Disney Plus and Hulu raise US prices for ad free and ad plans

MUMBAI: The streaming bill is getting another plot twist, and this one comes with a higher price tag. Disney is raising subscription prices for Disney+ and Hulu in the US, marking another increase for viewers already navigating a steadily more expensive streaming landscape.

Disney+ Premium and Hulu Premium, the ad-free plans, will each increase from $18.99 to $21.49 per month. The Disney+/Hulu Premium Bundle will rise by $2, from $19.99 to $21.99 per month.

The ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu SVOD-only plans will also become more expensive, moving from $11.99 to $12.49 per month. However, the Disney+ and Hulu bundle with ads will remain unchanged at $12.99 per month, leaving the combined option as the same-priced alternative amid the latest increases.

The new prices take effect on September 23 for new subscribers. Existing customers will move to the higher rates with their next monthly bill.

The latest increase arrives as Pixar’s Toy Story 5 makes its Disney+ debut, giving the price change an interesting backdrop as another major title lands on the platform.

Disney has also recently raised the price of ESPN Unlimited, with the sports streaming service moving from $29.99 to $31.99 per month from September 17.

For Disney+ and Hulu, however, the latest increases continue a pattern that has become increasingly familiar in the US. This marks the fourth price increase in four years, following earlier hikes in October 2024 and October 2023.

The ad-free Disney+ tier has now nearly doubled from its $10.99 monthly price in 2023, before the autumn increase that year.

With premium plans climbing, ad-supported options also becoming more expensive and selected bundles holding their ground, Disney’s latest pricing strategy is reshaping the maths of what it costs to keep multiple streaming services in the household.