Netflix, U-NEXT, Disney+, Prime Video Prices and Catalogs Compared: How to Choose Among 4 Services
Comparing Netflix, U-NEXT, Disney+ and Prime Video on price, catalog size, picture quality and simultaneous viewing, with best fits by use case.
List of Prices and Basic Specifications
Monthly fees and basic specifications for the four services are summarized below. Prices include tax. Specifications are based on official information as of January 2026.
| Item | Netflix | U-NEXT | Disney+ | Prime Video | | Monthly fee | ¥890–¥2,290 | ¥2,189 | ¥1,140 / ¥1,490 | ¥600 | | Annual plan | None | None | ¥11,400 / ¥14,900 | ¥5,900 | | Unlimited titles | Not disclosed | Approx. 360,000 | Over 20,000 | Not disclosed | | Max picture quality | 4K / HDR | 4K / HDR | 4K / HDR | 4K / HDR | | Simultaneous viewing | 2–4 devices | 4 devices | 2–4 devices | 3 devices | | Offline downloads | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported |
Netflix pricing starts at ¥890 for Standard with Ads. Standard is ¥1,590, and Premium is ¥2,290. Details are listed on the official Netflix help page. https://help.netflix.com/ja/node/24926
U-NEXT costs ¥2,189 per month and grants ¥1,200 worth of points every month. The points can be used for rental titles and books. Details are listed in the official U-NEXT guide. https://www.video.unext.jp/
Disney+ Standard is ¥1,140 and Premium is ¥1,490. Annual plans cost less than 12 months of monthly billing. Details are listed in the official Disney+ guide. https://www.disneyplus.com/ja-jp
Prime Video is not a standalone subscription but a Prime membership benefit. It is available for ¥600 per month or ¥5,900 per year. Details are listed in the Amazon Prime membership guide. https://www.amazon.co.jp/amazonprime
Differences in Catalog Size and Exclusivity Trends
Netflix is strong in in-house productions of international series and films. It offers many exclusive Korean and Western programs. It offers little catch-up viewing of domestic terrestrial programs.
U-NEXT has a deep library of Japanese films and domestic programs. It also offers a large selection of Korean and Chinese titles. Its defining feature is combined use with unlimited magazine reading and manga purchases. Users need to distinguish between unlimited and rental labels.
Disney+ specializes in exclusives from its affiliated studios. It brings together older Disney and Pixar titles. Marvel and Star Wars series are also exclusive. It also includes National Geographic documentary footage.
Prime Video focuses on unlimited viewing as a membership benefit. It rotates many older films and international programs. Its in-house Japanese comedy and dating programs have also increased. New films are often handled as paid rentals.
Differences in Picture Quality,
Simultaneous Viewing, and Offline Use
All four services support 4K and HDR. However, there are limits on lower-priced tiers. Netflix Standard with Ads is limited to Full HD. Disney+ Standard also does not support 4K.
The number of simultaneous streams varies by plan. Netflix allows 2 devices on Standard and 4 devices on Premium. U-NEXT supports simultaneous use on 4 parent and child accounts. Disney+ allows 2 devices on Standard and 4 devices on Premium. Prime Video supports simultaneous playback on up to 3 devices.
All four services support offline downloads. The number of titles that can be saved and the storage period differ. Netflix sets a storage deadline for each title. U-NEXT and Disney+ also require checking device capacity and deadlines. Advance downloads are effective for long business trips and commuting.
Separating user information is also important. Netflix and Disney+ support separate user profiles. U-NEXT also supports restrictions for child accounts. Prime Video has weaker separation of user profiles. Care is needed to avoid mixing viewing histories when sharing within a family.
Best and Worst Fits by Use Case
This is a breakdown for viewers who mainly watch international series. Netflix adds new titles quickly. It suits continued viewing of exclusive titles. A separate subscription is needed to complement domestic programs.
This is a breakdown for viewers who watch a wide range of domestic films and Korean titles. U-NEXT covers even magazines under one subscription. Monthly points can also be used for new rentals. The high monthly fee can be offset by viewing time.
This is a breakdown for family use with children. Disney+ has clear age restrictions and profile separation. It offers a full lineup of dubbed versions of older titles. Offline downloads also suit use while traveling.
This is a breakdown for viewers who prioritize keeping costs down. Prime Video carries a light burden at ¥5,900 per year. Shopping and music benefits can also be used together. Combined use with ad-supported Netflix is also an option.
Points to Check Before Subscribing
Check whether a free trial is available. None of the four services offers a permanent free trial. First-month discounts and annual discount terms differ. Checking the latest terms in official guides is essential.
Check whether ads are shown. Netflix Standard with Ads inserts ads at the start of programs. Some titles cannot be viewed with ads. The burden of ads increases with intensive viewing.
Checking supported devices is also essential. All four services support major devices. Older devices cannot output 4K or HDR. HDMI and connection speed requirements also have an effect.
Ease of cancellation procedures also differs. None of the four services offers prorated refunds for the next month. Annual plans have strict refund terms for mid-term cancellation. Knowing the renewal date in advance is effective for cost management.
Editorial Opinion
The editorial team believes decisions should be based on cost per hour viewed rather than the lowest price. For those watching more than five hours per week, the breadth of the unlimited range becomes important. For use of about two hours per week, a lower-priced plan is likely sufficient.
The team notes that official title counts often combine unlimited and rental titles. U-NEXT’s 360,000 titles include rental titles, so the effective unlimited selection differs. Conditions for keeping purchased titles after cancellation also vary by provider.
The team expects expansion of low-priced tiers with ads to continue over the next one to three years. Combining flat pricing with ad insertion will become the mainstream approach for each company. Exclusive distribution will remain fragmented, likely increasing the burden of multiple subscriptions.
References
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which streaming service is cheapest to use?
- Prime Video at ¥600 per month is the cheapest on a monthly basis. At ¥5,900 per year, it costs about ¥492 per month. If you only want programs, ad-supported Netflix at ¥890 is also an option. You need to judge based on viewing time and combined use of benefits.
- Why is U-NEXT said to be expensive?
- It costs ¥2,189 per month but grants ¥1,200 worth of points every month. The effective burden can be calculated at about ¥989. It also includes unlimited magazine reading, which lowers the unit cost. Note that additional costs are required if you mainly watch rental titles.
- Which service suits sharing among four family members?
- Netflix Premium or U-NEXT suits simultaneous viewing on four devices. Disney+ Premium also supports four devices. Disney+ has a clear design for child restrictions and profile separation. Operation that avoids mixing histories is important.
- Should Disney+ and Prime Video be used together?
- They serve different roles in franchise exclusives and補 coverage of older titles, so combined use makes sense. Two subscriptions fit within ¥1,740 per month and up. You can also switch on a monthly basis without overlapping periods. Adjusting by the timing of exclusive viewing is effective.
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