Since Netflix makes it easy to watch on all your devices—including phones, tablets, smart TVs, game consoles, and streaming sticks—it's natural to wonder how many people can watch Netflix at the same time. You don't want to exceed the number of screens available on your account or spend more than you need to.

Let's look at how many people can watch Netflix at a time using one account, so you can be sure of how your plan works.

How Many People Can Watch Netflix at Once?

Netflix offers several different pricing plans with a few differences. One of these distinctions is how many devices you can stream Netflix on at one time. There's no limitation on how many people can watch a stream—so if you have a large family, everyone can enjoy watching on one TV, for example.

Here's a breakdown of how many devices can watch content on your Netflix account at once:

• Both the Standard with ads and Standard plans allow you to watch Netflix on two screens at the same time.
• With the Premium plan, you're able to watch Netflix on four screens at once.

Note that Netflix's Basic plan is no longer available. If you are already subscribed to this option, you can continue to use it until you cancel or switch plans. With Basic, you are limited to watching Netflix on one device at a time.

As noted in the pricing breakdown, the Standard plan limits you to downloading Netflix content on two devices at once. With a Premium plan, you can download Netflix shows and movies on up to six devices at once. If you have the Standard with ads plan, you can't download at all.

Before you go on a trip, be sure that you haven't downloaded Netflix media on too many other phones or computers.

How to Know if Too Many People Are Using Your Netflix Account

While you can be signed into Netflix on multiple devices, you can only actively watch a stream on the number of screens included in your plan. This means that if you have the two-screen plan, you can still have three people signed into your account on various devices, as long as they aren't all watching at the same time.

However, if you see a message like Too many people are using your account right now, the maximum number of people watching on your account is already reached.

The message should show you which devices are streaming Netflix with your account, and what they're watching. Ask these people to stop (via texting them or whatever is easiest) and you'll be clear to stream on your own once they stop. If you think someone is using your Netflix account without your knowledge, we've shown how to find out who is using your Netflix account if it's not immediately apparent.

If you want to upgrade your tier so more people can watch Netflix at once, see how to change your Netflix plan. We've also discussed how to pick the right Netflix plan for you.

How Many Netflix Profiles Can You Have?

Separate from the number of screens that you can watch Netflix on at a time, you can also create multiple profiles on your Netflix account. This allows each person that uses the account to have their own personalized recommendations, list of titles they want to watch, subtitle appearances, and similar.

Every Netflix account can have up to five profiles. This doesn't mean that you can watch on each of those profiles at the same time, though. Profiles are a handy way to keep each user's preferences distinct, but the amount of people that can watch Netflix at the same time is still bound by your Netflix plan's screen limit.

What About Sharing Your Netflix Password?

It was once common practice to share your Netflix password with other people, allowing everyone to save some money on the service. However, in 2023, Netflix started cracking down on password sharing. Now, the company has restrictions on people outside of your home using your account, so sharing your password with friends or faraway family isn't really an option. Your account is only intended for devices in your home to access the service.

Instead, Netflix now allows you to add an extra member for an additional fee. On the Standard and Premium plans, you can pay $7.99/month per person to add one extra person (Standard) or up to two extra people (Premium). While extra members get their own login information, the account owner pays for their cost. Extra members can only have one Netflix profile, and are limited to watching and downloading on one device at a time.

Consider whether you should share your Netflix account in this way carefully. While it might be cheaper to add a friend to your account, there are potential drawbacks compared to them signing up on their own.

Many People Can Watch Netflix at Once

Now you know how many devices can watch Netflix at the same time. In addition to watching on more screens at a time, a higher-tier account provides higher-resolution streaming. Consider upgrading if you have many people in your home who want to watch Netflix at once.

If you're overwhelmed by the options on Netflix, there are easy ways to manage what you're watching.