Want to Share Your Netflix Password? It’ll Now Cost You $8 a Month
If you’re sharing your Netflix password with someone who doesn’t live with you, the free ride is coming to an end. Netflix is about to start charging you $7.99 per month if you share your password with someone outside your household.
After cracking down on password sharing in places like Chile, Costa Rica and Peru, Netflix just announced it’s bringing this password crackdown to the U.S.
Industry observers had expected Netflix to start charging Americans something like $3 or $4 per month to share passwords, based on what it’s charging in other countries. So the $7.99 charge is something of a surprise.
“Starting today, we will be sending this email to members who are sharing Netflix outside their household in the United States,” the streaming giant said. “A Netflix account is for use by one household. Everyone living in that household can use Netflix wherever they are — at home, on the go, on holiday — and take advantage of new features like Transfer Profile and Manage Access and Devices.”
The digital streaming service, known for hit shows such as “Stranger Things,” “Squid Games” and “The Crown,” had previously turned a blind eye to password sharing. But now it says it’s been losing too much money to the practice.
With Netflix prices already rising in the U.S. — prices increased in January to $9.99 a month for a basic account, $15.49 a month for a standard account and $19.99 a month for a premium account — the extra fees may be too much for subscribers.
How to Stop Someone From Using Your Netflix Account
If you have a family member, friend or ex-partner still using your Netflix login, now may be the time to cut them off.
Go to the Netflix Account Settings page and take these steps to remove unauthorized users from your account:
- Delete any unwanted profiles from your account by clicking on your profile icon in the top right corner, then selecting “Manage Profiles.”
- Choose the “Change Password” option to create a new password for your account, locking out anyone you may have shared your password with in the past.
- At the bottom of the page, choose to “Sign Out Of All Devices.” This will log out anyone who may be using your account. To regain access, they will need to sign back in with the new password you just created.
Users losing access to an account can use the Transfer Profile tool to transfer their data to their own accounts.
Getting booted off your buddy’s Netflix account? You don’t have to leave behind your watchlist, watch history and recommendations. Here’s how to transfer your Netflix profile.
If anyone you remove from your account needs a more affordable way to access Netflix (or you’re getting kicked off someone else’s account), the service recently launched an ad-supported tier. For $7 a month, users can sign up for a Basic Netflix account with advertisements.
If you’re struggling to keep up with the cost of streaming services, check out our guide on the best free TV apps. If you’re ready to pull the plug on Netflix, you can do so by visiting Netflix’s support page for cancellations.
Mike Brassfield is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. Michael Archambault is a former senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
