Disney Plus is one of the top choices when considering a streaming service. With so many series and movies to choose from, you might spend more time browsing than watching something. You can choose from different studios, such as Marvel and Pixar.
If you're used to watching series with ads, you can start with the Disney Plus Basic plan, which costs $9.99 monthly. But there are other plans to choose from, so let's discover your options.
Should you sign up for Disney Plus?
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What is Disney Plus?
Disney Plus is a streaming service that combines all of the content in Disney's massive media empire — from Disney and Pixar to Marvel, Lucasfilm, and National Geographic to 20th Century Fox — in one easy-to-use app. Available on nearly every central platform and with hundreds of films and TV shows from the Disney Vault and recent theatrical releases, Disney Plus is a compelling realization of a dream many Disney nerds (like myself) have had of being able to watch their favorite shows and films in one place rather than having to hunt for them across a half dozen services — and this is also the first time a great deal of legacy Disney television content is available for streaming. In short, Disney Plus is simply everything we ever wished it would be.
Anything and everything that falls under the Disney umbrella — and make no mistake, it is a vast umbrella — will eventually go through the Disney Plus app on whatever platform you wish to watch it on. If that sounds impossibly big, well, you're right. Another great thing about Disney Plus is that signing up for the service is straightforward, whether on your desktop computer or phone. Unfortunately, as it stands right now, there is no Disney Plus free trial available, but the low monthly cost makes it cheap to sign up and try it out.
What countries is Disney Plus available in?
Disney Plus is available in many countries across Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Americas, and Europe, including (but not limited to):
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Canada
- Channel Islands
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Finland
- France
- French West Indies
- French Guiana
- Germany
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India (branded as Disney Plus Hotstar)
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia (branded as Disney Plus Hotstar)
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Norway
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Portugal
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Wallis and Futuna
What devices support Disney Plus?
Disney Plus was available on several devices at launch, and the list of devices supporting the platform has only grown over the past few years. So whether you're on a phone, laptop, TV, or gaming console built in the last five to six years, chances are Disney Plus is available.
iOS and Android devices
Disney Plus is available on nearly all the best Android phones, tablets, and Apple devices. The benefit of using Disney Plus on a phone or tablet rather than watching on a smart TV or laptop is that on these devices, you can download videos for offline playback, which is something you can do on up to 10 devices per Disney Plus account, meaning everyone on the plan can keep a few videos downloaded in case of emergencies like being trapped on a Wi-Fi-less flight. Note, however, that you can only download content with a Disney Plus Premium plan and other bundles: it's not available with the entry-level Disney+ Basic plan with ads.
Desktop and laptop computers
Like all modern streaming services, Disney Plus lets you stream directly from Disneyplus.com on Windows, MacOS, Chromebooks, and even Linux computers. However, you can't download videos for offline playback when streaming through the browser (unless you're using a Chromebook), but you have some handy keyboard controls. You can enjoy everything Disney+ offers using the Progressive Web App (PWA) on all Windows devices.
Xbox, PlayStation, and streaming consoles
Most people want to stream on a bigger screen to enjoy Disney Plus with friends and family, so TVs and gaming consoles are supported now. Support for most Android TVs, Roku devices, Google Chromecast, Apple TV, and Fire TV devices has been here since launch. However, it's worth pointing out that a handful of Roku devices don't support Disney Plus. These devices are the Roku LT model (2400X & 2450X), Roku HD model 2500X, Roku 2 XS model 3100X, Roku 2 HD models (3000X & 3050X), and select Roku Streaming Stick models (3400X & 3420X). Disney Plus does list the supported Roku models, so you can check if your device is listed.
On the gaming console side, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles and last-gen devices like the PS4 and Xbox One are supported. I honestly believe that gaming consoles are the best for watching Disney Plus because you can use your controller triggers to fast-forward and rewind more efficiently than using the on-screen controls. Watching on your console also lets you go back to gaming when you're done.
No mobile consoles are currently supported on the mobile console side of the equation, although Disney has hinted at bringing Disney Plus to Nintendo Switch. However, we have no concrete timeline for when or if it could launch on Switch.
It's worth noting that Disney Plus also supports HDMI and AirPlay connectivity. For example, you could connect your laptop to a TV or wirelessly cast content from your Apple mobile device to an AirPlay-enabled big screen or media streaming device.
Smart TVs
Of course, most Smart TVs currently have Disney Plus apps, including Android TV-supported smart TVs from Sharp, AQUOS, and Sony Bravia; LG Smart TVs running WebOS 3.0 and above; Samsung Tizen Smart TVs (2016 models or newer); Hisense smart TVs; and Vizio SmartCast TV models released in 2016 and later.
