Why subscribe to Disney Plus? Where else can you find timeless fairytales, galaxies far, far away, superheroes saving the world, and the chance to pay regular visits to a town named Springfield? This guide is here to help you make the most of the streamer's vast and eclectic content library.
Disney Plus is home to movies and TV shows from Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, 20th Century Studios, National Geographic, and various other outposts from the Walt Disney Company's vast corporate empire. It's the place to go for new episodes of British sci-fi stalwart Doctor Who, Beatles documentary Get Back, a mind-boggling 34 seasons of The Simpsons, and much, much more.
In this comprehensive guide to Disney Plus, we'll explain how to sign up, how much it will cost, and what you'll get for your money. If you want to know a little more about whether the streamer is for you, check out our Disney Plus review. Meanwhile our guides to the best Disney Plus movies and the best Disney Plus shows will reveal the highlights of one of the best streaming services on the planet.
Disney Plus: How to sign up
It's very easy. In fact, if you want to start watching the riches Disney Plus has to offer, all you need to do is sign up for Disney Plus here.
Depending on where you live you can choose between various different options to suit your wallet and your viewing preferences. We'll explain more below.
Is there a Disney Plus free trial?
Disney Plus offered a seven-day free trial when it launched in November 2019, but discontinued the option in 2020.
Disney Plus: Price and bundles explained
In terms of Disney Plus price, viewers can choose between two subscription tiers: the "with ads" Disney Plus Basic ($7.99 per month) or the "no ads" Disney Plus Premium ($13.99 per month).
While you can't buy an annual Disney Plus Basic subscription, you can save money on the ad-free Premium version by buying an annual subscription for $139.99 – that's a reduction of more than $27 over the course of a year, giving you 12 months of viewing for the price of 10.
Both of the options above give you the option to stream Disney Plus shows and movies in 4K, and on up to four devices at once. It's worth noting, however, that the Basic subscription tier doesn't allow you to download Disney Plus content to your device for offline viewing. That means you'll need an active internet connection every time you want to enjoy the televisual delights the streamer has to offer.
Here's a breakdown of what's available on the two Disney Plus US pricing tiers:
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Basic (with ads) | Premium (no ads) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $7.99 | $13.99 |
| Annual fee | N/A | $139.99 |
| Ads? | Yes | No |
| Resolution | Up to 4K UHD & HDR | Up to 4K UHD & HDR |
| Concurrent streams | 4 | 4 |
| Sound | 5.1 and stereo | Dolby Atmos, 5.1 and stereo |
| Offline support | No offline downloads | Downloads for offline viewing |
US subscribers can also take advantage of several Disney Plus bundles that allow you to make a saving by combining the streamer with other services owned by the Walt Disney Company: Duo packages give you access to Disney Plus and Hulu, while Trio packages allow you to watch Disney Plus, Hulu (with or without ads depending on your plan), and ESPN Plus.
Here's a breakdown of the various bundles:
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Includes | Monthly price | Annual price | Ads on Disney Plus? | Ads on Hulu? | Ads on ESPN Plus? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duo Basic | Disney Plus, Hulu | $9.99 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Duo Premium | Disney Plus, Hulu | $19.99 | N/A | No | No | Yes |
| Trio Basic | Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plus | $14.99 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trio Premium | Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plus | $24.99 | N/A | No | No | Yes |
Changes are afoot in the US, however. Disney Plus will be joining forces with Walt Disney Company stablemate Hulu some time in 2024 (exact date TBC), with the new unified "one-app experience" streamer having entered beta testing in December 2023.
Hulu and Disney Plus will continue to be available as separate services in the US, but this new 2-in-1 option will surely make the new-look platform an even more viable contender to streaming behemoths like Netflix, Max, and Prime Video. It will also bring the updated platform more in line with the UK and Australia, where Disney Plus subscribers can view a broader range of movies and TV shows via the Disney Plus Star service (see below).
And here's what a subscription to Disney Plus will cost you elsewhere in the world. (See our Disney Plus UK hub for more details on its price points on British shores):
- Canada: $7.99 per month (Standard with ads); $11.99 CAD a month / $119.99 CAD annually (Standard ad-free); $14.99 per month / $149.99 per year (Premium)
- Australia: AU$13.99 per month or AU$139.99 annually (Standard ad-free) / AU$17.99 per month or AU$179 annually (Premium)
- New Zealand: NZ$14.99 a month or NZ$149.99 annually (Standard ad-free) / AU$18.99 per month or AU$189.99 per year (Premium)
Disney CEO Bob Iger has also revealed that the company is "actively exploring" ways to clamp down on users sharing their Disney Plus accounts. No firm date has been set for this Netflix-style move in the US or the UK, though Nasdaq has reported that Disney Plus made amendments to its subscriber agreement for Canadian users in November. These changes reportedly restrict password sharing outside the account holder's primary household, unless permitted by their account tier.
