Shared account, personal account or key: subscription access formats
Subscription listings on marketplaces use different wording: “shared account”, “activation on your account”, “team invite”, “key”. Each stands for a distinct access format — and that format determines the price, the convenience and the limitations. This guide helps you read listings deliberately and avoid surprises after payment.
The four main formats
1. Activation on your personal account
The seller sets up the subscription on your profile in the service: you keep your own login, settings and history. This is the most convenient format — effectively the same as paying directly, except who processes the payment.
Example: Midjourney V7 — access via Discord — the subscription works in your own Discord account.
2. Shared account
The seller issues sign-in details for an account used by several buyers at once. It’s the cheapest format, but the discount has an honest cost:
- service limits (requests, devices) are split between all users;
- other users can see the history and content in that account;
- you can’t change the password, and the service may ask you to sign in again.
Examples: Perplexity Pro for 1 month and Lovable AI Pro. Product pages for such items always state the format in the “Important conditions” block.
3. Issued personal account
The seller creates a separate account with a paid subscription and hands it over entirely. More comfortable than shared (the limits are yours alone), but the profile wasn’t registered by you — the e-mail often stays under the seller’s control.
Example: TIDAL HiFi Plus for 1 month — the seller delivers a ready account with an active subscription.
4. Team invite / key
In-between formats: an invitation to a service’s team plan (you sign in with your own profile but belong to someone else’s “team”) — a common way to sell Canva Pro; or the classic activation key — covered in detail in our Windows and Office guides.
Picking the right format
| What matters to you | The right format |
|---|---|
| Your own history, settings, privacy | Activation on your account |
| Minimum price for a short term | Shared account |
| Balance of price and dedicated limits | Issued personal account |
| Your own profile at below-retail price | Team invite |
What to check before buying
- The access format on the product page — look for the “Important conditions” block: we carry the seller’s terms there without embellishment.
- The term. “1 month” in shared formats counts from the moment of delivery.
- The refund rules of the specific offer. Some offers exclude refunds — it’s always stated in the description.
- Reviews. Every product page shows a snapshot of real buyer reviews — pay attention to how the seller responds to problems.
Bazelio is a storefront: access and support come from the seller on the payment platform. If something goes wrong, the process is described on the “Refunds & disputes” page, and general selection principles live in “How to choose”.
