When all you want is a family-friendly streaming platform, is it worth paying premium prices? I’m not so sure. Not only did Disney+ raise its prices at the end of last year, but it also removed a lot of good shows and movies. This is why many people are trying to find a Disney+ alternative that has family-friendly entertainment.
You won’t necessarily find Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars on these alternative platforms, but there’s plenty of other great things to watch. Some of the factors I considered when creating this list of alternatives are price, shows, movies geared for kids and families, and original content. If you think I missed a good Disney+ alternative, let me know in the comments!
If your ISP seems to be slowing down your connection whenever you stream, you could be the victim of activity-based throttling. A VPN for streaming is a great way to bypass that and say goodbye to buffering and choppy video. It hides your online activity so your ISP can’t see what you’re doing online.
What’s Going On with Disney+?
Disney+ recently raised its subscription prices and got rid of more than 100 Disney Originals and films. Additionally, it added an ad-based tier to its subscription plan options. Subscribers might have been able to handle one of these changes, but all three coming at the same time was just too much.
More than 1.3 million subscribers canceled their Disney+ subscription within a few months of these changes. It also didn’t help that for the first time in 10 years, Disney didn’t release a movie that earned $1 billion.
One positive move that Disney made was buying Hulu. This allows it to add Disney-owned shows on another platform and create app bundles. The downside is that Disney might integrate Hulu with Disney+, causing yet another price increase.
The 8 Best Disney+ Alternatives
1. Netflix – Large Selection of Family-Friendly Content
Netflix is the most popular streaming service in the world for a reason. It has a better variety than Disney+, because it’s not limited to content owned by a single corporation. You can filter shows and movies by genre such as Kids, Teens, and Children & Family, to easily find something to watch.
The built-in parental control features let you block content based on the age-based ratings. This way, you can relax knowing your kids won’t watch anything that’s not appropriate for them.
Some of Netflix’s plans are cheaper than Disney+, but even if you choose a more expensive plan, you’re still getting more value for your money.
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Pros:
- 👍 Good selection of family-friendly TV shows and movies
- 👍 Available worldwide
- 👍 UHD streaming available
- 👎 Cracking down on password sharing
- 👎 Content changes based on location
Cons:
2. Hulu – Excellent Variety of Content for the Whole Family
Hulu has a good selection of new and old shows and movies. The streaming platform has multiple Hubs, or channels, that are dedicated to kids and families. This includes Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, and Disney Junior. You can also add additional channels for a larger selection of kids’ movies.
If you’re looking for a way to still keep Disney+ without spending too much money, you can add it to your Hulu account for just $2. This combo gives you a much larger content library, without spending too much money.
When creating a Hulu profile for your kids, turn on the parental controls to require a PIN for shows rated Teen and higher or only allow kid-friendly programming.
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Pros:
- 👍 Multiple Hubs geared for kids
- 👍 Good selection of original shows and movies
- 👍 Parental control features
- 👎 Only available in the US
- 👎 Limited to 2 simultaneous screens
Cons:
3. Prime Video – Better Selection of Channel Addons
Prime Video is free with your Amazon Prime account or you can subscribe to it as a standalone streaming service. It gives you access to thousands of shows and movies, including new releases. If you want to watch something that’s not available on demand, you can probably buy or rent it through Prime and watch it right away. This includes movies and shows from Disney Plus.
If you want to stream content not available on demand, you can also subscribe to various channels. Prime Video added an ad-free option for a few extra dollars a month, making it more expensive than Disney+, but you get access to a lot more content.
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Pros:
- 👍 Free with Amazon Prime
- 👍 Good mix of original and licensed content
- 👍 Rent or buy shows and movies
- 👎 Additional cost to remove ads
- 👎 Some features only work in the US
Cons:
4. ITVX – The Best British Children’s Programs and Cartoons
You can watch both live and on-demand TV shows on ITVX, as long as you’re in the UK. BritBox, the BBC owned streaming platform, announced that it’s shutting down its services in early 2024 and transferring all its content to ITVX. This gives the streaming platform an excellent variety of childrens’ programming and cartoons, to go along with what it was offering before the merger.
