Disney+ and Hulu Price Increase 2026: New Prices and How to Pay Less

Quick answer: Disney raised prices on September 23, 2026: ad-supported Disney+ or Hulu is $12.49 a month and ad-free is $21.49 each. The ad-free bundle is $21.99, so if you pay for both ad-free services separately, switching to the bundle saves about $21 a month.

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

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.

What Disney+ and Hulu cost you over a full year

Monthly prices hide how much the choice really matters. Here is the yearly cost of each common setup at the new prices. We simply multiplied the monthly price by 12. Taxes are not included.

The gap between the last two rows is $251.88 a year. That is the money you keep just by moving two ad-free plans into one bundle. The ad-supported bundle is only 50 cents a month more than Disney+ with ads alone, so it nearly gives you Hulu for free.

Which Disney+ or Hulu plan fits you?

These are made-up examples. A family of four that only watches Disney movies on weekends would likely be fine with the $12.99 ad-supported bundle. A couple who watches Hulu dramas every night on a big TV may decide the $21.99 ad-free bundle is worth the extra $9.

How to switch plans, step by step

If you pay Disney directly, you can make the change on the web in a few minutes:

1. Sign in to Disney+ on a web browser, not the TV app.
2. Go to your account page and open your subscription details.
3. Choose the option to change your plan, then pick the bundle or tier you want.
4. Read the confirmation screen carefully. Check the new price and the date it starts.
5. Check your email for the confirmation and save it.

Paying through Apple, Google Play, Amazon or Roku? Then that company handles your billing, and you manage the plan in its subscription settings. On an iPhone, Apple says to open Settings, tap your name, then tap Subscriptions. Many people forget this and wonder why they can’t find the option on Disney’s site.

Also read: The best free streaming services in the U.S. Free, legal apps can cover a lot of what you watch.

Watch out for fake “payment failed” emails

Every price increase brings a wave of fake billing messages. Scammers send emails and texts that look like they come from Disney+ or Hulu. They say your payment failed and ask you to click a link to update your card.

The Federal Trade Commission warns that phishing messages often claim there is a problem with your account or payment to get you to click. To stay safe:

• Do not click links in surprise billing emails or texts.
• Open the Disney+ or Hulu app yourself, or type the website address, and check your account there.
• Never share a one-time code someone asks you to read back to them.
• Report the message at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Mistakes that cost streamers money

• Paying for two ad-free plans separately. This is the $251.88-a-year mistake from the table above.
• Forgetting a free bundle you already have. Check your phone or internet plan before you pay.
• Canceling the wrong account. If billing runs through Apple or Roku, canceling inside Disney+ may not stop the charge. Check where you pay first.
• Ignoring the annual total. Add up every streaming service once a year. Small monthly increases add up fast.

Thinking of switching after the price rise? See how they stack up in Netflix vs Disney+ vs HBO Max.

Frequently asked questions

More streaming guides

• Streaming bundle packages compared
• The cheapest way to get Netflix
• How to cancel streaming subscriptions
• Where to stream NFL and NBA games
• Roku vs Fire TV: which streaming device to buy
• Web story: the Disney+ and Hulu price rise in 10 slides

Sources: Disney+ and Hulu are raising streaming prices (FOX19 / Gray News, Sept. 23, 2026), Apple Support: cancel a subscription, FTC: How to recognize and avoid phishing scams. Prices checked Oct. 24, 2026.

Last reviewed: Oct. 27, 2026. Facts are as reported when this story was published on Oct. 17, 2026.

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