Which is better, Disney+ or Netflix?
Cinema Fanatic
Allie Nicholson
Media Marketing
Over the past few years, Disney+ and Netflix have become a more efficient way to watch movies. You don’t have to search for one movie in a mountain of cases or put a disk in only to find that it is horrendously scratched. You just need to type in the name of the movie, select it, and hit play; all from the comfort of your couch. But which streaming service is better?
Disney+ was released in 2019 and has been known for its family friendly classics that we all know and love. At the end of 2022, it was providing 80+ shows and over 600 movies and had 234.7 million subscriptions. As of late they have started adding adult movies and shows making more content for their mature audiences to enjoy. While some people may say that this would take away from the family friendly atmosphere, I am here to tell you, it doesn't. Disney+ has profiles that are fun to customize and provide you with recommendations based on what you like to watch. This is a cool feature, but it’s also a very useful one. You can use this option to put child locks on profiles, making a safe viewing environment for kids. 
Netflix (released in 1998) has family friendly shows and movies like Disney+, but with more content for mature audiences. It also has similar options such as customizable profiles, recommendations, and child lock features. Netflix’s movies can’t compete with the classics, but its shows can. At the end of 2022, Netflix had 1,800+ shows and 3,600+ movies, but with only 230.75 million subscriptions.
If Netflix has more to offer and has been around longer, why then, would Disney+ have more subscribers? The problem with Netflix is that it doesn't have the classics. Before Disney+ was created, viewers would watch Disney on DVD’s and Netflix periodically. Now that there is a streaming service for the movies and shows we all love, it is no surprise that it caught on quickly. Enough to catch up with Netflix and even rival its subscriptions.I went around my school asking both teachers and students their own opinions on these streaming services. After visiting with staff at OHS, I found that what they watch most is based on who they are watching TV with. Mrs. Holloway said she watched more Disney+, because she enjoys sharing her childhood favorites with her own kids. Mrs Nipe said she prefers Disney+ because “I don’t get to watch much on my own so I am at the mercy of my children.” Ms. Dibble likes to watch Disney+ more because that is how she spends time with her family. 
However, I found that when I asked individuals from OHS who watched these streaming services on their own, most preferred to watch Netflix. Kasey McCra, a sophomore, prefers Netflix because it has a broad variety of mature content. Judy Droppleman, a paraprofessional, agrees with Kasey. Addison Poore, a Junior at Osborne High School, said she watches more Netflix because she is the oldest child in her household currently. Therefore, with no young children in the household, she and her family can enjoy the same mature content that Netflix provides. Marianah Jenkins, a Senior at Osborne High School, also watches more Netflix because she has a household of mature individuals. Spencer Nichols, a Senior, told me, “I don’t watch either because other streaming services have more of what I like to watch and they cost less.”
When it comes down to which of these is better, it depends on what you as a viewer are looking for. If you're craving nostalgia and a family movie night, then Disney+ is for you. If you're in search of a more “grown-up” series to watch episode by episode, then Netflix is the service you need. Luckily, both of these streaming services are safe and easy ways to watch television. Let your personal preference decide which is better for you.
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