As cable TV declines, streaming bundles are on the rise. Major media companies like Disney offer popular bundled packages combining multiple streamers for one low price.
But should you subscribe to Disney+ alone for $7.99 per month? Or is it better value to get The Disney Bundle with Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ for $12.99 instead?
Let‘s take an in-depth look at how these services compare on content, pricing, features and overall value. By the end, you‘ll know clearly whether Disney+ standalone or the Disney Bundle is the better choice for your streaming needs.
At a Glance: Disney+ vs Disney Bundle Overview
Before we dive into the nitty gritty details, here is a high-level features overview:
| Disney+ | Disney Bundle | |
|---|---|---|
| Included Services | Disney+ only | Disney+ Hulu (ads) ESPN+ (ads) |
| Monthly Price | $7.99 | $12.99 |
| Library Size | 750+ movies 200+ shows |
50,000+ movies & shows |
| Simultaneous Streams | 4 | 4 (Disney+) 2 (Hulu) 3 (ESPN+) |
Based on this quick look, the Disney Bundle provides far more content spread across three services for just $5 more than a Disney+ sub alone.
But there‘s more to the comparison. Let‘s analyze further.
Cost Breakdown and Savings
One of the biggest considerations – how much are you paying per month? Let‘s break this down in detail across ad-supported, ad-free and live TV bundle pricing tiers:
Disney+ Pricing
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Disney+ with ads | $7.99 |
| Disney+ no ads | $10.99 |
Disney Bundle Pricing
| Plan | Services Included | Monthly Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bundle Duo (ads) | Disney+ Hulu |
$9.99 |
| Bundle Trio (ads) | Disney+ Hulu ESPN+ |
$12.99 |
| Bundle Trio (no ads) | Ad-free Disney+ Hulu |
$19.99 |
| Hulu Live TV (ads) | Hulu Live + Disney+/ESPN+ | $69.99 |
| Hulu Live TV (no ads) | Ad-free Hulu Live + Disney+/ESPN+ |
$82.99 |
Comparing Disney+ standalone versus the cheapest ad-supported Disney Bundle Trio:
- Disney+ alone: $7.99/month
- Disney Bundle Trio: $12.99/month
For just $5 more compared to a Disney+ sub, the Disney Bundle Trio provides the full content libraries of two additional streaming services.
Over a year of subscribing, here is the dollar difference in cost for these base ad-supported plans:
- Disney+ alone: $95.88
- Disney Bundle: $155.88
So for around a $60 premium yearly, you gain full access to Hulu and ESPN+ on top of Disney+.
The savings are even more pronounced when you consider how much an ad-free Disney+ sub costs versus an ad-free Disney Bundle.
Let‘s say you want to Avoid ads – here is how the costs stack up:
- Ad-free Disney+ alone: $131.88 per year
- Ad-free Disney Bundle: $239.88 per year
By opting for the all-ad-free Disney Bundle instead of a standalone no-ads Disney+ plan, you would save $108 per year.
You get full access to ad-free Disney+ AND ad-free Hulu for over $100 less annually. That‘s a big difference!
Bundling services leads to major subscriber savings. It‘s why analysts see bundles as the future of streaming.
Size of Streaming Libraries
Another major point of comparison – how much watchable content do you get?
Disney+ has:
- 750+ movies
- 250+ TV series
- 85+ original movies & shows
Hulu offers:
- 3,000+ movies
- 1,500+ TV shows
- 85+ Hulu original series
And ESPN+ includes:
- 1,000+ live sports events
- 750+ unique live games
- 150+ MLS & NHL games
So combined across the Disney Bundle, you get access to over 50,000 movies, shows, sports and originals to watch.
The Disney bundle contains over 20 times more streaming content thanks to the additional libraries Disney inherits from Hulu and ESPN+.
It‘s a key reason why the Disney bundle provides such a better overall value compared to subscribing to Disney+ alone.
