Is Netflix truly a SaaS platform, or is it something else entirely? In this exclusive Q&A, a Director of Growth and a Publisher & Founder share their insights on the topic. The first expert highlights how Netflix checks all the boxes for a SaaS, while the final expert discusses how Netflix operates as a SaaS vendor. Read on to discover all six insights from our panel of experts.
- Netflix Checks All SaaS Boxes
- Netflix Provides Flexible Access
- Netflix Delivers On-Demand Entertainment
- Netflix Offers Subscription-Based Access
- Netflix Leverages Data-Driven Personalisation
- Netflix Operates as a SaaS Vendor
Netflix Checks All SaaS Boxes
Working with various CRM platforms has shown me that Netflix checks all the SaaS boxes—subscription-based pricing, cloud delivery, and continuous service improvements without user intervention. When I analyze their model against traditional SaaS metrics like churn rate, recurring revenue, and user engagement, Netflix operates exactly like the B2C SaaS platforms we use for marketing automation.
Yarden Morgan, Director of Growth, Lusha
Netflix Provides Flexible Access
For me, Netflix is definitely a SaaS. There is a service on the platform that is always on and can be seen on almost any internet-connected gadget. Now anyone can watch their favorite movies and TV shows. Thanks for this. Now I can use Netflix on my laptop, phone, or even smart TV, whether I’m at home or in the air. I think this is what makes a SaaS product useful: it takes away the bother and lets you get services right away, whenever you need them.
I think about how technology is changing healthcare because of how Netflix changes based on what its users want. The same thing is done by platforms that let patients talk to their doctors from far away: they offer access that is flexible and doesn’t rely on a device or place. This model helps me with my job since it helps people quickly find answers. This is why Netflix is a great example of a SaaS that works well.
Jean Christophe Gabler, Publisher & Founder, YOGI TIMES
Netflix Delivers On-Demand Entertainment
Yes, Netflix qualifies as a SaaS (Software as a Service), but it operates in a specialised niche within the SaaS ecosystem. SaaS typically refers to cloud-based software applications that users access over the internet without needing to install or maintain the software themselves. Netflix fits this model because it delivers on-demand entertainment through a web-based application, entirely hosted and managed by Netflix on the cloud.
What makes Netflix unique is its consumer-focused nature. Traditional SaaS often targets business users with productivity or enterprise tools (like CRM or project management software), but Netflix applies the same principles to provide a subscription-based streaming service. Its cloud infrastructure, ability to scale globally, and regular software updates without requiring action from the user align perfectly with the SaaS model. It’s a perfect example of SaaS tailored for the entertainment industry.
Alex Cornici, Marketing Manager, Feed Pic
Netflix Offers Subscription-Based Access
Netflix qualifies utterly and completely as a SaaS—but not in that very traditional sense we find for enterprise software. For a SaaS, one need consider “Software as a Service.” Netflix fits the very definition: it delivers its content through software (in its platform) as a service that runs continuously.
The hybrid identity is what makes Netflix different. Although its core is software-based—it offers subscription-based access to movies and shows—it does not end there. The value proposition extends beyond the platform. Netflix invests in massive content creation, taking a SaaS and infusing it with that of a media company. The duality has shaped the kind of SaaS model wherein the “service” is entertainment, powered by remarkable tech infrastructure, recommendation algorithms, and global scalability.
So, while not technically a SaaS in the B2B sense, Netflix shows how software can be an engine for value creation in the most unconventional ways possible to stretch the definition of SaaS.
Derek Pankaew, CEO & Founder, Listening.com
Netflix Leverages Data-Driven Personalisation
Absolutely, Netflix qualifies as a SaaS (Software as a Service). It operates as a subscription-based platform where users pay to access a service delivered entirely online. Netflix provides a seamless, user-friendly interface for streaming content, which is a core hallmark of SaaS products.
What makes Netflix stand out in the SaaS world is its ability to leverage data-driven personalisation. By analyzing user behavior, it delivers tailored recommendations, creating a highly engaging experience—something many SaaS companies aim to achieve.
At its core, Netflix delivers software (its platform) as a service, fulfilling the primary criteria of SaaS while setting a benchmark for user experience and innovation in the subscription space.
Tom Jauncey, Head Nerd, Nautilus Marketing
Netflix Operates as a SaaS Vendor
Yes, Netflix qualifies as a SaaS. Looking objectively as a company, it provides:
- Subscription service – The defining nature of SaaS, Netflix access is through a period subscription to the content.
- Access on demand – The service is available to subscribed user on demand 24/7.
- Multi-user service – Netflix caters to individuals and families. If one can imagine a family as a business entity, Netflix is a SaaS vendor to the family business unit. It provides a single subscription with the ability to add/remove members, create profiles for each member, save preferences, etc.
Most inherently look at Netflix as an entertainment content provider/aggregator, but the underlying technology, platform, delivery, user management, subscription management, marketing, and customer success are all essentially SaaS services.
Prashant Kondle, Product Lead
