Streaming platform Max, formerly known as HBO Max, has announced that it will begin a crackdown on account sharing in late 2024.
The move follows Netflix’s ban on password sharing, which brought the streaming giant millions of new subscribers.
While it is unclear how Max plans to implement its password-sharing ban, Netflix and other streaming services enforced similar restrictions by tracking user IP addresses, requiring users to connect to their “household” network at least once every 31 days to maintain access.
“We think, relative to the scale of our business, it’s a meaningful opportunity,” JB Perrette, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO, said during Morgan Stanley’s 2024 Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in San Francisco on Monday.
“We’re going be doing that starting later this year and into 2025,” he added.
Max is currently available in the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean. The company plans to expand to Europe and South East Asia this year.
An Industry Trend
Max is not the first streaming platform to join Netflix’s bandwagon and stop password sharing. Disney implemented password-sharing restrictions for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ in February.
In response to Max’s announcement, some users on Reddit said they were being pushed away from traditional streaming services due to password-sharing crackdowns, while others expressed gratitude for services like Peacock that offer affordable options.
Many also discussed ways to bypass password-sharing restrictions. One of the popular ways users are circumventing Netflix’s password-sharing ban is by using Meshnet.
NordVPN’s Meshnet, available for free, allows users to access their home networks remotely — even from outside of the country. This workaround may also help users bypass Max’s password ban, but that remains to be seen, and it might also violate Max’s terms of service.
How to Get Max Cheaper
Like other major streaming services, Max subscription rates vary significantly across different countries due to factors like local market demands, purchasing power, and licensing agreements. For example, a Max subscription in Argentina is more affordable — around $2 — than in the United States ($9.99 with ads and $15.99 ad-free).
Many users exploit this price difference by using a VPN (virtual private network) to change their virtual location and subscribe to Max at a cheaper rate. Here’s how:
- Sign up for NordVPN and install it on your device.
- Launch the app.
- Connect to a VPN server in a country with cheaper Max subscription rates, like Argentina.
- Create a Max account (you might need a payment method issued within the same country).
PRO TIP:
Viewers outside the U.S. or those traveling may be blocked from accessing Max due to geo-restrictions. A reliable VPN offers a seamless solution to that, allowing you to stream Max from anywhere in the world. For more information, read our guide to accessing Max from anywhere.
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