Which devices support Disney Plus in 4K?
While most films and series on Disney Plus are only available in HD, the list of titles available in glorious 4K UHD (Ultra High Definition) continues to grow. To stream this content, you'll need a 4K Ultra HD or HDR device, TV, or display and a high-speed internet connection of at least 25MB. Luckily, there are tons of streaming devices that support 4K entertainment. You'll only need a Disney Plus Basic plan, which offers 4K.
What are the Disney Plus plans?
Currently, there are two main Disney Plus plans: Basic and Premium. The Basic plan has limited ads and costs $9.99 monthly, while the ad-free Premium plan costs $15.99 monthly (or $159.99 annually). In addition to having no ads, the Premium plan lets you download unlimited content for offline viewing on up to 10 devices.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Basic plan ($9.99/month) | Premium plan ($15.99/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Ad-free streaming | No | Yes |
| 300+ titles in 4K/UHD | Yes | Yes |
| Watch on up to 4 screens | No | Yes |
| Offline downloads | No | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | No | Yes |
The Disney Bundle
The Disney Bundle is also a popular option for subscribers. It gives you instant access to Disney Plus, Hulu, and even ESPN Plus for one discounted monthly rate. Disney Plus now offers three different versions of the bundle, allowing you to customize your entertainment a bit.
- Disney Bundle Duo Basic: $10.99/month for Disney Plus (with ads) and Hulu (with ads)
- Disney Bundle Duo Premium: $19.99/month for Disney Plus (no ads) and Hulu (no ads)
- Disney Bundle Trio Basic: $16.99/month for Disney Plus (with ads), Hulu (with ads), and ESPN Plus (with ads)
- Disney Bundle Trio Premium: $26.99/month for Disney Plus (no ads), Hulu (no ads), and ESPN Plus (with ads, plus the option to download content to watch offline.
These options may seem strange if you've been enjoying the Legacy Disney Bundle for a while. For $18.99 monthly, you will retain your access to Disney Plus (no ads), Hulu (with ads), and ESPN Plus (with ads). Disney has confirmed that the plan is no longer available for new subscribers, and existing ones cannot switch to it. But if you already have it, it will honor the price.
What shows and movies are on Disney Plus?
Disney has prided itself on its Vault, which has extensive content dating back decades. While the Disney Vault strategy was starting to decay in the digital age, Disney Plus now hosts most of the Disney Vault alongside an impressive array of content from Marvel, Lucasfilm, Fox, and National Geographic. Disney Plus has over 500 films and more than 15,000 TV episodes, including most of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars films, alongside hit original series like The Mandalorian and the Marvel show Echo.
While Disney Plus still has room to improve when it comes to grouping content in categories for easy marathoning, you'll find dedicated collection tabs for franchises like Frozen, Aladdin, 101 Dalmatians, and Star Wars under the Disney section. Meanwhile, the Marvel section of the platform groups existing films under the five current phases of the MCU. You'll also find a tab with every movie in the MCU listed in Timeline Order.
The Disney Plus library outside of the US
There are differences in available content between countries. For instance, French law forbids theatrically released films from being put on a streaming service in that country for three years, so don't expect to see brand new MCU movies on Disney Plus in France until months after they're released in North America unless Disney manages some true shenanigans or gets that law changed somehow.
So far, however, the differences between the available content in the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands have been small, mainly because a few more of the recent Marvel and Disney films are currently unavailable.
Disney also began rolling out the new Star section of the Disney Plus app in countries where Hulu is unavailable. The Star brand page on Disney Plus features movies and TV shows from Disney Television Studios, FX Productions, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures. It is currently accessible to subscribers in Australia, Austria, Canada, Europe, Germany, Italy, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, the UK, and more.
The Disney Plus bundle: ESPN Plus
Disney Plus is just one of the major digital platforms Disney serves in this new streaming era. It's the largest, for sure. But it's also just one part of the puzzle. The various Disney Plus Bundle tiers allow you to subscribe to Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, and Hulu for one simple monthly payment.
If nothing else — and if you're a sports fan of any kind — you also should consider a subscription with ESPN Plus. It runs on the same underlying platform as Disney Plus, so you'll know how things work.
And as for the content, well. If you thought there were a lot of sports on TV, wait until you get a look at ESPN Plus. Yes, it's got live sports. All kinds of live sports. It's got college football games that you can't find on TV. It's got a tremendous amount of college basketball. It's got a smattering of NHL. It's got boxing and UFC —, but you have to have ESPN Plus if you want to watch pay-per-view UFC events.
