Netflix expands crackdown on password sharing — and it costs $7.99 per month

Netflix has announced that it will be cracking down on password sharing, with the streaming giant sending emails to customers in 103 countries and territories. The move comes as Netflix faces signs of market saturation, and is looking for new ways to make money.

The crackdown means that viewers who share their password with friends or family members outside of their household will have to pay extra if they want to keep them on their account. If you have the Netflix Standard plan, which costs $15.49 per month, you can add one extra member who can use the service outside your household for $7.99 extra each month. Meanwhile, those who pay for the Netflix Premium package with 4K streaming can add up to two extra members, but each one will still cost another $7.99.

Netflix members will also be able to transfer a person's profile, so that the user can keep their viewing history and recommendations. This means that if you share your account with someone and they have their own profile, they will be able to keep it even if they are no longer part of your account.

While some users may be unhappy about having to pay extra, others are likely to welcome the move as a way of ensuring that they get the best possible viewing experience. Netflix has been working hard to improve its service in recent years, with efforts including limits on password borrowing and a new ad-supported option. But if you don't want to keep using Netflix, we've written a complete article about the best alternatives.