Disney+ and Hulu are raising their prices again, and this time the biggest hits land on the tiers people pay full price for. The ad-free versions of both services are going up by $2.50 a month, with the combined bundle barely escaping the same fate. The changes take effect Wednesday, September 23 for new subscribers, and existing customers will see the higher bills on their next statement.
Disney+ Premium Goes Up By $2.50
The standalone Disney+ Premium tier moves from $18.99 to $21.49 per month. That is a 13% increase, and it matches the hike on Hulu’s equivalent plan.
Hulu Premium Follows Suit
Hulu Premium is doing the same math. It moves from $18.99 to $21.49 per month, a $2.50 increase that lands at the same rate as Disney+. The two-tier system is now identical at the top.
The Bundle Only Adds 50 Cents
The ad-free bundle — Disney+ and Hulu together, no ads — rises by $2, from $19.99 to $21.99 per month. That means buying both services without ads costs just 50 cents more than subscribing to either one individually.
That means subscribing to both services without ads will cost just 50 cents more than subscribing to either Disney+ or Hulu individually.
Ad-Supported Plans Get Smaller Increases
Disney’s ad-supported plans are also getting more expensive, but at a smaller scale. Disney+ and Hulu each increase by 50 cents, from $11.99 to $12.49 per month. The ad-supported bundle stays put at $12.99 per month, unchanged.
When The New Rates Land
New subscribers will see the new prices on September 23. Existing subscribers will find the higher amounts on their next monthly bill. Bloomberg was first to report the news.
What Other Services Raised Recently
The Disney and Hulu moves come after similar hikes at two other major streaming services. In August, Apple TV raised its monthly subscription fee. Peacock increased the cost of its ad-supported Premium plan from $10.99 to $12.99 per month, and its ad-free Premium Plus plan from $16.99 to $19.99 per month.
The Cost Of A Double Subscription
Here is how the numbers break down:
- Disney+ Premium: $18.99 → $21.49 (+$2.50)
- Hulu Premium: $18.99 → $21.49 (+$2.50)
- Ad-free bundle: $19.99 → $21.99 (+$2)
- Ad-supported bundle: $12.99 (unchanged)
What This Means For Subscribers
The ad-free bundle now offers little advantage over subscribing to one service at full price. The combined price is just 50 cents more than either service alone.
The Timing Of The Hikes
The Disney and Hulu increases follow a familiar pattern: hit the premium tiers first, then let the bundles absorb some of the sting. The timing is notable too. These increases arrive after Apple TV and Peacock both raised their fees in August, meaning the market’s three biggest streaming options are all moving in the same direction.
What Comes Next
Subscribers have a few options. They can cancel, they can switch to the ad-supported tiers, or they can accept the new prices and hope the content holds enough value to justify them. None of those choices are particularly appealing.
The 50-cent gap between the ad-free bundle and the individual subscriptions is the clearest signal of how Disney sees this playing out. The company is betting that customers will either want both services or neither, and that the bundle price will pull them toward paying for both regardless of the actual savings.
That is a gamble, and it is not a very generous one.
Source material: “Disney+ And Hulu Are Hiking Their Prices Again — Find Out How Much You'll Pay,” TVLine.
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