Disney is preparing to raise subscription prices for Disney+ and Hulu again, continuing the trend of steady increases across the streaming industry. The changes will take effect on October 21, impacting both standalone plans and bundled offerings.
Price Changes for Disney+
Disney+ subscribers will see a notable jump in monthly and annual costs.
- The Disney+ plan with ads will increase by $2, bringing the monthly price to $11.99.
- The Disney+ Premium plan without ads is rising by $3, reaching $18.99 per month.
- For those who pay annually, the Disney+ Premium annual plan will increase by $30, making it $189.99 per year.
This marks another step away from the service’s original pricing model. When Disney+ launched in 2019, it was available at just $6.99 per month, positioning itself as an affordable entry point for families and fans of Disney’s massive content library. Since then, prices have climbed steadily as the service has expanded content and invested heavily in originals.
Price Adjustments for Hulu and ESPN Select
Hulu is also seeing changes.
- The Hulu plan with ads will increase from $9.99 to $11.99 per month.
- The ad-free Hulu Premium plan remains unchanged at $18.99 per month, offering some relief for those already paying the top tier.
Meanwhile, sports fans will notice that the ESPN Select plan will rise by $1, moving from $11.99 to $12.99 per month.
Bundled Plans Increasing
Disney’s popular bundle options that combine Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select are also affected.
- The Disney+ and Hulu bundle with ads will rise by $2, making it $12.99 per month.
- The Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select bundle with ads will increase by $3, costing $19.99 per month.
Disney has published the full breakdown of new bundle pricing on its support page for subscribers to review.
Subscriber Frustrations and Timing
The timing of the increases is especially sensitive. Just last week, Disney+ experienced a wave of cancellations after the company temporarily pulled Jimmy Kimmel from its network. Many subscribers expressed frustration online, and the announcement of higher subscription fees may add to customer dissatisfaction.
The rising costs also highlight a broader industry trend. Nearly every major streaming platform, from Netflix to Max, has raised prices in the last two years as production costs grow and competition intensifies.
The Bigger Picture
When Disney+ first launched in 2019, it made waves by offering a low entry price of $6.99 per month, which was significantly cheaper than competitors at the time. Over the years, however, the company has incrementally increased prices, aligning with the overall streaming landscape. The last major hike came in October 2024, when the ad-free plan went from $13.99 to $15.99 per month, while the ad-supported plan rose from $7.99 to $9.99.
Disney’s strategy seems to be driven by two goals: recovering content investment costs and maximizing profitability across its growing portfolio of streaming services. With subscriber churn already on the rise, however, the question is whether consumers will continue to pay more or cut back on their streaming budgets.
As households weigh the value of multiple services, Disney will need to balance revenue growth with customer satisfaction. The upcoming increases reflect the pressures all streaming giants face in today’s competitive digital entertainment market.
