Disney+
This is what Disney+ offers: Disney+ is the streaming service of the entertainment giant Disney, which launched in November 2019. The service offers an extensive collection of movies, series, and exclusive content from the Disney universe as well as from Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and National Geographic. Besides Disney classics, original productions are also offered.
Disney+’s Offerings:
- Disney Classics: A large selection of classic Disney animated films and series that have remained popular over the decades.
- Marvel Cinematic Universe: Almost all movies and series from the Marvel Universe, including exclusive content such as “WandaVision”, “Loki”, and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”.
- Star Wars: All “Star Wars” films, including new series like “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett”.
- Pixar Films: All Pixar animated films and short films that are popular with both children and adults.
- National Geographic: Documentaries and series from National Geographic that cover a wide range of scientific, nature, and social topics.
- Exclusive Content: “Disney+ Originals” such as new series and films that are exclusively available on the platform, like “The Mandalorian” and “Loki”.
Disney+: Subscription, Price, and Who Is It Worth For?
Subscription and Price: To use Disney+, you need a subscription. Prices start at 5.99 Euros per month for standard with ads, 8.99 per month without ads, and for Disney+ Premium, you pay 11.99 Euros.
Who is it worth for? Disney+ is especially worth it for you if you enjoy well-known brands such as Star Wars, Marvel, and other Disney properties. Disney develops many original productions around these brands. Many products are also aimed at children.
In contrast to other platforms, Disney+ offers hardly any third-party content, and Disney regularly removes series and films that are then not available anywhere else.
Pros:
- Family-Friendly Content: Ideal for families with children, as the service offers numerous films and series.
- Disney+ Originals: Original productions, especially from the Marvel and Star Wars universes, are of high quality and have a large fan base.
- Downloads for Offline Use: The ability to download content and watch offline.
Cons:
- Limited Variety: The offerings focus heavily on Disney-owned franchises; there are hardly any external licensed contents, movies, or series.
- Geographical Restrictions: Some content or Disney+ Originals are only available in certain regions, which can be frustrating for international users.
- Lack of Third-Party Content: Unlike other platforms, Disney+ offers very few third-party contents, further limiting the variety.
Apple TV+
This is what Apple TV+ offers: Apple TV+ is the streaming service from Apple that launched in November 2019. The service offers a comparatively small selection of exclusive content, as Apple TV+ focuses on original productions.
Apple TV+’s Offerings:
- Apple Originals: Exclusive series, films, and documentaries that are only available on Apple TV+, such as “The Morning Show,” “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” and “For All Mankind.”
- High-Quality Original Productions: Series that have won numerous awards internationally.
- Family-Friendly Content: A selection of content specifically developed for families and children, such as “Snoopy in Space” and “Helpsters.”
- Offline Use: Ability to download content and watch it without an internet connection.
- Integration with Apple Devices: Seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem, with availability on all Apple devices as well as selected smart TVs and streaming devices.
Apple TV+: Subscription, Price, and Who Is It Worth For?
Subscription and Price: You cannot use Apple TV+ without a subscription. The subscription costs 9.99 Euros per month; there are currently no other tiers.
Apple regularly offers promo actions where free subscription time is given away, such as in connection with the PS5 or when purchasing a new iPhone or iPad.
Who is it worth for? Apple TV+ is worth it if you want to watch exclusive series, films, and documentaries from the platform. Another advantage is that there is only one subscription price without annoying ads.
However, the biggest disadvantage of Apple TV+ is its offerings. Compared to other streaming services, Apple TV+ offers a small library, and this grows very slowly. In the end, it might be worth subscribing to Apple TV+ for a month and then canceling.
Pros:
- Exclusive Content: High-quality and exclusive series, films, and documentaries that are often internationally recognized and award-winning.
- High Production Quality: Apple invests heavily in production quality, resulting in high-caliber content that stands out from the crowd.
- No Ads: Ad-free streaming experience, regardless of the subscription plan.
- Integration with the Apple Ecosystem: Optimized for use on Apple devices, including easy synchronization and control through iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
- Family-Friendly: Content that is suitable for all age groups.
Cons:
- Few Contents: Compared to other streaming services, Apple TV+ offers a relatively small library, as it focuses solely on its own productions.
- Better with Apple Devices: Although Apple TV+ is also available on non-Apple devices, the user experience is often optimized for Apple hardware.
- No Licensed Content: Since Apple TV+ does not license external films or series, the variety of offered content is limited compared to competitors.
- Slow Growth: The slow addition of new content compared to other platforms can discourage potential subscribers.
Crunchyroll
This is what Crunchyroll offers: Crunchyroll is a specialized streaming service focused on anime, manga, and Asian content. Founded in 2006, Crunchyroll has developed into a leading provider of anime content. A special feature of Crunchyroll is that the community plays a significant role.
Crunchyroll’s Offerings:
- Anime Series and Movies: A vast selection of anime series and movies from various genres, from classics to current releases.
- Simulcasts: Access to new episodes of anime series that are made available simultaneously with their broadcast in Japan.
- Manga: A selection of digitally readable manga, often from the same studios and creators that also produce anime.
- Asian Dramas: A collection of live-action series and movies from Asia that are also offered on the platform.
- Community Features: Interactive elements like forums, comment functionality, and events connect users with each other.
Crunchyroll: Subscription, Price, and Who Is It Worth For?
Subscription and Prices: Unlike the other services, Crunchyroll also has a free variant. The free service is ad-supported, and new simulcast episodes will be available to free users a week after their premiere.
For 6.99 Euros per month (Fan), you get full access to all content without ads. For 9.99 Euros per month (Mega Fan), you get additional access to offline viewing and can stream on up to 4 devices simultaneously.
Who is it worth for? Crunchyroll focuses entirely on anime, mangas, and Asian content. If those do not interest you at all, Crunchyroll will be hardly relevant for you. Otherwise, there is hardly any way to avoid Crunchyroll. Keep in mind that many series are only available as subtitles (original with subtitles), and not all are offered with German voiceover.
Pros:
- Extensive Anime Library: One of the largest collections of anime content worldwide, with a wide selection of genres and titles.
- Simulcasts: The possibility to watch current anime series almost simultaneously with the Japanese broadcast.
- Access to Manga: Additional opportunity to read manga digitally, which expands the offerings for anime fans.
- Free Use: Availability of a free subscription that provides access to many contents, albeit with ads.
- Community Focus: Strong community involvement with forums, events, and special actions for fans.
- Wide Availability: Crunchyroll can be used on a variety of devices, providing flexibility in viewing.
Cons:
- Ads in the Free Version: Users of the free subscription have to deal with ad interruptions that can disrupt the viewing experience.
- Few Contents Outside of Animes: Compared to other services, Crunchyroll offers little variety beyond the anime and manga realm.
- Geoblocking: Some content is only available in certain regions due to licensing agreements, which can be frustrating for international users.
- User Interface: The Crunchyroll user interface is occasionally criticized as being less intuitive and outdated.
On the last page, there are two more streaming providers that you can subscribe to in Germany.
