Yahoo Movies What are the new Netflix password sharing rules?
The streaming service launched a 'paid sharing' scheme in the UK in 2023
A growing number of streaming services are preparing to crack down on users sharing their passwords, according to reports.
Disney+, Hulu, Max and ESPN+ are all said to be preparing to follow in the footsteps on Netflix, which placed curbs on password sharing last year.
Disney boss Bob Iger recently praised Netflix's crackdown and said his own company would launch its "first real foray into password sharing" this summer.
But what exactly are Netflix's restrictions, and can users still share passwords? Here is everything you need to know.
What are Netflix's password sharing rules?
Netflix users in the UK used to be able to freely share their account password with friends or family. But the streaming service introduced a 'paid sharing' scheme in the UK in May 2023 in an attempt to boost its subscriptions and profits.
The move means subscribers must now pay an extra £4.99 per month for each person they share their password with outside their household.
Netflix, which is home to hit shows including Stranger Things, Bridgerton and Wednesday, has an estimated 15 million subscribers in the UK, making it the country's most popular paid streaming service.
Before last year's crackdown, around four million users were letting friends and family use their accounts for free, according to reports.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings previously said he was comfortable with users sharing their passwords. "Password sharing is something you have to learn to live with," he said in 2016, "because there's so much legitimate password sharing, like you sharing with your spouse, with your kids. So there's no bright line, and we're doing fine as is."
How much is Netflix in the UK?
In October 2023, Netflix hiked the price of its UK basic ad-free plan by £1 a month to £7.99, with the cost of the premium option rising by £2 per month to £17.99.
The move came months after the company removed the basic plan as an option for new subscribers. This decision was made to try to draw subscribers to either its ad-supported plans or the premium tier.
The streaming service has yet to announce any possible further price rises in 2024. However, in February, analysts at UBS Securities predicted another hike, saying: "We expect to see rate increases this year."
