Starting this week, Aussies will see the results of Netflix’s long-planned crackdown on password sharing, with those using the account of someone outside of their household to either pay a monthly subscription fee or be locked out.
With trials on password sharing first announced a few years ago, Netflix has finally rolled out the changes in Australia, with Netflix users receiving emails and notifications via their accounts.
The correspondence recommends that users review which devices and users are currently logged into the account, encouraging they either transfer a profile onto its own paying membership, or to ‘buy’ a profile that enables you to share your account details with someone who doesn’t live with you.
The new shared account will cost $7.99 per month, making it slightly more expensive than the Basic with Ads plan that was introduced in November 2022.
To ensure it cracks down on all of those who are currently sharing accounts and passwords, Netflix will review the IP addresses of each device logged into an account, and warn users that they are not primary household for the account, before putting restrictions in place. Netflix will send a verification code to the main account holder to confirm the primary household.
Those on an account will still be able to watch via their profile whilst travelling, but will have to confirm their details once they log in from a different location.
The password sharing crackdown is a result of Netflix’s slowly declining user count over recent years, with the aim to increase membership numbers and profits to continue funding original content.
There may be some hope for those looking for a cheaper Netflix plan though, with Optus announcing a limited-time Netflix discount, although some terms and conditions apply.
Sign up to Disney+
Over Netflix? Why not check out Disney+? There are two plan options to choose from – a monthly subscription, or prepay for a year. Both plans include the same features, with unlimited downloads and the ability to stream on up to four screens at the same time.
| Brand | Subscription Type | No. of Screens/same time viewing | Advertised Cost^^/month or year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $13.99 over one month |
4 | $13.99 |
Get DealCanstar Blue receives a commission for sign-ups through Disney+ * |
|
min. cost $139.99 over one year |
4 | $139.99 |
Get DealCanstar Blue receives a commission for sign-ups through Disney+ * |
 |
^^View important information | |||
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