Disney+ cracks down on password sharing with new paid options

Disney+ is following Netflix's lead in addressing password sharing, informing subscribers that individuals outside their households must sign up for their own subscriptions. The streaming service is offering new "gift" options that allow users to pay for access for family or friends who don't live in the same home but were previously using the account without authorization.

“Your Disney+ subscription is meant to be used within your household, which is a collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside there will need to sign up and pay for their own subscription or be added as an extra member to your account for an additional fee,” Disney+ informed its subscribers.

Subscribers who are away from home or have moved can still access the service by using a one-time passcode sent to the email associated with the account. Disney+ introduced these paid-sharing features in some markets over the summer, and they are now available in the U.S., Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.

In the U.S., an additional member profile costs $6.99 (€6.28) per month for Disney+ basic subscriptions and $9.99 per month for premium subscriptions. The company allows just one extra member per primary account. However, this option is not available for those with Disney bundles or subscribers billed through third-party providers. Disney+ also enables account holders to transfer an eligible profile to a new subscription or an extra member, preserving that profile’s watch history and settings.

Disney also plans to extend this crackdown on password sharing to Hulu and ESPN, both of which have already warned U.S. subscribers against sharing their log-in details with individuals outside their households.

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