Disney+ Considers Free Content Tier to Compete With Netflix and YouTube

Disney+ is evaluating a strategy to offer a portion of its content library for free to non-subscribers, according to Adam Smith, the platform’s head of product and technology. Speaking to Business Insider, Smith indicated this move aims to improve the viewer experience and drive higher playback numbers for movies and series by removing the initial paywall.

Strategic Shift Toward Ad-Supported and Free Access

The potential introduction of free content follows Disney+’s recent rollout of vertical video feeds designed to help users discover new titles more efficiently. Smith described the consideration of a free tier as part of a “continuous strategy” to enhance how spectators interact with the service. While the objective is clear, Disney hasn’t specified which titles would be available for free or whether the rollout will be limited to specific geographic regions.

By offering a “try before you buy” experience, Disney+ intends to compete more directly with YouTube’s open-access model and Netflix’s recent experimentation with returning free previews to attract new members.

Current Disney+ Pricing Structure in Spain

As Disney+ weighs the addition of free content, its current paid tiers in the Spanish market remain divided by ad-load and technical specifications:

For users sharing accounts outside of a single household, Disney+ offers an “Extra Member” add-on. This feature costs €5.99 per month for the Standard with Ads plan and €6.99 for both the Standard and Premium plans, granting the additional user their own profile and single-device playback.

The Impact of the “Free-to-Watch” Model