Netflix is testing a new feature in Latin America that could signal the end of password sharing for users of the video-streaming service.
In a Wednesday blog post, Netflix suggests asking subscribers to pay an extra $3 to have someone outside their household access their Netflix account. “Members on our Standard and Premium plans will be able to add sub accounts for up to two people they don’t live with—each with their own profile, personalized recommendations, login and password—at a lower price,” it says.
In the past, Netflix has denied it’s preparing to crack down on password sharing. However, the company’s latest post suggests Netflix needs to turn the screws in order to bolster funding for its video-streaming empire, which competes against Disney+, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Video.
“We’ve always made it easy for people who live together to share their Netflix account, with features like separate profiles and multiple streams in our Standard and Premium plans. While these have been hugely popular, they have also created some confusion about when and how Netflix can be shared,” the company said. “As a result, accounts are being shared between households—impacting our ability to invest in great new TV and films for our members.”
The company plans on first testing the “Add an Extra Member” system in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru for $2.99 or around that amount in the local currency. Netflix will then consider expanding the feature to other markets.
The system will also be rolled in with another function that’ll let users transfer profile information either to a new account or a sub account, thus keeping the viewing history and personalized recommendations intact.