Disney Plus may soon let you pause your subscription, just like Netflix

Disney Plus could soon let users pause their subscriptions
It’s a feature already offered by Netflix
There are more streamers who are canceling their subscriptions and then returning to apps

If you’re overloaded with digital subscriptions, temporarily pausing payments can often work better than canceling a membership entirely: and that’s an option that’s apparently on its way Disney Plus viewers.

According to the Wall Street JournalDisney executives plan to offer a pause option “soon,” according to a person “familiar” with the plans. It’s something that’s already available on some services, like Netflix and Hulu, but not on others.

Pausing rather than canceling streaming services certainly has many benefits, not least of which is being able to save your viewing history and recommendations. You don’t have to lose your place on that 240-episode show you were binging on – so you can pick up where you left off on the best Disney Plus shows.

According to the WSJ, there has been an increase in the number of people rejoining video streaming services within a year of canceling – the average is 34.2% of customers so far in 2024, up from 29.8% a few years ago.

Pause to think

Netflix app on a smart TV

Netflix users can already pause their subscriptions – for 3 months (Image credit: Unsplash)

It makes sense to give users an intermediate option between unsubscribing completely and continuing to subscribe: it should mean they’re more likely to come back (although you could also argue that it makes it easier to stop paying too).

However, there are time limits associated with pausing: for Netflix: it’s three monthsDuring this time you can still log into the app and browse the offers. If you go all the way and cancel, your viewing history will be retained for another 10 months, in case you want to rejoin (but you won’t be able to get into the app during that time).

When it comes to streaming services offered by the likes of Amazon And Applethe picture is more complicated: in these cases, movies and shows are just part of a bigger picture, and you won’t lose your Amazon or Apple account if you cancel Prime Video or Apple TV Plus. Prime Video is linked to a Prime membership, which can be paused.

As for how this will work with Disney Plus and how long pause periods will last, the WSJ doesn’t go into detail – but we’ll bring you all the information as it’s announced. While you wait, you can see how much of the best Disney Plus movies you still have to look.