Nowadays, there are plenty of TV streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Go, and Hulu, which give viewers more avenues for on-demand content than ever before. However, there is now a completely new streaming service, Disney Plus, which is set to launch on November 12 in the US, which is very soon. Originally called ‘Disney Play’, the Disney+ is an upcoming American subscription video-on-demand service which was released exclusively in the Netherlands on September 12 as a trial service. This left people wondering whether this new service is better than Netflix and whether it will be worth an additional subscription fee. As the service is about to launch, let’s compare these two streaming services and learn everything there is to know about them.
Disney Plus vs Netflix
Both platforms are on-demand streaming services viewers can use for watching films and TV shows. The reason we’re comparing Disney+ to Netflix is that Netflix has a whopping 140 million subscribers worldwide and a hugely broad content library, which is very hard to beat. Netflix has become a home for comedy specials, original drama, kids’ TV and animation, and other genres. Moreover, plenty of classic TV shows, such as The Office and Friends can be seen there. It also tried original programming with Master of None and Stranger Things.
However, Disney Plus will remove plenty of its parent company content from Netflix, including popular Marvel TV shows, such as Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Daredevil, and Jessica Jones, and all films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It has been estimated that the home company has made about $300 million from putting those projects Netflix. So, the new streaming service probably expects a bigger income since they decided to remove their content from other services.
Price and Availability
Netflix’s most basic plan costs $8.99 per month, while its Standard plan with HD quality costs $12.99. Additionally, the Premium plan costs $15.99. As this streaming service has three total price tiers, the Standard plan allows HD viewing and up to two screens being watched at the same time while the Premium plan offers four screens and UHD / 4K resolution viewing.
On the other hand, Disney+ will be available for a much lower price. Hence, Dinsey Plus will cost $5.99 per month or $69.99 per year in the US. There hasn’t been any information about pricing tiers for the service, but the service will definitely support 4K and have a Premium plan. It is also expected that the Disney-owned platforms, such as ESPN+ and Hulu, will be available through a discounted group package, or purchased as individually priced add-ons through the platform’s portal.
Features and User Interface
Not much is known for the user interface, as we’ve only seen the screenshot shared earlier this year. We know that it will have buttons for five distinct ‘channels’, Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, unlike Netflix’s genre-based categories. The company plans a rolling banner ad whereas the competitor has a trailer auto-playing at the top of its home page. Moreover, what we also know about the new service is that it will be available for laptop, mobile, and smart TV apps and that they also plan to come to Nintendo Switch.
Content
Disney+ will come at a lower price mainly because its content is significantly smaller than the one of Netflix. So, it will have substantially less volume than the bigger competitor, which has around 6,000 titles. However, it will feature every Disney film ever made, starting from the original Snow White and Aladdin movies to the Star Wars films. Then, we can expect all new films to be added after their theatrical release. Additionally, Disney started producing several new shows for the service, such as The Mandalorian, which is a live-action Star Wars series. Recently, Disney purchased the 20th Century Fox, which means that there will be plenty more to the service, including the entire Simpsons catalog.
On the other hand, Netflix has been struggling with franchises as it’s trying to build up a library of original content to avoid difficult licensing negotiations and hefty distribution fees. So, it is believed that the world’s leading subscription service might face some difficulties when they out on Disney-branded franchises. Nevertheless, Netflix still has some of the real must-watch titles and the shows which have Emmy nominations. It looks like viewers will stay to watch its high-profile shows.
Nothing can be said for sure until the service is officially released, but the new streaming service will definitely have some high-quality titles. Plus, its monthly subscription price is significantly lower, which will attract plenty of viewers. However, if you are not a huge fan of Marvel or a parent who needs Disney cartoons, it’s hard you’ll use Disney+ as much as Netflix.