Simultaneous Streams
Another point of comparison to consider – simultaneous streams refer to how many devices can play the service at the same time.
Important for households with multiple people accessing one account.
Disney+ allows 4 streams at once, whether you pick the ad-supported or ad-free subscription.
The Disney Bundle specs differ somewhat across the three services:
- Disney+ – 4 streams
- Hulu – 2 streams
- ESPN+ – 3 streams
So based on the above, you can have 4 different devices playing Disney+ shows, 2 playing Hulu, and 3 streaming ESPN+ concurrently per account on the Disney Bundle.
If you want extra streams beyond that, you‘d need to upgrade to the Hulu + Live TV plan and add on the Unlimited Screens package for around $10 more every month.
This expands your Hulu simultaneous streams to the home limit, while maintaining the other base streaming allowances.
Key Stats Show Disney‘s Streaming Power
Stepping back, it‘s clear why Disney made this mega-expansion into streaming with the three services. Some key numbers:
- 235+ million combined subs across Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu
- Over 50% market share of all U.S. streaming households
- Projected to reach 300–350 million subscribers by 2024
- Estimated over $9 billion in Disney+ annual ad revenue by 2028
And remember – this is only 3 years after launch! Disney‘s streaming transition has been enormously successful so far in reaching global audience scale.
Two huge catalysts enabled this rapid rise to dominance the streaming landscape:
-
Using Marvel, Star Wars, Disney animation and other iconic homegrown IP as anchor content on the new services
-
Acquiring Fox‘s film/TV catalog and folding in established streamers like Hulu to add major back catalogue volume
This prized, sought-after entertainment content that existed across Disney‘s new wider family of companies is what kicked subscriber growth into lightspeed coming out the gate.
And bundling it altogether into various discounted, good-value streaming packages helped further pull in viewers everywhere to try Disney‘s suite of direct-to-consumer options together.
Why Streaming Bundles Are The Future
Many analysts argue streaming bundles are central to the future of the industry. But why is that the case exactly?
There‘s 3-4 core reasons why combining streamers together into bundled deals represents the next evolution of the video landscape:
1. Added Value for Viewers
Quite simply, packaging multiple on-demand libraries together increases overall perceived value. Subscribers enjoy access to more content that better fits diverse interests.
Take the Disney Bundle – sports fans get ESPN+, families with young children unlock Disney‘s vaults, while adults gain Hulu‘s shows and movies. That crossover appeal matters.
2. Increased Retention for Streamers
With subscriber churn an ongoing industry issue, bundles help streaming services retain customers longer.
How come? The expanded access to more libraries gives viewers more reason to hold onto the overall package for longer periods.
Say you originally sign up to get Disney+ access for your kids. But down the road, they may grow bored or age out of the content.
Well now with the Disney Bundle, you as the adult account holder can shift your viewership to Hulu‘s adult primetime shows once the little ones lose interest. That stickiness adds longevity.
3. Better Streaming Economics
For streaming providers, bundling services together generates better profit margins long-term.
They can drive down customer acquisition costs by marketing discounted bundles instead of standalone offerings.
Once subscribers are locked into a bundled package, they also spend more money over the course of their lifetime by having multiple services tacked together.
4. Competitive Differentiation
As more generic entertainment streaming services launch (I‘m looking at you, Paramount+ and Peacock!), bundles emerge as a key way platforms can differentiate.
Packaging – and discounting – two or three established streaming libraries together makes newer market entrants hard-pressed to compete on their own as single standalone options.
So in closing, if you want the unequivocally better value between Disney+ itself or access to Disney‘s wider content universe through the Disney Bundle…
Choose the Disney Bundle.
The extra $5 a month unlocks thousands more movies, shows and live events that every member of your household can enjoy together. This added breadth jogs clear of any comparison versus a Disney+ sub alone.
Hopefully breaking down all the specs, pricing details, content bonuses and key strategic dynamics shed helpful light on how these services stack up!
