Getting around Netflix password sharing

Netflix announced that it will begin notifying those who are sharing accounts between households that they will need to pay a fee.

According to The Guardian, Netflix has extended its password-sharing crackdown to the US and more than 100 other countries, warning users that accounts cannot be shared for free outside a household.

The video streaming pioneer has been looking for new ways to make money as it faces signs of market saturation. Its latest efforts include limiting password lending and introducing a new ad-supported option.

Netflix stated it is sending emails about account sharing to customers in 103 countries and territories, including the US, UK, France, Germany, Australia, Singapore, Mexico, and Brazil. The emails clarify that a Netflix account should only be used within one household. Paying customers can add an additional member outside their household for an extra fee. In the US, the additional fee is $8 per month.

Members can also transfer someone’s profile so that the user can retain their viewing history and recommendations on Netflix. Last year, the video streaming service announced it would limit account sharing and was testing various approaches in several markets.

Netflix estimates that over 100 million households have shared their login information with friends and family. As of the end of March, Netflix had 232.5 million paying customers worldwide.

Under the new policy, people within the same household can continue to share a Netflix account and use it on multiple devices while traveling. This move comes as Netflix faces competitive pressure from other streaming services, including Max and Amazon.