Disney+ Free Tier vs. YouTube: What to Expect

Disney is reportedly mulling over the idea of introducing a free tier to its Disney+ streaming service in order to keep up with the competition from YouTube. According to Business Insider, insiders have revealed that Disney’s product and tech chief, Adam Smith, discussed the possibility of offering free-tier content during a recent town hall meeting. However, no specific timeline for this potential change has been proposed yet.

The rise of free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) platforms has been changing the game for the streaming industry. Services like YouTube, which are accessible for free with ads, are gaining more and more of viewers’ attention. This shift is putting pressure on subscription-based services like Disney+ to rethink their approach and value proposition.

Recent data from Nielsen shows that the three biggest free streaming platforms—YouTube, Tubi, and the Roku Channel—captured 18.7% of total watch time on US TVs in April, up from 16.8% in 2025. YouTube alone accounted for 13.4% of that figure, surpassing Disney’s 5%. The trend is clear: free platforms are gaining ground in the streaming world.

In fact, YouTube has been steadily increasing its share of viewing time compared to Disney. As of August 2025, YouTube held 13.1% of TV viewing time, while Disney had 9.7%. This marks a significant shift from January 2025, when Disney was still ahead of YouTube in terms of viewership.

As Disney considers the possibility of introducing a free tier to Disney+, it will be interesting to see how this potential change could impact the streaming landscape and the competition between subscription-based and free platforms. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving story!