Netflix tests ‘Add a Home’ feature to combat ‘widespread account sharing’

Losing subscribers is not the only issue Netflix is focused on addressing as it continues to test new ways to charge members for sharing their passwords. Months after testing the “Add an Extra Member” feature, the streaming giant announced it is also working on the “Add a Home” option and is currently being tested in select regions.

The “Add a Home” feature has been implemented in Argentina, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, Netflix announced this week. Members in the said territories will be able to designate just one home per account, regardless of their subscription plan.

Netflix Premium subscribers can add up to three extra homes, while the company will only allow two additional homes in the Standard tier. The Basic plan will only accommodate one extra home per account. Similar to the “Add an Extra Member” feature, each additional home will incur an added monthly fee of $2.99 or 219 pesos in Argentina.

“Today’s widespread account sharing between households undermines our long term ability to invest in and improve our service,” Netflix said in the announcement post. A similar statement was provided when the company announced the testing of the “Add an Extra Member” feature in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru last March.

Both features have similar concepts, where people not living in the same household as the account owner will be prohibited from using Netflix even if they were given the password. The ongoing tests suggest these features are likely the leading solution Netflix has in combating account sharing, which could then force other people to pay for their own accounts.

The pricing for each additional member or household is roughly the same at $2.99, but it is unclear which of the two features would be more budget-friendly. The blog post did not clarify how many devices in the added home can use a Netflix account. It is also unclear how the screen limits will be affected by the “Add a Home” feature.

Netflix has yet to announce when these features will roll out globally or if it has other plans to combat account sharing. “We value our members, and recognize that they have many entertainment choices,” the company said. “We will not make changes in other countries until we better understand what’s easiest for our members.”

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