Netflix is one of the biggest names in the streaming world, and for a good reason — they have the most subscribers in the world (but, Disney+ is giving them some competition!).
Netflix actually has more worth than The Walt Disney Company, believe it or not. The service has seen some price increases over the years, and there might be one more on the way soon, as Netflix is trying to find a way for people to stop sharing their passwords with others.
You might have to pay extra to share your Netflix password in the future! Netflix is launching a test soon to allow primary account holders pay an additional fee for users outside of their households, according to Variety.
This is a new way that the streaming service is trying address password-sharing between users. Netflix’s terms of service says that a customer’s account “may not be shared with individuals beyond your household.”
This new test will launch in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru in the next few weeks. Netflix will let people share their accounts with others outside of their household, as long as they pay the extra fee. In the test countries, the cost right now for adding a member is 2380 CLP in Chile (which is $2.97 USD), $2.99 USD in Costa Rica, and 7.9 PEN in Peru (which is $2.12 USD).
“We’ve always made it easy for people who live together to share their Netflix account, with features like separate profiles and multiple streams in our Standard and Premium plans. While these have been hugely popular, they have also created some confusion about when and how Netflix can be shared. As a result, accounts are being shared between households — impacting our ability to invest in great new TV and films for our members.” said Netflix’s director of product innovation, Chengyi Long, according to Variety.
This new “add an extra member” feature will allow members with Netflix’s Standard and Premium plans to add subsidiary accounts for up to 2 people they don’t live with. Each will have their own profile, personalized recommendations, login, and password, and it will cost less than a separate Netflix plan.
There isn’t a guarantee that this new feature will become a permanent part of Netflix’s service. Long said, “We’ll be working to understand the utility of these two features for members in these three countries before making changes anywhere else in the world,” according to Variety.
Netflix is also testing out the ability to let subscribers transfer their user profiles to new accounts. Members in the test countries can allow people who share their account to transfer their profile info to either a new account or an Extra Member sub account, which will keep their viewing history, list of saved content, and recommendations.
We’ll have to wait and see if the test expands outside of these 3 countries! Stay tuned to DFB for more news and updates.
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Do you share a Netflix with other people? Tell us in the comments!
Marija says
My biggest problem with this is that 2 random people who live together (roommates) can share an account, but I can’t share one with my brother because he lives in California? That’s just ridiculous to me.
Jesse says
Well I guess people will just have to stomp sponging off others and Pont up the cost. I mean come on, what’s $15 a month? I agree with Netflix 100%. It’s there product. If I were an investor and I was trying to make money off of Netflix, I would, like every one of you, want them to do what they can to increase my profits. This is America the land of the free, not the land of the free-ride!
Susan R Gerritsen says
How can they tell that people don’t live in the same household? If I go on vacation and I want a relaxed night in watching Netflix, I’ll have a different IP address. Now they are going to charge me extra for every new place I log in?