What is Star on Disney Plus?
Star on Disney Plus launched outside the US in territories including the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada on February 23, 2021.
Whereas viewers in the US need to subscribe to another Disney-owned streamer, Hulu, to enjoy a broader range of entertainment from the many production companies under Disney's vast corporate umbrella, Star provides Disney Plus account holders elsewhere with plenty of additional content from the likes of FX, 20th Century Studios and ABC.
When Disney Plus users in countries offering the Star service log in to their home screen, the usual family-friendly core content (Star Wars, Marvel, Disney, Pixar, National Geographic) is bolstered by more grown-up fare such as 24, Lost, Atlanta, Desperate Housewives, the Die Hard, Alien and Predator franchises (including recent prequel Prey), and – in the UK – The Walking Dead.
Disney Plus Star is also home to some of the hottest new TV shows on the planet, with the likes of The Bear, Only Murders in the Building and A Murder at the End of the World all debuting on the platform. In the UK, the quality and volume of the Star on Disney Plus offering makes the platform a viable contender to the likes of Netflix.
Disney Plus: Apps and compatible devices
These are the devices/platforms that are compatible with Disney Plus and the Disney Plus app:
- iOS
- Android
- Apple TV
- Fire TV devices
- Roku
- MacOS
- Windows PC
- Chrome OS
- Chromecast / Chromebook
- Xbox One, Series X, Series S
- PS4, PS5
- Nvidia Shield (via Android TV)
- Smart TVs (including Android TV, LG WebOS, Samsung Tizen, Vizio SmartCast)
The Disney Plus app can be downloaded on almost any device, and you can watch it in web browsers on desktop, too. A Disney Plus subscription currently supports up to four simultaneous streams – though from November, UK viewers on the Standard tiers will find this is cut to two – and up to 10 registered devices. You can also create up to seven profiles for other people using your account, with each profile offering the facility to create its own bespoke Watch List.
Disney Plus also has different age ratings for content, meaning you can create kids' profiles that will restrict access to content that isn't suitable for younger members of the family.
As well as having different content hubs for Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel and National Geographic, the Disney Plus app has curated content lists themed around different subjects. These hubs include the major franchises mentioned above, as well as options to see Disney's vast library of content organised by decade, or watch episodes of The Simpsons grouped by theme – with well over 700 episodes to choose from, this could be a good place to start your Springfield journey! Also, hubs like this can be a nice way to find something to watch without being reliant on Netflix-style algorithms.
And if your Disney Plus plan allows downloads, you can download as much content as you want to watch offline – as long as you sign in to the app online every 30 days.
What is Disney Plus SharePlay?
SharePlay is a feature on iPhones, iPads and Apple TV that allows Disney Plus subscribers to watch content with their friends and family.
SharePlay enables up to 32 users – note that you're still limited to four concurrent streams per Disney Plus account – to simultaneously watch the same movie or TV show while on a FaceTime call. Users have the opportunity to select the audio settings of their choice, too, while individual subscribers can add subtitles if necessary. (Disney Plus say that SharePlay is "only available on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV with the latest system update", so viewers with older devices may not be able to take advantage of this feature.)
If you're a non-Apple user (or running older software), however, you'll no longer be able to enjoy Disney Plus movies and TV shows in the company of friends elsewhere. As reported by IGN, the streaming platform removed its GroupWatch feature on September 18, 2023.
“As of September 18th, 2023, the GroupWatch feature will no longer be available on Disney+,” said a message on the Disney Plus help center. "We're always working to deliver the best product experience on Disney Plus, and as part of recent updates, the GroupWatch feature was removed."
Disney Plus error codes: What the numbers mean
Having trouble with your service? Check out our list of Disney Plus error codes for more on what the different numbers mean. If you're having issues with Disney Plus you can't seem to solve, try the Disney Plus help center for more.
If you can't resolve the issue yourself, you can contact Disney Plus customer service by calling 888-905-7888 if you're based in the US. You can also tweet the Disney Plus help account or email DisneyPlusHelp@Disney.com.
Disney Plus gift subscriptions: Get a year of Disney Plus for a friend or family member
Disney Plus Gift Subscriptions are available, and a year of viewing makes for an ideal last-minute present. You can buy Disney+ Gift Subscriptions here.
For more Disney-based content, read our guides to new Star Wars movies and TV shows, Star Wars: The Acolyte, Marvel Phase 5, and how to watch the Marvel movies in order.
