Netflix vs. Disney+: Who’s Winning the Global Streaming War in 2025?

 

The streaming landscape has experienced significant evolution over the past few years, with Netflix and Disney+ emerging as two dominant players. As of 2025, both platforms have made considerable strides in expanding their global reach, diversifying content offerings, and innovating monetisation strategies. This analysis examines their performance, strategies, and market positioning to determine who holds the upper hand in the global streaming market.

Subscriber Base & Market Share

According to this line graph, Netflix has over 300 million subscribers as of early 2025, compared to Disney's 126 million subscribers, which highlights a significant contrast between the two platforms.

Source: Business of Apps

Content Strategy & Offerings

Netflix continues to invest substantially in original content, allocating around £17 billion in 2024 alone. Its diverse library encompasses a broad range of genres and languages, catering to a global audience. Notable successes include international hits such as Squid Game and Money Heist, which have resonated across various markets (Hill, 2025).

Disney+: Disney+ draws on its extensive catalogue of beloved franchises, including Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and National Geographic. While this strategy secures a loyal fan base, the platform has faced criticism for its limited selection of adult-oriented content. Recent acquisitions, such as the rights to CoComelon, aim to expand its appeal among younger audiences (Halkidis, 2025 & Rankex Digital, 2025).

Revenue & Profitability

According to Iqbal (2025a), Netflix maintains a significant lead in revenue throughout the period. The introduction of an ad-supported tier has opened new revenue streams, attracting cost-sensitive consumers. At the same time, Disney+ demonstrates robust growth, nearly quadrupling its revenue in just five years due to strategic pricing changes and content bundling.

Source: Business of Apps

Global Reach & Expansion

Netflix: Operating in over 190 countries, Netflix has established a formidable global presence. Its strategy of producing localised content, such as Korean dramas and Indian originals, has been instrumental in penetrating diverse markets (Hill, 2025).

Disney+: While Disney+ operates in fewer territories, it has made significant inroads in the Asia-Pacific region through partnerships with local telecom providers and content creators. The recent joint venture in India, JioStar, has rapidly amassed over 280 million subscribers, highlighting Disney's aggressive expansion strategy in emerging markets (Hill, 2025; Kaushik & Kay, 2025)

SWOT Analysis

Source: Marketing 91

Source: Marketing 91

Verdict: Who's Leading the Streaming War?

Although Netflix retains a lead in subscriber numbers and global reach, Disney+ is swiftly narrowing the gap through strategic partnerships and its robust content portfolio. Netflix's diverse content and significant investment in original programming cater to a wide audience, while Disney+'s strength lies in its family-friendly offerings and integration with other Disney assets. The competition remains intense, and the ultimate victor may depend on each platform's ability to innovate and adapt to shifting consumer preferences.

References

1. Bhasin, H. (2024a, December 17). SWOT analysis of Disney Plus. Marketing91. https://www.marketing91.com/swot-analysis-of-disney-plus/#1-Continuous-Video-Playback
2. Bhasin, H. (2024b, December 18). Netflix SWOT Analysis (Updated 2025). Marketing91. https://www.marketing91.com/swot-analysis-of-netflix/
3. Halkidis, A. (2025, May 27). ‘CoComelon’ is leaving Netflix—Here’s where you can stream it next. Parents. https://www.parents.com/cocomelon-leaving-netflix-heading-to-disney-11742372?utm_source=chatgpt.com
4. Hill, M. (2025, February 17). Disney Plus vs. Netflix: Which One Is the Better Streaming Service in 2025? Tech Research Online. https://techresearchonline.com/blog/disney-plus-vs-netflix/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
5. Iqbal, M. (2025a, February 19). Disney Plus Revenue and Usage Statistics (2025) - Business of Apps. Business of Apps. https://www.businessofapps.com/data/disney-plus-statistics/
6. Iqbal, M. (2025b, February 21). Netflix Revenue and Usage Statistics (2025) - Business of Apps. Business of Apps. https://www.businessofapps.com/data/netflix-statistics/ 
7. Kaushik, K., & Kay, C. (2025, May 26). Cricket gives Disney-Ambani unit in India almost as many users as Netflix. Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/ea6f401d-2989-48ba-aa8b-d0d7325cd021?utm_source=chatgpt.com
8. Rankex Digital. (2025, January 4). Fully complete SWOT analysis of Disney Plus [Updated 2025]. Rankex Digital. https://rankexdigital.com/swot-analysis-of-disney-plus/?utm_source=chatgpt.com