Disney+ and Hulu prices rise this month; here's what changes
Disney+ and Hulu are raising their prices again, the fourth increase in four years. Ad-free standalone plans go from $18.99 to $21.49 a month. Current subscribers will see the new prices on their bills starting on or after Oct. 21.
Your streaming bill is going up again. Disney+ and Hulu, both owned by Disney, are raising their prices for the fourth time in four years, Collider reported.
Here is what changes, according to How-To Geek. Standalone plans with ads rise from $11.99 to $12.49 a month. Standalone plans without ads jump from $18.99 to $21.49. The ad-free bundle of Disney+ and Hulu goes from $19.99 to $21.99.
Adding ESPN Select costs more too. The three-service bundle with ads rises to $21.99 from $19.99. The ad-free version rises to $32.99 from $29.99.
For people who already subscribe, the new prices start with the first bill on or after Oct. 21, according to the price tracker Howply.
The climb has been steep. Disney+ cost $6.99 a month without ads when it launched in 2019, Collider noted. At $21.49, that is about three times as much.
Disney is not alone. How-To Geek counted at least eight streaming services that raised prices this year. Netflix's ad-free Standard plan went to $19.99 in March. Apple TV rose to $14.99 a month in August. Peacock, Paramount+ and YouTube Premium also went up. Amazon raised the cost of ad-free Prime Video by $2 a month.
How to save: Bundles with ads are usually the cheapest way to get more than one service. Some people rotate services, keeping one for a month or two and then switching. Before your next bill, check which apps you actually watch and cancel the rest.
Collider questioned how much more viewers will pay as grocery, gas and rent costs climb, since entertainment is often the first thing families cut.
What we know: Disney+ and Hulu prices rise for current subscribers starting with bills on or after Oct. 21.
What we don't: Whether the price jump will cause many people to cancel.
Where outlets agree How-To Geek and Collider both report that ad-free standalone Disney+ is rising from $18.99 to $21.49 a month.
Where they differ Collider says the Disney+ and Hulu bundle with ads will cost $12.49 a month, while How-To Geek says that ad-tier bundle stays at $12.99.