Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
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.
| Feature | Disney+Our pick | Starz |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $11.99/mo | $11.99/mo |
| Free trial | None | None |
| Titles that pass our 7.0 IMDb / 70% RT bar | 61 | 32 |
| Try Disney+ | Try Starz |
We only recommend movies and shows rated at least 7.0 on IMDb and 70% on Rotten Tomatoes. By that standard, Disney+ currently streams 61 qualifying titles, compared to 32 on Starz. Here are the picks our readers are watching most on each right now.
If you just want the lowest possible bill, here is exactly what each service’s cheapest plan gets you.
| Feature | Disney+ Basic | Starz Starz |
|---|---|---|
| Price / month | $11.99 | $11.99 |
| Annual Price | – | $69.99 |
| New User Deal | – | 73% off 1st month |
| Streams at Home | 2 | 4 |
| Streams Outside Home | 1, with Extra Member Add-on | 4 |
| Profiles | 7 | 5 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p |
| 4K Support | ✓ Yes | – |
| Audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 surround sound |
| Dolby Atmos | ✓ Yes | – |
| Min. Speed | 5 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| Get Basic → | Get Starz → |
| Disney+ 2 plans | Starz 1 plan | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Basic | Premium | Cheapest Starz | |
| Price / month | $11.99 | $18.99 | $11.99 |
| 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 → | |
Also available as an add-on on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Roku
Both services support most major devices. Here’s a breakdown based on the device apps each service lists.
| Device / Platform | Disney+ | Starz |
|---|---|---|
| Airplay | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amazon Fire TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | Not listed |
| Android TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google TV Streamer | ✓ | Not listed |
| LG TV | Not listed | ✓ |
| PlayStation | ✓ | Not listed |
| Roku | ✓ | ✓ |
| Samsung TV | Not listed | ✓ |
| Xbox | ✓ | ✓ |
| iOS | ✓ | ✓ |
“Not listed” means the service doesn’t list an app for that device; it may still work via casting or a browser.
Both Disney+ and Starz start at $11.99/month for their base plan, so price alone won’t decide this comparison. Look at each catalog and features to make your call.
Before you pick either one, here is the drawback of each service, plainly stated.
Outside of Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and family titles, the Disney+ catalog is thin for adults, and price increases have been frequent.
Starz is a movie-first channel with a small originals slate; if its film library does not appeal to you, there is not much else here.
Is Disney+ the same price as Starz?
Yes. Both Disney+ and Starz start at $11.99/month for their base plan.
Do Disney+ or Starz offer a free trial?
Disney+ does not currently offer a free trial. Starz does not currently offer a free trial.
Are Disney+ and Starz the same company?
No. Disney+ is owned by The Walt Disney Company, while Starz is owned by Starz Entertainment, a separate company spun off from Lionsgate. They are separate, competing subscriptions.
Is Disney+ included with Starz?
No. Neither service includes the other: a Starz subscription does not give you Disney+ content, and vice versa. You need a separate subscription for each.
Which has more highly-rated titles, Disney+ or Starz?
By our curation standard (at least 7.0 on IMDb and 70% on Rotten Tomatoes), Disney+ currently streams 61 qualifying titles, compared to 32 on Starz.
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.
Great for kids: There’s no shortage of content for younger audiences, with all the major Disney hits a click away.
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.
Exclusive releases: Since it’s Disney, the catalog of popular TV shows and movies that you can't find anywhere else is huge.
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.
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