Max is following Netflix’s footsteps to end account sharing for subscribers as the streamer rolls out a new feature. After months of gently preparing subscribers for the change, a new feature has been set in motion on April 22 as part of the streamer’s effort to crack down on pᴀssword sharing. This has been an ongoing trend in recent years for various streaming platforms, with services such as Disney+ and Hulu also taking steps to moderate how many households can use a single subscription. These moves have been divisive among subscribers themselves.

Per ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, Warner Bros. Discovery has debuted an “extra member add-on” feature on Max to limit account sharing outside the primary account holder’s household. The new feature would allow users to transfer an adult profile to an extra-member account, which has its own login credentials and can stream from one profile on one device at a time while enjoying the same benefits as the primary account owner. The feature is available at $7.99 per month (plus tax). Warner Bros. Discovery’s CEO of Global Streaming and Games, JB Perrette, said in a statement:

Extra Member Add-On and Profile Transfer are two key Max advancements, designed to help viewers with a new way to enjoy our best-in-class content at an exceptional value, and offer subscribers greater flexibility in managing their accounts. These updates provide a simple way for subscribers to add-on a new member to their account, or for existing subscribers who have users outside of their household to smoothly, and in an uninterrupted fashion, transition their profile so that extra member can continue to access Max.

What This Means For Max Subscribers

Extra Member Add-On Is Going Into Effect On Max

The add-on feature is only available on the Max streaming platform, and isn’t part of the Disney+, Hulu, and Max Bundle. Additionally, those outside the account holder’s household are defined as those who don’t live with the primary subscriber, and every extra member needs to be at least 18 years old and in the same country as the account holder. It isn’t clear yet how the service intends to regulate all of those stipulations, though it will likely take a similar approach to Netflix.

Warner Bros. Discovery’s new plan for Max is very similar to Netflix’s previous move, which also allows the extra member to set up their profile and pᴀsswords. On the other hand, Max, which generally costs slightly more than Netflix, also charges more for the extra person than its compeтιтor. Max’s basic plan with ads starts at $9.99 per month, whereas Netflix’s standard plan with ads starts at $7.99 per month and allows users to add an extra member for $6.99 per month.

Our Take On Max’s Extra Member Add-on

Max Offers Options As It Ends Pᴀssword Sharing

Max’s ending the era of pᴀssword sharing has long been forecasted after several streaming services moved to combat a practice that, for many years, was considered acceptable and encouraged. Max is arguably a little late to the game, but with Warner Bros. Discovery joining the change, it seems that the streaming industry is collectively moving away from pᴀssword sharing toward a more household-oriented account structure.

The new change doesn’t really have a huge impact on those in the same household, and the Add-On option on Max does cost slightly less than setting up a separate subscription, which is the upside. On the other hand, family members living overseas won’t be able to enjoy the feature due to country restrictions, so it is clear there are still some frustrations to be had over the practice. Whether this will ultimately help Max remains to be seen, but subscribers with multiple households will soon have to make a big decision.

Source: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline