Netflix vs Disney Plus: Which is best for you?

Deciding between Netflix and Disney Plus as your preferred streaming platform may cause a headache. The cliches tell us Netflix is oversaturated by originals and that Disney Plus is merely a nostalgia vault. 

But what’s the truth? Has Netflix really lost its touch? And is Disney suitable for anyone other than Star Wars fans and people who like to sing ‘Let It Go’?

We’ve spent a month using and comparing both and will help you discover the qualities, quirks, and drawbacks of Netflix and Disney Plus. 

Let’s go! *Tadum* (Netflix intro sound)

Netflix vs Disney Plus: A quick comparison 

What is Netflix?

Netflix is a movie streaming platform and the world’s most popular, with more than 280 million paid subscribers.

Having first launched as a DVD rental service in 1998, it was in 2007 that it boomed in popularity by offering streaming. 

Today, it’s widely trusted for its vast selection of TV shows and movies that suit all demographics, from kids' shows and famous movies to documentaries and Netflix original exclusives. 

Accessible on all devices, its key selling points are the largest 4K library of any streaming platform, binge-watching, and an accessible ad-supported pricing tier. 

What is Disney Plus?

Disney Plus is an American streaming platform with over 158 million global subscribers. 

Launched in 2019, it’s the home to exclusive Disney-produced TV shows and also features Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic content. 

Like Netflix, Disney Plus is accessible on all devices and is praised for its large selection of exclusive franchises and original documentaries. 

Netflix vs Disney Plus review 

Next, we’re going to go through all the key categories you need to know about Netflix vs Disney Plus and give you our verdict on each.

Pricing and plans

Netflix

Netflix offers various monthly subscriptions. You can change or cancel your plan at any time. 

Disney Plus

Disney+ also offers various monthly subscriptions, including bundles. 

Disney Plus also offers a bunch of bundles, which can provide great value for money.

Verdict: Disney+ - the bundles offer far better value for money if you want to expand your viewing selection. 

Password sharing 

Both Disney and Netflix restrict password sharing, by limiting each account holder to devices within their ‘household’. The rats.

A ‘household’ is defined as a collection of devices that connect using the same internet connection (such as your home router). So, you can’t share your password with someone who lives elsewhere, as it’ll detect they don’t usually use the same WiFi connection. 

Netflix

If you want to add a user from outside your ‘household’, you’ll need to add ‘an extra member’ on Netflix. This option costs $7.99 per month and is available only on the no-ad plans. 

Netflix has different device limits per subscription tier too. On the standard tiers, you can only watch with two devices simultaneously. With premium, you can use four devices at the same time. 

Disney Plus

Disney Plus allows each household to stream on up to four devices simultaneously. Hulu content can only be streamed by two devices at the same time.

Like Netflix, you can add an extra member to your household for $6.99 monthly. This gives you access to the same content and features as the account holder, on one extra non-household device. 

I have seen people say that the password sharing hasn’t really been as strict as described, so maybe you’ll get lucky.

Verdict: Disney+

Streaming quality 

Netflix

Put simply, Netflix offers the best streaming quality you can expect - with all plans offering 1080p and the premium plan offering 4K. 

If you want some more geeky details, here goes.

Netflix offers streaming and downloads in four quality settings:

• Low
• Medium: Standard definition 
• High: HD, 1080p, or 720p
• Ultra-high definition: 4K

The content you’re watching, internet speed, and your device will all impact your quality. Each series and movie has a details page, which includes a badge indicating the maximum quality you can play on your current device. There are also Dolby Vision or HDR badges, which are all about the dynamic range of colors and contrast. 

All devices used in your streaming chain must be capable of 4K to view it. So, your streaming stick, audio amplifier, and TV must be 4K. 

Disney Plus

Disney also offers substance when it comes to video quality, with even the basic plans offering 4K viewing. 

Like Netflix, you can get standard HD (720p), 1080p, and Dolby Vision. But there’s also an IMAX Enhanced experience, with an expanded ratio of 1.90:1 - so the picture covers the full height of the screen. 

Frankly, I don’t care much about that, but maybe you do!

Verdict: Disney+ - only because every subscription tier gets 4K. 

Binge watching

Alright, here’s a quick category for you. Which is best for binge-watching? You know, an entire 16 episodes on a wet day when you’ve got the flu...Or just a Friday night?

The answer is Netflix. 

Netflix releases every episode of a season at once. So, you can watch it from front to back without even leaving the couch. 

Disney, however, tends to release its new shows in drips. New episodes can drop once a week, or sometimes even slower. This may keep you hooked for longer, but is ultimately frustrating in our fast-paced world of infinite content.

Verdict: Netflix

Ad experience

Netflix

If you subscribe to the ‘Standard (with ads)’ plan on Netflix, you can expect to see some ads before you start streaming a show or movie. 

Netflix says you’ll see just a few ads per hour. In our experience (and many other users), you’ll usually see one before you start watching a movie or episode and then one every 25 minutes. 

You can’t skip the ads, but they usually last 15-30 seconds. If you start binge-watching a series, you’ll often get an ad-free episode (but expect to see a 1 minute-long advert soon after, as Netflix makes up for your ad-free stint).

However, some films and episodes have licensing issues with ads and can, therefore, become locked. You’ll see a little padlock icon indicating you can’t watch it on the ‘Standard (with ads)’ plan. That’s a big issue and something that isn’t made very clear upon sign-up. Thankfully, locked content is rare. 

There are no adverts on Netflix kids’ profiles.

Disney Plus

If you’re on a Disney Plus (with ads) plan, then you can also expect to see commercials during any episode or movie. 

On an ad-free plan, you won’t get third-party commercials but you’ll still likely see short Disney promo content, such as trailers or branded content. 

The worst is that adverts can appear at critical moments in a show. Will they kiss? Does he survive? Wait a second, you need to watch this ad first.

Like Netflix, no adverts will appear on Disney Plus kids’ profiles. 

Verdict: Netflix - because they’re less annoyingly timed.

Gaming

Netflix

All Netflix users have free access to mobile games, via their subscription. At first, we didn’t think we’d care about this feature. But it’s actually a nice bonus, especially as some games are good fun.

There are at least 120 exclusive games and many that you’d ordinarily have to pay for on the App Store or Google Play Store. For example, if you like Grand Theft Auto, then you’ll love having access to classics like GTA: Vice City, GTA III, and GTA: San Andreas. 

We’ve also enjoyed Football Manager, Civilization VI, and Scriptic: Crime Stories (which combines the true crime TV genre with an interactive game).

Disney Plus

Disney+ doesn’t currently offer any games as part of its service. It feels like a missed opportunity, given the major franchises connected to the platform. Disney Dreamlight Valley is extremely popular and would be a nice bonus for any subscriber. 

There are rumors of an incoming gaming upgrade, but until then, Netflix takes this category with a clear victory. 

Verdict: Netflix

VPN use

While we’re not advocating the use of a VPN while streaming, many people use one to access content that is only available in other regions.

Here’s a quick look at how each service handles VPN use:

Netflix

Netflix allows the use of a VPN (it won’t get you banned). But, does it work?

Well, the answer will vary depending on the VPN service you’re using. Firstly, a VPN will not work on live events.

During our tests with SurfShark and NordVPN, it was a bit hit-and-miss. But in both cases, we were able to successfully access content on the US, UK, and French libraries with a VPN. 

Disney Plus

Using a VPN on Disney Plus is also not illegal, but it’s against their Terms of Service; so you may struggle to get the service to work. 

But, during our tests with SurfShark and NordVPN, it was a success. For example, trying it out while connected to the UK changed the URL automatically and removed the ESPN+ content but unlocked Star content. 

Does Netflix or Disney Plus have the best content?

Content variety 

Netflix

Netflix has a vast library of content, with an estimated 4,800 movies and 3,000 TV shows. 

This comes as a result of taking control of the streaming market in the early 2010s and continuing the momentum with around 700 annual movie additions. 

Its wide variety of genres makes it suitable for pretty much any demographic, from young kids and LGBTQ⁺-focused content to classics and history documentaries. 

We calculate that there are also around 1,200 foreign-language TV shows and 2,100 foreign-language films, including K-dramas, animated shows, and documentaries. All of these can be watched with subtitles and the vast majority with dubbed in English. 

As of 2025, there are also exclusive live streams, including sporting events (as covered below).

On the downside, Netflix is prone to removing content over time. So, if you have your eye on something, try to watch it within the year it’s been added - at some point, you’ll see the dreaded ‘Leaving Soon’ label on the title. 

In recent years, Netflix has also suffered losses to content that many people once relied on it for - such as The Office (which went to NBC) and Friends (which went to Max). Womp womp. 

Disney Plus

Disney+ offers hundreds of movies and thousands of episodes of TV shows, including a vast amount of Disney+ originals. 

It’s fair to say, however, that it's better suited to a certain type of viewing taste - someone who enjoys Disney original content, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and big-name, family-friendly productions; rather than the darker, more alternative selections often found on Netflix. So, if that’s for you then it could be perfect.

There is a variety of animated classics, Pixar, Star Wars, MCU movies and shows, and an extensive, exclusive National Geographic selection. 

Content is very rarely removed, as Disney naturally owns the exclusive rights to the vast majority of shows on the platform. You’re only likely to see something go missing if its rights have been bought by another platform (for example, when Disney partnered with Sony).

You can also get FX and Star originals in many regions on your Disney Plus subscription. 

Verdict: Netflix - it caters to a wider taste range, with more alternative selections and production companies. You won’t find A24 films on Disney, for example.

Exclusives

Netflix

The Netflix US library has approximately 3,700 original-branded and exclusive Netflix movies and TV shows. Some of these have been extremely popular and are alone a reason to use the platform. 

Here’s a look at some popular shows that may sway your opinion: Dark, Mindhunter, Orange is the New Black, Arcane, Kota Factory, BoJack Horseman, Blue Eye Samurai, Daredevil, Squid Games, Stranger Things, Narcos, and The Crown. 

And some notable Netflix exclusive and original movies: All Quiet on the Western Front, Don’t Look Up, Glass Onion, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Beasts of No Nation, Society of the Snow, The King, Maestro, Marriage Story, The Irishman, and Mudbound. 

That’s not to mention exclusives such as The Roast of Tom Brady, Ricky Gervais Supernatural, and Katt Williams’ stand-up. 

Notably, it’s also produced some great fly-on-the-wall type series, including Formula One: Drive to Survive, which has around 6.8 million viewers.  

Disney Plus

Disney+ is all about exclusives. We think that they have a higher quality than Netflix originals.

Disney Exclusives won’t be taken by rival platforms, as by nature, it’s the only place you can watch Disney Branded Television - including 20th Century Studios, Pixar, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm. 

It also has a vast selection of National Geographic content, which is famous for its impressive presentation of nature and historical documentaries. While Netflix has these areas covered too, it’s significantly lacking compared to the consistent quality provided by National Geographic. 

Needless to say, the likes of Cinderella, Frozen, Pinnochio, and The Jungle Book are just a few examples of Disney Classics. While, if you’re a Star Wars fan, you’re spoilt for choice - with every movie, spin-off, and a wide range of Star Wars documentaries available. There’s even ‘Star Wars Vintage’, which is a set of TV specials and series from the 1980s. 

There’s also a reasonably large selection of shows and series originally produced by Disney, outside of the major brands listed above. Examples include Rivals, Nemesis, In Vogue, How I Caught My Killer, Hold Your Breath, The Supremes, and Young Woman and the Sea. 

Did I mention The Simpsons? D’oh…

Finally, there have been other exclusives of note including Welcome to Wrexham and Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band.

Verdict: Disney+ - its exclusives include those that many people consider unmissable. 

Award-winning movies and shows 

Netflix

Netflix also has a wide selection of award-winning shows and movies if you’re looking for something with proven credibility, including Emmy-winning productions and Oscar-winning performances. For example, it currently offers Whiplash, 1917, Captain Phillips, Baby Driver, Zero Dark Thirty, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Call Me By Your Name, and The Deer Hunter. 

Netflix’s search feature allows you to narrow your search by awards and award categories, which we think is a great idea. 

Disney Plus

Disney is stacked with award-winning movies and shows, but shows receive the awards after being included on the platform. So, it’s not like Netflix which tends to add Oscar-winning classics or recent Emmy winners. 

Depending on your region, you might be able to watch Disney award-winning shows such as Shōgun, The Bear, How I Met Your Father, and Welcome to Wrexham.

Searching by awards is something Disney clearly doesn’t care about, as there is no option for this. 

Verdict: Netflix - it has a wider variety of classic award-winning films. You won’t find Forrest Gump on Disney Plus. 

Live content

Netflix

In the past year, Netflix has also started to offer live streaming of major events, including Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul, NFL Christmas games, Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards 2025, John Mulaney Untitled Talk Show, and The Netflix Cup. 

Since January 2025, it’s also had the exclusive rights to live streams of WWE’s flagship weekly wrestling program - a very first for the ‘sport’.

Live events are a big step forward for the streaming platform, as it begins to take an additional step in its rivalry with cable TV. All subscription plans have access to Netflix live events. 

Disney Plus

Disney Plus also has a stream feature, but it works in a totally different way. It’s effectively like old-school TV, with four different live feed channels offering continuous programming, based on seasonality or trending interests. So, you don’t have to spend an hour deciding what to watch (we’ve all done it). 

For example, around Halloween, there was ‘Hallowstream’, alongside Hits & Heroes, Throwbacks, and Real Life. Plus, there’s an ABC News stream. All this is available to US Disney Plus premium users only. 

Perhaps best of all though (for US viewers), is the addition of ESPN+, with the Disney Trio bundle. This will give you access to select live games, films, and documentaries from ESPN. It’s not as good as a standalone ESPN subscription, but it’s a nice bonus.

Verdict: Netflix - Disney’s live streams are really just random streaming of content you likely already have. 

Kids suitability 

Netflix

Although Netflix doesn’t have the heritage of kids' entertainment like Disney, it heavily caters to younger viewers with a dedicated viewing experience if the user is selected as a child. 

In fact, when you start Netflix you’ll notice that you're given an additional ‘For Kids’ user by default to choose from. These accounts only show content rated for ages 10 or below. 

It’s a simplified user interface, featuring shows such as Peppa Pig, Gaby’s Dollhouse, Grizzy and the Lemmings, Tish Tash, Shaun the Sheep, My Little Pony, The Amazing World of Gumball, and Octonauts. 

Pro tip: If you ever find your kid’s favorite show has gone missing, search for it on your adult profile. It may have simply been raised in age rating. 

Disney Plus

In our opinion, kids' choice is where Disney reigns supreme. Again, it comes down to taste (maybe your kid would rather watch Peppa Pig than Mickey Mouse), but Disney is heavily catered towards a younger viewing audience. 

By nature, Disney’s historic selection is stacked with the famous tales and animations so many of us grew up on. But there are also Pixar classics, like Monsters, Inc. and the truly incredible Cars franchise. Kachow. 

There are also the likes of Bluey, Super Kitties, Morphle, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Nat Geo for Kids.

You can create profiles in ‘Junior’ mode, for a simplified user experience that shows only kid-friendly content. 

Verdict: Disney+ - Netflix will keep you covered, but it can’t compete with the legendary quality of Disney’s child-friendly output. 

User experience review

Disney Plus and Netflix are both compatible on all modern devices. Unless you’re using a PS3 or Wii U (or something even older…), you’ll be fine. 

Here’s an analysis of the user experience on the three most popular systems - desktop browser, TV app/console, and mobile. 

Browser

Time to crack out ye olde laptop and review Netflix vs Disney on Google Chrome.

Netflix

Netflix on desktop is a slick and enjoyable experience. It’s reflected across all other devices. We genuinely have very little to complain about. 

The home page separates content into useful suggestion categories, such as ‘Top TV Shows in US Today’, ‘Award Winning Movies’, ‘Crowd Pleasers’, and many more. 

There’s also a ‘We Think You’ll Love’ section, which makes suggestions based on your viewing history. In my opinion, I find I get recommended the same shows and movies quite often - which is disappointing considering the vast library Netflix has available. 

You can also browse TV shows or movies separately, via the tabs at the top of the page. Selecting this will present you with the same page layout as the home page, but this time just movies or TV shows. You can narrow your search further with genre or language. We love that the page layout doesn’t change, so you can really fine-tune your discovery.

There’s also a ‘My List’ function, where you can create a shortlist for future viewing. It’s always at the top of the home page, which makes life easier. 

We also want to praise the ease of previewing a series via a trailer - with an automatic play feature when you hover over a title. It’s fast and streamlined. 

Disney

The Disney desktop experience is very similar to Netflix, with the scrolling system again separating genres and categories as you move down the page. It is reflected across all devices.

Categories such as ‘Top 10 in the US Today’, ‘Coming of Age Adventures’, and ‘ESPN+ Originals’ are featured on my home page. 

The core difference here between Netflix and Disney is that when narrowing your search by series, movies, or genre, then the navigation becomes limited. 

On Netflix, you’ll retain the category and recommendation feature. On Disney, you just get a tiled screen. Easy to find something fast, but not so great for discovering something new. 

There also isn’t the quick trailer preview pop-up that you get on Netflix. 

But, we do like how each franchise is clearly separated - a core aspect of Disney Plus. So, finding your favorite Marvel movie, or avoiding all that and just enjoying National Geo docs, is very easy. 

Console and TV app

Netflix

We’ve used Netflix on PS5 and found it to be a seamless transition from desktop. The layout is effectively the same, albeit slightly bigger, with the navigation panel on the left-hand side. 

