The streaming wars are heating up. Major players like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime battled for subscribers for years, but now the world‘s most valuable brands – Disney and Apple – have entered the fray.
In November 2019 within days of each other, Disney+ and Apple TV+ launched to much fanfare. Now with a few years behind them, how do these services compare when looking at content, features and overall value? Let‘s break it down.
A Brief History
Disney has a nearly 100 year legacy of beloved animated films, family entertainment and blockbuster franchises. They had licensed much of their content to other streamers over the years, but bringing it back under their own roof became a priority.
After acquiring studios like Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm, and major Fox assets, Disney+ was the natural next step to control their content destiny. Years of preparation led up to its splashy debut on November 12, 2019. Out of the gate, Disney+ leaned heavily on branded fare like Star Wars spinoff The Mandalorian.
Apple has disrupted one industry after another with its signature sleek, user-friendly designs and smart integration of hardware and software. It only made sense that they would try their hand at streaming original shows and movies.
Unlike Disney, Apple had no legacy film/TV business to speak of. But with an endless bank account and some of the world‘s top creative talent signed on, they were able to launch Apple TV+ on November 1, 2019 with a roster of star-studded originals.
Pricing and Bundles
In terms of cost, both services are relatively affordable compared to the likes of Netflix.
Disney+ offers an ad-supported plan for $7.99/month or ad-free for $10.99/month. Bundling Hulu and ESPN+ as part of the Disney Bundle saves about $3/month. There are also discounted annual subscription options.
Apple TV+ comes in at just $6.99/month, ad-free. Their popular Apple One bundles integrate TV+ with other Apple services like Music, iCloud storage, Arcade, News and Fitness for $16.95 to $32.95/month depending on features.
Compared to Netflix ($6.99 to $20.99/month depending on features) and HBO Max ($9.99 with ads or $14.99 no ads), Disney+ and Apple TV+ provide strong value at very fair price points, especially when you factor in their bundles.
Content Libraries
When judging streaming services, their content catalogs make all the difference.
Disney boasts an unparalleled library of popular family entertainment spanning nearly a century of film history. Animated classics, Pixar favorites, the Star Wars saga, Marvel’s cinematic universe, The Simpsons – it’s a seemingly bottomless collection for all ages.
Beyond the obvious branded titles, Disney+ invests heavily in original movies and shows like The Mandalorian to drive subscriptions. However, their original content leans into similar zones of family-friendly sci-fi/fantasy/adventure – so offering diversity of stories is not a strength currently.
Apple TV+ takes almost the exact opposite approach. Nearly ALL of their programming is original content produced specifically for the service. Without any legacy studio catalog to support it, Apple TV+ lives and dies on its exclusives.
The good news is Apple signs deals with elite Hollywood talent and gives them big budgets to produce prestige television. Within just a couple years, Apple Originals like Ted Lasso and Best Picture winner CODA have won major awards. Expect more high-profile film and TV projects in the works from Scorsese, Spielberg and more.
However, the lack of library content means Apple TV+ subscribers constantly face droughts between big releases. Disney+ users can always find something old or new to watch from their vast catalog if there’s ever a lull.
So in summary: Disney+ offers breadth, Apple TV+ offers curation. Your preference tends to vary depending on mood and taste.
Supported Devices
Since Disney+ deals heavily in family entertainment, the service is widely available on a variety of popular platforms:
- Phones/Tablets – iOS, Android
- Computers – Mac, Windows via browsers
- Smart TVs – LG, Samsung, VIZIO, Sony, TCL and more
- Game Consoles – PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X/S and One
- Streaming Devices – Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku
Disney+ can have up to four concurrent streams and five unique user profiles per account. It permits unlimited offline downloads on mobile devices.
Apple has naturally optimized Apple TV+ beautifully across Apple devices and platforms:
- Apple Devices – iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV 4K/HD
- Computers – Macs, Windows via web browsers
- Smart TVs – Many models from LG, Samsung, VIZIO, Sony and others
- Game Consoles – PS4/PS5
However, Apple TV+ has notable missing support on Android phones/tablets, Roku devices, Nintendo Switch and other non-Apple gaming systems.
Apple TV+ allows sharing streams with up to six Family Sharing members simultaneously. Offline downloading varies by show.
The key takeaway is that Disney+ has wider, more universal app support. Apple TV‘s experience is excellent if you live within the Apple ecosystem.
Streaming Options and Image Quality
Modern libraries now stream films and shows in 4K resolution with HDR for optimal image quality. Keeping up with consumer technology, how do Disney+ and Apple TV+ stack up?
The Disney+ app supports 4K, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos across a wide range of compatible devices. A large (but not complete) selection of new and existing Disney/Pixar/Marvel/Star Wars films take full advantage of 4K HDR/Dolby tech. Bitrate quality for streaming is strong enough to enjoy pin-sharp image detail.
Apple TV+ launched promising support for 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos audio back in 2019. However, adoption of these formats has been weirdly scattershot. Some of Apple‘s highest profile exclusives (like The Morning Show) still lack 4K or HDR years later. And Dolby Atmos is hit or miss. Without consistency or clarity around these imaging technologies, it‘s puzzling and disappointing.
Give Disney credit for 4K HDR ubiquity. Apple needs to improve.
Key Strengths and Weaknesses
Disney+
Strengths
- Unparalleled family entertainment library
- Hot off-the-press Marvel & Star Wars shows
- Reasonable pricing and bundle discounts
- Broad platform app support
- 4K HDR on most content
Weaknesses
- Light on more mature, diverse stories
- Confusing what‘s available where (i.e. Hulu)
- Occasional app performance glitches
Apple TV+
Strengths
- Elite, award-winning originals
- Fair pricing, especially bundles
- Seamless experience on Apple devices
- Weekly new content releases
Weaknesses
- Light overall content library
- Major originals lack 4K or HDR
- No Android/Roku/Switch app support
Which Service Do You Need?
So when looking at the full picture, who comes out ahead in the streaming battle between Disney+ and Apple TV+?
The answer depends entirely on the user.
For families with eclectic ages of entertainment tastes, Disney+ is almost mandatory. The breadth and accessibility of content spanning nearly a century has universal appeal. Parents can enjoy Marvel movies after kids fall asleep watching Frozen. Disney+ also nicely complements streaming bundles that incorporate networks like ESPN or Hulu.
Cinephiles seeking out the highest quality original programming – especially fresh-off-the-festival-circuit indies and foreign films – may want to lean toward Apple TV+, even with its smaller library. Early award recognition suggests Apple knows how to produce exemplary work. Forthcoming projects helmed by Scorsese, Killen, Minghella and others signal ambition to courtdiscerning film lovers. Integrating with other Apple services may also appeal ton this crowd.
Casual viewers who aren’t married to a particular brand may find flipping between both services monthly suits their mood or provides helpful contrast. Apple TV+ offers more regular content drops for binge watchers while Disney+ buyers can take breaks when Marvel or Star Wars aren’t actively releasing new episodes.
Either way you slice it, both streaming heavyweights have staked their claim and don’t show any signs of slowing down their original content investments. The streamers target differing audiences with complementary library strategies. In the great streaming race, subscribing to both Disney+ and Apple TV+ actually makes a world of sense for many households.