The one downside of this merger is that while BritBox was available in multiple countries, ITVX only works in the UK. If you’re traveling abroad, you can connect to our streaming-optimized server for ITV, so you don’t lose access to your account.
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Pros:
- 👍 Stream shows from the BBC and ITV
- 👍 Live and on-demand content
- 👍 Free subscription plan available
- 👎 Only available in the UK
- 👎 Need to subscribe to Premium to remove ads
Cons:
5. Freevee – Wide Variety of Free Streaming Content
Freevee, formerly IMDB TV, is a free ad-based streaming platform owned by Amazon. The selection of shows and movies include Freevee Originals and older shows and movies. Amazon recently announced that it will start adding Prime Originals to its library after they’ve been available on Prime for a few months.
You don’t need to sign up for a separate account – Freevee is included with your free Amazon account. It’s available in the US, UK, Germany and Austria.
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Pros:
- 👍 Completely free
- 👍 Freevee and Prime Originals
- 👍 Large variety of movies and TV shows
- 👎 Can’t get rid of the ads
- 👎 No new releases
Cons:
6. Pluto TV – Free Live and On-Demand Streaming
Pluto TV has a kids section for TV shows and movies in its on-demand and live streaming channels. There are also multiple Animal and Nature channels that will replace the Natural Geographic content you’re giving up when leaving Disney+.
You don’t have to create an account to watch Pluto TV. However, if you only want it for kids, then you should create a free Pluto TV Kids account, which only includes content appropriate for kids.
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Pros:
- 👍 Completely free – no account needed
- 👍 Dozens of kids and nature channels
- 👍 Live and On-Demand content
- 👎 A lot of commercials
- 👎 Only available in the US
Cons:
7. NOW TV – Thousands of Kid-Friendly Shows
NOW TV has a great selection of on-demand entertainment for the whole family. You can filter movies and TV shows by Family to make it easy to find something to watch. It also has a large selection of Nature shows, to replace the National Geographic content on Disney+.
There are several subscription options available, so you can add channels like Sky Kids, Cartoon Network, and Nick JR if you want more options for younger kids.
NOW TV is available in the UK, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, and Scottish Islands. If you’re living in the US, you can get partial access to NOW through an Xfinity Internet subscription.
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Pros:
- 👍 Good selection of British TV
- 👍 Customize your subscription plan
- 👍 Download shows and watch them offline
- 👎 A lot of commercials
- 👎 Can only be purchased in the UK
Cons:
8. Peacock – Low Monthly Prices
The Peacock library has a good selection of shows and movies for the whole family. You can find a mix of new releases, classic movies, cartoons for little kids, and things for tweens and teens to watch. There’s also educational content that can interest and inspire kids.
There are two subscription options; with commercials or without. The commercial-free plan is one of the cheapest options of the major streaming platforms, making it a great value.
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Pros:
- 👍 Content for all ages
- 👍 Live sports
- 👍 Affordable pricing
- 👍 Only available in the US
- 👍 Limited to content from NBCUniversal
Cons:
Why CyberGhost Is the Best VPN for Streaming
While some VPNs can ruin your streaming experience, CyberGhost VPN can actually improve it. Here’s what makes it the best VPN for streaming.
- Streaming-optimized servers: We offer a selection of servers that are tested for specific streaming platforms around the world. The list includes Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, ITV, and more. Connect to these servers to get smooth, secure access, whether you’re traveling abroad or watching at home.
- Global network of high-speed servers: Our server network includes multiple 10-Gbps servers in popular locations, eliminating server overcrowding. This means you can watch with no buffering or poop-quality video, even during peak hours.
- Strong encryption: If you pay for high-speed internet and still deal with buffering, your ISP might be throttling your speed. This can happen when it detects bandwidth-heavy activity, such as streaming, and wants to save on bandwidth. CyberGhost VPN uses 256-bit encryption to hide what you’re doing online. You can enjoy your high-speed internet and say goodbye to needless buffering.
