If you are among the subscribers wondering whether Disney+ Basic is the right package for you, then read on to see how it compares to the competition.
Disney + Basic Is on Its Way
Disney+ Basic, Disney’s ad-supported subscription plan, is launching on December 8, 2022, costing $7.99/month. While we don’t have all the details, we already know how Disney+ plans to handle its ad-supported tier. For instance, you cannot pay for it annually, which denies users the option to save some money.
Disney+ will not include ads that feature alcohol or politics, adult-themed subjects, or ads from other entertainment competitors. Also, children-oriented content will not feature any ads.
On the current Disney+ plan, you can stream on up to four devices simultaneously and create seven profiles on one account. Every device can stream something different, even in a different physical location and network. Also, Disney+ already supports downloading for offline viewing and streaming in 4K, so some of these features may also be available on Disney+ Basic.
How Does Disney+ Basic Compare to the Competition?
There are already many streaming services with an ad-supported tier, so Disney+ Basic has several competitors. These are some other streaming services Disney+ will have to compete against.
1. Discovery+
Discovery+ costs $4.99/month, and there is no annual fee. Users experience the same content and perks as the ad-free tier, with some of its programming available in 4K. The only difference is that the ad-supported plan shows an average of 7.2 ads per show and 12 ads per hour. Users can also watch content on up to four devices simultaneously and create up to five different profiles on one account.
Discovery+ offers users access to over 70,000 titles, documentaries, and movies across the Warner Bros networks.
2. HBO Max
The HBO Max ad-supported tier costs $9.99/month. You can also pay an annual fee of $99.99/year and save more than 15 percent. Users can access the full HBO Max content catalog, but not Warner Bros. films debuting in theaters and on HBO Max. However, you will be able to watch these films months later.
The ad-supported tier does not include the ability to download content for offline viewing or access to 4K content. Also, streaming video quality will be capped at 1080p or Full HD.
HBO Max shows four minutes of ads per hour. It supports up to three devices simultaneously and five different profiles. It also offers parental controls so you can fully control the content your kids can watch.
3. Peacock
Peacock actually has two ad-supported tiers. The first tier is free, and the second tier is $5/month or $50/year.
The free version lets you access about two-thirds of Peacock’s library—roughly 13,000 hours of content.
The second ad-supported Peacock tier is called Peacock Premium. This will enable you to watch the full peacock catalog with over 60,000 hours of content.
You can stream on three separate devices. Alas, you can’t download content for offline viewing. 4K access is also not enabled.
Peacock shows five minutes or less of ads per hour across both ad-supported tiers.
4. Paramount+
Paramount+ costs $4.99/month, or $49.99/year. This gives you access to the same library as the $9.99 ad-free tier, except the CBS local live stream that only comes with the ad-free plan.
The ad-supported tier allows you to download content to watch offline. It has the heaviest ad-load of all the ad-supported streamers and can show up to nearly 24 ads per hour. Each account can create up to six different profiles and can be streamed on three different devices simultaneously. It also supports 4K.
Users can access more than 30,000 hours of library content from the Paramount family of networks. You can watch new movies from Paramount Pictures 30-45 days after their debut in cinemas.
5. Hulu
At the time of writing, Hulu’s ad-supported tier costs $6.99/month or $69.99/year. But Hulu is raising its prices on October 10, 2022, and the ad-supported tier will cost $7.99/month or $79.99/year. This plan gives you access to Hulu’s entire catalog, the same as the ad-free tier.
Hulu will show you nine to 12 ads in one hour. It allows you to stream simultaneously on two different devices and create up to six profiles on one account.
Streaming is limited to 1080p or Full HD.
So Which Is the Best Ad-Supported Streaming Service?
While Disney+ is notable for its blockbuster movies and a wide variety of family entertainment, there’s no doubt that it is on the expensive side.
If Disney plans to keep the same features and content as its ad-free plan, it might be a worthy competitor since most other streaming services don’t offer all of their content.
It’s also worth mentioning that Disney+ isn’t the only platform working on an ad-supported subscription plan. The streaming giant Netflix is also working on a new ad-supported tier coming in 2023, so Disney+ needs to step up its game to stand out from the crowd.
