Netflix is testing password sharing in a few countries that will require users to “buy” additional homes at $3 each per month, per home.
Netflix has a solution to password sharing
Netflix is now testing an anti-password sharing feature in Argentina, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and the Dominican Republic, Bloomberg reports. The company has been testing this feature in a few other markets since May.
The idea is to charge you a bit more to let others use Netflix outside your primary household. Netflix normally doesn’t support sharing access with multiple households. The company has so far opted against preventing password sharing, but that’s about to change soon. Netflix is losing subscribers for the first time in ten years, and password sharing is now a practice that’s now frowned upon. Read: How to manually remove movies and TV shows from Netflix’s Continue Watching row
In the aforementioned countries where Netflix is conducting its test, folks are asked to “buy” additional homes to share their Netflix password with people living at that location. A Netflix home is a physical location where you use your Netflix on any of the supported devices. Buying additional homes is also required to use Netflix on a TV or TV-connected device. The privilege of Netflix password sharing will set you back three bucks per month, per home.
How Netflix password sharing works
The feature is still in testing. There’s no word when it might roll out to everyone. Here’s what you need to know, based on information in Netflix’s support document.
- Primary home and traveling. You can have one primary home and up to three additional ones. You can use Netflix on any device in your primary home. You are permitted to use Netflix on your mobile devices in other locations for two weeks without restrictions “as long as your account has not been previously used in that location.” Netflix says this is allowed once per location, per year.
- Additional homes. People can buy additional virtual homes to use the service in other locations for an additional fee of $2.99 per home, per month.
- Internet connection: Your Netflix device must be connected to the same internet connection as the other devices in your home. Netflix notes that your device must not use any unblocker service or be connected to a VPN or proxy.
- Changing the primary household. When using Netflix for more than two weeks outside your primary home, you can change your primary household to continue using Netflix at a different location without paying extra. After you’ve switched locations, you’ll no longer be able to use Netflix in your previous primary home.
- Netflix plans and homes. Netflix’s Basic plan ($10/month) supports one extra home. The Standard plan ($15/month) gives you two extra homes and the most expensive Premium plan ($20/month) lets you add three.
Pay up or kiss password sharing good-bye
In countries where Netflix is running this test, people are given two options: Either pay additional fees to use the service at other locations (meaning, to share your password) or switch to a new, paid account. The service uses information such as IP addresses, device IDs and account activity to detect homes.
Netflix writes:
If you will only be using this TV for a limited time, you can watch Netflix for up to 2 weeks at no extra charge as long your account has not been previously used in that location. After that time, the TV will be blocked unless you add the extra home.
When using Netflix from a location that’s not one of your registered households for more than two weeks (which can easily happen if you share your password with someone), you’ll see a notification asking you to purchase an additional home to continue using the service at that location or switch location. Aside from password sharing, Netflix is also allegedly developing an ad-supported offering for the first time in its history that will be more affordable than its standard plans.