It’s slick and super easy to use. The use of the PS5 controller when pausing, fast-forwarding, or changing settings is a breeze. I appreciate being able to change the subtitle font size and color from within a video. 

One difference between devices is voice commands: You might find it more or less difficult to fire up a Netflix show from your device's home screen depending on which voice-capable device you're using.

Again, we have no complaints here. 

Disney Plus 

The TV and console app experience on Disney Plus is almost an exact reflection of the desktop site, except the navigation panel is on the left.

I prefer the customization on Netflix, but there is very little to criticize Disney for, it does what you’d expect. 

Mobile

Netflix

The mobile experience again reflects the layout and browsing system found on desktop and console - making it very easy to get used to navigating Netflix’s content. 

Downloads are the most important part of a mobile experience though, so you’ll be glad to know that it is also flawless. 

You simply click ‘Download’ beneath ‘Play’ on the show title page and voila, it’s in the dedicated download section. 

You can also turn on ‘Smart Downloads’, where you either get automatic downloads for your next episode or a personalized selection - so there’s always something to watch.

We’ve used Netflix downloads while traveling in plane mode and found it reliable and very easy. You’ll just need enough space, as downloads can take up to around 300 MB per episode on standard quality, and even more on higher quality. 

Netflix data usage: 

• Automatic: Around 4 hours of video per 1 GB of data
• Data saving: 6 hours of video per 1 GB of data
• Maximum quality: 20 minutes of video for 1 GB of data

Disney Plus

The Disney Plus mobile once again reflects the desktop recommendation and navigation experience. Like Netflix, you can slide titles about to discover what you want to watch with speed. 

Downloads are only available on premium plans, which is a real disappointment. However, if you have these plans, you can watch shows and movies offline like you can on Netflix. 

Like Netflix, you can also set limits to your data usage both for streaming and downloads. 

Disney Plus data usage:

• Auto (best quality): 1 hour per 2 GB of data
• Data saving: 1 hour per 0.6 GB of data

Verdict: Netflix - but, ultimately, minor navigation differences won’t determine your decision. I can confirm that they’re both decent and bug-free.

What are people saying?

Not convinced by my verdicts? Here are some quotes I got from movie and TV show fans I know:

Netflix reviews

• “I hate not being able to share accounts with people from different places anymore! What happened to sharing is caring?”
• “I’ve seen too many shows canceled after one year, so don’t get too attached!”
• “I enjoy the international content; I’ve seen shows from countries I’d never have otherwise.”

Disney Plus reviews

• “THE ADS. Oh. My. God. Worst thing ever. They always come at the worst, most suspenseful moments. If you’re unlucky, you’ll get ads before and after an episode too!”
• “Disney shows ads promoting their shows…while you’re watching the show. It’s counterproductive.”
• “I like to rewatch the Marvel movies and old Simpson episodes, so Disney is great because I know it’s not moving anywhere.”

Which is best between Netflix and Disney?

So, should you choose Netflix or Disney Plus?

I feel it would be a waste to give you my overall winner. It would be a waste of your time. 

Instead, I’ll give you a verdict of the type of person each one suits. 

Netflix is best for someone who generally prefers a wide variety, with adult themes and darker tones. Its content is less fantasy-based. You binge-watch a wide range of genres, from Oscar-winning classics to Formula One and true crime. 

Netflix is also great for families with a variety of tastes. The kids’ section provides enough to give value for money on the same plan as Mom and Dad.

Disney, on the other hand, is perfect for those who love those feel-good classics with big-name stars, franchises, and exciting fantasies. And kids' content!

It’s Disney, after all. So think of Disneyland. You won’t find much of the brutality from Squid Games there. If you prefer that style of entertainment, you’ll be wasting your money, but if you love National Geographic, don’t think twice.

Both apps provide the same level of picture quality and user experience, and Disney only just takes the win when it comes to value for money - with things like Christmas NFL games a nice bonus. 

We’re fans of Netflix's mobile games, so if you’re on the fence that might help you.

If you’re still undecided, we recommend you take out a one-month subscription to see what fits you best!

Which would I choose?

Personally, I’d go for Netflix. I’ve been on and off over the years, as it’s dipped in content, but it still provides a variety of content for me on the cheapest plan. 

I take out Disney+ for the odd month when there is an exclusive on it that I really want to watch (like The Beatles: Get Back). But, it’s not a long-term subscription as I’m not a huge Disney fan.