Which streaming service is right for you?

Supported devices 

Both Netflix and Disney are readily available via their respective apps on systems like Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, Apple TV, Sky Glass, Sky Q, Sky Stream and compatible smart TVs. 

However, some Linux-based OS smart TVs like Toshiba and Sharp may not offer Disney Plus as readily.

While neither has a dedicated Mac app, they both sport iOS, Android and Windows apps and you can always stream through most web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari. Similarly, you can access both Netflix and Disney Plus on games consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Winner: Netflix

Interface 

• Netflix has a spotlight section at the top while Disney Plus uses a carousel for new content
• Both have similar left-hand menus for easy navigation
• Series and movies are organised into rows, by their specific category, on both

Netflix shifts its interface frequently with floating rows and a spotlight section at the top, which differs from Disney Plus’ carousel that showcases new content. 

Both have left-hand menus with options like Search, Settings, Movies (Films), Series (TV Programmes) and My List (Watchlist). Netflix also has additional options for New & Popular and Categories, while Disney Plus has Originals and Settings options. 

Otherwise, on Netflix’s home screen you’ll find multiple rows for different genres such as Comedies, Crime etc, New Releases, Recently Added and Watch It Again, which highlights titles you’ve already seen but may want to revisit. 

Premium subscribers will also benefit from an Ultra HD 4K content row too. Similarly, Disney Plus offers an Ultra HD and HDR row, however we do find this tends to disappear and reappear.

Each row on Disney Plus typically includes up to 20 titles, while some can have over 30 listed, however that’s a lot less than Netflix which can see up to 76 titles in a single row.

On smartphones, tablets and browsers, Netflix’s layout is similar but with the addition of a game selection. Disney Plus changes things up a bit more on its mobile app, with Home, Search, Downloads and Profile found at the bottom, while Originals, Movies and Series are all tucked away in the Search tab.

Winner: Netflix

Curation

• Netflix offers percentage matches to indicate how closely a title aligns with your habits
• Surprise Me from Netflix alleviates decision fatigue
• Disney Plus struggles to show you new titles

Although Netflix and Disney Plus both promise to provide personalised recommendations, based on viewing habits and preferences, we found Netflix boasted the edge as it offers percentage matches which indicate how closely a title aligns with your profile, based on what you’ve watched and rated before.

We found that although Netflix is good at suggesting films and series it thinks you’ll like, we do wish it would offer us less predictable content. However, this is an area we find all streaming services struggle with in general. 

Disney Plus on the other hand isn’t the best platform for showing you new content, with many rows guilty of repeating already shown titles. We also found that although Disney Plus’ library is huge, it doesn’t push you towards less visible content.

Winner: Netflix

Downloads and 4K HDR

• Disney Plus allows more profiles and download devices per account
• Both can support up to 4K but only with Premium subscriptions
• You can watch simultaneously with up to six friends and family with GroupWatch on Disney Plus

Disney Plus allows for up to seven profiles per account and downloads across up to ten devices, whereas Netflix only offers up to five profiles and up to six devices for downloads. Remember, this is depending on your membership type. 

The exact quality you can expect also depends on your membership. For both Netflix and Disney Plus, Standard (both with and without Ads) is up to 1080p, while Premium supports 4K, HDR, and Dolby Atmos sound. Even if you are a Premium subscriber, not all content will be available in 4K.

Disney Plus also supports IMAX Enhanced for a select amount of content, however there are some caveats. Firstly, this is limited to a select number of titles but fortunately Disney Plus makes it relatively easy to find which these are with the IMAX Enhanced filter on the Movies filter. IMAX Enhanced sound is also only supported on selected Android TV devices.

For both Netflix and Disney Plus, you’ll need to ensure you have a compatible TV and sound system too to really benefit. Fortunately, Netflix scales image and sound quality to fit your device, while its Calibrated Mode promises viewers a true-to-life experience.

Netflix also doesn’t have its own version of a Watch Party, whereas Disney Plus offers GroupWatch which allows for up to six friends or family members to watch the same stream in sync (although they will need their own Disney Plus membership.)

Winner: Disney Plus

Library

• Both offer a range of original content, old favourites and new titles
• Netflix’s library varies according to where you are in the world, due to licensing laws
• Disney Plus has more pre-1970 content, which is mainly thanks to original Disney films

Neither Disney Plus nor Netflix have a fixed number of titles that they carry, as both have content constantly arriving and leaving the service. Disney Plus tends to release content weekly while Netflix often releases shows in one go. Plus, the libraries change according to where you are in the world too. Finally, neither service offers live sports unlike Apple TV Plus and Prime Video.

Netflix was one of the first streaming services to offer original content, although we have found that it’s a bit cheeky in what it classifies as an “Original”. However Disney Plus does still offer some originals, such as The Bear and A Thousand Blows.

Netflix has also been criticised for its lack of pre-1970 titles, which is likely due to licensing issues, whereas Disney Plus does offer a large catalogue including original Disney titles like the 1950 Cinderella film or even the 1937 Snow White.

As mentioned earlier, Disney Plus is home to dedicated channels for specific content like Star Wars, Marvel, National Geographic documentaries and Star. Star is especially noteworthy as it includes content from FX, 20th Century Studios and 20th Television, which offers access to shows and films that you may otherwise not be able to access in the UK. This includes shows such as Rivals, Vanderpump Villa and Abbot Elementary.

Essentially, it’s hard to choose a winner here as it depends entirely on your personal preferences. To help you gauge more of what Netflix and Disney Plus has to offer, we’ve listed their respective top shows below:

Netflix:

• Adolescence
• Black Mirror
• You
• Wednesday
• Bridgerton
• Squid Game
• Stranger Things
• Selling Sunset

Disney Plus:

• Good American Family
• High Potential
• Grey’s Anatomy
• The Simpsons
• Modern Family
• Desperate Housewives
• The Menu
• The Bear

Performance

• Netflix only needs 15Mbps to stream 4K HDR while Disney Plus requires 25Mbps
• 4K HDR10 playback on Blu-ray is more detailed than a 4K Dolby Vision steam on Disney Plus

For the two, picture and sound quality are dependent on both your membership tier and your home entertainment set-up. With an OLED TV and either a Dolby Atmos or surround sound set-up, Netflix offers both a brilliant viewing experience with stronger black levels and contrast than an LCD alongside a more immersive listening experience. Plus, it only needs 15Mbps to stream 4K HDR while Disney Plus needs 25Mbps. 

We also found that even with Dolby Vision assistance, 4K HDR10 playback on Blu-ray is more detailed than a 4K Dolby Vision stream. 

Even so, Disney Plus does boast good video quality, though you will need a Dolby Vision TV for particularly bold, rich colours and improved tone-mapping.

Winner: Netflix

Verdict

It’s difficult to provide a conclusive verdict as to which streaming service is better, as both offer a huge library of titles that may suit different audiences. For more variety, perhaps we could argue that Netflix boasts the edge. 

In terms of features and interface, we really appreciate what Netflix has to offer, as it’s not only easy to use and navigate but it can stream 4K without needing superfast broadband and gives a more personalised experience.

Having said that, Disney Plus allows more members per account and for up to six people to watch something together via GroupWatch, which is a useful addition.