In a recent move to curb account sharing, Netflix has introduced new and stricter rules in four countries, including Spain, Portugal, Canada, and New Zealand.
As per the new rules, subscribers must pay an additional fee if they share their password with anyone outside of their household. The fee for sharing a password in Spain is 6 euros per month.
Netflix has been warning about its plans to crack down on password sharing for some time now. On Wednesday, the streaming giant implemented the new rules in the four aforementioned countries.
Under the new rules, users who wish to share their account with someone outside of their “main location” will have to pay an “additional member account” fee. The Standard subscription plan allows for one additional user, while the Premium plan allows for two. This option is not available with the Basic plans.
The prices of the surcharge vary by country. For instance, in Spain, the fee is 6 euros per month, while in Portugal it is only 4 euros. The reason for the price difference is unclear.
The additional members will have limited privileges on the shared account. They can only watch Netflix on one device at a time, download content on one phone or tablet for offline viewing, and have only one profile. They must also create their account in the same country as the main account owner. Additionally, adding additional members is not possible if the Netflix subscription is paid through providers or third parties.
Netflix lost subscribers for the first time in the first half of 2022 due to increased competition, which led the company to announce stricter action against account sharing. An estimated 100 million Netflix users share their login details with friends, colleagues, or family members.
According to Netflix, the stricter rules will be implemented in all countries in the coming months. The rollout date for the Netherlands is not yet known.
In the countries where the new account sharing policy has been put into effect, Netflix users can set a “main location.” This means that anyone living in the same household as the account owner can use the Netflix account. The streaming service has also given subscribers new options for managing who has access to their account.
Netflix has emphasized that its subscribers can continue to watch on their personal devices even when they are traveling, such as on vacation or when logging into a new TV, such as at a hotel or vacation rental.
In November, Netflix introduced a cheaper subscription option that includes commercial breaks. This option is now available in 12 countries, but the availability for the Netherlands is yet to be announced.