Disney+ vs. Netflix: Which Offers the Best Value for Money?

Both are excellent streaming services, but which is better value for money?

Netflix and Disney+ are two of the most popular streaming services available. Both platforms offer an impressive selection of movies and television shows. 

In this article, we compare the two on price, user interface, content, and special features in order to determine which offers the best value for your money.

What Does Netflix Offer?

Netflix is the streaming giant that's always one step ahead of its competitors. It has a simple design that focuses on your preferences for entertainment. Netflix shows you recommended content based on your watch history. In addition, if you hover over an icon, it will give you a preview of each film or television show (if available).

Netflix's main page has categories like #1 in Your Country, Trending Now, Watch Again, and Hidden Gems For You. It also allows you to view TV shows and movies in bulk by genre so that you can quickly pick a new series to binge or movie to enjoy.

Its application has a section just for kids, so your children won't be privy to the adult content on some of the previews. Netflix offers a wide selection of genres and has a very impressive selection of documentaries.

The streaming platform also offers the option to create your own list of television shows and movies that you want to watch later. Overall, it's an easy-to-use app with a wide range of television shows and movies to choose from.

How Much Does Netflix Cost?

Netflix no longer offers a free trial but the monthly cost for the streaming service is cost-effective and you can cancel at any time.

Netflix offers three subscription packages to choose from:

1. Basic (US$8.99/month, plus applicable taxes): This package includes the ability to watch Netflix on one device at a time, the option to download content to one device, and unlimited viewing of TV shows and movies.
2. Standard (US$13.99/month, plus applicable taxes): This package includes the ability to watch Netflix on two devices at a time, the option to download content to two devices, unlimited access to all of Netflix's TV shows and movies, and the option for high-definition viewing.
3. Premium (US$17.99/month, plus applicable taxes): This package includes the ability to watch Netflix on four devices at a time, the option to download content to four devices, unlimited access to all of Netflix's TV shows and movies, the option for high-definition viewing, and Ultra HD viewing.

The Netflix User Interface

When you open the application, you are greeted by a preview of a movie or television show Netflix thinks you will enjoy, based on your past viewing choices.

As you hover your mouse over a television show or movie, it will play a preview of the content so you can see if you will like it before viewing. When you hover over a TV show or movie, you can play, add it to your watch list, like or dislike it (this will show Netflix what you like or dislike for future recommendations), or click for more information which will make the preview larger.

If you click on a show or movie, Netflix displays the preview, the time length, a brief summary of the plotline, the genre, the main cast list, and recommendations for movies or TV shows that are similar to the one you are previewing.

The account section is easily accessed on your computer by clicking on the down arrow in the top-right corner of your screen and selecting Account. This is where you will find your payment information, plan details, settings, and parental controls.

Overall, the platform is easy to use, so people who aren't tech-savvy can easily navigate it. The preview screen gives you all the information you need so you can decide if you want to watch a program or not.

The Netflix Catalog of Content

Netflix has an impressive catalog size, with in excess of 10,000 titles across all of its international libraries.

It offers many different genres of television shows and movies, including Anime, Comedies, Crime Dramas, Horror, and Thrillers.

You can easily view the titles available in any of these genres in Netflix's computer application, by clicking on either TV Shows or Movies, and then clicking the drop-down menu to select the genre of your choice.

Related: Secret Netflix Codes to Help You Find New Content

During the holidays, like Halloween and Christmas, you will be shown content to help you get in the spirit. Netflix offers an impressive collection of Christmas movies, specifically Hallmark movies, the romantic holiday-themed films with happy endings.

Related: The Best Christmas Movies to Watch on Netflix

You can make your own profiles on Netflix, which is where you will watch your television shows and movies. Netflix will recommend content to you based on what you choose to watch. If you have children, or love kids' shows and movies, there is a pre-made profile called "Kids" that has all the kid-friendly titles that Netflix offers.

What Does Disney+ Offer?

Disney+ is Disney's streaming platform. It offers access to content from the Disney-owned franchises, including Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar. Disney+ also has TV shows and movies like The Simpsons and more from its acquisition of 21st Century Fox.

Disney+ has categories like Hit Movies, Trending, Originals, and Collections. It also recommends programming to you based on your watch history. It is a family-friendly streaming service, so the highest rating it allows is PG-13/TV14.

Although Disney+ has an age rating cap, it has a wide selection of movies and television shows broken up into different genres. It also has exclusive access to shows like the critically acclaimed Star Wars spin-off, The Mandalorian.

Like its competitor Netflix, you can add television shows and movies to a watchlist for future viewing. Disney+ is a valiant adversary to Netflix, but how does it measure up?

How Much Does Disney+ Cost?

Like Netflix, Disney+ no longer offers free trials, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. There are two subscription packages available for Disney+ members to choose from:

1. Disney+ Monthly: Unlimited access to all Disney+ content for US$6.99/month plus applicable taxes.
2. Disney+ Yearly: Unlimited access to all Disney+ content for US$69.99/year plus applicable taxes, which saves you approximately $13/year.

Both of these choices give you access to Disney+ on up to four different devices. Although Disney+ and Netflix no longer offer free trials, there are a few streaming services that do.

Read More: Streaming Services You Can Still Try for Free

The Disney+ User Interface

The Disney+ user interface is not as helpful as Netflix's. When you hover over television shows or movies, it doesn't show previews, and when you click on your choice, you have to click the "Play Trailer" button to play a preview of the TV show or movie.

It does have options like extras, related shows, and details in separate categories, but the cast list and summary are not visible on the main page of the television show or movie.

The Disney+ account settings page can be found by clicking on the icon beside the word Profile and then selecting Account. Here, you will find your account details like your username and password, billing history, and subscription details.

The Disney+ Catalog of Content

Although Disney+ has a much smaller catalog than Netflix (approximately 7,000 television episodes and 500 films at the time of writing), it has many quality movies and television shows that are guaranteed to inspire nostalgia.

To browse the different genres, you can select the Series or Movie options at the top of your screen. Disney+ has a few genres of television shows and movies, including Action/Adventure, Animation, Comedy, and Drama.

Despite the small number of genres, Disney+ is a great streaming platform for your family to use to enjoy regular movie nights or to bring out your inner child.

Like Netflix, Disney+ has a holiday section that includes many of your Disney holiday favorites like The Muppet Christmas Carol and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Although Disney+ doesn't have as many titles as Netflix, it does have many classics that will bring back a lot of memories for you.

Disney+ vs. Netflix: The Winner

After weighing everything up, we think Netflix offers the best value for money. This despite Netflix being the more expensive option. While Disney+ boasts quality titles and a user-friendly interface, Netflix offers a much wider range of content for its low monthly price.

However, if you can afford it, subscribe to both for a killer selection of content, old and new, across multiple genres.

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