Don't pay for Netflix unless you're using these 4 features

Dan Girolamo

Sat, July 11, 2026 at 4:45 PM UTC

Photo of the Netflix homepage. — Dan Girolamo/How-To Geek/Netflix

Streaming can be an expensive proposition for the consumer. If you're subscribing to four or five services, that monthly bill can add up. That's why you need to make sure you're taking advantage of every feature a streaming service has to offer. That way, you can justify the expense.

Like many Americans, I'm a Netflix subscriber. Netflix continues to be one of the most popular streaming services, with a massive subscriber base of more than 325 million paid memberships worldwide. After Netflix increased its prices earlier this year , now is the perfect time to explore the service for all it has to offer. There is no reason to pay for Netflix unless you're using these features.

Download shows and movies for offline viewing

One of the best travel hacks on the service

It's summer in the U.S., which means many of you might be traveling. You might have to spend some time in a car, train, or plane to get to your destination. While not impossible, streaming via hotspot or the vehicle's Wi-Fi can be a nightmare. I find that Wi-Fi in a moving vehicle is fine for browsing the web, but terrible for watching videos. It's even worse when you're trying to watch Netflix.

Don't rely on a spotty internet connection. Take some time beforehand to download Netflix shows and movies to watch offline. Go to the Netflix app on your Android device, iPhone, iPad, Amazon Fire tablet, or Google Chromebook. Then, browse the platform for the show or movie you want to watch and look for the Downloads icon(the downward arrow icon). Just know that not everything is available for download due to licensing agreements.

For movies, select Download . For shows, hit Downloadnext to an episode. You can also tap Download Seasonto download an entire season of television. Ad-free plans can have up to 100 active downloads at a time per device in your Netflix plan, while ad-supported plans can have up to 15 total downloads per device in a calendar month.

As for what to watch, there are several Netflix miniseries you can finish on a plane ride , including Ripley and Death by Lightning .

Netflix's (secret) codes

A cool trick to search for your favorite genre

Netflix genre codes URL — Derek Malcolm/How-To Geek

Picture this: You fire up Netflix without a plan. You figure you'll find something on the homepage that catches your eye. You start scrolling through the genre pages, and before you know it, 15 minutes have passed. If I had a nickel for every time I've wasted 15 minutes scrolling on Netflix, I would be a rich man.

Even if I don't know what to watch, I typically know what genre I want to explore, from action and comedy to thriller and horror. This is where Netflix's not-so-secret codes come in handy. Essentially, Netflix has genre codes that you can use in your browser that will take you to specific pages.

Photo of Netflix's tv comedy genre page.

In your web browser, "https://netflix.com/browse/genre/xx" is your starting point. Now, you need to put numbers at the end of the URL. If you enter "https://netflix.com/browse/genre/1365," you'll be taken to Netflix's action and adventure page. If you type in "https://netflix.com/browse/genre/4814," it takes you to the miniseries section.

Some codes to remember:

Action & Adventure: 1365
Children & Family Movies: 783
Classic Movies: 31574
Comedies: 6548
Documentaries: 6839
Dramas: 5763
Foreign Movies: 78367
Horror Movies: 8711
Rom-coms: 5475
TV: 83
TV Sci-fi & Fantasy: 1372
TV Dramas: 11714

The team at What's on Netflix has over 2,000 codes that you can check out and add to your rotation. These codes work best in a web browser, so you're better off doing this on a computer. If you're predominantly watching Netflix on a TV or a tablet, there is a way to implement your choices from the secret codes.

Netflix genre codes, alien sci-fi add to my list — Derek Malcom/How-To Geek/Netflix

Use the secret codes on your web browser. When you find something you like, add it to My List. That way, your selections will be saved, and you can view your My List selections in the Netflix app on your TV, mobile device, or tablet.

Clip your favorite Netflix moments

No more pulling out your phone to record

The days of pulling out your phone to record a clip and send it to your friends are over. Netflix has a built-in feature where users can clip their favorite moments from Netflix TV shows and movies. This feature is available on iPhones, iPads, Android phones, and tablets.

When you want to clip a moment, click Clip,located in the bottom-left corner. Then, set a start and end time. Save the clip, and it will appear under your My Netflixtab. Rewatch these clips whenever you want. You can also share these clips with your friends via Messages, WhatsApp, Instagram Messages, Messenger, and more.

As someone who uses a lot of storage on his phone, Netflix's clipping option allows me to have a library of short moments. Now, I don't have to fill up my iPhone's photo library with videos. Plus, it's always fun to explore old moments that I've saved and relive those moments, which, in many cases, are saved for comedic purposes.

Watch podcasts

Welcome to your new home for video podcasts

Photo of Netflix podcasts. — Dan Girolamo/How-To Geek/Netflix

When Netflix first added video podcasts, I was fairly indifferent. I typically watch podcasts on Spotify or YouTube, and the thought of logging into Netflix to do it wasn't appealing. Let's just say I'm changing my mind as I write this article while watching the latest episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast on Netflix.

I used to listen to music when doing daily activities around my apartment — writing, cleaning, cooking, and showering. Now, I've transitioned to podcasts. It's to the point where it feels like something is missing when I don't have a podcast on. With the ability to watch podcasts on Netflix , I throw one on to end most nights.

What should I watch on Netflix?

Now that you're on Netflix, it's time to use it for its main function: streaming. One of my favorite genres is thrillers , and if you search the thriller genre page, you'll find one of the best of the last 15 years in Gone Girl. As for new shows in July , Worst Neighbor Ever and Little House on the Prairie are now available to watch.

Check out Yahoo's latest streaming advice, based on hands-on testing.

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