Netflix will redesign its mobile app in 2026 to put vertical, swipeable clips at the center of the experience, co-CEO Greg Peters announced during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call on Tuesday.
At a Glance
- Netflix will launch a redesigned mobile app later in 2026 built around vertical video feeds.
- The update will showcase short clips from shows, movies, and the new slate of video podcasts unveiled last week.
- First original video podcasts-hosted by Pete Davidson and Michael Irvin-are already live, with libraries from Spotify and iHeartMedia on the way.
- Why it matters: The move positions Netflix to compete directly with TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for daily screen time and discovery.
The redesign is intended to “better serve the expansion of our business over the decade to come,” Peters told investors. The new foundation will let Netflix “iterate, test, evolve, and improve” its mobile offering over time.
Vertical Feed Beats Traditional Rows
Since May, Netflix has quietly tested a vertical video feed that surfaces 15- to 60-second clips from its catalog. The format mirrors TikTok and Instagram Reels, letting users swipe up for the next clip. Peters confirmed the final app will deepen this integration, replacing the current thumbnail-heavy home screen with an endless feed designed to keep thumbs moving.
“You can imagine us bringing more clips based on new content types, like video podcasts,” Peters said, signaling that podcasts will live inside the same swipeable environment.
Video Podcasts Land as YouTube Rivalry Heats Up
Netflix’s first original video podcasts debuted this week, headlined by:
- Pete Davidson in an unscripted interview series
- Michael Irvin hosting a sports-focused show
- Upcoming licensed libraries from Spotify and iHeartMedia
The company views podcasts as low-cost, high-frequency content that can fill gaps between marquee series launches while feeding the vertical-feed algorithm fresh clips.
At the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 conference, CTO Elizabeth Stone stressed that Netflix is “not trying to become TikTok,” but instead wants to strengthen entertainment discovery through mobile-first features.
Industry Lines Blur as Competition Widens
Co-CEO Ted Sarandos told analysts that streaming services now compete with “the entire entertainment industry,” not just each other.
“There’s never been more competition for creators, for consumer attention, for advertising and subscription dollars,” Sarandos said. “TV is now just about everything. The Oscars and the NFL are on YouTube…Apple’s competing for Emmys and Oscars, and Instagram is coming next.”
Netflix’s evolving theatrical strategy-exemplified by its pending acquisition of Warner Bros. titles-shows the company is open to hybrid distribution models as cinema, streaming, and social content converge.
Growth Metrics Stay Robust
Netflix closed 2025 with:
- $45.2 billion in annual revenue
- Ad revenue topping $1.5 billion, up from near zero in 2023
- 325 million paid memberships, a quarterly record
The company did not break out mobile engagement numbers, but executives said time spent per-member hit an all-time high in the fourth quarter, driven partly by clip viewing.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 app overhaul will make vertical video the default gateway to Netflix.
- Video podcasts supply a steady clip pipeline to feed that feed.
- Netflix frames the shift as discovery enhancement, not social-media mimicry.
- Financially, the company enters 2026 with record revenue and subscriber highs, giving it room to experiment without immediate monetization pressure.
Michael A. Turner covers media, streaming, apps and platforms at News Of Philadelphia.
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