Should you get Disney+?

Disney’s highly anticipated video streaming service, Disney+, is finally here. Today, more than two years after the company announced it would take on Netflix with a product of its own, Disney+ has started rolling out to people in the US, Canada and the Netherlands. At $6.99 per month, Disney+ certainly sits on impulse buy territory, but is it worth adding to the ever-growing list of standalone streaming services you’re already paying for every month?

What you get — Aside from launching with nearly 500 feature films and over 7,500 show episodes, including blockbuster hits like Avengers: Endgame, the Star Wars franchise, and the entire Pixar and Simpsons library, one of the main draws of Disney+ is that it will have 30 original series this year. The flagship among them is The Mandalorian, the Jon Favreau series that centers around the life of a bounty hunter in the Star Wars universe. There are also shows like High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, The World According to Jeff Goldblum and Marvel Hero Project, among others, which bring a mix of genre flavors to Disney+.

Another advantage Disney+ has over competitors such as Netflix is that it offers 4K, HDR and Dolby Atmos streams at no additional cost. This is going to matter to those of you who want the absolute best picture quality without having to pay a premium. Additionally, you’ll get unlimited offline downloads of movies and shows to your iOS or Android device, as well as up to four simultaneous streams per account.

Price is hard to beat — When you think about the fact that Netflix charges $12.99 for its standard tier (without 4K or HDR), $6.99 per month seems like quite a bargain for everything you get with Disney+. The deal is even better if you consider the $12.99 bundle that includes Hulu (with ads), ESPN+ and, of course, Disney+.

You’ll get even more for your money in the future, too, as Disney has other high-profile content already in the works. You can expect an Obi-Wan Kenobi series starring Ewan McGregor, along with a reboot of the beloved Disney Channel property Lizzie McGuire, which will feature the show’s original star Hilary Duff. And, in addition to those, Marvel has shows such as She-Hulk and Ms. Marvel coming down the line.

The Disney effect — Ultimately, the power of Disney+ comes from all the entertainment brands Disney owns. So, if you’re a fan of Disney classics, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar or even National Geographic, Disney+ is a no brainer — especially at a mere $6.99 per month, or $12.99 if you get the bundle with Hulu and ESPN+.

Now, you should keep in mind that Disney isn’t following the binge model Netflix made famous: new episodes of Disney+ original series will arrive every Friday, though that shouldn’t be a deal breaker for people. After all, it will be good to build some anticipation about who The Mandalorian is going to hunt for next.