The Disney Plus bundle: Hulu
The third arm of the trifecta is Hulu, which Disney also controls. It's where you'll find all the on-demand content you've come to know from that service, as well as original shows like The Handmaid's Tale, The Great, and Only Murders in the Building. In addition, Hulu is where much content planned initially for Disney Plus ends up as Disney tries to keep Disney Plus to more family-friendly fare, so the bundle will be the only way to ensure that you can see all of the content coming down the pipeline.
Perhaps more important for Disney's purposes is Hulu with Live TV, which, as the name implies, offers live (and local) television alongside all that other content. You can now get the Disney Plus bundle with Hulu + Live TV, which allows you to watch current Disney Channel shows — and tons more channels — along with legacy shows and older seasons on Disney Plus.
Note that Disney has launched the Hulu on Disney Plus app to provide faster access to content from the two streaming services. However, you can also use it as a standalone app.
Parental controls, profiles, and account limits
Since Disney Plus allows up to seven user profiles on a single account — and up to four users streams at a time — it's only natural that Disney Plus accounts are meant to be shared amongst family. However, when the kids misbehave or a friend isn't contributing the way they promised they would when you let them have your login, it's time to change your Disney Plus password and keep them out!
As a streaming service geared toward families and kids, parental controls on Disney Plus are pretty simplistic: you can set up a child's profile and set it only to allow content with a specific rating. Unfortunately, Disney's content filter works based on the MPAA and U.S. television rating systems rather than age-based restrictions. So you'll have to decide if you want your child to see only G/TV-G content or allow TV-Y7 and TV-Y7/FV.
Disney Plus Deals
One popular choice is the Legacy Disney Bundle. This deal gives users access to Disney Plus, ESPN Plus with ads, and ad-supported Hulu for one payment starting at $21.99 monthly. It gets a little complicated, but the short version is that if you have separate accounts on each of the three services, you can link them together in a virtual bundle via a single email address. For existing Hulu and ESPN Plus subscribers, when you upgrade to the Disney Bundle, the first charge will be prorated based on the existing Hulu subscription cost; the same applies to ESPN Plus.
Get six free months of Disney Plus from Verizon
Verizon Wireless offers a free Disney Plus bundle subscription to customers who sign up, switch, or upgrade to the Unlimited Plus plan for as long as they stick with it.
How does Disney Plus stack up to the competition?
Disney Plus has already proven a worthy contender for seasoned services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The content available on Disney Plus is quite impressive. The pricing is even more so, with the Disney Bundle costing less than a Netflix Premium subscription. This has made it easy for many to switch to Disney's offerings.
However, things may get a little more complicated when comparing Max to Disney Plus. The ad-free Max plan costs $16.99/month, the same price as the Disney Bundle Trio Basic. It has thousands of titles likely to entice even the most passionate Disney fans. Instead of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you'll get titles like The Batman and Justice League, not to mention Studio Ghibli films and popular series like Friends, The Last of Us, and Game of Thrones. Now that Max (formerly HBO Max) has merged with Discovery Plus, you'll find even more content from networks like TLC, HGTV, the Food Network, and CNN. That being said, Disney Plus remains a clear winner for kid-friendly content.
When comparing Disney Plus vs. Amazon Prime, it's helpful to know that Prime Video is made available as part of Amazon's Prime subscription, which costs $14.99 a month or $139 for the year and also gives you access to free shipping and cloud storage, among other perks. While you can opt for a standalone Prime Video membership, which costs $8.99 per month, Prime Video's catalog of original content isn't as varied or family-friendly as Disney Plus. Also, Amazon Prime Video subscribers can only stream on two devices simultaneously across six profiles. Comparatively, Disney Plus allows up to four concurrent streams and seven user profiles.
Can you share passwords on Disney Plus+
No, you can't share your Disney Plus passwords with anyone outside your household. If you need to add an extra member, you can add someone for $6.99 for the Disney Plus Basic and $9.99 for Premium. This add-on is unavailable for Disney Bundle subscribers or those billed using a partner.
You can watch Disney Plus if you're away from home, but Disney will ask for verification. If they do ask, Disney encourages users to tap "I'm away from home" or "update household." Disney will send the account holder a one-time passcode to enter to remove the restriction.
Disney Plus encourages users to create a new account if they don't want to add an Extra Member charge. Disney also clarifies that only one Extra Member slot is available per account.
Disney Plus for the U.S. has joined other countries, such as Costa Rica, Guatemala, Canada, and Europe, in the paid-sharing program.
Now that you know everything there is to know about Disney Plus, it's time to choose something to watch. Go take a look at our list of the best movies and shows on Disney Plus so you can plan your next viewing party.
