Both services have a lot going for them. We help you decide which is better for you regarding Disney Plus vs Netflix.
What you need to know:
Despite the hold Netflix has had on the streaming market, the release of a host of big-name services is giving it a run for its money. So nobody should be surprised that a brand as big as Disney is able to compete with Netflix thanks to Disney Plus.
| Netflix | Disney Plus Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch date | 24 March 2015 | 19 December 2019 |
| Price | $6.99–$22.99 per month | $13.99 per month |
| Library titles | 2,750 TV shows, 4,532 movies | 949 TV shows, 2,055 movies |
| Top titles | Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Wednesday, The Witcher, Squid Game | Grey's Anatomy, The Simpsons, Criminal Minds, The Mandalorian, Encanto |
| Simultaneous streams | 1–4 | 4 |
| 4K | Premium Plan only | Yes |
Netflix has 4 separate price tiers from $6.99 a month to $22.99 a month, depending on which video quality you prefer, how many simultaneous streams you want and whether you want to view ads or not. 4K is limited to the Premium plan and you'll need to splurge on Standard or Premium to share your subscription with your family if you're often watching at the same time from different devices. If you share your account with someone living outside of your household, you'll have to pay $7.99 a month extra per person with Netflix.
On the other hand, Disney Plus has a single price tier that includes 4K support and Dolby Atmos. However, it's worth noting that with so much legacy content, such high-definition visual and audio experiences are likely only available on recent Disney titles. Disney Plus also doesn't charge you if you share your password with someone outside of your household. But they have mentioned that they're actively exploring ways to address account sharing and the best options for paying subscribers to share their accounts with friends and family. So a charge for password sharing might be something on the agenda for Disney Plus soon.
To get a like-for-like comparison as far as features are concerned, Disney Plus is more affordable at $13.99 a month compared to Netflix's Premium plan at $22.99 a month. Disney Plus also offers an annual plan for $139.99, which helps you save even more.
Netflix is slightly cheaper if you already have its Basic plan, but it is no longer available to new or rejoining subscribers. It's cheaper still if you don't mind ads in your Netflix viewing experience and get the Standard with Ads plan. However, it's worth noting that Disney Plus is also planning to introduce an ad-supported plan at some point.
Based on the sheer amount of content, Disney Plus still lags behind Netflix at the time of writing.
However, Disney Plus is home to some of the most popular entertainment franchises in the world – Marvel and Star Wars. With a lot of shows and movies set in those worlds that you can't watch anywhere else, there's plenty of value for dedicated fans. Highlights include The Mandalorian, WandaVision, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Loki, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Andor and more.
Disney Plus also streams content from Pixar and National Geographic as well as subsidiaries like ABC America, bringing some of the most beloved shows in the world on the service – Grey's Anatomy, Family Guy, Bones, Lost, Scrubs, Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother and The Simpsons, to only name a few.
While most of the library is family-friendly, you can find content strictly for adult audiences under the Star banner. Pro tip: original Star productions such as Only Murders in the Building and Pam & Tommy are topnotch.
The platform is covered on the movie front, streaming blockbusters straight from the cinema along with modern classics such as The Devil Wears Prada, Alien, Die Hard or 500 Days of Summer.
Meanwhile, Netflix invests heavily in original productions and excels in true crime and reality TV. If these are 2 of your main genres, the platform is hard to beat. Anime is a well-represented niche on Netflix as well.
The service hosts hyped original shows such as Wednesday, The Witcher, Ozark, The Crown, The Queen's Gambit and Emily in Paris. Licensed highlights include Riverdale, Friends and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Movies vary in quality, but you can find everything from heartwarming romantic comedies and acclaimed dramas garnering critical attention to mind-numbing comedies and thought-provoking horror.
However, keep in mind that if you subscribe to Netflix's Standard with Ads plan, some titles are unavailable due to licensing restrictions so you won't get access to the full Netflix library. Most of the major Netflix originals will be available, but there are classic shows and movies that you can't view in the Standard with Ads plan.
Netflix library pros:
Disney Plus library pros:
Disney was built as a family brand. From iconic characters such as Mickey Mouse, all of the Disney princesses and your Hannah Montana/Lizzie McGuire types, nobody can compete with Disney. Frozen, the Toy Story franchise, Lion King, Aladdin, Cinderella, Cars and more are on Disney Plus.
If you've got children or enjoy animated films yourself, Netflix can't hold a flame to Disney Plus. However, the platform offers plenty of kids content, from Cocomelon to originals produced in-house for DreamWorks franchises such as Trolls or The Boss Baby.
Popular kids content on Disney Plus:
Popular kids content on Netflix:
Sign up to Disney+ to stream thousands of movies and shows
Get Disney+ for $13.99 per month - cancel any time
Both Netflix and Disney Plus are available on almost every device. Check the table below for details.
| Device | Netflix | Disney Plus |
|---|---|---|
| PC/Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| iOS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows phone | ✓ | ✖ |
| Windows tablet | ✓ | ✓ |
| Smart TV (selected models) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Telstra TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amazon Fire | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chromecast/Airplay | ✓ | ✓ |
| PS3 | ✓ | ✖ |
| PS4, PS5 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X | ✓ | ✓ |
| Xbox 360 | ✓ | ✖ |
| Set top box (Foxtel, Fetch) | ✓ | ✓ |
As for the streaming experience, both platforms support offline viewing and come with a user-friendly interface, solid parental controls and accessibility features.
Netflix provides access to mobile games, some interactive content and a Surprise Me button available when you watch on a TV or Android phone or tablet. Disney Plus does not have any of those interactive features.
Both Disney Plus and Netflix offer compelling TV streaming. For adult viewers looking for consistent, original and mature content who are not fazed by the blockbuster brands of Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars, Netflix continues to be a great option. However, Disney is working to close the gap especially since it began to invest more in adult titles.
Although Netflix wins on price with its cheapest tier, it does contain ads, so it's not an apples-to-apples comparison. If you want a purely ad-free experience, Netflix is still cheaper with its Basic plan, but that only includes 1 screen at a time. If you want more than 1 screen, you'd have to subscribe to at least the Standard package, but then Disney wins on price here, which may be a big factor for a lot of subscribers.
For families with kids or anyone who can't imagine their favourite blockbuster brand putting out new content that they can't watch, Disney Plus is a no-brainer. The service has something for the entire family at an affordable price, making it a worthy investment.
For most of us though, both streaming services will likely become a household requirement. Do you really want to miss out on the new Star Wars or the next Bridgerton?
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