Netflix to start charging for extra users
David Farnor | On 20, Oct 2022
Netflix will start charging an additional fee for people wanting to add extra users to their account.
Netflix has been facing a number of tough headwinds this year, from growing competition to rising production costs and customers tightening their belts as they navigate a cost of living crisis. It has responded with multiple measures to try and retain and grow its customer base, including a new, lower-cost package supported by adverts.
Now, it’s making a move to monetise something that has been a problem since it launched: password sharing. After a trial in Chile, Peru and other countries, Netflix has confirmed that it plans to start charging members around the world for sharing their accounts with additional users. Each Netflix account – whatever the plan – will include a home where users can enjoy Netflix on any device.
To use a Netflix account in additional homes, the streamer will ask customers to pay an extra fee per month. Members on the Basic plan can add one extra home, Standard subscribers up to two extra, and Premium users up to three extra.
The move will not impact people watching Netflix on the move: users will still be able to stream TV shows and films outside the home on their tablet, laptop or mobile.
Meanwhile, Netflix will add a new manage homes option to its menus, which will let users control where their account is being used – and remove homes at any time.
This will be rolled out starting in early 2023.
In the meantime, Netflix will also be introducing the option for users to transfer their Netflix profile into another account, so that anyone setting up a new, separate account for themselves won’t lose their watchlist, history or personalised recommendations. This feature is rolling out from today, with users notified by email as soon as the option is available on their account.
Both moves come as Netflix has enjoyed a better second half of the year: after two quarters of losing subscribers, the streamer added 2.41 million subscribers in the third quarter of 2022, bringing its total to 223.09 million. Netflix expected a net gain of 1 million subscribers in the three months to September, so its performance exceeded its own forecasts.