An end to Netflix password sharing in the UK

Netflix’s crackdown on account sharing has arrived in the UK, signalling the end of password piggybacking.

The streaming channel will only allow viewers to use each other’s account if they live in the same household.

Netflix users will now have to splash out an extra £4.99 a month if they want to let a person they do not live with use their account.

The crackdown on password sharing in the UK follows bans already in place across Latin America, Canada, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain. 

It’s been looming since 2021 with Netflix believing more than 100 million people are sharing account access globally.

Anyone who already has a separate Netflix profile on someone else’s account will be able to transfer their profile to a new membership that they will then need to pay for.

There will also be a new feature introduced that allows users to see who’s accessing their account and make sure anyone that shouldn’t have access is removed.

The rules still allow users to take full advantage of the streaming platform when they’re on holiday or out and about but, again, only people who live in the same household will be able to access it.

Why has Netflix made the changes?  

Traditionally, a single account could host up to five profiles, each individually named and personalised.

It was designed this way so that multiple members of a household could enjoy content without having to start their own Netflix account and pay the monthly fee.

However, until now there’s been nothing to stop it being used across multiple homes, even though the Netflix terms of service have long said users of an account must live in the same household.

That has meant that five people living under five different addresses could have their own profile under one account. In other words – five different people, in five different addresses, paying for one subscription.

When will the change be implemented?

Netflix began emailing customers who it suspects of sharing details on 23 May with a total ban anticipated to be in place by July.

Netflix has not actually made it clear how they plan to authenticate subscribers’ identities or accounts.

What are your options and the cost of streaming alternatives?

Netflix

The basic package, without ads, is £6.99 a month, the standard package is £10.99 a month and the premium package is £15.99 a month.

Disney Plus

Disney Plus is currently £7.99 a month. It also offers an annual subscription for £79.90, saving 15% over the course of the year.

Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime costs £7.99 a month and comes with all the Amazon Prime perks, such as free next-day delivery and access to Amazon Prime Video. You can get it for £6.58 a month if you pay for a year upfront, or £3.25 if you’re a student.

Apple TV

Apple TV Plus is priced at £4.99 a month with a free one-year subscription when you purchase any new Apple product including MacBooks, iPads and iPhones.

Now TV

The price of Now TV varies. An entertainment TV membership costs £9.99 a month, Now cinema costs £9.99 a month, or there’s a one-off payment of £11.98 for a 'sports day + mobile month' membership.

BritBox

BritBox is £5.99 a month and provides access to hundreds of HD videos. However, for the same price you can pay for an ITVX premium subscription which also gives you access to all the BritBox content.