Disney+ vs Starz: which is better?

Updated August 5, 2026 • Staff picks

With all the properties it has under its belt, Disney+ is no doubt better value for money. You get blockbusters from Marvel, meaningful documentaries from Nat Geo, and kid-friendly titles from Pixar and Disney Channel, in case you have a little one watching with you. But if you’re just watching for one and have a dollar more to spare, Starz actually delivers on quality. It doesn’t share Disney+’s versatility—mainly, its focus is on hard-hitting dramas—but when it makes a show it makes it well. And that’s not to mention the movies it brings it in, which are a nice mix of box-office hits, indies, and beloved classics. Below, we break down the specifics of each to let you know which is ultimately the better service.

Choose Disney+ if…

  • You need ABC News Live, Disney+ Playtime, Hallowstream, or other channels exclusive to Disney+
Try Disney+

Choose Starz if…

  • You want to spend less — it’s $1.00/month cheaper
Try Starz
Ready to sign up? Skip the research. Try Disney+ Try Starz

Summary: Disney+ vs Starz

Feature Disney+ Starz
Base price $11.99/mo $10.99/mo
Free trial None None
Subscribers 28,900,000
Our rating 9/10 9/10
Try Disney+ Try Starz

Disney+ vs Starz: All Plans & Pricing Compared

Disney+ 2 plans Starz 1 plan
Cheapest Basic Premium Cheapest Starz
Price / month $11.99 $18.99 $10.99
Annual Price $189.99 $69.99
New User Deal 73% off 1st month
Streams at Home 2 4 4
Streams Outside Home 1, with Extra Member Add-on 1, with Extra Member Add-on 4
Profiles 7 7 5
Max Quality 1080p 1080p 1080p
4K Support ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Audio 5.1 audio 5.1 audio 5.1 surround sound
Dolby Atmos ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Min. Speed 5 Mbps 5 Mbps 6 Mbps
Get plan → Get plan → Get plan →

What’s included in the cheapest plan

Disney+ — Basic ($11.99/mo)
  • Disney/Marvel/Star Wars
  • Full library
  • With ads
Starz — Starz ($10.99/mo)
  • Ad-free
  • Offline streaming
  • Special offer of 73% off for three months

Also available as an add-on on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Roku

Channel Lineup: Disney+ vs Starz

0 channels are available on both services. Disney+ has 6 exclusive channels not on Starz.

On both services Disney+ only
Channel Disney+ Starz
ABC News Live
Disney+ Playtime
Hallowstream
Hits & Heroes
Real Life
Throwbacks

Device Support: Disney+ vs Starz

Both services support most major devices. Here’s a full breakdown of where you can watch each one.

Device / Platform Disney+ Starz
Airplay
Amazon Fire TV
Android
Android TV
Apple TV
Google TV Streamer
LG TV
PlayStation
Roku
Samsung TV
Xbox
iOS

Popularity: Starz is more popular

Starz has 28,900,000M subscribers compared to 0M for Disney+.

Price: Starz is cheaper than Disney+

Starz starts at $10.99/month, while Disney+ starts at $11.99/month. That’s $1.00 more per month for Disney+, or $12.00 more per year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Starz cheaper than Disney+?

Yes. Starz starts at $10.99/month, while Disney+ starts at $11.99/month. That's a difference of $1.00/month, or $12.00 per year.

Do Disney+ or Starz offer a free trial?

Disney+ does not currently offer a free trial. Starz does not currently offer a free trial.

What channels does Disney+ have that Starz doesn't?

Disney+ has 6 channels not available on Starz, including: ABC News Live, Disney+ Playtime, Hallowstream, Hits & Heroes, Real Life, and more.

Can I cancel Disney+ or Starz anytime?

Yes. Both Disney+ and Starz are month-to-month subscriptions with no long-term contracts. You can cancel either service at any time.

Our pick: Disney+

<p>Great for kids: There’s no shortage of content for younger audiences, with all the major Disney hits a click away. </p><p>New theatrical releases: Although sometimes you have to pay an extra fee (usually of up to $30), a great perk of Disney Plus is Premier Access, which makes theatrical releases immediately available to stream on the platform.</p><p>Exclusive releases: Since it’s Disney, the catalog of popular TV shows and movies that you can't find anywhere else is huge. </p><p>The app: The Disney Plus app is so well-designed that in 2020, Apple named it the Apple TV App of the Year, and voted the best app of 2020 by Google Play users.</p>

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