Max Streaming Introduces Extra Member Fee for Household Sharing
Max has entered the arena of streaming services implementing restrictions on account sharing, confining the use of a single subscription to individuals residing in the same household—unless an additional fee of $7.99 per month is paid for an “extra member” tier.
Adding an extra member to an account is a more economical option than acquiring a brand-new subscription, yet those users are limited to a single profile and can only stream on one device at any given time. Generally, the best value for adding extra members is found within the pricier subscription tiers. For Max, this means opting for the Premium plan, which is priced at $20.99 monthly.
Evaluating Max’s “Extra Member” Option
All Max subscribers can add an extra member for $7.99 per month, provided their plan is billed directly by WarnerMedia. Users who pay through third-party apps or telecom providers are not eligible for this feature. The additional member will receive a unique login but is restricted to one profile and streaming on one device at any time. Moreover, these extra members must be at least 18 years old and reside in the same country as the main account holder.
Among Max’s subscription options, the most advantageous deal belongs to the Premium plan at $20.99 per month, while a reasonable alternative is the Standard plan priced at $16.99 per month. The Basic with Ads plan, which costs $9.99 monthly, is only slightly more expensive than bringing on an extra member, especially if purchased as an annual subscription for $100. Additionally, as reported by 9to5Mac, Max frequently offers promotions that can lower subscription costs to $2.99 per month.
Other Streaming Services with “Extra Member” Plans
Max is not alone in its approach to restrict password sharing through extra member pricing. Netflix permits users on its Standard plan to add one additional member from outside the primary household at a cost of $6.99 per month for accounts with ads and $8.99 without ads. The pricing for Netflix plans includes $7.99 per month for the Standard plan with ads, $17.99 for an ad-free experience, and $24.99 for the Premium subscription.
Subscribers to Disney+ also have the option to add one extra member to any Disney+ plan, as long as the billing is handled directly by Disney+ or through bundles that are also billed by Disney+ or Hulu (excluding Hulu + Live TV plans). The charges for an extra member range from $6.99 per month for the Disney+ Basic tier to $14.99 per month for the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ Premium bundle. The standalone plans are priced at $9.99 and $26.99 per month, respectively.