Disney+ to Potentially Launch Free Streaming Tier

Disney+ might soon be adding a free tier, if recent reports are to be believed. During an internal company town hall, Disney’s chief product and technology officer Adam Smith hinted at the possibility of introducing a free-tier content option, though no timeline was provided for when this could happen or what it might entail.

If Disney does move forward with a free tier, it would set them apart from other major streaming platforms like Netflix and Prime Video, which currently offer no free content. While Apple TV+ and Paramount+ do offer some free sample episodes, a fully-fledged free tier from Disney+ would be a unique approach in the streaming landscape.

The decision to potentially add a free tier comes at a time when more consumers are turning to free streaming services, especially as prices for paid services continue to rise. Data from Nielsen shows that free streaming services like YouTube and Tubi accounted for nearly 19% of US television watch time in April 2026, up from around 13% in April 2024.

Disney has not officially confirmed these reports, but the streaming giant has been experimenting with new formats recently. In March, Disney+ introduced Verts, a vertical short-form video feature that offers personalized suggestions to help users discover more content from Disney’s extensive library.

While Disney+ introduced a discounted ad-supported tier in December 2022, the addition of a free tier would represent a new direction for the platform. As of now, details about what a potential free tier on Disney+ could include remain unknown, but it’s clear that the streaming service is looking to innovate and adapt to evolving consumer preferences.