Can you share Netflix with family?

Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services, offering thousands of movies and TV shows to watch instantly. With different plan options, an important question for many families is: can you share a Netflix account with family or friends? Here is a look at the Netflix sharing rules and how to best maximize your subscription.

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The Basics of Netflix Sharing

Netflix’s Terms of Use technically only allow account sharing between people who live in the same household. However, Netflix takes a relaxed approach to enforcing this policy. The streaming service allows you to stream on different devices at the same time based on your plan:

Basic – 1 stream at a time

Standard – 2 concurrent streams
Premium – 4 concurrent streams

So with the Standard and Premium plans, it’s easy to share access outside your household. You can share your login with family members, friends, or anyone else you want. The catch is that you can only stream on the number of screens allowed by your plan simultaneously. If you go over the limit, Netflix will prompt users to upgrade to the next plan.

Profile Setup

To share your Netflix account without running into issues, the key is setting up separate profiles. Netflix allows you to create up to 5 profiles under one account. Here are some profile tips for seamless sharing:

Create a unique profile for each person with their own name and avatar.
Name profiles based on who is actually using it, not the device.

Set profiles to only show suitable content for each viewer.
Provide profile instructions to sharees on how to choose the correct profile.

Profiles allow shared users to have their own watch history, recommendations, and settings. This prevents you from messing up each other’s Netflix experience. As the account owner, you can also control profile settings and remove profiles when needed.

Using Multiple Devices

Thanks to Netflix allowing streaming on different devices, sharing an account is easy. Here are some device tips when sharing Netflix access:

Download the Netflix app on any smartphone, tablet, or streaming device you want to use. Netflix allows you to use up to 6 devices.
Log in using your account email and password. Be sure to pick your profile.

You can stream on smart TVs by adding your Netflix account in the TV’s app settings.
Use the “Sign out of all devices” option if you need to reset devices.

A key thing to remember is only the number of concurrent streams is limited based on your plan, not total devices. So you can use as many devices with your Netflix account as you want, as long as you don’t exceed the simultaneous streaming limit.

Changing Locations

One cool thing about Netflix is that you can easily use it even when traveling or living somewhere else temporarily. The steps for changing locations include:

Log into your Netflix account on a web browser.
Under account settings, change your Netflix country to the desired location.

Stream content from that country’s Netflix library on any device.
The change takes effect right away.

Just keep in mind that you can only stream on the number of screens your plan allows, regardless of country. So if someone is already streaming under your account, you may need to wait until they finish to start streaming the new country’s content.

Watching Together

Even if you’re sharing Netflix remotely, you can still have a shared viewing experience. Here are some ways to watch Netflix together when sharing an account:

Use Netflix Party, an extension that lets you synchronizes streaming and chat.
Do a video call on FaceTime, Zoom, etc. while starting a title at the same time.

Use the Teleparty extension to synchronize your Netflix party.

Coordinating a time to watch together and counting down to press play at the same time makes it feel like you’re in the same room. This is great for families, long distance relationships, or groups of friends.

Parental Controls

When sharing Netflix with kids, parental controls help manage what content they can view. Here are some parental control options:

Set a profile to be for kids only so it only shows kid-friendly content.
Use a PIN to restrict profile access to limit viewing.
Turn off auto-play so inappropriate previews don’t show.

Block or restrict certain titles kids can watch.

Take some time to tailor each profile’s settings for the best experience. You can also monitor viewing activity using the account viewer history and reviews.

Non-Household Limits

While Netflix is fairly lenient about account sharing, there are some limitations to be aware of:

You may need to periodically verify the account owner’s primary location.
Accounts can sometimes be limited if heavily watched outside one household for an extended time.
Students away at college should verify their account once in a while.

As long as extended non-household viewing is occasional, you should have no problems. But heavy long-term sharing with different locations may trigger limits.

Competing Streams

Trouble arises when there are more people wanting to stream than screens allowed on your Netflix plan. Here are some tips to avoid competing streams:

Coordinate schedules and establish streaming priorities.

Upgrade to the next plan if needed to allow more streams.
Use profile texting notifications when someone starts streaming.
Set profiles to stream at lower quality to free up streams.

With good communication between sharees, competing streams can be minimized. But the easier solution may be upgrading to allow more simultaneous streams.

Changing the Plan

As the account owner, you can adjust your Netflix plan anytime. Here are some tips for managing your plan:

Monitor total usage to see if you need more streams.

Downgrade or upgrade plans as needed through the account settings.
Consider premium for the extra streams and 4K if you have many sharees.
You can change plans once per month. Changes take effect immediately.

Don’t be afraid to adjust your Netflix plan up or down to suit your sharing needs. The process is quick and easy.

Extra Member Slots

For larger families, you may want to add Netflix member slots, Extra Member is an add-on that allows more profiles.

Netflix allows you to add 1, 2, or 3 extra member slots.

Each extra member slot includes an additional 2 profile slots.
The extra member charge is $5.99 per month for 2 profiles, $7.99 for 4 profiles, or $9.99 for 6 profiles.

Adding extra members is ideal if you need more than 5 profile slots for larger households or shared accounts. This avoids creating fake profiles to get more.

Creating Sub Accounts

Netflix also gives you the ability to create sub accounts under your main account. Here’s how sub accounts work:

Sub accounts share your main account login but get their own bill and payment method.
You control the profile slots, streaming plan, and settings for each sub account.

Use sub accounts to share Netflix but make others pay their share.
You can turn sub accounts on or off anytime through your account.

Sub accounts allow you to share Netflix but split up the costs. This is great for larger families or groups that want to share the bill.

Violating Terms of Use

While Netflix is relaxed about sharing, you could get your account suspended or canceled for violating the Terms of Use. Here are some activities that could trigger enforcement:

Sharing your login credentials publicly online
Reselling access to your Netflix account

Heavy account sharing with people who don’t live with you
Using a VPN or proxy to get around country restrictions

To avoid any issues, use common sense when sharing your account. Don’t share your password online or abuse Netflix’s leniency on household limits.

Is It Worth It to Share?

With all the account sharing logistics, you may wonder if sharing Netflix is ultimately worth it. Here are some key considerations:

Pros	Cons
– Saves money by splitting costs	– Competing streams if uncoordinated
– Sharing the same content	– Confusion over whose watching history is whose
– Coordinated group viewing	– Potentially downgraded video quality
– More profile slots with add-ons	– Limited streams unless you upgrade your plan

In most cases, the benefits outweigh the hassles. But be sure to weigh the pros and cons against your specific needs.

Maximizing Your Shared Netflix

Here are some final tips for maximizing your shared Netflix experience:

Communicate streaming schedules to avoid competing over streams.
Take turns choosing titles to keep it fair.
Upgrade your plan if needed to allow more concurrent streams.

Use profile text notifications to coordinate streaming.
Test different devices to ensure easy access anywhere.

With good planning and coordination, sharing Netflix can work well. Take advantage of profiles, streaming slots, and device access to get the most from your shared account.

The Bottom Line

While Netflix officially says account sharing should only be within a household, they provide the tools for broader sharing. Taking advantage of multiple profiles, streams, and devices allows families and friends to share accounts. Overall, Netflix is designed for flexibility. With reasonable sharing practices, you can maximize the benefits of sharing an account with careful coordination and communication.