Disney Plus introduced ads to lower the cost of its basic plan
Disney Plus added a tier with advertisements in December 2022 because the company wanted to offer a cheaper subscription option. The basic plan with ads costs less per month than the ad-free plan, so Disney uses the ad revenue to offset the lower price you pay. This is the same model Netflix, Hulu, and Max use — you choose between paying less and seeing ads, or paying more and watching without interruption.
The ad-supported tier is now the default plan when you sign up for Disney Plus. If you want to watch without ads, you must choose the premium plan at checkout, which costs more. Existing subscribers who had the original ad-free plan kept that plan at the original price, but new subscribers see the ad tier first.
Key Takeaways
- Disney Plus offers two tiers: a cheaper plan with ads and a more expensive plan without ads, and you choose which one when you sign up.
- The ad-supported plan shows roughly four to five minutes of ads per hour, similar to traditional television.
- Some content on Disney Plus cannot be watched on the ad-supported tier, including certain newer releases and premium titles.
- You can switch between plans at any time, though the change takes effect on your next billing date.
- Disney introduced ads because streaming services lose money when subscription prices stay flat while production costs rise.
How many ads you will see on the basic plan
The ad-supported tier shows roughly four to five minutes of advertisements per hour of content. That breaks down to about one to two ad breaks during a 30-minute show and two to three breaks during a one-hour episode. The ads play before the content starts, in the middle, and sometimes at the end, much like broadcast television.
Disney does not let you skip ads on the basic plan — you must watch them in full. The ads are typically 15 to 30 seconds long. You cannot fast-forward through them, and pausing the video does not pause the ad timer.
What content you cannot watch with ads
Disney Plus restricts certain titles from the ad-supported plan. New theatrical releases during their first window on the platform are usually ad-free only, meaning you must upgrade to watch them. Some Marvel and Star Wars releases fall into this category. Disney also reserves certain premium content and early-access episodes for the ad-free tier.
The restricted content changes over time as titles move out of their exclusive windows. A movie that is unavailable on the ad tier today may become available in a few months. When you try to play a restricted title on the ad-supported plan, Disney Plus tells you that the content is not available and suggests upgrading.
The difference in price between the two plans
The ad-supported plan costs less per month than the ad-free plan. The exact price varies by region and changes periodically, so check your Disney Plus account or the sign-up page for current pricing in your area. In the United States, the ad tier is typically several dollars cheaper per month than the premium tier.
If you are already paying for the ad-free plan, your price and service do not change unless you downgrade to the ad tier. Disney did not raise prices on existing ad-free subscribers when it introduced ads, though the company has raised prices on new sign-ups and on subscribers who switch plans.
How to switch between plans or remove ads
You can change your plan at any time through your account settings. Log into Disney Plus, go to your profile, select Account, and look for the subscription or plan section. You will see both plans listed with their prices and features. Click the one you want, confirm the change, and it takes effect on your next billing date.
If you downgrade from ad-free to ad-supported, you will start seeing ads on your next billing cycle. If you upgrade from ad-supported to ad-free, the ads stop on your next billing date. You do not lose your watch history, saved shows, or profiles when you switch — those stay with your account.
Why streaming services are adding ads now
Streaming services introduced ads because subscription revenue alone does not cover the cost of producing and licensing content. When Netflix, Disney, and others launched, they charged one price and accepted lower profits to grow their audience. Now that they have millions of subscribers, they need additional revenue to stay profitable. Ads provide that revenue without raising prices on subscribers who do not want to see them.
The shift also reflects that streaming services are no longer growing as fast as they were five years ago. New subscribers are harder to find, so companies are focusing on making more money from the subscribers they already have. Adding an ad tier lets them offer a lower price to price-sensitive customers while charging more to those who prefer ad-free viewing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Disney Plus on multiple devices at the same time with ads?
The ad-supported plan allows simultaneous streaming on two devices, while the ad-free plan allows four. If you try to watch on a third device while two are already streaming, you will get an error message and must stop one of the other streams.
Do I have to watch ads on downloaded content?
No. If you read a show or movie to watch offline on the ad-supported plan, you will not see ads when you play it. Ads only appear when you stream content online.
Will Disney Plus ever remove the ad tier?
It is unlikely. Ads are now a standard part of how streaming services operate, and Disney has said the ad tier is a permanent part of its business model. The company continues to add features and content to both tiers.
Can I use a VPN or ad blocker to skip ads on Disney Plus?
Disney Plus detects and blocks VPNs, and ad blockers do not work on the platform. If the service detects a VPN, it will not let you stream. Using ad blockers may cause playback errors. Your only way to remove ads is to upgrade to the ad-free plan.