your current plan, your billing cycle will shift slightly. Let’s say your billing day is the 9th of every month, and you are using the Standard plan. Now, you decide to upgrade your plan to Premium, which costs almost double the Standard plan. Since Netflix wants you to enjoy premium benefits without any setback, it upgrades your plan immediately. In exchange, it pulls back your next billing date.
If your subscription value doubles, you can expect the next billing day to occur in half time from your current date. So, changing the plan ten days before the due date will bring the next billing day on the 4th or 5th day. This calculation can be tricky; therefore, you must check it manually by accessing the “Change plan” page (visit).
Another noteworthy point is this trick is only applicable if you are upgrading the plan. There won’t be any difference in the billing date if you are downgrading the plan. So, if you decide to downgrade your plan, it will take effect in the next subscription period. You will still have all the benefits of the current plan for the running month.
You can quickly change your Netflix billing date from account settings, requiring you to pay the amount for the gap instantly. However, this method is only available in limited countries. In such cases, I recommend you cancel your subscription and take a break for a while before restarting it on your preferred date. Meanwhile, if you are also looking to upgrade your plan, the Netflix billing date changes automatically.
You will be able to use Netflix until your current plan ends, even if you cancel your subscription. The changes will take effect after the last day of the current cycle.
Yes, the recurring payments are billed and debited monthly. However, you can quickly stop auto payments from your bank to avoid unnecessary billings.
If your current plan is exhausted and you haven’t paid the next fee, Netflix will hold your account for ten months. You can restart your membership at any time in that period without paying for the lost months.
How to Change Netflix Billing Date
Changing the billing date on Netflix is a straightforward task you can do from the account settings on Netflix. However, the feature is not available for every country. Therefore, you have to rely on some tricks that will change the Netflix billing date in unique ways. Let’s see how we can change the date for paying your Netflix bills.
Netflix has kept its user experience pretty straightforward. Therefore, you can do any task in less than a few clicks. Here’s how to change your billing date on Netflix.
- Sign in to your Netflix account on a browser and go to your Account Settings.
- Look for “Change Billing Day” on the right side.
- Change the date and click “Review and Confirm.”
Changing the billing date on Netflix will require you to pay for the gap immediately. Let’s say you are changing the date from 1st of November to 10th of November; you will have to pay for those ten days before continuing with the process. You can also choose to select the last day of the month option if it helps you keep your finances sorted.
There are a few points to consider while changing your billing date. These are some rules and limitations to this process. Let’s have a look at what things you should remember while changing the billing date on Netflix.
- This method is only applicable if you use a debit/credit card or PayPal for payments.
- This feature is not available in all countries.
- You can’t change the billing date on the billing date. It can be before or after the date.
- Changing the billing date is not possible if your account is on hold.
- You can’t change the billing date during a free period.
- Your billing date can be a day before due to time-zone differences.
- If your billing day comes on a non-repetitive date, like the 31st, it will be charged on the last day of the month.
If you are reading this article from a country like India or that do not present the “change billing date” option
