- In a recent earnings call, Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans to crack down on password sharing amongst HBO Max streamers.
- Viewers who do not live in the same household as the HBO Max account owner can stay on the owner's plan for an "Extra Member Add-On" fee of $7.99.
- This plan is set to roll out starting in September 2025.
If you haven't caught up on the latest season of The White Lotus, The Pitt, Hacks, and more, make sure to do so before September as HBO Max's parent company Warner Bros. Discovery just made a huge announcement that some streaming fans might not be happy about.
On August 7, 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery held a second-quarter earnings call where it shared plans to crack down on password sharing.
For the past few months, HBO Max has been working on differentiating "legitimate users" from illegitimate users, a.k.a. paying account holders from users viewing on someone else's account.
This effort was made in preparation for the crackdown, where, instead of gently ushering customers toward HBO Max's "Extra Member Add-On" feature, all accounts with "illegitimate users" will have to pay the mandatory add-on fee of $7.99 on top of their already existing subscription plan, or whoever is using their account outside their household will likely be locked out.
When will HBO Max start cracking down on password sharing?
CEO and President of Global Streaming and Games at Warner Bros. Discovery, JB Perrette, said, "Starting in September, you’ll actually start to see the messaging, which right now has been a fairly soft, cancelable messaging, start to get more fixed and such that people will have to take action as opposed to right now sort of having it be a voluntary process."
This plan of password sharing crackdowns is not new to the streaming service industry. In fact, Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu have all rolled out similar measures.
Who will the HBO Max password-sharing crackdown affect?
The September action is said to only affect viewers who do not live in the same household as the HBO Max account owner.
Members with an HBO Max account through WarnerMedia will have the option to add the extra member outside their household for a monthly fee of $7.99. This offer does not apply to members with a Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max bundle, or subscribers billed through a third-party provider, such as an internet, mobile, or TV supplier.
Here's how the add-on fee will affect various HBO Max plans:
- Basic With Ads ($9.99): monthly plan members will now have to pay $17.98
- Standard ($16.99: monthly plan members will now have to pay $24.98
- Premium ($20.99): monthly plan members will now have to pay $28.98
HBO Max subscription options
If you're interested in adding an extra member to your existing HBO Max plan, here are the steps you'll want to take.
- Go to HBOMax.com/subscription, and sign in to your account.
- Choose "Get Add-Ons" (This option is only available to members billed through WarnerMedia)
- Add the Extra Member Add-On to your plan
- Confirm the plan change by choosing "Confirm & Pay Now"
If you'd prefer to set up your own account, instead of adding onto a pre-existing one, you can sign up for an HBO Max Basic With Ads monthly plan for $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually. The annual plan saves users $19. This comes down to a roughly $4 difference between one year of the add-on fee ($95.88) and one year of the annual basic plan ($99.99).
Kate Franke (she/her) is an editorial assistant in the Hearst Lifestyle Group, covering for Woman's Day and Good Housekeeping. She loves all things lifestyle, home, and market related. Kate has a BAJMC in Magazine Media and BA in Writing from Drake University. She is a proud ASME alum whose work has appeared in Food Network Magazine, The Pioneer Woman Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Farmhouse Style, Beautiful Kitchens & Baths, and more. Next to writing, Kate’s two favorite things are chai lattes and pumpkin bread!
