Streaming service plans to impose $8 monthly password-sharing charge on users
Starting next month, HBO Max will begin enforcing a fee for password sharing outside of households. This move marks a shift in the streaming service's policy, which has historically turned a blind eye to account sharing.
The decision to enforce account sharing rules comes from HBO's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), and is being led by JB Perrette, the streaming chief of WBD. Perrette and his team have been working to determine legitimate users and potential violators of the account sharing policy.
The new policy will take effect in September 2025, and the fee for each additional user outside the household will be $7.99 per month. This means if you have an HBO Max account, you can add an extra member for this additional fee, unless you are billed through a third-party provider.
HBO Max offers a wide range of content, including shows such as "The Sopranos" and "The Last of Us." The monthly plans for individual HBO Max accounts range from $9.99 to $20.99 a month. Users can save 16% on all plans by subscribing for a full year instead of opting for month-to-month payments.
It's worth noting that both Netflix and Disney+ offer options for the account holder to pay an additional monthly fee to allow password sharing, just as HBO Max will be doing.
This move by HBO Max is aimed at preventing unauthorized use of its accounts. In 2023, Netflix began enforcing a crackdown on non-paying users, locking out users who accessed accounts from devices not connected to the primary account holder's internet. Similarly, Disney+ implemented similar measures last year.
With the new policy, HBO Max will no longer allow account sharing with individuals outside of the household. The company offers programming from Warner Bros., Discovery Channel, CNN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, TBS, TNT, Eurosport, and more, in addition to its original content.
[1] [Source for the third-party provider information] [2] [Source for the Netflix crackdown information]
- JB Perrette, the streaming chief of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), is utilizing technology to identify legitimate users and potential violators of HBO Max's account sharing policy amidst the financial implications of unauthorized use in the entertainment industry.
- In an effort to monetize its content, HBO Max is introducing a fee for password sharing outside of households starting from September 2025, following in the footsteps of streaming giants like Netflix and Disney+, who have similar policies in place.
