Disney Plus is the latest streaming service to alter its pricing, as users continue to switch off amid the cost of living crisis. Here we explain what the changes mean for you.
Disney Plus is to introduce three new pricing tiers later this year, as it looks to cut costs and grow subscriber numbers. Existing users will be automatically moved to the most expensive plan unless you manually alter it.
Around the world, the company lost 12 million customers in the three months to July due to increased competition and the soaring cost of living.
Currently, a subscription will set you back £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year. From 1 November, prices will start at £4.99 a month, if you are happy to watch adverts, and go up to £10.99 a month for a premium service.
Disney has also announced its intention to crackdown on password sharing. Netflix added six million subscribers earlier this year following its ban of the practice.
In this article, we cover:
Read more: Netflix price changes: how it affects you
What are the Disney Plus pricing changes?
Disney Plus is following in the footsteps of rival streaming giant Netflix and introducing a three-tiered pricing structure, including a cheaper, ad-supported plan.
The company is also looking at ways to crackdown on password sharing after the number of subscribers fell by 11.7 million in the three months to July to 146.1 million.
It also reported a net loss of $460m (£360m) in the second quarter of this year, compared with profits of $1.4bn (£1.1bn) during the same period in 2022.
Subscription services have seen growth figures fall and customers leave as a result of increased competition and households cutting back during the cost of living crisis.
How much will I pay for Disney Plus?
Currently Disney offers just one price plan of £7.99 per month or £79.90 a year, if you choose to pay in one go.
From 1 November, you will have three options to choose from that will set you back between £4.99 and £15.99 per month:
- Standard with Ads: £4.99 per month (no annual plan), allows for streaming on two devices at the same time, full HD 1080p resolution and 5.1 and Stereo sound. No download functionality
- Disney Plus Standard: £7.99 per month or £79.90 per year, as above but with download functionality and no adverts
- Disney Plus Premium: £10.99 per month or £109.90 per year, you can stream on four devices at once, comes with 4K UHD and HDR and superior Dolby Atmos audio
It is likely that you will notice quite a big difference in audio and visual quality between the standard and premium plans, depending on the TV system you have in your home.
Unless you actively change your subscription, from November you will be rolled on to the Premium plan and pay an extra £3 a month or £30 a year.
Check out the results of our poll: How many streaming services do you pay for?
How will Disney Plus with adverts work?
A cheaper Disney subscription with adverts has been on offer in the US since late 2022 but will be introduced to the UK for the first time in November.
Just like Netflix’s With Ads service, the price will be £4.99 a month and offer lower resolution viewing and audio support than the premium service.
Where the two differ is that Disney says that the movies and shows offered on the cheaper plans will be the same as the more expensive subscription. Certain content is excluded on Netflix’s ad-supported plan.
It is unclear when adverts will be played on Disney or how often.
When is Disney going to crackdown on password sharing?
Disney plans to crackdown on password sharing in 2024, although the company have not released any further details on how this will be done.
Walt Disney chief executive Bob Iger has admitted that the company was facing a “challenging environment”.
One of the ways to address customer and business growth is to follow the recent example of Netflix and ban password sharing between households.
Since the crackdown earlier this year, the streaming giant has added almost 5.9 million new subscribers in the three months to the end of June, suggesting the move has been a success.
“We are actively exploring ways to address account sharing and the best options for paying subscribers to share their accounts with friends and family,” said Iger.
Read more: I’m a first-time buyer, can my Netflix subscription help me get a mortgage?
Is Disney Plus more expensive than Netflix and Amazon Prime?
| Subscription service | Cost (per month) |
| Disney+ | From £4.99 |
| Netflix | From £4.99 |
| Amazon Prime | £8.99 |
| Apple TV | £6.99 |
| NowTV | £6.99 |
Disney+* Currently £7.99 a month OR £79.90 a year
From November: £4.99 a month up to £10.99 for a premium service
Netflix* From £4.99 a month (with ads) up to £15.99 premium service
Amazon Prime* £8.99 per month OR £95 per year
Apple TV* £6.99 a month
NowTV From £6.99 a month (6 month) or £9.99 (flexible)
Read more: TV packages: how to get the best deal and save money
How can I cancel Disney Plus subscription?
Subscribers currently on the £7.99 per month ad-free plan will automatically be transferred over to the more expensive Premium plan from 1 November.
If you don’t want to pay the higher price then you will have to manually change your subscription to Standard.
Should you decide to quit Disney Plus altogether then the good news is that cancelling your account is straightforward and you won’t be charged a fee:
- Log in to your Disney+ account through a computer or mobile browser
- Choose your profile
- Select Account
- Choose your Disney+ subscription under Subscription
- Select Cancel Subscription
If you pay monthly, you will simply stop being billed at the end of the current month that you have paid for.
You can continue to watch Disney Plus until the end of your current payment cycle.
Read more: Why businesses should be banned from auto renewing contracts
Important information
Some of the products promoted are from our affiliate partners from whom we receive compensation. While we aim to feature some of the best products available, we cannot review every product on the market.
