Disney raised the price of Disney+ and Hulu again in late September 2026, and for most households the higher amount lands on the next billing date rather than on the day it was announced. Ad-free Disney+ and ad-free Hulu now sit above $20 a month each.
That matters more than it sounds, because of one detail buried in the new price list: if you pay for ad-free Disney+ and ad-free Hulu separately, you are now paying roughly twice what the bundle costs. Fixing that takes about four minutes.
What changed, in one box
- Ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu: $12.49 a month each, up 50 cents
- Ad-free Disney+ and Hulu: $21.49 a month each, up $2.50
- Ad-free Disney+/Hulu bundle: $21.99, up $2
- Ad-supported Disney+/Hulu bundle: $12.99 — unchanged
- Announced September 23, 2026; new subscribers paid immediately, existing subscribers from their next bill
- Disney’s stated reason: continued investment in its streaming platforms
There is a full page-by-page version of this in our Disney+ and Hulu price increase web story.
Disney+ and Hulu prices: every plan, before and after
| Plan | Before | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disney+ or Hulu, with ads | $11.99 | $12.49 | +$0.50 |
| Disney+ or Hulu Premium, ad-free | $18.99 | $21.49 | +$2.50 |
| Disney+/Hulu bundle, with ads | $12.99 | $12.99 | No change |
| Disney+/Hulu bundle, ad-free | $19.99 | $21.99 | +$2.00 |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select, with ads | $19.99 | $21.99 | +$2.00 |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select, ad-free | $29.99 | $32.99 | +$3.00 |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited, with ads | $35.99 | $35.99 | No change |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited, ad-free | $44.99 | $44.99 | No change |
Prices as confirmed by Disney to US news outlets on September 23, 2026. Check the current rate on your own account page before changing plans.
When does the new price actually hit my bill?
If you signed up after the announcement, you are already paying the new rate. If you were already subscribed, you keep the old rate until your next billing date, then the new one applies. Someone billed on the 21st of the month sees it on the 21st; someone billed on the 3rd saw it earlier.
You can find your renewal date in your account settings under Subscription. One useful quirk: changing plans mid-cycle takes effect at the next billing date too, so switching to the bundle today does not waste the month you have already paid for.
Four ways to pay less without losing the shows
1. Move to the bundle. Two ad-free subscriptions bought separately come to about $42.98 a month. The ad-free Disney+/Hulu bundle is $21.99 for the same two services. On the Disney+ account page, choose Change plan, then the Disney Bundle. This is the single biggest saving available here and most people paying separately simply have not noticed it.
2. Drop to the ad tier on the service you watch least. The ad-supported bundle at $12.99 did not go up at all, which makes it the cheapest legitimate way to hold both services.
3. Rotate instead of stacking. Keep one service for a month, finish what you are watching, then switch. Our guide on how to cancel streaming subscriptions covers doing this without losing your watch history.
4. Check what you already pay for. Some phone and internet plans include Disney+ or Hulu at no extra cost. It is worth two minutes in your carrier app before paying twice.
If you are rebuilding your streaming line-up from scratch, our comparison of streaming bundle packages works out which combination is cheapest for what you actually watch.
Is the ad-supported tier actually worse?
Honest answer: it depends what you use it for. The ad load runs to a few minutes an hour, usually in blocks at the start and at natural breaks. Some ad tiers also restrict 4K and limit downloads for offline viewing.
For background watching and catching up on series, the trade is barely noticeable and saves $9 a month per service. For a big TV, a sound system and films you want to watch properly, it is a real downgrade. Pick per service rather than across the board — many households are happy with ads on one and not the other.
What this means if your streaming bill has crept up
A typical four-service household is now somewhere near $70 a month, which is what a cable package used to cost. The services have quietly arrived at the thing cord cutting was supposed to escape.
Two things are worth checking alongside the plan changes above. First, whether you are paying for the most expensive way to get each service — our guide to the cheapest way to get Netflix applies the same logic there. Second, your hardware: an old streaming stick that no longer receives updates can leave you paying for apps that will not run properly, which is covered in our Roku vs Fire TV comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Disney+ and Hulu go up in price?
Disney said the increase funds continued investment in its streaming platforms. It is the latest in a run of annual increases across every major US streaming service.
Do I pay the new Disney+ price right away?
Only if you are signing up as a new subscriber. Existing subscribers kept the old rate until their next billing date, then the new rate applied.
Is the Disney+ and Hulu bundle cheaper than buying both?
Yes, substantially. Ad-free, the bundle is $21.99 a month against about $42.98 for the two bought separately.
Did the ad-supported bundle go up too?
No. The ad-supported Disney+/Hulu bundle stayed at $12.99 a month, which makes it the cheapest way to keep both services.
Can I cancel and resubscribe later at the old price?
No. You can cancel any time and keep access until the end of the period you have paid for, but you will be charged the current rate when you return.
Will Hulu disappear into Disney+?
Disney has been moving Hulu content inside the Disney+ app and merging the two into one experience. Nothing announced so far removes a paying Hulu subscriber’s access.
