Disney+ updated its Subscriber Agreement in January 2025 to permit advertisements across all subscription tiers, including those marketed as “ad-free” or “no ads,” according to the revised terms.
Prior to the change, Disney+ had marketed its premium tier as entirely ad-free. The modification represents a shift in the service offering for existing subscribers, who are bound by the new terms unless they cancel their subscriptions.
According to Section 2(k) of the updated Disney+ Subscriber Agreement, service tiers described as “no ads” or “ad-free” are “generally free of commercial interruptions, with certain exceptions that may change from time to time.” These exceptions include situations where streaming rights or other licensing limitations require certain content to play with advertisements, and where ads appear in live or linear content and special events.
The agreement also permits limited promotional content in “no ads” tiers, including brief clips promoting Disney bundles and messaging about other available services. Additionally, the terms allow for branded content, product integrations, and sponsorship messaging to appear on premium subscriptions.
The policy affects all subscription tiers, including premium ad-free subscriptions, basic subscriptions with ads, and bundle subscriptions that include Disney+. The change was implemented through a terms-of-service update that applies to all subscribers, regardless of whether they signed up before or after the modification.
In September 2026, Disney sent an email to German subscribers that was styled as a “clarification” of a revised subscriber agreement, stating that advertisements could be placed before and after content even for Standard and Premium tiers, according to reporting from heise online.
Key facts
- Disney+ updated its Subscriber Agreement in January 2025 to allow ads on all tiers, including “ad-free” plans
- Exceptions to ad-free guarantees include content with streaming rights restrictions and live or linear programming
- The new terms apply to existing subscribers who do not cancel their subscriptions
- Premium subscribers are now subject to promotional content, branded integrations, and sponsorship messaging