Disney Plus added ads because the company needed to lower its prices and attract subscribers who would accept advertising

Disney Plus launched in 2019 with no ads at all. In December 2022, Disney introduced a new tier called Disney Plus Basic with Ads at $7.99 per month — cheaper than the ad-free Standard tier at $10.99 per month. The company did this because streaming services were losing money. Disney Plus had been spending far more on content and infrastructure than it was collecting in subscription fees, and the ad-supported tier gave the company a way to generate revenue from viewers who would not pay the higher price.

The shift reflects a broader change across the streaming industry. Netflix added an ad tier in late 2022 for the same reason: to offer a lower price point and capture subscribers who had never signed up. For Disney, the math was straightforward — a customer paying $7.99 per month with ads generates more total revenue than no customer at all, especially when ads bring in additional income beyond the subscription fee itself.

Key Takeaways

  • Disney Plus offers two paid tiers: Basic with Ads at $7.99 per month, and Standard without ads at $10.99 per month, so you choose whether to accept advertising based on your budget.
  • The ad tier shows roughly four to five minutes of ads per hour of content, which is less than traditional broadcast television but more than cable.
  • Some content on the ad-supported tier is not available at all, including certain movies and shows that Disney has not licensed for ad-supported viewing.
  • If you already pay for the ad-free tier, you will not see ads unless you downgrade your subscription.
  • Disney Plus also bundles with Hulu and ESPN Plus, and the bundle pricing changes depending on whether you choose ad-supported or ad-free versions of each service.

How many ads you actually see on the Basic tier

The Basic with Ads tier shows approximately four to five minutes of advertising per hour of content. This is less dense than cable television, which typically runs eight to ten minutes of ads per hour, but noticeably more than what you would see on a premium streaming service. The ads play at the beginning, middle, and end of episodes, similar to how Hulu's ad-supported tier works.

Disney does not let you skip ads on the Basic tier. You must watch them in full. The company also does not allow you to read episodes for offline viewing on the ad-supported plan, whereas the Standard tier does permit downloads. These restrictions are part of what makes the lower price possible — the company is trading convenience for cost.

Which shows and movies are blocked on the ad-supported tier

Not all Disney Plus content is available on the Basic with Ads tier. Some titles, particularly newer releases and certain licensed content, are exclusive to the Standard ad-free plan. Disney has not published a complete list of restricted titles, so you may discover a show is unavailable only when you try to watch it on the Basic tier.

This restriction exists because Disney negotiated different licensing agreements with content creators and studios. Some creators insisted that their work not appear on an ad-supported platform, or they charged Disney significantly more to allow ads. Rather than pay those higher fees, Disney chose to keep certain content behind the ad-free paywall. If you subscribe to Basic with Ads and encounter a title you cannot watch, upgrading to Standard will unlock it.

The bundle pricing and how it affects ads

Disney offers a bundle that combines Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus. The bundle comes in four versions: all three services ad-free, all three with ads, or mixed combinations. The all-ads bundle costs $14.99 per month, while the all-ad-free bundle costs $24.99 per month. If you want Disney Plus ad-free but Hulu with ads, you can build that combination, though the pricing is not always transparent until you reach checkout.

The bundle is often cheaper than paying for each service separately, so if you use all three platforms, bundling usually saves money even if you choose the ad-free version. However, if you only want Disney Plus, the standalone tiers remain the better deal than the bundle.

Why Disney is unlikely to remove ads from the Basic tier

The ad-supported tier is now a permanent part of Disney Plus's business model. The company has no incentive to remove it because it serves a specific purpose: capturing price-sensitive subscribers and generating advertising revenue. As long as people sign up for the Basic tier, Disney will keep it running.

What might change is the number of ads shown per hour or the types of ads displayed, but the tier itself is not going away. If you want to avoid ads entirely, the Standard tier remains available at $10.99 per month, and that price is unlikely to drop significantly because Disney wants to push subscribers toward the ad-supported option.

How to check which tier you are currently on

Open the Disney Plus app or website and go to your account settings. Select "Subscription" or "Plan Details," and you will see which tier you are subscribed to. The page will also show your billing date and the option to change your plan. If you are on the Standard tier, you will see "No Ads" displayed. If you are on Basic, it will say "With Ads."

Switching between tiers takes effect when ready. If you downgrade from Standard to Basic, ads will appear the next time you start watching. If you upgrade from Basic to Standard, ads will stop appearing right away. You can change your tier as often as you want, though Disney may limit how frequently you can switch if you abuse the feature.

What other streaming services charge for ad-free viewing

Netflix's ad-free Standard tier costs $15.49 per month, and its Premium tier (which allows 4K and multiple simultaneous streams) costs $22.99 per month. Hulu's ad-free plan is $14.99 per month. HBO Max (now called Max) charges $19.99 per month for ad-free viewing. Amazon Prime Video does not show ads on most content, though it does promote its own shows and movies within the app.

Disney Plus's $10.99 ad-free price is competitive with these services, though it is not the cheapest option available. The Basic with Ads tier at $7.99 is one of the lowest entry prices in the streaming market, which is why it appeals to budget-conscious viewers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upgrade to the ad-free tier if I am currently on Basic with Ads?

Yes. Go to your account settings, select your subscription plan, and choose the Standard tier. The upgrade takes effect when ready, and you will be charged the difference prorated to your next billing date. Ads will stop appearing as soon as you switch.

Do I have to watch the same ads every time, or do they change?

Disney rotates ads, so you will see different advertisements across viewing sessions. However, you may see the same ad multiple times within a single episode or across different episodes in a short period. The specific ads you see depend on your location and viewing habits.

If I share my Disney Plus account with family, do they see ads on the Basic tier?

Yes. Everyone using the account will see ads if the account is on the Basic with Ads tier. If you want some household members to watch without ads, they would need their own Standard tier subscription or access to a different account.

Are there any free ways to watch Disney Plus without ads?

Disney Plus does not offer a free tier with or without ads. The Basic with Ads tier at $7.99 per month is the lowest-cost option. Some promotions occasionally bundle Disney Plus with other services or offer discounted trial periods, but these are temporary and still require payment.

Will Disney Plus ever go back to being ad-free only?

No. The ad-supported tier is now a core part of Disney's streaming strategy. The company will continue offering both tiers because the ad-free option generates higher revenue per subscriber, while the ad-supported tier captures price-sensitive viewers and generates advertising income.