Account sharing on Netflix has also been prohibited in Germany since the beginning of 2023. But what happens to customers who still share their subscription?
Munich – Many families use a shared Netflix account even though they don't live together or no longer live together. Netflix has been cracking down on account sharing since the beginning of 2023. What flourishes customers who violate the regulations?
These consequences threaten Netflix customers who share their subscription without permission
Account sharing has been a thorn in Netflix's side for some time. Netflix itself speaks of almost 100 million users who use the accounts of their friends or family without paying for them. Sharing an account is also much cheaper than creating your own account. If you take out a basic subscription without advertising, you pay 7.99 euros per month, a premium subscription for up to four people costs only 17.99 euros. Additional membership slots can also be added there for 4.99 euros per month.
Netflix wants to further prevent the sharing of a Netflix account – what are the consequences? © Rene Traut/Imago
These additional members are friends and family who do not live in the same household. There are some restrictions on additional members, which is why this option does not seem attractive to many. What are the consequences if users continue to choose to use their friends' or family's Netflix accounts even though they don't live in the same household? As Netflix told golem.de, subscribers are "not threatened with termination or any other form of consequences."
Consequences for additional Netflix users are still possible
As recently as the beginning of 2023, Netflix threatened account sharers with a device ban. Only a short time later, they rowed back after some headwind. Even if the account holders do not face any consequences, the sharing of their own account will still be restricted. Users must define a so-called Netflix household, which is considered the central office of the account. As a result, the account can no longer be accessed from other households.
Pros and cons of additional members on Netflix:
- Advantages:
- Unlimited access to Netflix
- Cheaper than a basic subscription
- Personal Profile
- Disadvantages:
- Only one device can be used at a time
- Only one title can be downloaded
- Additional members have only one profile
- Additional members must activate their account in the same country as the account holder
When logging in, these households receive a message that either they have to take out their own subscription or that the user has to create a sub-account. However, it is not necessary to expect that the account will be "blocked without notice". It is still possible to share the account with mobile devices if they connect to the Netflix household's Wi-Fi every 30 days. There are also ways to bypass the account ban on Netflix using a VPN.