- Security on public Wi-Fi: If you stream on your phone or computer using an unsecured hotspot or a cafe’s public Wi-Fi, you’re at risk of getting hacked. CyberGhost VPN’s encryption keeps your data secure, so you can safely stream from anywhere.
- Avoid content filters: Network administrators at schools and offices often block streaming sites. When you connect to a CyberGhost VPN server, you’re bypassing that network, so you can access your streaming account without any issues.
- 7 simultaneous device connections: Everyone in your household can stream on their own devices at the same time.
Find the Best Disney+ Alternatives For You
If you’ve had it with Disney+, you don’t have to worry about a lack of streaming options. Sure, you might have to say goodbye to some of the classics, but you’ll find high-quality movies and shows for kids and adults alike on all the platforms listed above.
If you can’t decide which is the best alternative for you, set up a rotation. There are no long-term contracts, so you can get Netflix for a month, then switch to Hulu, and Prime Video, etc.
Whichever alternatives you choose, make sure to also get CyberGhost VPN. It allows you to bypass content-based ISP throttling, access your streaming accounts while traveling abroad, and bypass firewalls, so you can enjoy streaming without interruptions.
FAQ
Of course! Even if you’re just looking for kids’ content, there are plenty of options. Hulu has shows and movies from the Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Cartoon Network. Netflix has a large selection of kids and family-friendly shows and movies. Prime Video has some family shows and movies available or you can rent or buy the shows through your Prime account.
No, there is no free version or free trial of Disney+. You can sign up for an ad-based account, which isn’t free, but is cheaper than a regular account. Some TV or cell phone subscription plans include a few months of Disney+. Be on the lookout for these deals if you’re planning on changing your existing plan.
If you’re looking for Disney, Pixar, Marvel, or Star Wars then Disney Plus is better. Otherwise, Netflix has a much bigger content library, with a huge collection of original TV shows and movies.
A Netflix account works in over 90 countries (although the content varies by country), while Disney Plus accounts only work in the country it was registered. If you do travel abroad, whether you have Disney Plus or Netflix, get CyberGhost VPN to access your account as if you were at home.
In some countries, Disney Plus is bundled with a cable TV subscription or with your cell phone provider. For example, If you have Spectrum TV Select, you’ll get Disney Plus at no extra cost. Similarly, Verizon offers the Disney Bundle with some of its plans. Another possible option is to find a family member with an account and convince them to give you their password.
No, Disney Plus is not one of the benefits that comes with Amazon Prime. It competes in the streaming battle with Prime Video, which is free with Amazon Prime. The only connection between the two is you can pay for Disney Plus through Amazon, for the same subscription price, as a way to manage your subscriptions in one place.
If your ISP sees that you’re streaming Disney Plus too much or at peak times, it may limit your bandwidth, causing buffering or low-quality streams. A VPN encrypts your online activity, which prevents this content-based ISP throttling.
You should also download a VPN if you travel abroad, since your Disney Plus account will only work in the country where it was registered. Using a VPN allows you to connect to a server in your home country, so you can access your account.
CyberGhost VPN has streaming-optimized servers for Disney Plus in the US, Italy, and Disney+ Hotstar in India. These servers are regularly tested by engineers to ensure they work, so you can stream without interruptions.
CyberGhost is the best VPN for streaming. Our fast streaming-optimized servers are tested on more than 30 popular streaming apps in over 20 countries. Our network has high-speed capacity, including 10-Gbps servers in popular locations, so you can stream in HD. Lastly, we don’t impose bandwidth limits. You can stream as much as you like, without worrying about getting disconnected.
The cheapest Disney Plus subscription plan includes ads, and costs $7.99 per month. For the best value, bundle it with Hulu for just an additional $2. It gives you access to a much wider variety of shows and movies to enjoy.
Disney Plus is different from Hulu, for now. It focuses on family-friendly content, while Hulu has a more extensive collection of shows and movies. New TV shows are available on Hulu the day after they air on TV, as are game shows and reality shows. However, now that Disney purchased Hulu, many of the shows are starting to become available on both platforms.
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